Some questions I’d ask at tonight’s presidential debate

Tonight is the first and so far only scheduled debate between the two major party candidates for the American presidency. I can’t watch it live, as I’ll be teaching. Hopefully I can listen to a recording as I walk, train, and drive back home.

On a lark, I came up with these questions which I’d ask if I had the opportunity. I’m not a politician nor a journalist, so my questions are a bit different from what those professionals would ask. I came up with them as a futurist and educator, reflecting my concerns in those areas.  I’m not interested in playing gotcha, but honestly am curious what Trump and Harris would say in response.

I also generated these based on my experience with Vermont’s town hall meetings (actual town halls, not the awful tv simulacra), where we had freedom to directly question officials from our interests.  It’s not a total set of questions aimed at fully understanding both candidates, so much as an expression of some topics I’m thinking of now.

Most of these questions aim at both candidates.  I’ll list them first, then add a few for Trump and Harris individually.

For both candidates

1. It seems that the world is experiencing multiple, interconnected crises across continents and aspects of global civilization, a situation some of us refer to as the “polycrisis.” What is your grand strategy for leading your administration, the nation, and the world through the unfolding polycrisis?
2. The past three presidents and the foreign policy establishment have declared China to be America’s most threatening competitor, both economically and geopolitically. Do you agree?  If so, what is your strategy for countering that nation? Would you pursue economic decoupling? How would you keep competition from turning into armed conflict?
3. Humanity is in the grip of a sustained demographic transition, whereby childbirth rates plummet and the over-65 population expands. What is your plan for leading America through this historical transformation? For example, would you use policies to encourage childbearing? Would you encourage some forms of immigration, as immigrants tend to be younger? Or would you lead America towards having a smaller, older population?
4. Researchers have established that wealth and income inequality have escalated since the early 1980s. How might your administration address this macroeconomic trend, if at all?
5. Artificial intelligence has, according to some, the potential to upend much of civilization, from the labor market to cultural expression, politics to human behavior.  How would you lead America in grappling with this technology?
6. Decades after the Apollo missions took humanity to the moon, a new space  race has taken off.  China, NASA, the European Union, other nations, and a burgeoning private sector are competing in the exploration of space, from rocket launches to the rest of the solar system.  What is your strategy for space?  What partnerships and competition to you envision?
7. American higher education is in many ways the envy of the world, thanks to our successes in research, teaching, and institutional diversity. Yet the sector is now experiencing a range of problems.  How would you help develop and support American colleges and universities?
8. The COVID experience transformed our nation and the world.  As we anticipate the next pandemics and epidemics, what lessons would you apply from the COVID story to better prepare us for the next biological disaster?
9. Speaking of biology, how would you direct the federal government to respond to developments in biotechnology?

For Donald Trump

• In the past you’ve described climate change as a hoax. In recent interviews you have described your climate strategy solely as one focused on clean air and water – laudable and essential goals, but not to the point. Would you wind down American climate commitments, or is there anything else you might consider on the global warming front?  (Follow up) Would you use the government and the bully pulpit to block climate action from state governments, companies, nonprofits, or individuals?
• You’ve disavowed Project 2025. Are there particular policies or plans in that effort that you object to?
• Do you now consider yourself the actual victor of the 2020 election, and think the election was stolen from you?

For Kamala Harris

• Will you continue president Biden’s student loan forgiveness initiative, or would you alter that effort in some way?
• Your background as a prosecutor is key to your career and identity. What are your plans for addressing legal issues as president?  I’m especially curious about the decriminalization of various substances and drugs, the movement of undocumented people across national borders, and copyright in the digital age.

I have others in mind, but that’s enough for now. Perhaps the interviewers will ask versions or fragments of some of these questions.

Now, off to classes.

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