Contra | Debate.org

Contra

25-year old male in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.

Online:	4 Years Ago	Name:	- Private -
Updated:	5 Years Ago	Gender:	Male
Joined:	10 Years Ago	Birthday:	- Private -
President:	Jon Huntsman (Republican Party)	Email:	- Private -
Ideology:	Moderate	Education:	Some College
Party:	Independent	Ethnicity:	White
Relationship:	- Private -	Income:	Less than $25,000
Interested:	- Private -	Occupation:	Student
Looking:	- Private -	Religion:	Christian

About Me:	I'm interested in public policy, economics, and international politics. I am slightly introverted, but I am diplomatic and relatively thoughtful. I am an INTJ.
Activities:	I love hanging out with my friends, playing with my dog, playing video games, discussing and debating politics, watching Netflix, running, and listening to music.
Beliefs:	I believe in free markets, personal responsibility, liberty, and a limited, constitutional government. I'm fiscally conservative and socially moderate (so, similar to a center-right reform conservative).
Books:	"Stealing from Each Other (By Edgar Browning), "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe", "The Pretenders", "The Perks of Being a Wallflower".
Movies:	Boyhood, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Office Space, Terminator, Forrest Gump, Lucy
Music:	Troye Sivan, Gorillaz, Green Day, Years and Years, Foster the People, Avicii, etc.
Quotes:	"The most important family policy, urban policy, labor policy, minority policy, and foreign policy America can have is an expanding entrepreneurial economy of high-wage, high-skilled jobs." - Bill Clinton "If freedom makes social progress possible, so social progress strengthens and enlarges freedom." - Bobby Kennedy "Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." - George Washington
TV Shows:	Homeland, Black Mirror, House of Cards, Breaking Bad, Parks and Recreation

Websites:	Income Mobility Rand Paul FY2014 Budget

78 Debates

Resolved: The Iranian Nuclear Deal is a "mistake."

I would like to thank Contra ahead of time for accepting this long anticipated debate.Rules1st Round is acceptance.2nd Round is for Opening Arguments, NO rebuttals.3rd Round is for Rebuttals.4th Round is for Rebuttals and Conclusions.No semanticsNo Trolling.No KritcsBOP is sharedThe Following users are prohibited from voting on this debate. If they do their votes shall be counted as a Vote Bomb and their votes shall be removed from this debate.ZarroetteImabenchMikalIranian Nuclear Deal- Text is...

Post Voting Period

51 Comments

Updated 6 Years Ago

America is on a social and economic death spiral

I believe that the 67 trillion dollars in total debt and the 97 trillion in unfunded liabilities are damaging the American economy a long with the Federal Reserve, who has a leverage of 77-1; prior to our crisis the leverage was 42-1. There is no possible way the FED can get out of this situation as they cannot lower interest rates anymore, meaning they have hit "Game Over." I also believe society in America is about to breakdown due to race issues, sexual orientation issues, religious issues,...

Post Voting Period

3 Comments

Updated 6 Years Ago

Free trade agreements are more harmful than helpful

1st round is for accepting the debate, next 3 rounds will be arguing points. ...

Post Voting Period

7 Comments

Updated 6 Years Ago

Redistribution of Wealth

Focusing first on your claim that the redistribution of wealth (or, more generally, resources) would somehow inherently destroy all incentive to work on the part of those from whom resources were taken, this is just patently untrue. It is a well-known historical fact of economics that, even when corporations are taxed at supposedly exorbitant rates (e.g., about 90% under FDR), American industry nevertheless thrives, CEOs still make out like bandits, the populace as a whole is no less likely to p...

Post Voting Period

31 Comments

Updated 7 Years Ago

The U.S. ought to Privatize Amtrak

R1: Definitions and AcceptanceR2: Arguments and RebuttalsR3: Rebuttals and Conclusions*No semantics*No original arguments last round*No forfeiting-----A violation of any of these three rules is an automatic forfeiture of all points.Amtrak Subsidies: Amtrak is a railroad corporation which receives approximately $1.5 billion in federal subsidies every year, to increase railroad usage among the American population.In this debate, the contenders will argue whether or not the...

Post Voting Period

8 Comments

Updated 7 Years Ago

Post a comment to Contra's profile.

Add as a Friend

Add to My Favorites

Block this Person

Challenge to a Debate

Report this Profile

Send a Message

Share with My Friends

Debate Statistics
Debates:	78
Lost:	17
Tied:	2
Won:	59
Win Ratio:	77.63%
Percentile:	99.80%
Elo Ranking:	3,540
Statistics based on completed debates.

Activity Statistics
Forum Posts:	3941
Votes Cast:	162
Opinion Arguments:	31
Opinion Questions:	0
Poll Votes:	6
Poll Topics:	0

271 Friends

tejretics	bsh1	Raisor
Skepticalo	travis1835	airmax1227

3 Albums

	Iran Nuclear Deal Updated 6 Years Ago
	Political View Updated 6 Years Ago
	Debates Updated 8 Years Ago

The BIG Issues
This list identifies where Contra stands on popular issues. The choices are limited to the following:

N/O - No Opinion
N/S - Not Saying
Und - Undecided
Con - Against
Pro - In Favor

If you are logged in, you will also see green or red bullets next to each issue, which indicate whether you agree or disagree with Contra on that particular issue.

You can also click each issue to find other members that agree with Contra's position on the issue.

Disagree: 0.00%

Agree: 0.00%
•	Abortion	ConComments I think that abortion should be illegal after the first trimester.
•	Affirmative Action	Con
•	Animal Rights	ProComments I think there should be a basic level of animal rights.
•	Barack Obama	ConComments I think America has become stronger since President Obama was inaugurated, but I can't agree with some of his policies (e.g. high deficit spending). The Republican Congress, by sticking their heads in the sand, have made the US worse off.
•	Border Fence	ProComments We should strengthen border security, build a high-tech fence along the border, simplify the bureaucracy for legal immigration, and allow permanent residency for approved undocumented immigrants (e.g. those who learn English, pay a substantial fine, pay back taxes, and serve the military/ obtain a technical or university degree).
•	Capitalism	ProComments I support free market capitalism. Not only is the free enterprise system an outgrowth of individual liberty, the private sector incentivizes fruitful and productive behavior and maximizes a society's prosperity.
•	Civil Unions	ProComments I support equal rights for all Americans. It is integral if we are to move forward as a country and maximize our potential.
•	Death Penalty	Con
•	Drug Legalization	ProComments Legalize drugs (or decriminalize them), and confront hard drug consumption as a public health issue.
•	Electoral College	ProComments Yes, but the electors should be proportionately allocated. I think that there are several other electoral reforms that are absolutely necessary as well (e.g. "democracy vouchers" and more oversight of "dark money" in US elections).
•	Environmental Protection	ProComments I prefer taxing pollutants as they are negative externalities.
•	Estate Tax	ConComments I'm opposed to this tax, but I don't really care a whole lot.
•	European Union	N/S
•	Euthanasia	ProComments Voluntary Only
•	Federal Reserve	Pro
•	Flat Tax	ProComments A two-stage flat tax of 10% and 25% (taxing all income equally), or a progressive consumption tax.
•	Free Trade	ProComments Free trade generates new wealth, and creates a stronger economy with broad prosperity. America needs a competitive business environment, and we also need to invest in our human and physical capital.
•	Gay Marriage	ProComments If the government is involved, I think that it should extend marriage contracts to any two loving individuals. Our communities are stronger if we are more inclusive and extend the institution of marriage to all of our people.
•	Global Warming Exists	ProComments I think we should properly tax negative externalities. Global warming is partially anthropomorphic, and I think that a fee-and-divided system, or a carbon emissions tax, are responsible policy options.
•	Globalization	N/SComments Free trade is good. Cultural homogenization is bad. Protectionism reduces our standards of living by raising the prices of goods and by imposing severe opportunity costs on our economy.
•	Gold Standard	N/O
•	Gun Rights	ProComments I support universal background checks, but I am a firm advocate of gun rights.
•	Homeschooling	ConComments Should be legal, but I'm uncomfortable with it.
•	Internet Censorship	ConComments Freedom of information.
•	Iran-Iraq War	Con
•	Labor Union	ProComments Voluntary labor unions.
•	Legalized Prostitution	ProComments I disapprove, but I would prefer it be regulated than unchecked in the underground economy.
•	Medicaid & Medicare	ConComments Medicare: Allow retirees to choose their own health insurance plans. Medicaid: Block-Grant funds for long-term care and the disabled.
•	Medical Marijuana	Pro
•	Military Intervention	ConComments America should have a foreign policy built on the components of diplomacy, free trade, and strategic military force. The United States should put a lower emphasis on military intervention, but it can be effective in limited circumstances (Iraqi Kurdistan, the Persian Gulf War, etc).
•	Minimum Wage	N/S
•	National Health Care	ConComments We should empower patients and the free market—I support policies such as those that clear the thicket of red tape and help enable a functioning health care market; offering a generous tax credit that allows individuals and families to save for their health care expenses; devolving programs like Medicaid and Medicare so patients can control their health care dollars; and by reforming the drug approval process. Through these steps, we can achieve near-universal health care coverage through a private health care system, while simultaneously downplaying the role of Washington, D.C.
•	National Retail Sales Tax	Con
•	Occupy Movement	ConComments They should have the right to assemble and protest.
•	Progressive Tax	Con
•	Racial Profiling	Con
•	Redistribution	ConComments A market economy rewards individual productivity. We should fight for equal opportunities (school choice, economic and fiscal reforms, criminal justice reform, upgrading our higher education system, energy exploration, etc).
•	Smoking Ban	ProComments As a state power and only in public areas.
•	Social Programs	ConComments A free market economy is the single best tool for raising living standards and reducing poverty. I support funding effective social programs, however I prefer that these are generally managed with a federalist approach.
•	Social Security	ConComments Personal retirement accounts; and allow retirees to divert a large portion of their payroll taxes into a universal savings account.
•	Socialism	Con
•	Stimulus Spending	ConComments We need to make long-term investments in our infrastructure, scientific research, and our education system, while also expanding the role and freedom of the private sector. I'm not a fan of projects that emphasize "shovel-ready jobs" while doing nothing to advance our long-term national priorities.
•	Term Limits	ProComments On the executive branch of government. I oppose term limits for legislators.
•	Torture	ConComments Cruel and unusual punishment. It is unconstitutional when used and is also counter-productive.
•	United Nations	ProComments As a forum for global discussion, yes.
•	War in Afghanistan	ProComments The U.S. was justified to intervene and topple the Taliban government. Admittedly, the U.S. needs to adopt a different approach.
•	War on Terror	ConComments US foreign policy should be guided based on where we have a clear and attainable national interest at stake. Terrorism is a threat to our national interests, and sometimes we should take a decisive military role (e.g. in Afghanistan, I thought the US response was appropriate). Our foreign policy should be tailored to the situation, and sometimes a lighter footprint is a smarter strategic decision. The War on Terror seems to emphasize a heavy-footed approach, although this sometimes can transform local grievances and local militias into full-fledged insurgencies. Thus, we must play a role, but military force cannot solve terrorism by itself.
•	Welfare	ConComments A modest flex-fund for the individual states, running alongside a system of wage subsidies for low-income workers. My philosophy is that we should help lift up all Americans, and provide them the tools so that they can climb the economic ladder and achieve the American Dream. We need to empower Americans, and provide a safety net alongside this.