You can not prove that Santa Claus is not real and living today.

2009-12-03T19:15:47-08:00

(Post Voting Period) No one can prove to me that Santa Claus is not real and living today. I am not just talking about Saint Nicholas from the 270 A.D. I am talking about the Santa Claus that delivers presents on Christmas Eve, and flies in the sky with reindeer. I will let my opponent start. Source: (1). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas (2). http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/saint+nicholas

TOC Round 2: Murder is, in general, just.

2009-10-07T19:57:58-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Murder - the unlawful killing of another human being with intent (or malice aforethought) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder) In general - for the most part (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20general) Just - acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just) I thank my opponent for coming up with this topic for debating for the Tournament of Champions. As he will have five rounds to argue while I have four, he shall have the burden of proof. Good luck! Note that I will not be arguing that breaking the law is always bad, but rather that breaking the morals behind them is bad.

Government is a necessary evil to protect the freedoms of human individuals.

2009-08-04T05:13:20-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Seeing as my opponent is an anarchist and I am a minarchist, this should be a debate of the ages. "Government" is here defined as a collective compulsory authority limited to protecting freedoms through a collective defense and court system. VALUE: Individual liberty: The freedoms to govern one's life and property to the extent that other people's life and property are not threatened. CRITERION: Individual liberty will be protected by establishing a government limited to an enforced court system and a collective defense. CONTENTIONS AGAINST ANARCHY: 1. Under anarchy, a domestic group could unite and force an oppressive government onto a population. 2. Under anarchy, vigilante justice and a private alternative are the only systems that protect individual freedoms. 3. Under anarchy, foreign nations can easily conquer and then establish an oppressive government. CONTENTIONS FOR MINARCHY: 1. National defense is best achieved through a collective ef

Libertarian free will is false.

2011-02-16T20:21:52-08:00

(Post Voting Period)

This is my first debate with the new formatting.

==Precondition==

My opponent accepts the definitions below.

==Definitions==

Libertarian Free Will (Libertarianism)
"Libertarianism holds onto a concept of free will that requires the individual to be able to take more than one possible course of action under a given set of circumstances."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism_%28metaphysics%29
False
not true or

Hitler was insane.

2009-06-27T16:36:39-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Disclaimer: I am not a racist, a Nazi, or any of the sort. However, I do not believe that Hitler was insane. I do believe that he had every one of his beliefs rationalized. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hitler- Adolf Hitler, Leader of the Third Reich, also known as Nazi Germany, an Axis Power during the Second World War. Insane- mentally deranged http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/insane ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I await my opponent's arguments and assert that he/she has burden of proof.

On the compulsory minimum wage

2009-07-26T19:37:38-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Minimum wages are economically stupid government policies. The "compulsory minimum wage" is said to be "compulsory" to distinguish it from the "natural" minimum wage. Wage is always less than the value of the hourly produce of an employee's labour. Otherwise, the employee would not be hired. Because of the nature of wage, we can divide the effects of minimum wage into three categories: -When the value of the minimum wage is below what would otherwise have been paid -When the value of the minimum wage is above the real value of the produce of labour -When the value of the minimum wage is between what would otherwise have been paid and the real value of the produce of labour If a minimum wage is lower than a job would otherwise pay, then it has no effect. If a minimum wage is higher than the economic value of a job, then it eliminates that job from economic feasibility. If a minimum wage is higher than what a job would otherwise pay, but lowe

All Agnostics are also Atheists

2011-05-25T21:06:31-08:00

(Post Voting Period) I will argue that all agnostics are actually, in fact, atheists (and not the other way around)... My argument: There's a difference between "knowledge" and "belief". For example: I can know that a black cat has four legs. I can have this knowledge despite any other beliefs I might have. I can believe that 1) This black cat will land on his feet if scooted off the table, and 2) This black cat is bad luck because it is black. And we can have many more beliefs about the cat despite the knowledge of it we have. An agnostic is one who does not know if a god can or does exist (a = without, gnostic = belief). No one knows for certain of a god's existence (especially for the way god is defined), which makes us all agnostic. However, you can still have a belief about something, despite the knowledge (or lack thereof) that you have of it. An atheist is one who does not believe in a god (a = without, theist = god-centered belief). Now, of course, there seems to

Atheism relies on the belief that nothing is needed to have anything occur.

2009-05-21T19:51:37-08:00

(Post Voting Period) (Notice that I have categorized "atheism" under Religion not because it is a religion, but because it is related to religion and religious topics.) My opponent has stated that "Atheism is the belief that nothing is needed to have anything occur" on his profile. I negate this statement. It is possible that my opponent was joking, but this is America, and we can debate about whatever we want! Atheism: a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. (http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=atheism) God: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe (Merriam-Webster) I will allow my opponent to make the first argument.

Life does not have a satisfactory "meaning" under an atheist perspective.

2009-05-02T11:32:20-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Meaning here means "purpose", as in the phrase, "The meaning of life". Satisfactory- giving or affording satisfaction; fulfilling all demands or requirements http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/satisfactory I contend that life has no purpose and that their is no motivation to live from an atheist perspective. I will allow my opponent to go first so that he/she may present a few potential purposes of life to be debated.

I am a n00b.

2009-04-05T12:36:32-08:00

(Post Voting Period) I am not a n00b. If you think that I am a n00b, try to PWNZOR me.

The Constitution is flawed...(full resolution below)

2010-08-03T21:10:27-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Resolved: The Constitution's flaws keep the United States federal government from being limited. "The Constitution" refers to the Constitution of the United States that was ratified in 1787. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html "flaw" - an imperfection or weakness and especially one that detracts from the whole or hinders effectiveness http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flaw "limited government" - a type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/limited+government Note: USFG stands for United States Federal Government. Contentions: I. The Elastic Clause II. Wartime Exceptions and Suspension of Habeas Corpus III. The General Welfare Clause IV. The Supreme Court I. The Elastic Clause "Congress shall have Power...To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and a

Government exists to help the poor.

2008-09-25T19:23:12-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Let's start by reading the purpose of our own government according to our constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." By establishing the constitution, the founders established our government. The only reason named that could possibly suggest that our government exists only to help the poor is "promote the general Welfare", which meant (when our government was established) to promote the common good, not to help the poor, thich is a more modern definition. In other situations, the government was never created to help the poor. Instead, the government exists to protect the people. That was the purpose of the Roman Empire, which never existed to help the poor.

The U. S. adopting Cap and Trade will have a significant effect on climate.

2008-11-25T12:18:49-08:00

(Post Voting Period) As Con, I will wait until my opponent puts out his or her contentions until I actually debate. A significant effect is considered to be a global differrence in atleast a quarter of a degree in fifty years, which is very merciful considering that some statistics say that the global average tempertaure has increased about a degree over the last hundred years. The Cap and Trade system is the system that will be employed under both major presidential candidates' administrations. I will let my opponent pick a plan to be specifically debated. McCain's Cap and Trade: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/da151a1c-733a-4dc1-9cd3-f9ca5caba1de.htm Obama's Cap and Trade: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy_more#emissions Unfortunately, neither candidates go into much detail, especially Barack Obama. As we go into further detail, we will quote their debates as to their actual plans. I look forward to the prospect of this debate.

The United States should abolish the death penalty

2011-07-20T21:30:25-08:00

(Post Voting Period)

First round is acceptance. 2nd round is constructive, no rebuttals, 3rd & 4th are for rebuttals. Cross examination is permitted. No new arguments in the last round.

The death penalty will be defined in this round as: The punishment of execution, administered to someone convicted of a capital crime.

On the following proposed "economic stimulus" plan

2009-07-22T23:46:39-08:00

(Post Voting Period) The resolution is affirmed if the economy as a whole would be helped by these proposals. The resolution is negated if otherwise. ********************** ECONOMICS FOUNDATION ****************************** "THE produce of labour constitutes the natural recompense or wages of labour." http://www.adamsmith.org/smith/won-b1-c8.htm "But the whole price of any commodity must still finally resolve itself into some one or other, or all of those three parts; as whatever part of it remains after paying the rent of the land, and the price of the whole labour employed in raising, manufacturing, and bringing it to market, must necessarily be profit to somebody." http://www.adamsmith.org/smith/won-b1-c6.htm "The occasional fluctuations in the market price of gold and silver bullion arise from the same causes as the like fluctuations in that of all other commodities." http://www.adamsmith.org/smith/won-b1-c5.htm "The labourer is rich or poor, is well or ill rewarded, i

The welfare and progressive tax systems are less preferable than...

2009-04-30T01:25:42-08:00

(Post Voting Period) ....the following flat negative income tax system: (The resolution has a character limit. Please include the end in the resolution). "The following negative income tax system": =There is a fixed income line =For every dollar an individual makes above the line, that individual pays a certain percentage =For every dollar an individual makes below the line, that individual receives a certain percentage *Example* Baseline: $50,000 per year Percentage: 25% -An individual making $50,000 will pay no taxes -An individual making $250,000 will pay $50,000 in taxes -An individual making $10,000 will receive $10,000 on tax day *Example* Baseline: $30,000 Percentage: 50% -An individual making $30,000 will pay no taxes -An individual making $130,000 will pay $50,000 in taxes -An individual making $10,000 will receive $10,000 on tax day On the contrary, with a progressive tax system and a welfare system, an individual is put into an income bracket, i

Expansionary monetary policy does not lower interest rates.

2009-04-23T13:26:43-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Expansionary monetary policy is "monetary policy that seeks to increase the size of the money supply." http://www.babylon.com/definition/expansionary_monetary_policy/ This belief is widespread because of its intents. While the intent of such a policy is to increase the loanable funds (therefore decreasing interest rates [supply and demand]) http://www.economyprofessor.com/economictheories/loanable-funds-theory-of-the-rate-of-interest.php , the inflationary result leads interest rates to sky rocket and ultimately the result is nullified and in fact, overpowered. Interest rates skyrocket because there is more currency units, and the dollar's value decreases. http://www.indepthinfo.com/economics/hyperinflation.htm When the values of the loans currently held by banks decrease, then the banks lose overall value. They then must make up this value, specifically by increasing interest rates. A bank cannot have its interest rates below the rates of inflation

If we follow the Declaration of Independence, then it is past time to overthrow the U.S. government.

2009-04-17T13:42:59-08:00

(Post Voting Period) Disclaimer: I do not advocate this, nor do I endorse this belief. In no way does wjmelements or debate.org endorse the views advocated in this debate. From the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html Therefore, my burden is to prove that government

Federal aid to private companies is unconstitutional in the United States.

2009-04-11T16:42:34-08:00

(Post Voting Period) I wish luck to whoever accepts this debate. unconstitutional- not constitutional; unauthorized by or inconsistent with the constitution, as of a country http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/unconstitutional Federal- pertaining to or of the nature of a union of states under a central government distinct from the individual governments of the separate states http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/federal 1. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution declares what powers Congress do and do not have. Such a power as to give federal aid to private companies is not even vaguely listed. 2. Ammendment X to the Constitution states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states, or to the people, respectively." http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html Therefore, because the Constitution does not delegate such a power to the United States, i

All Morals are Relative

2010-04-06T20:41:11-08:00

(Post Voting Period) First of all, I would like to thank whomever accepts this debate. I look forward to a good debate. =====Rules===== This debate will be one of moral relativism. The Pro side will be arguing that morals are relative and the Con side will argue that that morals are not relative. Please avoid the use of insults and avoid becoming angry or petty. This is a debate, so please maintain your dignity. Finally, this debate will hold both sides to a legal standard of proof for all evidence submitted. If you intend to use something to support your arguments, be sure that it is both valid and sustainable. =====Opening Statement===== Morals are easily one of the most debated subjects. These debates often take shape in debates of religion, politics, or social norms, however they all "boil down" to the same arguments; my ideas are right, and your ideas are wrong. To that end, it is my position that no ones morals are superior or "more right" than another's. =====A

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