Debate: The Civilized Antidote

The news in the last 2 weeks has provided numerous - and ugly - examples of the breakdown of civil discussion and behavior in our nation.Now, I'm not saying that debate cures all that...but it does provide a very positive example of the strength of ideas, the power of commitment, and a healthy respect for process. Kids learn how to fashion an argument, buttress it with facts, follow a procedure that allows for a full hearing without interruption, and finally, an opportunity for a case to be decided on its merits. I was wondering last night how many members of the US Congress might have been debaters. Now there's an idea: maybe I'll just do some fact-checking myself.

Maybe we should issue an invitation to Representatives and Senators to attend NYUDL and other debates?