I'd like our political debates to be moderated a little better. Some suggestions:
1) Evasions, justifications, and circular reasoning are not "acceptable answers" and will be fiercely mocked by the moderator.
2) Candidates, you (and the audience) will see the following lights on the moderator's podium:
Yellow: You have 10 seconds left. Wrap it up or be cut off.
Flashing Yellow: You are evading the question, and everyone knows it.
Flashing Red: Your current statement is a total fabrication. Correct yourself, or lose the right to respond to this issue any further.
Red: Out of time, or in time-out.
3) You will see a small game show-type "buzzer" in front of you. If you "buzz in" and correctly identify the logical fallacy (or fallacies) being employed by your opponent at that moment and successfully prove your assertion, your opponent may not respond further. Incorrect or improperly proven assertions will result in equivalent time being deducted from your next response and given to your opponent to finish the current response. If correct, however, you may use the time remaining to do a victory dance. Spiking the buzzer is not permitted.
What do you think? You have 90 seconds to respond.
1) Evasions, justifications, and circular reasoning are not "acceptable answers" and will be fiercely mocked by the moderator.
2) Candidates, you (and the audience) will see the following lights on the moderator's podium:
Yellow: You have 10 seconds left. Wrap it up or be cut off.
Flashing Yellow: You are evading the question, and everyone knows it.
Flashing Red: Your current statement is a total fabrication. Correct yourself, or lose the right to respond to this issue any further.
Red: Out of time, or in time-out.
3) You will see a small game show-type "buzzer" in front of you. If you "buzz in" and correctly identify the logical fallacy (or fallacies) being employed by your opponent at that moment and successfully prove your assertion, your opponent may not respond further. Incorrect or improperly proven assertions will result in equivalent time being deducted from your next response and given to your opponent to finish the current response. If correct, however, you may use the time remaining to do a victory dance. Spiking the buzzer is not permitted.
What do you think? You have 90 seconds to respond.