Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

Presidential debate offered no new solutions

President Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of supporters on July 10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Wednesday's presidential debate strongly focused on the state of the economy as well as the current health care system. (Photo by Kirsten Kraklio)
President Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of supporters on July 10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Wednesday's presidential debate strongly focused on the state of the economy as well as the current health care system. (Photo by Kirsten Kraklio)

Last night’s presidential debate accomplished nothing.

I have watched the presidential debates religiously since I became interested in politics as a teenager. But every four years, I begin to care just a little less. Every four years, we are handed more and more candidates who are just sort of … meh.

And “meh” is exactly the emotion I felt during those grueling 90 minutes. If I hadn’t already committed to writing this column, I most likely would have ceased squirming and spinning around in my swivel chair and walked outside for a cigarette break.

Last night’s debate intensified the disenchantment many young voters have toward the crumbling American political system. With the exception of the 2008 presidential election, there is a reason voter turnout continues to decrease at the polls: same ole’, same ole’.

Even the moderator bored me nearly to tears. How is a candidate supposed to respond insightfully to a question if the moderator is so lax he can’t get a word in between the candidates to ask one?

Same old candidates, same old ideas. We still don’t have jobs. Tuition is still rising. Our debt is still rising. We’re all still struggling.

Both Romney and Obama agreed, of course, that education creates jobs. But neither specifically addressed how they planned to make education more affordable to those who can’t afford one.

The practice of political debate is time-honored representation of one’s ability to think on his or her toes — to be so informed and well-versed in any given topic that any given question can elicit a thoughtful, philosophical response to teach the audience something new.

I learned nothing from either President Barack Obama or Gov. Mitt Romney that I couldn’t have Googled. In fact, as I fact-checked claims and percentages, I feel I could have guessed every point Romney and Obama were going to make — verbatim.

While I do want to hear about our candidates’ track records, I don’t want them to dominate the discussion. What I really want to hear is not what candidates have done, but I want to know, in very specific detail, what candidates plan to do — in plain English that a 20-something-year-old voter can understand.

Our candidates did nothing more than appeal to a demographic that has already made its decision. They debated to remind their demographics that an election is approaching, not to sway undecided voters. Neither candidate had anything new to offer.

Like any young voter, I wanted to learn something. I wanted new innovative ideas that would drive me straight to the poll. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, we all have the same goals for the country. Where we disagree is which path to take and neither candidate offered an adequate path.

Although I voted for Obama in 2008, I no longer feel the same spark for him. If our incumbent nominee wins this election, I won’t be moved to tears the way I was four years ago.

I’ll only breathe a brief sigh of relief and think, “Hey, at least he’s better than what’s-his-name,” and continue on with my day.

 

Reach the columnist at kharli.mandeville or follow her at @kaharli

 

Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.


Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.

Subscribe to Pressing Matters



×

Notice

This website uses cookies to make your experience better and easier. By using this website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.