Important event ruined by ugly process

There have been enough accusations, complaints, smear ads and money spent in this election cycle to turn the stomach of any attentive U.S citizen, but the process has not yet run its course. In the first week of October, this election season enters its most important phase.

At 9 p.m. this Wednesday the first of three presidential debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will be held at the University of Denver, and it will be broadcast on every major news and broadcast network. The debate will focus on the candidates’ stances on domestic policy, will be 90 minutes long, and will be moderated by Jim Lehrer, the host of PBS’s NewsHour and a veteran of eleven presidential debates. He has been around the proverbial block when it comes to talking to candidates, and does not beat around the bush with his questions. He is not afraid of ruffling feathers, or leading stubborn elephants and donkeys to adequate answers.

A vice presidential debate will be held Oct. 11, and the two remaining presidential debates will be held Oct. 16 and 22. Each will begin at the same time, but will be held in Danville, Kentucky; Hempstead, and Boca Raton, Fla. respectively.

Cardinal Points would like to take the time to encourage every person able to watch or listen to these debates to do so, not only for this election but every one thereafter, even if you are not registered to vote, do not plan on voting or do not care who wins.

The reason for this is simple. After a hotly contested primary and election season, this is finally the chance to see two candidates debate on an even playing field, in the eye of media storm. While preludes to this debate are certain to be rife with speculation and endless amounts of statistics, we’ve reached the part of the election that actually matters. The political barbarism, spin and decadence that seem to have taken precedence in every aspect of these campaigns are difficult to smuggle into two minute answers, and the issues being debated will be, quite literally, close to each of our homes.

In other words, we are in are in line for two different rides despite whether we want to be. We might as well watch them and make decisions based on our own judgments.

There is nothing that can be lost watching these debates but a whole lot of knowledge to be gained, not only about these two men, but about the fast-changing world we live in.

This editorial is not meant to guilt you into watching the them. We are not marking down your attendance, grading your notes or testing you the next day on what went on. We are simply recommending that you dine on the true meat and potatoes of this election, instead of the canned crap we have been fed over and over for who knows how long.

By watching or listening to these debates you can only come out wiser.