I think tonight's (9/17/02) VPR Switchboard program was a waste of a perfectly good hour, as Click and Clack would say. Gram (AP), Schmaler (VT Press Bureau) and Dillon (VPR) squandered an opportunity to constructively discuss and comment on the issues facing VT in the November elections and the candidates' positions on them. Their discussion on the Constitutional provision requiring the Legislature to elect statewide officers when candidates fail to achieve an electoral majority was useless. If they think VT should change the Constitution, why not say so? What are the positions of all the statewide candidates on this point? Do the candidates favor changing the Constitution? Rather, it appears the panelists think the Constitutional provision is an 'historical artifact.' Would the candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State change it?
Perhaps the journalists selected for the panel were 'second string.' I found their observations of little value and the show, in toto, worthless.
To allow the last caller to use the show as a stage to promote a single payer health system for VT and to advertise a rally in Montpelier AND for a panelist to make supportive comments is journalism at its worst.
Switchboard is usually far better than this!
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