Resolved: Allowing deep water offshore oil drilling is in the best interest of the United States.
Foreword: On April 20, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, causing the loss of eleven lives, and the spillage of 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In response, the Obama administration implemented a six-month moratorium on deep water drilling, defined as drilling in depths exceeding 500 feet. The Gulf oil spill was an environmental tragedy and the moratorium is an economic nightmare. This topic is about weighing economic interests against environmental interests, in the context of a 9.5 percent unemployment rate, and a shoreline sullied by oil.
For those of you new to Finalist Files, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself. I was one-half of the 2006 National Championship Public Forum team, and this is my fifth year writing the files. I am currently a first year law student at Northwestern University. I am available to you as you progress in your debate careers. Please join the “Public Forum Debate” Facebook group, and direct your questions to Michelle@finalistfiles.com. Enjoy the start of your season!
Resolved: Current trends in American political dialogue compromise meaningful democratic deliberation.
Foreword: Congratulations on your participation in nationals! This topic was chosen as a reaction to President Obama’s speech at the University of Michigan’s commencement. You will find my arguments below, but I would like to take this time to offer advice specific to this topic. I do not believe that definitions are a means to winning this debate. There are only so many ways to define “compromise” to your benefit. You truly will compromise meaningful deliberation if you water down the spirit of this debate to argue over terms. The national champions will win on substance, not because they are walking dictionaries. Additionally, this debate is highly politicized. To win, you must remain a neutral observer, favoring neither the democratic or republican parties. You must not isolate your judge. Finally, you should seek out unique evidence. The best evidence for this topic is not on the internet. It is contained in books authored by political scientists. Take a trip to your local bookstore, split the books with your partner, highlight, and take the books with you into rounds. I promise it will pay off.
I again apologize for the tardiness of this release. The good news is that although I graduated college this spring, I will be attending law school next year and I will continue to write the Finalist Files. I am also hiring supporting researchers in order to release my files in a more timely fashion next year. If you have any questions prior to nationals, feel free to contact me at michelle@finalistfiles.com. If not, I will be present at nationals so stop by the Finalist Files table during registration. Good Luck!
Resolved: On balance, government employee labor unions have a positive impact on the United States.
Foreword: This topic is timely in that it addresses the faltering financial positions of local, state, and federal governments. 2009 was the first year that public sector unionization exceeded union density in the private sector. The Pro will argue that public sector unions work to expand the middle class in the United States. By affording more individuals purchasing power, the U.S. will build a more resilient economy in the future. The Con will argue that government deficits are ballooning under the pressure of employee compensation packages. Public unions are bankrupting the public sector. The majority of the evidence is weighted toward the Con which will result in more creativity on the Pro.
Congratulations to those who have qualified to the national tournament, and good luck to those who are still competing. If you have questions, my email is Michelle@finalistfiles.com or you can contact me on Facebook through the Public Forum Debate group.
Resolved: Affirmative action to promote equal opportunity in the United States is justified.
Foreword: I am very excited about this release because I was able to prepare an equally persuasive position on both sides of the topic (I was skeptical for awhile!). Given the sensitive nature of the debate, your success will depend on a thoughtful evaluation of the topic. You must be precise in your language, avoid stereotypes, and present a case that is both well reasoned and compassionate. Every topic relies upon evidence, but I have taken a primarily analytical approach because I think the numbers tend to distract from the one question we must answer: How should we, as a society, judge merit? Affirmative action has been a relatively long standing debate in the United States. I can only guess that we are revisiting it now because of the election of President Obama. Black president or not, race relations in the United States remain as multidimensional and complex as ever.
Good Luck as your seasons continue to progress. If any of you are interested in attending a debate camp this summer, please contact me for information. I will be a guest lecturer at the Harvard Institute for Public Forum Debate. The Institute is in session July 4-16 at Harvard University. If you have any questions or need help this month, send an e-mail to Michelle@finalistfiles.com or write on the “Public Forum Debate” Facebook wall.
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