Reply #2: Absolutely not.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

Democracy has nothing to do with wasting everyone's time on candidates that have absolutely no chance of winning. I don't want a debate so watered down that the actual candidates that I care about, that have a legitimate shot at victory, only get the opportunity to make a few comments. Furthermore, campaign debates are not a necessity of democracy. They are the invention of political parties to get their ideas out on the issues. They are funded and decided upon by political parties and candidates, not the government. Nowhere in our official laws governing elections will you see it mandated that a debate even has to occur. In no way, shape, or form has democracy been limited by not inviting fringe candidates with no hope to a debate. NONE.