M’s Manifesto | What can we actually learn from presidential debates?
Mariana Martinez 38 minutes ago
I tried to watch the presidential debate on September 10th for a while. I tried to accept that it was just political. It’s about joking, accusing each other, and talking nonsense just to make the other person look bad.
Let’s tell it like it is: The presidential debate was a disaster. I was surprised that neither candidate answered most of the questions directly and kept making irrelevant digressions. President Trump talked nonsense about people eating dogs and cats and having a “concept of planning.” Throughout the debate, he was unable to present any concrete evidence, saying things like “she knows it” or “everyone knows it” as if that were enough to prove his point. ” was all he said. Harris, on the other hand, wasn’t much better. She didn’t acknowledge questions, sidestepped important issues about immigration and the economy, and used her story of growing up in a low-income household as a crutch to get through the discussion.
As I watch the debates with students from other universities, many of them praise the joke, worry about whether their university will be mentioned, and look forward to seeing who will spout the catchier insult. I was surprised to see it.
After seeing what I thought was an ineffective debate, because in reality politics was rarely discussed and few answers were given, I began to wonder, “What is the purpose of politics?” I started thinking. What has our generation thought about as politics? Has it simply become entertainment for us to laugh at?
In his book Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that the role of politics is to cultivate virtue so that citizens can act in accordance with the virtues of their souls, thereby achieving happiness and fulfillment. Under this recognition, the role of the state is to create favorable conditions for its people. Modern politics seems to have little interest in this, especially in this last argument.
There was a lack of information regarding economics, foreign policy, etc. I think both of these issues are extremely important given the context of the 2024 election. A majority of American voters claim to be very concerned about inflation, and the “Bidenomics” initiative has led to soaring inflation and interest rates, making it difficult for Americans to access necessities such as food and housing. ” failure became clear.
So far, Harris’ economic policies appear to be building on the Biden administration’s efforts, so Americans may have a hard time distinguishing her own policies from the unpopular Bidennomics. But during the debate, Harris offered little outline of her policies, instead sticking to her platform of “fighting for the middle class.” Nick Beauchamp, a political science professor at Northeastern University, thought there was “nothing ambitious” about her plan, reflecting on the failure of the U.S. system to pass policies that would actually be beneficial. Ta. Everything seems to be framed as a tax break these days.
Additionally, I remain amazed at how far candidates have retreated from talking about foreign policy, even though it is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Beecham points out how both candidates have been reluctant to talk about these issues, perhaps because of their complexity. I’m paying close attention. ”
That’s true. Even though I am very interested in American foreign policy given its international standing, I was bored by the time the discussion turned to international politics. I was tired of hearing nonsense jokes and incredibly creative ways to dodge questions. When the war between Russia and Ukraine was mentioned, I looked up at the TV, intrigued to see how they would finally answer this important question, but I was surprised to find that Harris was Trump’s (also) very I just criticized the vague answer. They quickly changed the subject and I was disappointed to see that everyone watching the debate along with me didn’t seem to care that so many questions were left unanswered. did.
According to Aristotle, if politics is to prioritize the welfare of the people, then political leaders should consider the common good rather than individual conflicts. However, this presidential election appears to be overshadowed by personal power struggles to make other candidates look bad. For example, Trump has constantly attacked Harris’ racial identity, questioning whether she is “really black.” However, this has little to do with the issues in this presidential election. Clearly, there are more important issues to address than the race or ethnicity of the opponent, and if both candidates are good political leaders, they will be more interested in achieving the common good than in each other’s personal lives.
While it may be argued that this argument is not completely representative of American politics, it is nonetheless a symptom of a failing political system. Despite the age of social media, debate remains the primary way to access political information. Proof of this is the huge number of students who gathered across campus to watch the debate on September 10th.
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Research shows that persuasive messages in discussion forums are more effective when trying to change attitudes about less well-known topics. For example, given the history of Harris’ entry into the presidential race, it was crucial for voters to solidify their opinions about her during this debate. But when politicians don’t answer questions or approach arguments like they’re rhetorical exercises, they risk spreading misinformation that voters think can ultimately have negative consequences for the country as a whole. .
This article will not change the American political system. However, as young people and students, we believe it is important to recognize when political leaders and political systems are not fulfilling their obligations. Rather than viewing it as entertainment, perhaps we should start by asking what politics is.
Mariana Martinez is a sophomore college student from Bogotá, Colombia. Her email is marmari@sas.upenn.edu.
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