A few thoughts about the state of politics:
1) The New Hampshire primary is worth keeping because here candidates have to sit down and talk to voters, hear their concerns, and make a case for how and why they can represent us. We might think how we could make that process more inclusive. And, alas, we are not an adequately diverse population. Still, we can help hone the candidates’ message.
2) Are the debates worth much in helping the audience make sensible choices? What about this format: Two-hour sessions with four candidates. Each gets 10 minutes to outline his or her positions, then 20 minutes of questions from the debate panel with only one question from the others on stage. We need to end what has often seemed like a food fight.
3) Has Sen. Bernie Sanders ever been in charge of something in the Senate where he had to listen to others in order to accomplish anything? My sense is that he doesn’t listen well. But I like some of his ideas.
4) Why wouldn’t a Biden/Klobuchar ticket serve the Democratic Party and the nation very well? It might lose some of the more leftish-leaning energy but it would gain lots who fear four more years with our current group.
5) And, finally, what on earth do the DNC or RNC do that is useful to the American people? The DNC didn’t help Hillary and the RNC doesn’t seem to do anything to try to rein in Trump. Help me here, those in the know.
DONALD B. HINMAN
Danbury