I think TV election debates are a waste of air time. Party leaders not only try to impress voters but also their own ministers, many of whom fantasise that a new leader may improve their chances of winning. All the leaders assume that interjecting while their rivals are speaking will delight the electorate. It does not.
The word “debate”, according to my dictionary, means a “discussion” and a discussion suggests a “calm exchange of views,” with each participant winning or conceding the points they make.
Such an orderly format would undoubtedly help voters decide whom to support.
Alas, there is nothing calm about these debates as each speaker fires away from deeply entrenched positions. It’s like hearing all the party political broadcasts at the same time, producing nothing more enlightening than hot air.
Rudy Otter
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