There’s a party leader’s debate Tuesday night in Nova Scotia, for three of the four party leaders. If it’s anything like the last one we had, the Chronicle-Herald will crown Stephen McNeil the winner by virtue of the dubious distinction that he was marginally less boring than the other two. And no wonder – there is virtually no distinction between these three guys. The only thing that does make one of them stand out – the fact that the marginally less boring one is considerably taller than the other two – was compensated for in the first debate by having the other two guys stand on risers, so as to convey a false impression of comparable height to the viewers at home. I’m not sure whose idea that was, but it did give me a hint as to why the leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia was excluded from that debate, as well. Ryan Watson is even taller than Stephen McNeil is boring. He’s 6′7″! Clearly, the CBC didn’t have enough risers and the only other option was to actually dig a hole in the stage and make Ryan stand in it.
I kid, of course. The real reason the Green Party was excluded is, like the discarded gas price options presented to the MacDonald government, unrevealed. It is my own humble opinion that because we got public funding, like all the other political parties, the public broadcaster might have recognized that Nova Scotians had a right to hear the Green voice. They helped pay for it, after all. But that is not how it transpired, and Green Party leader Ryan Watson was not invited to participate. Mired in the mindset of 20th century media, the debate hosts failed to recognize a 21st century party.
They can be forgiven their oversight, because they at least recognize the limitations of their old school media and are beginning to change their models to better utilize the potentials of the social web. Take Tuesday night’s debate, for example. Sure, they have excluded the Green Party leader from sharing the stage with any of the would-be premiers, but they have excluded all the rest of us citizens from doing so too. Yet they have provided the online tools for all of us to participate live during the debate. Both the CBC and The Chronicle Herald will provide live and interactive forums, and I would encourage all Nova Scotians – citizen and candidate alike – to participate in this potentially most democratic of debates. Indeed, (pipe dream alert) I’d love to see the the leaders come down off their risers and join we mere mortals in the fray.
I know I’ll be there.
Posted by JP on June 3, 2009 at 11:36 am
Debate? I think not.
Both “debates” were more question and answer sessions. Boring is a mild adjective describing what took place. Useless and non-eventful are a couple other words that can describe what transpired.
It is unfortunate that Ryan was not included. If you truly are a provincial party (running candidates in 80-85% of the districts I believe that the leader should be included.
Understandably, Mr. Watson does not have a true chance at becoming the Premier of Nova Scotia in this election. However how can the Greens move forward and elect members if the system does not give them all the tools available to the other parties.
The electorate must get to know the Green party for them to get more votes. Over time this will happen. Though I I feel that the other parties and the media (to some degree) like things the way they are.
Blah…