House of Eratosthenes

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it became impossible to moderate a presidential debate in 2008 without asking “Senator, this next question is for you: Should Americans be proud?” And…a simple yes or no will be just fine. You have one second for this one.

For the same situation to exist in all the elections from here on out, would be even better. Might not change anything. But it couldn’t hurt.

And here’s what I was thinking: The whole one-second-for-the-response, yes-or-no thing.

We’re already doing that, you know. The thing is, we’re being selective about which questions to ask. Actually we aren’t being selective about it. Granola-eating schoolmarm twits like Carolyn Washburn are doing exactly this…with Republicans…except one second for the response, is exactly one second longer than what Washburn will allow. The lady wanted a “show of hands.”

And so I must disclaim any copyright I would have to this concept. But in exchange for that, I’m able to note there is precedent for what I’ve proposed above.

So since this trail is already blazed…

…let’s get some more things going. They’re all fair questions. They can all be answered with yes or no. Or a hand raising, if you prefer.

And in all cases, for the same question to be asked in all debates “from here on out, would be even better. Might not change anything. But it couldn’t hurt.” And so I propose that we allow one second — if that — for each of the following. From here on out. In 2008, and beyond…seriously, now.

Here we go.

Senator, did we have it coming on 9/11/01?

Senator, should people be punished for being rich?

Senator, after we pay our taxes, should the government be concerned about how much money we have left over?

Senator, is atheism a religion?

Senator, should “In God We Trust” stay on our money?

Senator, is An Inconvenient Truth a “documentary”?

Senator, is the Boy Scouts a hate group?

Senator, do you believe in the Laffer Curve?

Senator, should we confront evil?

Senator, should we repeal the death tax?

Senator, does the United States have an interest in extending aid to Israel?

Senator, does the minimum wage work?

Senator, do you believe Iraq had weapons of mass destruction — since 1981?

Senator, do you support capitalism and free enterprise?

Senator, is war ever necessary?

Senator, should the military recruit — in places like Berkeley?

Senator, should we even have a military?

Senator, should the government regulate talk radio?

Senator, is the moral authority of bereaved parents absolute?

Senator, is George W. Bush an idiot?

Senator, do you believe 650,000 Iraqis have lost their lives as a direct result of our invasion?

Senator, should we abolish the death penalty?

Senator, if we don’t take opportunities to educate ourselves are we going to get stuck in Iraq?

Senator, would the planet be better off if humans were extinct?

Senator, would humanity be better off if America went away?

Senator, would America be better off if we got rid of money?

Senator, are all your political opponents evil?

Senator, if I have five persons of color working for me, and one of them quits and I replace him with a white guy, have I increased the diversity of my workforce?

Senator, do the people of our country have an inalienable right to keep and bear arms?

Senator, is Fahrenheit 9/11 a “documentary”?

Senator, are you concerned about the Gini Coefficient and the “wealth gap”?

Senator, should the government commit to providing jobs to anyone who can’t find any, for whatever reason?

Senator, should the citizens try to exist in such a way that it’s easy for the government to manage them?

Senator, does the Constitution guarantee us a right to vote?

Senator, is anyone anywhere making a profit off our recent concerns about global warming?

Senator, should the military ever do any fighting?

Senator, is there a difference between men and women?

Senator, should we ever instigate military action on a pre-emptive basis?

Senator, do you think a vote from a single foreign nation on the United Nations Security Council should nullify America’s ability to protect her interests?

Senator, does Bill Cosby have a point with his pound cake speech?

Senator, do Supreme Court justices have any business looking to foreign law to justify their decisions?

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One Second QuestionsTuesday, February 19th, 2008

One Second Questions
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008