Debates work
Diego Martín Velázquez Caballero
This reflection takes place a few hours after the first presidential debate between Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez. Regardless of the result, as a precedent to said civic exercise, the aim has been to develop a climate of opinion unfavorable to face-to-face contact between the contenders for the presidency of the republic. It is true that there has been an extensive atmosphere of politicization throughout the six-year term and with political campaigns so advanced that the partisan electoral process causes boredom; However, admitting that the political struggle is defined and that the elections are not competitive shows that indifference and a complacent authoritarian political culture are beginning to consolidate.
There is a global crisis of capitalist liberal democracy; But, at times, it seems that in Mexico it is total and that constitutes a high risk because it generates uncertainty about the regime to come. If politics in Mexico has been canceled, why don't we leave it to artificial intelligence? It has already been said that the best thing for Mexico is for gringos to govern it, but what if it is left to AI?
The agora and debate are inherent to politics. When the possibilities that may emerge from public dialogue between candidates are undermined, politics is nullified. The debates, amplified by different media, could be the only possibility for people to be able to see a more critical and aware image of the candidates about the work carried out by neuromarketing. Individuals could even change the direction of their electoral preference.
Although electoral reform in the INE is important, the basic elements of civilized political competition cannot be ignored in such a negative way.
The ruling party should be attentive to the consequences of political exclusion and undemocratic attitudes. What are the proposals for political reeducation of progressivism to avoid falling into the authoritarian attitudes of conservative thought? If there is no debate, there is no freedom of expression.
The participatory schemes of democratic liberalism must be maintained so that individuals make their contribution to the political system. The debates are important because they are outside the trappings of the rally and the campaign teams. In the debate, the candidates have to show their political leadership nakedly and convey the idea of their ability to mobilize the entire apparatus of political power, to inspire a country.
Debates should not be discouraged; On the contrary, their promotion and attention constitutes the minimum morality of elites and citizens.
I hope that the debate has allowed the growth of the presidential proposals and that the social sectors attentive to this exchange of ideas and criticism, take the necessary information for their electoral participation.