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Tonight is the first of the three presidential debates, so national networks will be airing the debate in lieu of their typical schedule of shows.

I know of few political debates between the parties, or even within one party, which don’t include some amount of trash talking and finger pointing to what one candidate does worse than the other, or defending a candidate against the accusations of the other.

But it is my hope, futile as it may be, that the two candidates — President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney — can get to their podiums and focus on explaining to the American people what they each will do to help the citizens of the country, rather than focus on what the other candidate will do, or may have done, to hurt us.

A debate is meant to be a time to argue your point and give reasoning as to why someone should side with, or in this case vote for, one debater over the other.

Many Americans, I think, make up their minds based on hearsay and rumors, rather than actual facts, as to which candidate they will be supporting in any given election. This happens all the way down to the local level elections.

Instead, it would be ideal if voters would, or could, educate themselves based on the merits of what the actual candidates have to say about themselves and what they believe and have proven to do in the past, rather than based on what each other says the other has failed to do or has done to worsen the country.

Most people I know already are tired of seeing the political ads and hearing the trash talking back and forth, and the election day isn’t until Nov. 6. The next month it is likely to increase, rather than decrease.

Instead of listening to the ads, watch the debates and see if the candidates can prove themselves this way. If they can’t, or if they resort to more trash talking, then tune out and see what kind of information on our presidential candidates they have provided on their campaign websites that may answer the questions voters have about who is the best candidate.

For information about Gov. Mitt Romney, go to mittromney.com. For information on Pres. Barack Obama, go to barackobama.com.

Then Nov. 6, or during early voting, make your voice heard.

Wendy Byerly Wood is the associate editor of The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at wbyerly-wood@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1923.