Fireside Chats

The political scene is ramping up. Rhetoric gets hotter and hotter, sort of like the weather. Maybe we should have these conventions in the winter so candidates and their supporters could cool off. In fact, it’d save a lot of time and money, to say nothing of tempers, if they could just have a couple of fireside chats, in the manner of Franklin Roosevelt.

There would be only one rule: Tell the Truth. Could the candidates be given a truth serum? Could that be incorporated into those fireside chats? Swearing to tell the truth, with one’s hand on the Bible, used to be sufficient, but now dissembling and downright lies have become an art form and are, sad to say, even thought of as admirable. Talking a lot while saying nothing has gotten to be the description of a politician.

Anyhow, getting back to the fireside chats. The two Presidential hopefuls would have to sit in rocking chairs (there’s something soothing about a rocker) and they would have a cup of coffee or hot chocolate or tea on a little table sitting between them. We, the voters, would not be in the room. We would be in front of our televisions or radios, watching and listening

Oh, I forgot! Along with the coffee and hot chocolate, a platter of S’mores would be on that table. Maybe there would be two rules. In addition to telling the truth, each candidate must be courteous. No name calling, no raised voices, no accusations.

First, Presidential Wannabes would tell us everything about their past: their childhood, their parents, schools, grades, hometowns, accomplishments, hobbies, and the books they like to read. I firmly believe when a person runs for public office, he/she should be willing to have full disclosure so that their life is an open book; no secrets. If he/she can’t do this, don’t get in the political arena. We can believe them; remember the truth serum?

Anyway, then these two political enemies would tell us about their belief in the Constitution. Do they plan to follow it? Do they think it is out-dated? Do they have a plan for something better and why do they think it’s better? Do they firmly believe it is our foundation for government and without it, we’d be drifting?

Now, all this is discussed while munching those gooey, sweet S’mores and sipping the warming drink. Fireplace pops and crackles and a cozy warmth surrounds the two hopefuls.

Then, why do they want to be President? Do they have a concern for Americans? Do they love America? Can they look fairly at hard problems, weigh them in the light of the Constitution? Do they owe allegiance to a particular group because their favor has been bought with money? Are they their own person or does a group with an agenda own them? Are they able to remember they want to be the President of the United States only and it deserves their allegiance? Don’t worry; you can believe them because of the truth serum.

After all this, each one would casually reach into a bowl and draw from it a slip of paper with a question. These questions would have been sent to them from the people they wish to represent. They have not been screened or filtered. Each candidate would answer truthfully, without dissembling, fabricating, or cloaking the truth. He or she would just spit out an honest answer, let the chips fall where they may.

A couple of these fireside chats should be sufficient for Americans to decide which person they want in the oval office. Even though these two might have vastly dissimilar beliefs and not even wish to be friends, they would have to be courteous. If Generals Lee and Grant could manage to meet without hurling insults, with only a table between them, so should they.