Columbus: The big political event this week is the second Presidential Debate. Yes, it’s the first for Kamala Harris, but the second for Donald Trump in 2024.

For Democrat Harris this is a “coming out party.” This debate will be her first opportunity to answer random questions without notes or a teleprompter on live TV. If you’re a member of a Toastmasters Club you know this is something we do every meeting, without the TV. And the more you do it, the better you get at impromptu speaking.

For Republican Trump, one challenge will be to rein in his tendency to ramble in answering questions. Unlike VP Harris, he has done several presidential debates. He has an opportunity, like a football player, to review the videotapes and see where he had a good response and where he failed.

You probably know that this election boils down to a half dozen states, led by Pennsylvania. Even in those states where the race is tight, about 90% of voters have already decided how they intend to vote. Oddly, while millions will tune in Tuesday night, the two candidates will aim their comments at a few thousand undecided voters in each of those states. For example, with Pennsylvania in mind, I hope the Moderators ask VP Harris, “What is fracking, and are you for it or against it?” A great follow-up question would be, “What is your policy on horizontal drilling?”

With North Carolina and Georgia in mind, the Moderators should ask Mr. Trump, “What is your policy on abortion? Please be specific.”

I hope both candidates are asked about the causes of inflation and what their economic policies would be to maintain it at about 2% per year.

On foreign policy, each candidate should explain their views on Ukraine, Hamas, Iran, and how to keep China from attacking Taiwan.

President Biden has kept pretty quiet lately. But his son Hunter finally decided that not paying over a million dollars in income taxes is a crime, so he pleaded guilty. I’ve heard that a friend recently paid the back taxes for Hunter. I wonder if President Biden feels that Hunter has paid his “fair share.”

On a different topic, as a retired faculty member of a prestigious university, it pains me to share the following information. The Brookings Institution surveyed “chief academic officers” and “business leaders,” asking a simple question: Are current college graduates ready for the workforce? In the opinion of the university administrators, 90% believe their graduates are ready to work.

Do business leaders agree? No way! Only 11% think new college grads are prepared to enter the workforce. (I’m guessing one of those “11%” is president of McDonald’s.)

That is a shocking discrepancy. Perhaps universities need to replace their current Deans with people with business experience. Hiring a CEO as a university president might help, too.

Enrollment at colleges and universities of all sizes is dropping. This survey helps explain why more high school graduates are bypassing college and going to a trade school.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

          “You can’t beat an Administration by attacking it. You have to show some plan of improving on it.” WA #101, Nov. 16, 1924

“The only salvation I can see for the young is to increase the college term to an additional four years…  You’ll say, ‘Well, what could they learn in another four years?’ Well, there must be some little something about making a living that they haven’t learned yet, and they could kind of work on that for the next four years.” Radio, June 2, 1935