The “shallow debate” may be a natural consequence of the process.

Name recognition is important. Candidates who are better at manipulating the press do better. Media must sell. Good journalism is really hard work to produce and is difficult to consume. Emotion is easy to produce and consume.

A more successful candidate makes it easier for voters to imagine that a candidate reflects their needs. If a candidate clearly expresses a position on even one controversial issue, about half the voters will be opposed. If a candidate is clear on several ‘controversial’ issues, they have no chance. On substantive issues, today’s leading candidates have each been the most vague of their respective party slates.

“Conscience voting” may tell people what America thinks; but, in practice, even very narrow winners tend to behave as if they had the mandate of heaven.