The other night I was fortunate enough to see a debate on health care between political heavy-weights Karl Rove and Howard Dean. The hour and a half debate got heated at points, between the two debaters and even between the debaters and the audience.
I think it’s a fair assessment to say that Karl Rove was more prepared for the debate in terms of statistics and figures. Dean, obviously unprepared in this regard, went so far as to question Rove’s integrity and announced that Rove made the figures up. Rove promised to put the reports on his blog. Which he did. As opposed to figures and statistics, Dean offered arguments based on anecdotal evidence and ethos. He basically, as my brother put it, just “pulled on the heartstrings” of the audience.
Rove’s main point was, why use a one-size-fits all method, when one size doesn’t fit all? The system the new health care plan will be based off of is broken. What sense is there in taking a broken system and applying it to the entire country? Dean argued that no, the system is not broken. Why can’t we have in America what every modernized country has? Prices are too high, and private insurance companies are often times rob us of our money.
The (mostly left) audience seemed indoctrinated with liberal views, and supported Dean and his mostly groundless assertions. It would have been one thing if Howard Dean had offered supporting evidence–he did not. Now, I do not necessarily identify with any particular political party, but I was disappointed in the audience’s inability to listen objectively. It seemed as if most of the audience came with their predetermined ideas (and T-Shirts: Health Care Reform NOW!) and refused to listen to the arguments. If that is the case, why come to the debate? Just so you can tout the title of “informed citizen?” Please, next time, leave the tickets for people who will appreciate the debate.
Another thing, do not yell out from your seats to the debaters, or offer your own running commentary on the debate. Yelling out at the debaters (“You’re a war criminal!”) does not hurt them, believe me. It only makes you look like a jackass. And as far as commenting to your neighbor on every point made by a debater, shut it, no one cares about your opinion. That’s what blogs are for.