Dilbert1234567

What is the most controversial topic we can have an intelligent conversation on?

Post topic ideas, and then we can debate them in an orderly fashion. (new thread though)


Just a few to start:

Abortion
Assisted suicide

what others can you think of

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Kadath

I actually wanted to start something up where Lebell and I would have a scheduled debate on a topic chosen by other board members, given how heated and protracted our arguments have been in the past. Lebell? I'm calling you out, in a polite way. I think it would be good. We could get the topic, choose sides, do some research, and begin. Bring it on!

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Tom Thumb

The death penalty is a pretty standard one, but it could work.

Whether torture should ever be an option. For the US, I suppose.

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Simple_Min

What are we in high school?

Affirmative Action

or Universal Health care

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Lebell

Hmmm

Possibly.

What structure and rules do you propose?

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LewisCouch

TORT REFORM
cloning
genetically modified foods

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seretogis

I don't think that even the most liberal of democrats support affirmative action anymore.

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Kadath

Structure would be three posts apiece: Opening, posted at a predetermined time, sight unseen of the other's argument. Rebuttal, posted, again, after a predetermined interval, responding to the other's opening. Closing, same as the others. The key here, I think, is to avoid the "give and take" aspect of the debates. As for topics, a thread to allow people to suggest, and then one to let them vote. Then you and I decide which side to take and when the debate shall begin. This is not about winning, by the by, as we have no judge, but more to introduce informed debate in the place of so much petty bickering, by allowing each side time to research and so on. More when I get back from work.

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Sun Tzu

Its being debated in other threads, it usually ends in the same way too. Ofcourse this is what I see as being the most heated

Israel / Palestine

Here's one; its actually a scenerio:

Your the President. Suicide bombers of various ages and all of which are Arab begin walking into varied locations across the United States. One day it could be a movie theatre in Dayton, Ohio, or a public library in Galveston, Texas, a hotel in Minneapolis, anywhere in the US. The public begins to understand after a few weeks of this daily terror anywhere they go at any given time is a target now of real proportions. As that begins another problem erupts; hate crimes against Arabs. This is because no one knows if the Arab is a terrorist or not. Even ones that are born here. THis creates even more of a problem for law enforcement. People start demanding that camps be formed such as in WWII with the Japanese. Others fight that stating its unconstitutional. Chaos slowly begins to erupt, you know if you involk a national martial law it could kill an already fragile economy. What are you going to do Mr. President?

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4thTimeLucky

There are so many that would usually end up in heated arguments.

What I would like to see debates on are:
1) globalisation, neo-liberalism and the our duties to other countries.
2) America's history of trying to mould the world and play God with the governments of other nations (topple a democracy here, install a dictator there....).

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Lebell

We learned well from dear old Britain

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seretogis

No kidding, what a hilariously hypocritical statement that was.

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perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
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4thTimeLucky

Come on, be fair.
We always did the honourable thing and outright invaded. Or we used the Eddie Izzard approach: "Do you have a flag? No? Oh what a shame. No flag, no country!"

But seriously, I would be up for a debate on the history of British Imperialism. It just wouldn't be as relevant to current politics, given that the only thing Britain can throw its weight around over are a few rocks scattered around the world's oceans.

Whereas American imperialism is alive and well and (if many in Washington get their way) on the rise!

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seretogis

What Britain did, and what the US is doing today are two vastly different things. The last time I checked, Iraq was still Iraq, and not "Iraq : Territory of the United States", or "Iraq : The 51st State".

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perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost
no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

Sparhawk

So he's responsible now for his country's imperialist legacy? come on now...

Interesting...

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The_Dude

1) how bad a job bush is doing in office
2) gay rights
3) equal rights for everyone

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Dilbert1234567

Kadath and Lebell, I like your idea, that is kind of what I wanted, a structured debate we tend to get off topic quickly in this forum, as in this one, we already have a mini debate about the actions of the UK and the US


The good:

Gay rights
-Do they get full rights as citizens? Special rights?

Equal rights for everyone
-Are we actually equal?

Globalization, neo-liberalism and the duties to other countries.
-Do large countries have an obligation to help small countries?

America's history of trying to mould the world and play God with the governments of other nations (topple a democracy here, install a dictator there....).
-Are Americas policies acceptable (pick a policies and debate,
-"Containment"

Israel / Palestine
-Should the US/UN get more involved in the Middle East, send in
-Troops, force them to stop.

cloning
-Cloning of animals, cloning of humans, how far can and will we
-go.

Genetically modified foods
-Should we be warned about it, and what are the pros and
-Cons of a 6ft ear of corn

Affirmative Action
-Do we still need this, and is it just discrimination in reverse?

or Universal Health care
-Should everyone be covered or only the upper class. would it
-Be more effective to have full coverage so that we can have
-Preventative medicine (physical every 6 months to catch
-Anything)

Abortion
-Should it be legal, how long is it an option for (3 months? 6?)
-Adoption, soul

Assisted suicide
-Death, do we have a choice to die if we are in sound mind.

The Bad:
Death penalty
- No offence but I think everyone has debated this at least 3 time in High School, I am looking for something new.


The Ugly:
How bad a job bush is doing in office
-What is there to debate on this one it obvious he's not (I’m gona get flamed for that) this topic is to broad, and may easily erupt into a flame war, we must use caution here. i would say no to this one

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eyeseepeedude

Length of time American troops will have to 'occupy' Iraq/Afg in this 'war on terror'...

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Lebell

You said it, I didn't.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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