Jason Evans is the publisher of the Arctic Sounder. - Arctic Sounder Photo / for Alaska Newspapers

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OPINION: From the Publisher: Petty quarrels dilute purpose of candidate debate

January 27th 2:39 pm | Jason Evans Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

For weeks now my wife has been watching these Republican debates on TV. I can't stand them, although I must admit when I am stuck watching one, they do have some entertainment value. I figure if something important happens in one of these debates, I can read about it in the paper, or watch a highlight in the news or even on Jay Leno. One week, one guy or lady is ahead and is the frontrunner, and then the next week the other guy is and there are no more ladies even in the race. It's like the Republicans of our country can't make up their minds.

I would rather do anything than sit through an entire debate. Then, when the pundits start to rehash it all over again and she still won't change the channel, it drives me crazy. I know these debates have value in educating the voters on each candidate's philosophy, it's the way they go out of their way to beat each other up over small and large personal issues rather than truly debating the best philosophy for solving our nation's problems that makes me want to tune it out. They bring up this fact or that, and twist it and turn it so what a person did 10 years ago can mean just about anything. Their philosophies about issues seem to get lost in the battle.

What's interesting is my wife doesn't like any of the Republican candidates' philosophies enough to consider ever voting for one, but she will spend hours listening to what they have to say. She says she needs to understand their arguments so she can explain why her philosophy beats theirs in any debate and ultimately will be more helpful to our country. She also says you have to know what the enemy's strategy is in order to help support your candidate of choice develop their strategy to win.

I don't know what I'll do since we have 11 more months to go. That's a long time to listen to people arguing with each other. Maybe it is better to endure letting them hash it all out than get into an argument with my wife about changing the channel. And maybe, just maybe, she might be right about learning something constructive during these debates that will make me a more educated voter come election time. So far, however, I'm still waiting.

 


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