Current Events Debate Guide

From PhiloWiki

Contents 1 Global Affairs 2 United States 3 Mexico 4 Canada 5 Europe 6 Middle East 7 Africa 8 Asia

Global Affairs

• Is global warming real? If so, is it inevitable?
• Is the Kyoto Protocol effective? Should the U.S. ratify the treaty? Should India and China remain exempt?

• Is the United Nations effective? If not, how can it be improved?

"[The United Nations] is like a bubble. It is like a twilight zone. Things that happen here don't reflect the reality in the rest of the world. There are practices, attitudes and approaches here that were abandoned 30 years ago in much of the rest of the world. It's like a time warp." - John Bolton

• It is documented that France and Russia were 'on the take' by Iraq. How does this impact the effectiveness of the United Nations? Who can correct this?
• Is there such a thing as international law? Why or why not?
• Is the threat of nuclear terror real? If so, how can we reduce the risk of attack?

United States

• What is the War on Terror? Is it real? Is this the proper name? Is the USA on a wartime footing, or is this more like the War on Drugs? Is it winnable?

"This is not a clash between civilizations. It is a clash about civilization." - Tony Blair

• Do we have too many/not enough civil liberties as we conduct the War on Terror?
• Is there significant media bias? Is it too far to the left? To the right?
• Some have said we live in an oligarchy. Is this true? If we could change anything about our political system to 'fix' it, what should we do?
• Are we headed to economic boom or bust or somewhere in between? Is the fact that we are approaching a $10 trillion debt a problem? What can we do about our debt? About entitlements? About our defense spending?
• What is a winning strategy for the 2008 elections for Democrats? Republicans?

• Are Americans sufficiently educated? How do we judge?

"Percentage of Americans aged 18 to 24 surveyed who could not find: Iraq - nearly two-thirds, Louisiana [after Katrina] - 33%, Afghanistan - 88%, either Iraq or Saudi Arabia - 63%, either Iran or Israel - 75%, New York - 50%, China - 30%" - National Geographic

• Is the widespread opinion of the world that American culture is 'corrosive' accurate? Fair? How should we address this, if at all?
• Do Americans care about the World Cup? If not, why not?

Mexico

• How should Mexico and the US handle illegal immigration from Mexico to the US?
• Mexico has strict, almost draconian, enforcement on its southern border. Should the US adopt the same rules?
• Mexico's economic growth is limited due to massive government corruption. What policies, if any, should the US adopt when dealing with its southern neighbor?

Canada

• Canada just arrested 17 members of a terror cell planning to bomb government buildings and behead the Prime Minister. Canada has adopted a policy of mild appeasement so as not to be viewed as a target of Islamic radicals. Is this strategy working? How should their policy be changed, if at all?
• What does it mean if a hockey team in Raleigh wins the Stanley Cup over the storied Edmonton Oilers? Anything?

Europe

• What are the European views of current geopolitical events? Why is their global outlook and that of the United States different?
• What accounts for anti-Americanism in Europe?
• Does Europe follow a policy of appeasement?
• Is the European Union a practical mechanism of governance? What is its future?
• Should Turkey be allowed to join the EU? What are the arguments for/against?

Middle East

• The oil-rich Middle East countries are in general run by totalitarian governments. Is this a problem? Is there anything to be done about it?
• Will alternative energy sources help the situation in the Middle East? Why or why not?
• Is the creation of Israel justified under international law?
• What are the roots of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict? Is there a solution? Is the Roadmap practical?
• Evaluate the media reporting of: Jenin, Waha beach, Netanya, Rachel Corrie.
• Should the US have gone to war in Iraq?
• Will negotiations with Iran work? If not, should the US and other countries go to war with Iran to prevent them from obtaining nuclear weapons?

Africa

• Why are most African countries mired in poverty? What can be done by the wealthy nations to help?
• What can be done to mitigate the rampant AIDS epidemic in Africa? Do massive foreign aid grants help?

Asia

• China is perhaps on target to become the dominant superpower by the middle of the 21st century. What policies should be adopted when dealing with China?
• China is facing a 'demographic bomb' of a male-dominated society within a generation. Is this a concern?
• Russia is facing a 'demographic bomb' of a population that will be nearly half of today's population within 50 years. Is this a concern?
• Pakistan is the only nuclear-armed Islamic country. Is this a concern?
• Should countries be concerned about outsourcing to nations like China and India? Is globalization inevitable? How can other countries leverage this trend?