2003-2004 Resolutions

These are topics that have been submitted by various people. They have no NPDA endorsement, official or otherwise.

Please note: Abbreviations are as follows:

TH = This House
TH would = This House would
USFG = United States Federal Government

Parlimentary League of the Upper Midwest #1 (Bethany Lutheran)

Topics submitted by Prof. Jon Loging, Bethany Lutheran

Round 1: TH would restrict college students’ working hours.
Round 2: TH would let the U.N. do it.
Round 3: (Case study)
Bronze Round: TH would steal from the poor and give to the rich.
Gold Round: TH would run for governor.

Top of the Rockies (University of Wyoming)

Topics submitted by Prof. Matt Stannard, Univ. of Wyoming

Round 1: TH regrets the breakdown of trade talks in Cancun
Round 2: TH does not recall
Round 3: The United States should take immediate action to save the Middle East Peace Process
Round 4: TH would investigate George W. Bush
Round 5: The United States Federal Government should make health care available to all Americans
Round 6: Para un mundo sin fronteras (for a world without borders)
Round 7: Representative democracy is better than direct democracy
Octafinals: TH would significantly increase human space exploration beyond the earth’s mesosphere
Quarters: In this House there are many mansions
Semis: TH would kiss the French
Finals: TH would educate the educators

Central Round Robin (Monmouth College)

Topics submitted by Ron Bronson, Jr., Monmouth College

Round 1: TH would change the way we do business
Round 2: TH would vote to recall
Round 3: Resolved that sometimes it’s better to take the scenic route
Round 4: Resolved that the music industry has gone too far
Round 5: THBT we need a living wage
Semis: TH would be fair and balanced
Finals: TH would make service complusory.

Golden Eagle Invitational (College of Southern Idaho)

Topics submitted by Chris Bragg, College of Southern Idaho

Round 1: TH values the community over the individual.
Round 2: THBT the US political system is in need of a third party.
Round 3: TH would repeal the Patriot Act.
Round 4: THBT the invasion of Iraq was just.
Round 5: TH supports the recall.
Quarterfinals: TH is ashamed of the state of intercollegiate athletics in the United States.
Semifinals: TH supports the French.
Finals: TH believes the field is too crowded

Claremont Round Robin

Topics submitted by Prof. John Meany, Claremont Colleges

Round 1: TH supports the doctrine of military preemption.
Round 2: The United States Supreme Court should fundamentally alter a standing interpretation of the First Amendment.
Round 3: In this case, the public good should trump intellectual property rights.
Round 4: TH should substantially change its water policy.
Round 5: TH supports inequality.
Semifinals: Globalization does more good than harm.
Finals: Four more years!

Claremont Colleges Invitational

Topics submitted by Prof. Konrad Hack, Azusa Pacific University

Round 1: The United States should adopt a living wage.
Round 2: The United States should substantially increase its border security.
Round 3: TH would reject the lesser evil.
Round 4: TH would remake others in its own image.
Round 5: TH would significantly increase the regulatory power of one or more federal regulatory agencies.
Round 6: The United Nations charter should be substantially changed.
Round 7: The federal budget deficit is good for America.
Round 8: The U.S. Federal Government should substantially revise one or more land use policies.
Octafinals: In this case, the United States should surrender its sovereignty.
Quarterfinals: The United States should pay reparations for slavery.
Semifinals: The United States should establish legal rights for one or more non-human species.
Finals: TH would resist medicine.

Truman State Invitational

Topics submitted by Dr. Kevin Minch, Truman State University

Round 1: TH would fold the hand.
Round 2: THBT peace cannot win a fight against a war.
Round 3: THBT developing countries should fight development.
Round 4: THBT on balance, isolationism causes more problems than it solves.
Round 5: TH would unite the United Nations.
Round 6: THBT good mental health is neither good nor healthy.
Octafinals: TH would disband the Senate.
Quarterfinals: THBT outcomes based educational funding can only fail.
Semifinals: TH believes no Bush, no peace; know Bush, know peace.
Finals: TH believes Dewey really did beat Truman after all.

Carol Gaede Invitational (Concordia College-MN/MSU-Moorhead)

Topics submitted by Prof. Meryl Irwin Carlson, Concordia College

Round 1: TH believes green is good.
Round 2: TH believes education is more valuable than incarceration.
Round 3: TH would invest in the final frontier.
Round 4: TH believes we should show no preference.
Semifinals: TH believes flat is good.

Cosmic Country (Middle Tennessee State Univ.)

Topics submitted by Prof. Scott Jensen, Webster University

Round 1: TH prefers to root for the underdog.
Round 2: Resolved: That the United States should privatize America’s schools.
Round 3: When in conflict, TH values national security over civil liberties.
Round 4: Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should strengthen rights of the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgendered community.
Round 5: We would strengthen entitlement programs in order to expand America’s safety net.
Round 6: TH would call foul on America’s professional athletes.
Quarterfinals: THBT music and movie pirates should walk the plank.
Semifinals: THBT, because America did not listen to Santayana, our history is repeating itself.
Finals: We believe that growing up is over-rated.

Ball State Debates

Topics submitted by Prof. Michael Bauer, Ball State University

Round 1: TH believes wild animals should be left in the wild.
Round 2: TH would use racial preferences in collegiate admissions policies
Round 3: TH would live a simpler life
Round 4: TH believes current US government actions are terroristic
Round 5: TH believes revenge is an appropriate response
Round 6: THBT grades are beneficial to a college student’s education
Octafinals/Quarters: TH believes the media undermines the political process
Quarters/Semis: THBT it is all about the money
Semis/Novice finals: TH believes people convicted of non violent crime should not be incarcerated
Varsity finals: TH believes nuclear weapons are beneficial to world peace.

Vocal Viking (Bethany Lutheran)

Topics submitted by Prof. Jon Loging, Bethany Lutheran College

Round 1: TH would value the Lombardi Trophy over the Nobel Peace Prize.
Round 2: TH would keep the reserves in reserve.
Round 3: TH would lift the curse.
Round 4: In this case, the good of the few outweighs the good of the many.
Semifinals: Kobe is not worth the time.
Finals: THBT teen driving privileges should depend on good school performance.

THBT Classic (Bethany Lutheran)

Topics submitted by Prof. Jon Loging, Bethany Lutheran College

Round 1: TH would trick in order to treat.
Round 2: TH prefers the classic to the contemporary.
Round 3: (Case Study)
Round 4: (Case Study)
Round 5: TH would wait for the Great Pumpkin.
Round 6: THBT it should trade spaces.
Semifinals: TH prefers to be a good supporting character than an average lead.
Finals: THBT the golden age of American family life is in the past.

Watson-Lancer Tournament

Topics submitted by Prof. Jim Wyman, Moorpark Community College

Round 1: Let nature take its course
Round 2: We should make a mountain out of a molehill
Round 3: The United States should take a more pro-active role in dealing with Iran
Round 4: The United States should substantially change its policy toward Columbia
Round 5: States Rights have been over-emphasized
Round 6: American Nationalism has been over-emphasized
Quarters: The jury system should be tampered with
Semis: The United States is abusing its Superpower status
Finals: Stupid is as Stupid does

Golden Gate Invitational (Univ. of California-Berkeley)

Topics submitted by Kate Shuster, Claremont Colleges

Round 1: The United States is losing the war on terror.
Round 2: The United States should substantially expand the right to vote.
Round 3: TH supports a right to a free higher education for all U.S. residents.
Round 4: The U.S. federal government should take one or more actions increasing the power of labor unions.
Round 5: The United States should change its security policy toward East Asia.
Round 6: TH would sign and ratify one or more international treaties.
Round 7: The United States should decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana.
Round 8: The free press does more harm than good.
Octas: In international relations, pragmatism is preferable to idealism.
Quarters: Forgive the debt.
Semis: TH would promote monopolization.
Finals: TH would resign.

Jackrabbit Jousts (South Dakota State)

Round 1: TH would gamble on a dark horse.
Round 2: THBT people overrely on the government.
Round 3: Resolved: The Patriot Act should be overturned.
Round 4: Resolved: The U.S. stock market is beyond reform.
Quarters: TH would strengthen regulations on corporate speech.
Semis: TH would win the battle to lose the war.
Finals: Think pink.

Smelt Classic (Lower Columbia College)

Topics submitted by Mike Dugaw, Lower Columbia College

TH would let the court decide
TH would not invest
Resolved: The United States should solve the drug problem.
Resolved: TH should increase the gas prices.
Resolved: TH should log.
Resolved: TH is asking too much from too few.
TH would revive multi-nationalism
TH would restore the borders
TH supports Military preemption.

Red River Swing (LSU-Shreveport)

Topics submitted by Jorji Jarzabek, Louisiana State Univ.-Shreveport

Round 1: THBT spontaneity is better than planning.
Round 2: TH won’t televise it.
Round 3: TH needs remodeling.
Round 4: TH be krunk, yo.
Round 5: THBT the ugly American needs a face-lift.
Round 6: TH believes the filibuster should stop.
Quarters: TH would crank up the volume.
Semis: TH would push the envelope.
Finals: TH won’t rake the leaves.

Hawaii Pacific Round Robin

Topics submitted by Skip Rutledge, Pt. Loma Nazarene University

Round 1: THBT the line between the judiciary and the congress has been blurred to our detriment.
Round 2: President Bush’s War on Terrorism has failed.
Round 3: When in conflict TH would value the right to free speech over the right to a fair trial.
Round 4: THBT economic policies are legitimate vehicles for advancing national interests in foreign affairs.
Round 5: Hawaii should legalize gambling.
Finals: The United States is a greater threat to world peace than is North Korea.

Al Johnson Invitational (Colorado College)

Topics submitted by Konrad Hack, Pt. Loma Nazarene University

Round 1: Florida’s recent passage of “Terri’s Law” is wrong.
Round 2: The United States constitution should be amended to allow naturalized US citizens to run for President.
Round 3: TH should vote no confidence in Prime Minister Blair.
Round 4: Loans rather than grants should be the form of United States reconstruction aid to Iraq.
Round 5: Presidential primaries are preferable to Presidential caucuses.
Round 6: The United States Federal Government should allow prescription drug reimportation from Canada.
Double-Octafinals: The bipartisan campaign reform act excessively limits the Federal election activity of non-profits.
Octafinals: The International Community should authorize stronger enforcement capabilities to the IAEA.
Quarters: Robert Novak should reveal the source of the Wilson leak.
Semis: China should adjust the value of the Yuan relative to the dollar.
Finals: In the upcoming papal elections, a conservative cardinal from Latin America is preferable to a liberal cardinal from Europe.

Sun God Invitational (Univ. of California-San Diego)

Topics submitted by Danny Cantrell, Univ. of California-San Diego

Round 1: The terror level alert system does more harm than good
Round 2: Resolved: The Union should substantially change its strategy
Round 3: TH should establish a sovereign Kurdish state in Northern Iraq
Round 4: Resolved: The U.S. Federal Government should establish an economic development policy for one or more countries in Africa
Round 5: GO GREEN!
Round 6: TH should send Bush to the Moon
Round 7: THBT term limits are not beneficial
Round 8: THBT the “No Child Left Behind Act” should be left behind
Octafinals: China is not a threat
Quarterfinals: Guest workers are bad guests
Semifinals: Resolved: India should replace France as a permanent member on the UN Security Council
Finals: Brown v. Board has failed.

Frank-ly Speaking Tournament (College of DuPage)

Topics submitted by Steve Schroeder, College of DuPage

Tournament used Phi Rho Pi rules – three topics per round. Opposition strikes one topic; government strikes one topic.

Round 1:

TH would fully implement “no child left behind.”
TH would capture or kill all al-Qaeda terrorists to bring them to justice, no matter what the cost.
TH would implement larger Pell grants for students who prepare for college with demanding courses in high school.

Round 2:

TH would remove the salary cap from professional football.
Like Donovan McNabb, TH would eat its Chunky Soup.
Like Walter Payton, TH would run up a hill.

Round 3:

Like George Foreman, TH prefers flavor over fat.
TH prefers curling over figure skating.
THBT instant replay does more harm than good.

Round 4:

TH opposes “amnesty.”
THBT “individuals who buy catastrophic health care coverage… should be allowed to deduct 100% of the premiums from their taxes.”
THBT “a government-run health care system is the right prescription.”

National Invitational Tournament