Welcome to the Third Degree: Tough, Brief, Weekly  Interrogations on matters public and private that force thinking and response. This Sunday we target:  PURPOSE

  • What is the purpose of political debate?
  • Should worthy debate excite and elucidate or grate and exasperate or all the above?
  • What do we expect from Tuesday’s  debate?
  • Should we expect more?  More debates, certainly?
  • Who resists exposure?  Is that disqualifying?
  • After Biden was judged unable to win (how about govern),  does the now ordained Kamala, require examination  in the public square or is Biden/Harris record enough?
  • Are we inspired by her comprehensive platform, demonstrated competence  and vision for the future (joy and freedom)?
  • Is Trump so secretive, so guarded of unscripted comments that we are in the dark, blacked out as it were, from his innermost thinking?
  • Is his failure to engage with the press and the public so manifest that suspicion  of  conspiracy  to delimit government and get back to unwelcome basics are the only possible outcomes?
  • Are we akin to the soft, child-like public surrounding the prophet Isiah demanding “smooth words” rather than rough truths of the day and portending a troubling future?
  • Is debate to be encouraged, not only by candidates, but with one another?
  • In fact, is debate discouraged because differing politics cause differing reactions to discourse?
  • Who, believing what, is more likely to become angry and try to shut down conversation much less debate?
  • Is it tactical or irrational to use anger, screwing one’s self into the ceiling or storming out  to limit free speech/exchange of ideas  with big time name calling thrown in for good measure?
  • Are getting your fangs out, losing your cool, a sure way to lose a debate?
  • Are we worn out by those who profess to know all the answers, know everything, while those of us who do suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune?
  • Is worthy debate the answer whose purpose may irritate but irrigate the way ahead with a bit of wisdom?
  • Are our institutions so engaged, are we?
  • Are not freedom and prosperous survival the purpose of vigorous and great debate?

Socrates reminds:  “The unexamined life is not worth living.”The answers and actions are yours.