The "BAIT" In The Debates

From My Perspective - - -

Political Campaigns are too long for most people… Three of the candidates in this election cycle are United States Senators who are receiving a current salary of $169,300.00 (with a standard increase of 2.5% during January of each year). According to the Government Research Service of the Library of Congress, the following is stated: “Congress is required by Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution to determine its own pay. Prior to 1969, Congress did so by enacting stand-alone legislation. From1789 through 1968, Congress raised its pay 22 times using this procedure. Congressional salaries initially were $1,500. By 1968, they had risen to $30,000.” Is it any wonder that the humorist of an earlier day, Will Rogers, observed: “This is the best Congress money can buy”! Another similar attribution to this humorist is: "Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for."

We ought to be grateful there have been only 3 Presidential Debates scheduled and one Vice-Presidential Debate (there remain two more as of this writing). It’s what one does when observing a debate that is important – not the least of which is to listen with alertness, objectiveness, and some modicum of intelligence. We have an obligation to listen and learn – not to the “talking points” or the after-debate “spin”! The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing makes the following comments and suggestions on: How To Watch A Debate… “The next two presidential debates are scheduled for October 7 In Nashville, Tennessee, and October 15 from Hempstead, New York. Millions of us will be watching — perhaps as many as 50 million in the United States alone. Do the debates make any difference? Do they change minds? How about yours? Alfred c. Snider, a professor for 25 years at the University of Vermont on the subject of Presidential Campaign Rhetoric, clarified the issue this way: "The race is about what masses of other people think. The Debate should be used to try and determine what you think." Mr. Johnson outlined the following observations that he had gleaned from experts,,,

• Listen actively. Switch from a passive mode to a learning mode. Pay attention.
• Focus on substance not style. It is not so much how they look and how they sound as it is the clarity of their plans and positions.
• Ignore subtle and disruptive behavior. You have seen candidates twist questions to the point that no answer is ever really given. You need to listen for a response that represents your questions.
• Keep an open mind. Sometimes one finds himself/herself wanting the debaters to say what we want them to say and discounting the other person, even if he or she makes sense. Do you? Does your political bias get in the way.
• Turn off the TV when the debate is over - "the spin zone and post-debate analysis are designed to influence you. Make up your own mind."
• Take some notes. Give your own grade. Be objective. Weigh the significance of the issues. The polls are for the masses — the debate is for you as a God-Assigned Influencer.

In the Acts 26 debate, Paul was right — Agrippa was confused. Paul stated: "What i am saying is true and reasonable" (Acts 26:25). King Agrippa replied: "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28). The image of the King and the posture he assumed he should maintain prevented him from thinking “outside the box”! There must be a willingness and readiness to be persuaded by the truth and reality.

Consider these things with me – and – remember to implement I Peter 2:13-17, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men…Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Let us never forget that: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).