Suggest Debate Topics

[Ai]

Suggest Debate Topics which will be used for the week by week debates which will occur here.

The topics can be of any type and length although a short simple one is probably the best which allows the user to decide whether or not they want to argue in the affirmitive or the negative.

Seperate each Topic with a blank line please.

[VampyreLord]

"This house would restore wartime rationing"

Those in favour would be arguing on pragmatic and utilitarian grounds, i.e. rationing food and fuel would help tackle the obesity epidemic, would help meet climate change obligations, would keep down prices and thus suppress inflation, would bring society closer together (like the Blitz spirit) and reduced consumption would allow more food and fuel to be exported (or less to be imported) improving trade conditions.

The opposition can argue that such measures would be difficult to enforce, that black markets would emerge, that it would be bad for the economy, that it's illiberal and that only government suppression would be able to keep rationing in place.

What do you think?

[Takeshi]

Perfect topic here, John McCain too old to be president?

[Do'Urden]

Should soldiers be allowed to drink while under 21?

[VampyreLord]

Bit of a narrow focus, no? How many points are there to consider?

[Do'Urden]

Bit of a narrow focus, no? How many points are there to consider?

Wasn't trying to be narrow, just didn't see the point of writing a whole lot if no one was interested.

The pro side is a fairly simple one: That anyone who can be sent to war should be able to drink. The main thing is that, at age 18, one may enter active duty military service, yet they are still unable to drink, even on military bases, until they are 21. Many believe that this is ludicrous, saying that any young man or woman that can be sent away to war should be able to sit down with thier friends and drink if they so choose.

The con side would be that the legal drinking age is 21 for a good reason, people who are 21 generally have a better concept of resposibility and are less likely to get a vehicle after drinking. Although it may seem unfair to the men and women of our armed forces, letting them consume alcohol before age 21 is a risk most Officials are not willing to take, even going so far as to say men and women in the military are a high risk group.

There are more points for both sides, and plenty of statistics and plenty of information (proven, and theoretical) to back both sides. But that's half the point, finding the facts that support your arguement...

[Kaze]

Morality: Is it innate or the product of social progress?

[Rayster]

Purpose / Effectiveness of Prisons: Should they still exist?

Focus:

- The four aims of prisons are: retribution, deterrance, rehabilitation, incapacitation.
- Does Prison fulfil all of these objectives? Yes/No.

Key points for the counter are the second and third aims -
ie, no one is deterred, there is still as much crime as ever, are they being rehabilitated - doesn't seem like it if recidivism rates are so high, actual issues that landed them in prison not addressed, going back out to it. Men who commit non-violent crimes come out worse. etc

Key points for affirmitive are the first and the last aims
- ie, what other choice. Criminals deserve to be punished. Rights forfeited upon commission of crime. Weigh the odds when committing crime, etc