Dear Editor:

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I remember when presidential debates were real debates about important topics for our country. You learned something by watching and you had a much better idea of how a candidate would resolve problems and how well they listened.

Debates today provide little to no real information, and create a theater of the absurd as fraudulent videos are used as reasons to hate, and absolutely known inaccurate information that feeds discriminatory remarks go by without courageous factual clarifications from candidates or moderators.

The best we get for insights into leadership characteristics from the “debating” candidates comes from observations of 5- and 9-year-old children. The 5-year-old spends her time assessing the theatrics of the debaters based on the facial expressions and attitude towards other actors on stage: “Why are his eyes so fierce? He looks angry." "His face is too scary. His hair is too scary and his eyes are too fierce." "Why are they all so scary?"

Her conclusion, as well as those of other viewers, is all of these candidates appear angry and too scary. The boy asks if they are all from the same party, why are they so mean to each other? These descriptions and questions pretty well sums up both “GOP debates.”

Potential voters are left without a sign that historically good presidents have had: a strong vision for our country's future, the ability to put their own times in perspective of history, effective communication skills, knowledge, courage, integrity, and the ability to work with others.

Maybe it’s time we return to real debates and real facts?

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb