Politics

 I really hate that fact checking the debates always happens after the debate airs and I propose a solution that would really help lessen the national debt.   How about every time a candidate (presidential, vice presidential, congressional, etc) misrepresents facts or states outright lies be fined? Seriously.  Both parties are notorious for doing it and there's a ton of money to be made with that venture.  I'm so incredibly tired of having to do two hours of research fact checking after every debate.  It's exhausting.  Why can't fact checking happen in real time or almost real time?  Why can't they stop the debate any time a candidate misrepresents to clarify or give context to the statements being made?

More than anything, I think this is the most frustrating part of every election year.  At some point, people decided to just "expect that politicians (our nation's leaders and potential leaders) will lie or misrepresent facts" and that became acceptable.  People throw their hands in the air and say, "hey, it's politics."  It's not okay.  It's not okay at all from either candidate.  How are citizens supposed to wade through it all and make a truly informed decision?  I understand why people dislike watching the debates because it's not like we're actually going to get any real facts.  Nothing will be any clearer.

Fine everyone who misrepresents or distorts the facts, put all the proceeds to the national deficit,  and take the politicians to tasks.  Demand more from our candidates we will not only start actually discussing the real issues this country faces and lessen the debt at the same time.   It won't be the entire solution but it's a start.