5.1 LD Debate Topics

LD Debate Topics

LD debate does not work for all policy topics, at least if there is a desire to debate about values as well as about policy. This chapter suggests topics that either generated successful LD debates or appear likely to do so. There are many more possible topics, and more inevitably arise over time.

Normally I begin the debating portion of Debating Justice with a topic on which the students are required to argue both sides. The two I have used most often are:

Resolved: The US should legalize adult recreational use of cannabis. This is a very good topic for a first debate since students usually focus on consequentialist values, especially utility. This means they can avoid a clash of values while they learn the other aspects of debating. This is the subject of the first sample debate.

Resolved: The US should abolish the penalty of death. This is a good first topic if you want students to debate about values as well as criminal punishment.

Here are some other topics I have used with success, all of which offer the opportunity to debate utility v. deontological justice:

Resolved: The US should prohibit all use of torture.

Resolved: The US should guarantee basic medical care to all persons.

Resolved: The US should guarantee emergency shelter to all persons.

Resolved: The US should withdraw from the 1967 Refugee Protocol. (This is the treaty that requires the US to grant asylum to all refugees who fear persecution if sent back to their country of origin. It is the subject of the second sample debate.)

Here are some other topics that should generate good LD debates:

Resolved: The US has a responsibility to aid lesser developed countries.

Resolved: The US should abolish preferences based on group characteristics.

Resolved: The US should permit religious charter schools.

Resolved: The US should prohibit transgender persons from participating on women’s sports teams.

Resolved: The US should deny birthright citizenship to the children of mothers illegally present in the country.

Resolved: The US should tax consumption rather than the production of income.

Extemporaneous Debate Topics

Often the most effective extemp debate topics are aphorisms–or modifications thereof.

For example, Resolved: Money is the root of all evil–or Evil is the root of all money.

Resolved: You should do unto others as you would have them do unto you–or You should do unto others before they do you in.

Resolved: Human intelligence is the greatest threat to survival of humanity–or Artificial intelligence is the greatest threat to the survival of humanity.

Resolved: We should live today and not worry about tomorrow–or Living only for the present means there is little hope for the future.

Other topics:

Resolved: Religious beliefs should justify exceptions to the law.

Resolved: We are living in a post-constitutional age.

Resolved: Sexual identity should be a matter of choice.

Resolved: We need more children.

Resolved: Government is the problem, not the solution.

Resolved: The US has lost the ability to generate great political leaders.

Resolved: Successful government requires lying to the people.