Here are twelve question that I would hope could be asked in Thurday's debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. For that matter, I wouldn't mind hearing McCain and Obama debate these topics too.
These are not the kind of gotcha questions it is sometimes often fun to think about. These are open-ended questions that would not only reveal knowledge (or lack thereof) of how the world works, but of one's ability to think and communicate in a clear and convincing manner.
Two minutes is a long time when you'd rather be limited to a sound bite, or enough time to filibuster and change the subject.
Here are twelve of my best shots. (Help yourself, Gwen.)
- What, if anything, should the federal government do to help stimulate renewable energy development?
- Ronald Reagan once threatened to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. George Bush greatly increased the size and influence of the department. For the coming years, which of these approaches makes better sense?
- In 1977, Jimmy Carter issued a statement on nuclear policy that began a commitment to defer indefinitely the commercial reprocessing and recycling of spent nuclear fuel. Is this still good policy for the 21st century?
- The Powell doctrine, which is an outgrowth of the Weinberger doctrine, states a list of questions that must all be answered in the affirmative before military action is taken by the United States. For the past several years, George Bush has applied different criteria. In the future, should we adhere to the Powell doctrine, the Bush doctrine, or something new?
- How can the United States help bring lasting peace to the Middle East?
- Ronald Reagan famously quipped that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." In light of recent events, perhaps the most nine most terrifying words today are, “We are the government, and you’re own your own.” After the legislation passed this week [assuming that it does], what, if any, challenges remain to get our financial institutions in order?
- When George Bush took office, national unemployment was four percent. Today it’s more than six percent. The economy is near, or perhaps in a recession. What, if anything, should the government do to stimulate growth in employment?
- What is necessary to assure the solvency of Medicare for the next 20-30 years?
- Today in the United States, nearly 10 million children under the age of eighteen lack basic health insurance. Other millions of children are underinsured. How can we best assure basic healthcare for all our children?
- To what extent, if any, should U.S. trade agreements be conditioned by the imposition of environmental and labor standards?
- Is climate change a real threat, and if so, what should the United States do about it?
- Are you committed to a “strong dollar” and if so, what would a [McCain/Obama] administration do to advance us toward that goal?