They are basically afraid of debate because they know that their opinion doesn't stand up to common sense.
that's why the Global Warmi... excuse me .. Climate Change Industry came up with some sort of ruse that 97% of all climate scientists agree .. the purpose is to shut off debate. The most amusing were the folks that went down to Antarctica to document the ravages of warming seas, and then got stuck in the ice! Ha ha ha
An almagamation of leftists protested enough so that a conservative could not speak at a commencement ceremony. Berkeley banned Netanyahu from meeting his commitment at a speakers series. Leftists have had a 20 years attempt to shut down talk radio since they can't seem to get people to listen to them in a free market.
And, of course, this is done while impugning character and name-calling. those that don't think like them are "evil" and "racist". etc. Or they are impacably stupid, hence the castigation of Tea Partiers.
It's all about supporting the status quo and the rapid diminishment of individual freedom in favour of an ever encroaching magnificent State that will care for everyone.
I notice the rising tide of anti-semitism around the world coupled with appeasement of radical Islam, Russia and other assorted repressive regimes.
It's a mad world infused with Orwellian language.
Ahem ... I'm assuming calling jorge a racist was done tongue-in-cheek to prove a point. He is most emphatically not and that is a term you really shouldn't even use in jest. He is a bit deluded as I believe he fancies himself as a bit of a rebel but is rather a staunch defender of statist policies that repress 'the people'.
Wait a sec ... this just in .... the French today called it Climate Chaos! Oh, and we only have 500 days or else it's all over.