What did we not learn about the condition of our country over the course of four presidential debates? Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, and Marty Kaplan, director of the Norman Lear Center at USC, assess the debates with Bill Moyers. Later, Neil Barofsky, former special inspector general of the TARP bailout program, describes the obstacles to banking reform.

Kaplan cuts to the chase of the predicament faced by voters in weighing the candidates based on the debates.

“ … The lack of an answer to who sacrifices what is only the beginning of an endless list that for me is a reason to be disappointed, not just in the debates, but in the entire campaign,” he said. “I want to find out about things that are important, about plutocracy taking over democracy, the widening gulf between the powerful and the powerless, Wall Street, global warming — on and on.

“At most, they made cameo appearances during the debate. … ”

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

Moyers & Company:

 Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface.  We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig
In this Article:
#2012 election#bill moyers#video