Reactions to the GOP Debate

COMMENTARY | I do not profess to be highly knowledgeable of American politics. The GOP debate on Wednesday night was the first political debate I have ever watched. However, I was excited to study some of the candidates for the Republican nomination and set my digital recorder so I wouldn't miss a response.

The debate seemed to be a presentation of the personal war of states between Rick Perry and Mitt Romney, not America as a whole. I noticed while debating certain issues only two of the candidates actually detailed solutions. Also, while all the candidates supported less government "micro-managing," no one broached the subject of the chaos this would cause.

From the outset, I noticed Perry and Romney took the opportunity to trade barbs and attack each other's state policies. It was obvious that they explained the shortcomings of those policies by citing the differences between Massachusetts and Texas but were quick to try to disparage the other because of those differences. To me, it set a bad tone for the debate. The issues of America are not limited to the policies of two states. Herman Cain and Rick Santorum impressed me by bringing the debate back to the issues at hand.

Cain presented actual solutions in his answers. His idea of using the Chilean model of "personal retirement accounts" for American youth sounds like a viable solution to Social Security reform, unlike Perry referring to it as a "Ponzi scheme" and just shutting it down completely. The other candidates didn't agree with Perry's provocative language, citing the thousands of citizens who depend on Social Security for their well being. They agreed that reform is necessary and vital but fix the administration instead of dismantling it.

One of the facts I did know about the Republicans is they didn't favor big government. Their view is that the constant regulation and micro-management of states should be curbed, if not abolished. Unfortunately, I felt the moderators did not ask more pressing questions about what a small government could do to this country. There are reasons we have some of the regulations that are in existence today. American history details the selfish acts of individuals and corporations in order to gain more profit. Government was created to protect citizens and assist with their overall well-being.

This will not be the last political debate I watch and look forward to studying the candidates in more depth. I am curious how the Republican Party will keep from in-fighting regarding the brash behavior of Perry and the resulting criticism of his peers.

Holly Bailey, In debate, Romney and Perry try to make 2012 a two-Republican race, Yahoo! News

Warner Todd Huston, 2012 GOP Hopefuls: Herman Cain, Right Pundits

Chris Moody, Rick Perry's remarks on Social Security stand out at latest debate, Yahoo! News