Demanding “Question Time”
February 5, 2010Jon Brooks Comments OffRemember that public debate last week between Obama and congressional Republicans?
From the New York Times:
A lot of people have taken to the idea of this kind of public give-and-take, likening it to Great Britain’s Question Time, when members of Parliament can hurl questions at the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, which they are obliged to answer.
Now, a petition is circulating on the Web and Twitter to Demand Question Time in the U.S:
We live in a world that increasingly demands more dialogue than monologue. President Obama’s January 29th question-and-answer session with Republican leaders gave the public a remarkable window into the state of our union and governing process. It was riveting and educational. The exchanges were substantive, civil and candid. And in a rare break from our modern politics, sharp differences between elected leaders were on full public display without rancor or ridicule.
This was one of the best national political debates in many years. Citizens who watched the event were impressed, by many accounts. Journalists and commentators immediately responded by continuing the conversation of the ideas put forward by the president and his opponents — even the cable news cycle was disrupted for a day.
America could use more of this — an unfettered and public airing of political differences by our elected representatives. So we call on President Barack Obama and House Minority Leader John Boehner to hold these sessions regularly — and allow them to be broadcast and webcast live and without commercial interruption, sponsorship or intermediaries. We also urge the President and the Republican Senate caucus to follow suit. And we ask the President and the House and Senate caucuses of his own party to consider mounting similar direct question-and-answer sessions. We will ask future Presidents and Congresses to do the same.
It is time to make Question Time a regular feature of our democracy.
If you want, you can sign here.
