The Proposed 2019-20 LD Resolutions

I can never resist commenting on the upcoming LD rezzes. 

Resolved: Predictive policing is unjust.

I have mixed feelings on this one. It’s about data analysis, making it wonky at best and not uninteresting, but I fear that in rounds it can be easily defined as a version of hi-tech racial profiling, veering away completely from an arguable issue. Flip neg at your own peril.

Resolved: The United States ought to grant legal personhood to natural ecosystems.

Sort of interesting, the more I think about it. Should require a lot of good educational research. But in the end, flip neg at your own peril.

Resolved: Japan ought to amend Article 9 of its constitution to allow for offensive military capabilities.

Here’s where the PF committee came into the room by mistake and someone forgot to erase their resolution from the board. I’m betting that for someone on the wording committee this was a pet idea that the rest could not shake. 

Resolved: The United States ought to legalize adult sex work.

Can I come on parents’ night when you explain to them why you’re doing this? This will be voted on only by the coaches who really want to discuss and direct research about adult sex work with non-adult high school students. Probably not the largest number of teachers out there… 

Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy.

If you’re judging this, your head will spin, but you will never actually get to hear whether or not the intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy, two ideas that are mental ships passing in the argumentation night.

Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions.

Not only relevant and timely, but meaty and interesting. Solid!

Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.

A classic, of course. With lots of modern issues to chew on. 

Resolved: The United States ought to act as the employer of last resort.

I like this. I always like questioning what the purpose of government is beyond the theoreticals of the social contract. What are the responsibilities of big government in the 21^stCentury?

Resolved: A just nation ought not use offensive cyber operations to target civilian infrastructure.

This is no different from a rez saying the military should not attack civilians. Plus, as far as I understand things, it’s a completely wrongheaded approach to the very important subject of cyber warfare. A great subject, but this isn’t the resolution for it. 

Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels.

Sort of a bread-and-butter topic, if perhaps way better for policy than LD. People will probably vote for it, and then complain that they couldn’t keep their eyes open during the rounds. 

Order of preference:

Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions.

Resolved: The United States ought to act as the employer of last resort.

Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals. (I'm thinking of this as a Nationals topic.)

Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels.

Resolved: The United States ought to grant legal personhood to natural ecosystems.

Resolved: Predictive policing is unjust.

Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy.

Resolved: Japan ought to amend Article 9 of its constitution to allow for offensive military capabilities.

Resolved: A just nation ought not use offensive cyber operations to target civilian infrastructure.

Resolved: The United States ought to legalize adult sex work.