A neutral plan needs to be made that will allow other parties to participate in at least some of the debates. This would allow minority views to be heard and enable them to challenge the views that tend to dominate the media. As the final election becomes nearer, the main candidates could be heard. As a condition of their licensing each network would be required to broadcast one debate, and they would also be permitted and welcomed to broadcast the other debates if they wish. Most people probably agree that the greatest need in politics is for campaign finance reform.
Politicians waste most of their time raising money and are thus corrupted.
Yet First Amendment rights of political expression need to be protected. Thus I believe a compromise is possible that would provide public funding in elections that would help voters to become educated on the candidates while at the same time individuals and groups would be allowed to spend money in order to try to persuade voters. First, publicly financed debates in all public elections broadcast by the media would enable voters to hear the views of candidates. This would also help educate viewers about the candidates in a fair way. These means would help to blunt the effect of being bombarded by paid commercial advertisements that still would be allowed in order to protect free expression.