July 22–23, 2024

“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Joe Biden has withdrawn from the race, and what is needed over the next few months is meaningful political debate. Today’s news posting describes, in idealistic terms, what that debate would entail.

The stage is set for a vigorous political contest. It is Trump-Vance representing the Republican MAGA Program 2025 versus a Democratic ticket led by Vice President Kamala Harris. The stakes could not be higher. See the reviews by Jen Rubin and Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin.

The contest will be fierce. The arguments will be heated. This will be a fight for the future of America. Which party’s vision will prevail?

Meaningful debate depends on respect for the opposition. There is give and take. We listen to the words of others. We try to understand what is being said. There is argument and rebuttal.

Meaningful debate attends to the logic of an argument, regardless of who is making the argument. Ad hominem attacks are rejected.

We must be vigilant in the coming months, calling out anyone who ignores the merits an argument and focuses instead on the appearance, sex, sexual identity, age, race, or ethnicity of the person making the argument. Let logic and the rules of debate triumph.

Meaningful debate relies on a dispassionate acceptance of facts. We gather relevant data relating to the question at hand and analyze those data with trustworthy methods.

“Alternative facts” have no place in meaningful debate. Fiction and lies are recognized for what they are—prevarication or attempts to avoid debate.

Avoiding political debate is antithetical to democracy. We must accept the conclusions of arguments just as we accept the results of elections. The rules of evidence are paramount. The votes must be counted.

When the two-party system fails to provide a forum for meaningful debate, one party (today’s Democratic Party, it seems) must assume the role. Imagine progressive, liberal, centrist, and (even) conservative Democrats respectfully arguing with one another.

Unity among Democrats may be needed to win the 2024 presidential election. After the election, however, we should hope for diversity of opinion and meaningful political debate.

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