I agree and I'll add that debate should be a non-negotiable aspect of American political life at least for presidents. It would be a loss of dignity for us to say, "Our candidates are so bad they can't even debate one another". In the case of this election, my cynical-optimist take is that the American people need to see on full display just how awful both candidates are, Trump barking at everything, Biden mumbling incoherent sentences. Just like alcoholics need to hit rock bottom to gain the insight to change, the American people need to find their way to recognizing we are at an electoral rock bottom. Both parties are failing the people by advancing these candidates, as any poll shows. And my people on the left need to see that the current president isn't capable of a coherent conversation, betraying that he's not the one running the country. The best outcome would be a disastrous debate where Trump and Biden are exactly who they are so that Americans finally stop voting for a major party with their fear of the "other guy" and start voting with their hearts. Seeing such a debate would increase motivation for voting for a viable third party candidate that isn't an embarrassment to humanity. In my mind the only question is how bad the candidates will have to get before individuals finally take their civic responsibility seriously and vote their conscience.
I agree and I'll add that debate should be a non-negotiable aspect of American political life at least for presidents. It would be a loss of dignity for us to say, "Our candidates are so bad they can't even debate one another". In the case of this election, my cynical-optimist take is that the American people need to see on full display just how awful both candidates are, Trump barking at everything, Biden mumbling incoherent sentences. Just like alcoholics need to hit rock bottom to gain the insight to change, the American people need to find their way to recognizing we are at an electoral rock bottom. Both parties are failing the people by advancing these candidates, as any poll shows. And my people on the left need to see that the current president isn't capable of a coherent conversation, betraying that he's not the one running the country. The best outcome would be a disastrous debate where Trump and Biden are exactly who they are so that Americans finally stop voting for a major party with their fear of the "other guy" and start voting with their hearts. Seeing such a debate would increase motivation for voting for a viable third party candidate that isn't an embarrassment to humanity. In my mind the only question is how bad the candidates will have to get before individuals finally take their civic responsibility seriously and vote their conscience.