One on One debate sign up sheet

[downtown]

Okay, after reading through the topic suggestion list, I'm going to put up a topic sign up sheet here. To make this simple, please follow the following rules.

1) PLEASE DO NOT START ANY DEBATE THREADS. Per the suggestions thread in the other forum, these apparently need to be mod approved first. We also don't want a zillion threads open at once.

2) When you sign up for a topic, please specify which side you would like to argue. I will update this OP when you sign up.

3) If you have other topic suggestions, please post them in the other thread, which I will be updating as well. I think we'll start this small, and if it is successful, we will scale it up.

If possible, I'd like to shoot for starting a debate this week. I'll hammer out some of the deets with our local moderating staff.

The Topics Are:

1) You are elected President of the United States and by some miracle, have a relatively cooperative Congress. Detail what you would do to move the US economy forward again.
CHEESY: CONSERVATIVE APPROACH

2) Should more money be spent on space exploration in this age of economic austerity? If yes, how would you pay for it? If no, why not?
Warpus--against additional funding for space programs, Hobbsyoyo in favor

3) Given the realities of the US Congress, Courts, special-interest spending, and the state of the economy, who would be the most effective leader for the US in 2012?

If these go well, I'd like to add an EU-focused topic, another policy-focused discussion, and defending the DH rule.

Remember, other suggestions/format questions/hate mail goes in the other thread. Thanks!

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Thanks downtown!
I'll take topic 2 and will allow my opponent to choose the side.

 

[warpus]

I'll debate hobbsyoyo on topic 2. I'll argue the "down with space exploration" side

Clarification needed: Does this only include space exploration (in terms of going into the unknown) or am I also supposed to argue against budget increases for the IIS, propulsion technologies, space telescopes, and other stuff NASA does that isn't exactly exploration but is stuff that happens in space? I don't mean to be pedantic but I want to make sure I'm debating the right thing.

Also, what should I read to prepare for this? I've been busy lately and at times my involvement with the forum has been of a "drive by post" variety.. which I don't particularly approve or endorse, but it's really the only way for me to be involved atm. But yeah, I'm a bit out of the loop

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

How is Topic 1 supposed to work? They just lay out their plan, and the opposition dissects it?

 

[downtown]

How is Topic 1 supposed to work? They just lay out their plan, and the opposition dissects it?

both parties would be required to produce a plan, although both people could (and should) explain why the other's plan is a bad idea.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

@Warpus - We can make the category as wide or narrow as you want. You define what it means and I'll debate it. Look in the 'does this exist thread' and the 'thread for space cadets' for some background. There's a relevant thread in IALS if you have access.

Wikipedia US space program, poke around related links. We should PM to agree on rules, etc.

Is there going to be a spectator thread?

 

[downtown]

Yes, I will create a spectator/commentary thread while the debate is going on, and then we'll add a poll after a few days to determine TEH WINNAR

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Warpus, I will pm u when I.get home.around.4

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

both parties would be required to produce a plan, although both people could (and should) explain why the other's plan is a bad idea.

I see. Are we required to do it from a Democratic or Republican perspective, or just whatever we can support with an argument? I think it might be more fun (and more in the spirit of how I think these were originally envisioned) if we had to pick a side and use tools that they would reasonably have at their disposal (for example, a GOP defender's "cooperative congress" isn't going to let them do outlandishly leftist things, or vice-versa for the Democratic defender), and maybe see how well they make that case for those things? I would enjoy, in the spirit of things, defending a Republican-style program under those conditions. If it's whatever we can defend, without regard to party, then I obviously won't. I would say tentatively sign me up for whichever of those situations applies.

 

[Dreadnought]

I volunteer for any of the two remaining categories, in any capacity.

 

[useless]

Does this format require you to have any knowledge of what you're talking about (as in topic)

 

[warpus]

Warpus, I will pm u when I.get home.around.4

I got 3 and a half hours of sleep last night. Are we doing this today?

Cause I'm all in either way, just need to be spoon fed the requirements cause my boss is a jerk and makes me do actual work.

edit: maybe me and you should chat about the rules of engagement using some sort of an IM client, might be easier

 

[hobbsyoyo]

tommorow is better for me. But today works as well. I do think downtown gets a say as he has some mod stuff to take care of. I will look into a im client when I get home. Are you on yahoo or origin?

 

[warpus]

ya tomorrow would be better for me too

I'll spend today reading over the relevant thread/rules and becoming an expert in anti-spaceism

 

[NedimNapoleon]

I'd like to try this out, if possible a topic like water is necessary for survival (me being on the side that supports that idea) or the earth is flat (me being against that idea)...

Seriously, what kind of debates would you find interesting.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Ok. I really expected to be on the other end of this debate. We'll have fun!

It's been suggested we use fiftychat to discuss rules. U on that?

 

[GhostWriter16]

@Useless- You down for a gay rights debate?

In all seriousness, I'll leave the economic topics to those that are more knowledgeable about them. I'd be much more interested in reading such a debate than participating.

I am willing to be the "Chair" in any debate if requested.

 

[downtown]

I see. Are we required to do it from a Democratic or Republican perspective, or just whatever we can support with an argument? I think it might be more fun (and more in the spirit of how I think these were originally envisioned) if we had to pick a side and use tools that they would reasonably have at their disposal (for example, a GOP defender's "cooperative congress" isn't going to let them do outlandishly leftist things, or vice-versa for the Democratic defender), and maybe see how well they make that case for those things? I would enjoy, in the spirit of things, defending a Republican-style program under those conditions. If it's whatever we can defend, without regard to party, then I obviously won't. I would say tentatively sign me up for whichever of those situations applies.

I used the "cooperative congress" to keep out a hardcore Ron Paulista.

If you'd like to advocate for reforms generally supported by Republicans, then have at it. I think even a cooperative congress might balk a little at say, privatizing social security, abolishing the DOE, eliminating all capital gains taxes and banning abortion all in one go, unless you also have a great argument on how you can acquire that kind of political capital.

I'll go ahead and put you down for a "conservative" approach, which you can argue as you see fit.

Also, if you want to participate, PLEASE pick a specific position and argument from the list. I'm not going to do it for you.

 

[GhostWriter16]

I used the "cooperative congress" to keep out a hardcore Ron Paulista.

If you'd like to advocate for reforms generally supported by Republicans, then have at it. I think even a cooperative congress might balk a little at say, privatizing social security, abolishing the DOE, eliminating all capital gains taxes and banning abortion all in one go, unless you also have a great argument on how you can acquire that kind of political capital.

I'll go ahead and put you down for a "conservative" approach, which you can argue as you see fit.

Also, if you want to participate, PLEASE pick a specific position and argument from the list. I'm not going to do it for you.

Can I take the liberal side just for the fun of it?

 

[bhsup]

Ghostwriter, nothing personal but I don't think you're up to the task. Don't feel bad, I'm not qualified either, but I'd really like to keep these threads enjoyable for me to read by excluding all those except the primo debaters on the forum. So far, we've got a few good ones in there (and frankly even though I disagree with Cheezy on things, I kind of expect him to wipe the floor with whoever he goes up against.)