http://www.debate.org/debates/?order=1&sort=&category=Society Customize this RSS feed by going to http://www.debate.org/rss/ en-us 2009-11-07T09:20:01-08:00 2009-11-07T09:20:01-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolve-Failled-nations-are-a-greater-threat-to-the-united-states-than-stable-nations/1/ (Debating Period) Definitions: Threat: A communicated intent to cause harm (black law) Failed nation: Utterly incapable of sustaining itself as a member of the internation economy. Stable nation: Able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent (dictionary.com) Resolve: Failed nations are a greater threat to the United States than Stable nations. Contention 1: Iran is a nuclear threat * "The Iranian nuclear program has been a matter of great concern to the international community for several years. Iran signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and has claimed consistently that its nuclear activities are directed to peaceful purposes. In 2003–2005, following revelations by an Iranian opposition group about secret nuclear sites, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted intensive inspections, which revealed that for almost twenty years Iran had engaged in a range of undeclared nuclear activities, including uran http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolve-Failled-nations-are-a-greater-threat-to-the-united-states-than-stable-nations/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T16:36:58-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Abortion/46/ (Debating Period) 1. Since life begins at conception, abortion is akin to murder as it is the act of taking human life. Abortion is in direct defiance of the commonly accepted idea of the sanctity of human life No civilized society permits one human to intentionally harm or take the life of another human without punishment, and abortion is no different. 2. Adoption is a viable alternative to abortion and accomplishes the same result. And with 1.5 million American families wanting to adopt a child, there is no such thing as an unwanted child. 3. An abortion can result in medical complications later in life; the risk of ectopic pregnancies doubles, and the chance of a miscarriage and pelvic inflammatory disease also increases. 4. In the instance of rape and incest, proper medical care can ensure that a woman will not get pregnant. Abortion punishes the unborn child who committed no crime; instead, it is the perpetrator who should be punished. 5. Abortion should n http://www.debate.org/debates/Abortion/46/comments/ 2009-11-06T11:57:36-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Be-It-Resolved-That-The-Goverment-Should-Nationalize-the-Internet./1/ (Voting Period) Let's deal with some definitions; 'This Government' is herein defined as the United States of America, for the sake of simplicity. 'Nationalize' should be recognized as a buy-out of AT&T and Comcast, which accounts for 30% of the U.S market for internet service providers. Entrance to the market should not be restricted and no new regulations shall be put on the rest of the ISPs (internet service providers) in the market. I would suggest, though not require, that my opponent begin with a constructive argument for their case and leave the deconstruction for the next 3 rounds. ----- Friends, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The world's most vital technology is at risk. Our national dialog, our freedom of information and our children are at risk. On one side, the large internet service providers are rallying for a new system to government the internet, where an average person must pay for a subscription model to access the internet. Much in the sam http://www.debate.org/debates/Be-It-Resolved-That-The-Goverment-Should-Nationalize-the-Internet./1/comments/ 2009-10-29T08:44:32-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Birdman-is-clearly-inferior-to-Rob1billion/1/ (Debating Period) The purpose of this debate is to haze this newcomer. I consider him my intellectual inferior, and will provide evidence to support this. Here is why I am better than Birdman: Contention 1: Birdman is is well-behind in his organic chemistry studies, and will most likely fail the class (or pass with a mediocre grade). This is because he is too busy eating sushi at Little Tokyo all the time and is not smart enough to realize he should be studying. I, on the other hand, take my classes somewhat seriously, most of the time. Contention 2: Birdman cannot beat me, most of the time, in tennis matches. The only reason he took me in 3 straight basketball games yesterday was because I clearly wasn't feeling well, and had a sore throat. Also, he showed up 45 minutes later than he said he would in an evil attempt to make me use the little energy I had before he got there. Contention 3: Birdman's guitar skills are sub-par. Can he even pull off a C-chord without havin http://www.debate.org/debates/Birdman-is-clearly-inferior-to-Rob1billion/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T22:24:11-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Debate-should-be-considered-a-recreational-activity-rather-than-educational/1/ (Debating Period) There is alot of dispute on whether debate in itself should be considered educational rather than recreational. I will be arguing on the PRO side of this debate. DEFINITIONS Recreational: 1. Refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like. 2. A pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Recreational Educational: 1. Pertaining to education. 2. Tending or intended to educate, instruct, or inform: an educational show on television. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Educational ARGUMENTS 1. As far as education goes, debates generally provide nothing substantially tangible for educational. Any one arguing against some one else, usually knows everything about the topic they are arguing about before hand. So when the actual debate comes in, basically it's just a constant clash of opinions. 2. People are generally ignorant. An ind http://www.debate.org/debates/Debate-should-be-considered-a-recreational-activity-rather-than-educational/1/comments/ 2009-11-06T16:53:12-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/TOC-Round-2-Murder-is-in-general-just./1/ (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. http://www.debate.org/debates/TOC-Round-2-Murder-is-in-general-just./1/comments/ 2009-10-07T19:57:58-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/There-is-no-Reason-to-be-Good/1/ (Voting Period) I am arguing that there is no ultimate reason behind morality like there is behind things of science. Thus, I am also assuming that there are no moral truths, or no a priori morality, so no guideline or ideal to which we might compare ourselves. So take note, I don't mean that there IS a reason to be BAD, I just titled the debate to imply a hopeless lack of morality in our world, or reason for morality, rather. "Good"--describing action or deliberation that is compassionate or done towards the well being of another (please don't try to find loopholes in this definition and make it into a semantics argument where you can trick me into losing. Only point out a semantical issue if you deem it completely necessary to your understanding of what I'm trying to convey with this definition. Burden of Proof: The BoP lies on the one who says there IS a reason to be good, or that there IS a higher, objective morality. Sidenote: I'm not doing this because I'm s http://www.debate.org/debates/There-is-no-Reason-to-be-Good/1/comments/ 2009-10-28T18:44:43-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Public-health-concerns-justify-compulsory-immunizations./1/ (Post Voting Period) This is the LD topic and I would like to do an LD style debate. Before I begin I would like to offer the following definitions. According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary justify is to prove or show to be just, right or reasonable. Just is to be in conformity with what is morally upright or good. According to Random House Unabridged Dictionary compulsory is to be required; mandatory. Public health, according to medterms.com, is medicine that is concerned with the health of the community as a whole. Also according to Random House Unabridged Dictionary concern is to relate to; be connected with. My value is morality. Morality is to be in good or right conduct. The resolution is asking whether compulsory immunizations are justifiable which as stated in the definitions mean are they moral. Thus morality should be the value for this round. My criterion is utilitarianism. Utilitarianism states that the morality of an action is determined by how it affects uti http://www.debate.org/debates/Public-health-concerns-justify-compulsory-immunizations./1/comments/ 2009-10-15T11:29:07-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Gay-Marraige-Should-Be-Allowed./1/ (Voting Period) Gays should be allowed to marry partners of their choice just as heterosexual couples do. It is ignorant in today's world to deny such a basic right to an individual because of something that is innate. Yes, sexuality is not a choice, it is innate. For my first point, let me state that a civil union is not a reasonable compromise for a legal marriage. Most civil unions don't have the same rights as a legal marriage has. Even if we made all civil unions exactly equal to legal marriage but called it something else, it wouldn't be enough. The concept of "separate but equal" has already failed. Segregation is not a solution when it comes to rights. History has proven this. Secondly, where is the benefit of oppressing gays from marrying? Religion isn't an answer. Religion is the excuse. Those who claim it is immoral are really just ignorant and foolish. In the case of Christianity, the bible states to do unto others what you would like done onto you. How woul http://www.debate.org/debates/Gay-Marraige-Should-Be-Allowed./1/comments/ 2009-01-30T18:21:32-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Debate-Challenge-The-US-should-mandate-yearly-driving-tests-for-seniors-above-the-age-of-65./1/ (Post Voting Period) This debate is a debate challenge meaning a list of rules must be followed in order for there to be a legitimate win. You must debate the topic, The US should mandate yearly driving tests for seniors above the age of 65, with abiding by the following: 1) No vowels may be used in your arguements. 2) No using the word and. 3) Arguments must be less than 1,000 characters. 4) No debating will start until round 2. Voting: S&G: Abidement of rules. http://www.debate.org/debates/Debate-Challenge-The-US-should-mandate-yearly-driving-tests-for-seniors-above-the-age-of-65./1/comments/ 2009-10-20T20:56:24-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/should-you-have-to-be-16-to-get-your-license/1/ (Post Voting Period) I think you should be able to get your license if you can pass the test without cheating and you can reach the petals and know all the laws of the roads http://www.debate.org/debates/should-you-have-to-be-16-to-get-your-license/1/comments/ 2009-10-20T14:48:04-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Profit-within-Capitalism-is-a-result-of-the-exploitation-of-the-workers/1/ (Voting Period) I've been discussing this issue of the theory of profit lately, particularly with proponents of the Austrian School of Economics and I'm interested in having an actual debate on this subject. Particularly I'd like to see an consistent explanation of the profit within Capitalism that can avoid the exploitation problem, that is, the fact that the wage-worker retains less than he creates while the rest goes to the Capitalist. To be upfront about this: I am also currently in an ongoing debate on the same issue over at convinceme.net but I am disappointed about the debate format possible there (not round based, no good enough voting system etc) but my opponent refused to be limited in the character length used here. Thus I am opening a challenge here instead for anyone who wants to argue another PoV about the origins of profit (Doesn't have to be the Austrian Economics position unless you wish to) I will be arguing from the Libertarian Socialist perspective: T http://www.debate.org/debates/Profit-within-Capitalism-is-a-result-of-the-exploitation-of-the-workers/1/comments/ 2009-07-14T11:54:43-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Government-is-a-necessary-evil-to-protect-the-freedoms-of-human-individuals./1/ (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 http://www.debate.org/debates/Government-is-a-necessary-evil-to-protect-the-freedoms-of-human-individuals./1/comments/ 2009-08-04T05:13:20-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Racism-should-not-exist./1/ (Post Voting Period) Rac-ism(noun);hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Racism or any kind of discrimination could not possibly exist on the account that all of us, wherever we live now through the blood lines of our family came from somewhere else. I leave the rest of my argument until an opponent takes up my debate. http://www.debate.org/debates/Racism-should-not-exist./1/comments/ 2009-10-03T20:40:28-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Blind-obedience-is-a-threat-to-morality/1/ (Voting Period) The act of blindly obeying a superior officer or refusing to question the actions demanded of one's self by a person of higher authority is a trait that threatens the inherent intelligence and morality that is within all human beings. A perfect example of the point I'm trying to make is the massacre in My Lai, Vietnam. This horrifying display of morally corrupt submission resulted in the slaughter of an entire village in Vietnam; nearly 500 people were killed. The troops sent into the village were expecting a battalion of Vietcong forces but were instead presented with a village of women, elderly men, and children. The company had been previously instructed to kill anyone they encountered and proceeded to do so, with a few lapses in their blind faith. The leader of the company, an inexperienced captain by the name Calley, was later tried for the murder of 107 unarmed civilians. He blamed his actions on the blind faith that members of the United States for http://www.debate.org/debates/Blind-obedience-is-a-threat-to-morality/1/comments/ 2009-10-08T15:31:12-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Marijuana-Legalization/2/ (Voting Period) I think marijuana should be legalized. For the purposes of the debate, let's assume laws under legalization would make pot similar to alcohol (21 age limit, no driving under the influence, etc.) 1. Other substances Alcohol impairs you more, yet is legal. Cigarettes offer all of the same health concerns, but offer no significant benefit (high) and most cigarette smokers smoke more than marijuana users on a daily basis. Also, marijuana has been medically proven to be non-habit-forming, unlike cigarettes and alcohol. 2. Tax revenue The government could tax and regulate the marijuana industry, generating state revenue at a time when it is needed. Also, the birth of a high demand industry would foster jobs and economic growth. 3. Criminals With the ever growing popularity of marijuana, middle-class people who are not drug or street savvy are having to deal with dangerous people and frequent the more suspect areas of town to procure their product. Legaliz http://www.debate.org/debates/Marijuana-Legalization/2/comments/ 2009-03-20T15:47:25-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Gay-couples-should-be-allowed-to-adopt-children./1/ (Voting Period) I'll challenge Philosophical to this debate as per his request. Arguments: 1. Homophobia 2. Parenting Trends 3. Orphans 4. Kids with Gay Parents - Feelings 5. Kids with Gay Parents - Statistics 1. Homosexuals are not depraved individuals; being gay is not a mental disorder. As such, they are considered fully functioning members of society. They go to school, go to work, pay taxes, etc. There are no distinct qualifications for becoming a parent; however, most would suggest that a good parent possess the following characteristics: Responsible; Capable; Loving; Trustworthy; etc -- none of which are exclusive to heterosexuals. So, if we can accept that homosexuals are for all intensive purposes equal to heterosexuals in their personalities and behavior (outside of sexual endeavors), then there is no good reason to deny them the right to have or adopt children. It would seem that whom one sleeps with is a personal choice that should have no bearing http://www.debate.org/debates/Gay-couples-should-be-allowed-to-adopt-children./1/comments/ 2009-09-14T16:18:21-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolved-The-drugs-mentioned-herein-should-either-become-or-remain-legal./1/ (Post Voting Period) Round 1 will be for opening statements only, unless Pro wishes to post her arguments at this time (as it would be a bit cleaner if I had a case to attack in Round 2). Now then, as I'm certain that my opponent is MORE than intelligent enough to understand the topic, definitions will not be necessary. -Debate Parameters- My opponent and I will be debating over the legal status of 3 different drugs: 1. Marijuana 2. Ecstasy 3. Tobacco My opponent and I will only be arguing over these three points, and any extra contentions brought up by either of us should be disregarded; this is to keep the debate centered solely on these drugs; any points about crack, heroine, alcohol, etc. are not permissible in the debate. The way that a winner will be determined is two-fold: To determine the legal status of a drug, we will use a cost-benefit analysis; the analysis will be decided on both quantity and quality of the pros and cons presented; because of th http://www.debate.org/debates/Resolved-The-drugs-mentioned-herein-should-either-become-or-remain-legal./1/comments/ 2009-09-12T20:10:51-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Hitler-was-insane./1/ (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. http://www.debate.org/debates/Hitler-was-insane./1/comments/ 2009-06-27T16:36:39-08:00 http://www.debate.org/debates/Social-deference-is-an-anachronism-that-should-be-actively-discouraged/1/ (Voting Period) First of all, here's my inspiration for this debate: I am writing this from one of my local bar / restaurants where a fellow customer - an older gentleman who I know only to say "hello" to, greeted me and addressed me as "Sir" as I walked in. This was just seconds after I had given directions to a stranger, who was, again, older than me, who also addressed me as "Sir". Just to let you know, due to a scandalous oversight in this year's Queen's Honours List, my considerable contributions to British society have yet again failed to be formally recognised and, as a result, I am still waiting for the knighthood I so richly deserve! Until this outrageous injustice has been resolved, there is, therefore, no reason to address me as "Sir" – plain "Mister" will do just fine. The fact is, British people have the concept of social deference installed in them at an early age. So, because I am usually quite smartly-dressed and well-spoken, I am called "Sir", which I http://www.debate.org/debates/Social-deference-is-an-anachronism-that-should-be-actively-discouraged/1/comments/ 2009-10-05T15:39:21-08:00