Top Two Debate Areas Announced
By Jana Riggins, Speech and Debate Director | Monday, December 05, 2011 11:53 AM
Infrastructure and Immigration are the possible Cross-Examination Debate topics for the 2012-13 season. Following the national topic selection meeting in August attended by state association directors and leading debate coaches and then a preliminary ballot distributed and counted by states earlier this fall, two topics emerged as national contenders. Infrastructure and Immigration received the most votes from debate coaches across the nation.
A vote to select the final topic is now being conducted. Texas coaches have received a ballot from the State Office or they can access the ballot online. We need all schools to submit their ballot so the Texas vote will be representative of the entire state. The deadline for returning ballots to UIL is Jan. 3.
Each state association will then report the results of balloting in their state and the National Federation of High School Associations will tally the national vote. Final results will be announced in early January and posted on the UIL debate webpage.
The infrastructure resolution is worded: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its transportation infrastructure investment in the United States.
The author who presented a study report over infrastructure indicates that over the past decade, significant failures in U.S. infrastructure have occurred. Proponents of increasing investment in transportation infrastructure argue it affects the United State’s global leadership, national security, and our quality of life. Opponents contend fiscal spending is unneeded and untimely. Examples of affirmative cases include direct investment in highways, bridges, airports, seaports and high-speed rail. Negative positions could target the economic impact of increased spending, transportation solutions that are ineffective, the political implications of infrastructure investment and critiques of economic development.
The immigration resolution is worded: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its legal protection of economic migrants in the United States.
The debate over immigration, according the study report author, focuses on social justice and fairness. Economic migrants, as defined by the United Nations, are people “who do not meet definitional requirements of the term ‘refugee’ but who voluntarily leave their native country under exclusive influence of economic considerations to establish residence elsewhere.” Possible affirmative positions include immigration reform providing amnesty for immigrants already living in the United States, passing the DREAM act, providing health care, more generous work permits, legal representation, food stamps and other social services for immigrant families. Negative cases could focus on the economic and employment and political implications of increased immigration, risks of terrorist attacks, among others.
Read more about both topics by accessing the UIL debate webpage.