Georgia Heritage Coalition - DUMBED DOWN DEBATES? - Commentary by Jim Dean, Heritage TV

Jim Dean, Heritage TV producer/host

Jim Dean is the producer of Heritage TV and a member of Georgia Heritage Coalition.

DUMBED DOWN DEBATES – Commentary by Jim Dean

The Mock Debate is almost upon us. In the continuing disintegration of American heritage, presidential debates are becoming a hollow shell of their intended purpose. Fraud may not quite be the right word to use, but I would like to make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau.

To the rigging of our elections via totally corrupt and anti-democratic redistricting can now be added the rigging of debates. But the debate debacle is unique as both sides rig at the same time.

The practice and preening we can forgive as that has always been a staple of debates. But we have always expected and received some semblance of a real debate. That is all gone folks, and probably forever, as is happening to American heritage one piece at a time.

The communist "long march" through our institutions is alive and well. Political consultants and spinmeisters have just taken over their democracy-destroying work. What we are left with is a charade that represents nothing more than a corporate candidate theatrical performance. I suspect that Jerry Springer has gotten a consultancy fee somewhere in all of this.

Anyone who thinks they are going to see a "debate" is hallucinating. The handlers are going to put on a show based upon the most recent polling data and calculated to deliver the best lies to fool the most people. Both sides take their Koolaid constituencies for granted at this point, so the whole focus of the debates is who can fool the most undecided voters.

Despite the myriad of pre debate negotiations attempting to eliminate any possible negative revelation by either side, delivering an honest debate was not one of the criteria. I suspect that no one even thought of such a silly thing. I can hear their dismay at such a suggestion, "Well, why would we want to go back to those days when we have worked so hard for these rigged debates. That would defeat the whole purpose."

The issues each side will focus on will be computer generated. Like casino sharpies with card counting machines in their shoes each will be trying to cheat the house, which is us. Recent focus group PR surveys will have field tested every position they will be presenting as "their" views. The gutting of this once important American institution will be complete. I propose that they be renamed the Jerry Springer debates in honor of the man that brought dumbing-down to a mass media art form. Hollowed be his name.

We have so abandoned the concept of a real debate that I propose going all the way and hiring trained actors to represent both sides. Let's add in a big lotto prize, some sexy babes as wannabe interns, and of course Brother Trump would select the winner, which of course will eliminate the need for even having an election. Paramutual betting will be allowed of course, with the changing odds posted on the screen. Why go half way with these rigged phony debates, folks? Let's take them right over the edge, a la Thelma and Louise.

But there is another side of this charade that wounded my American pride even more deeply. I saw a TV poll yesterday that had 68% of the responders saying that the debates would play a major factor in their vote decision. I just want all of you out there that responded this way to know...this dumbed down debate is for you.

The Jerry Springer show tickets are all on me, folks. Just mention my name. I am sure they have my credit card on file. Privacy is gone, too.

Jim Dean is the producer of Heritage TV and a member of the Georgia Heritage Coalition. 404-966-6827