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Re: two topic suggestions


On Tue, 4 Jul 1995 griffith@spider.lloyd.com wrote:

> I say:
> As far as I knew, the section of information posted after the problem area
> was just suggestion material.  With that in mind, such topical analysis as
> Korcok has posted would be completely legitimate.  If the little blurb that
> Dr. Stepp posted after each problem area (In her original topic area post)
> were some kind of bonding issue, then any form of non-policy resolution
> would automatically barred, which according to the topic survey was
> strongly disagreed with.
> 

I'm not sure what purpose the problem area serves.  Maybe Pam can provide 
some insight into this...

If the problem area is only a general guideline, then the resolutions 
would certainly be legit, but I still think there are research probs with 
them.

> I respond:
> Here I would agree, it'd be kindof tough to not only learn about such
> reforms, but additionally the process by which the Cuban Government adopts
> such reforms.  It would, however be highly educational.  Especially on the
> "South American government" suggestion.  We are oblivious to most of the
> intricacies and interworkings of South American governments.  This process
> of non-us resolutional actors would also revolutionize debate.  Instead of
> pulling all of the generic US Policy formation evidence and structuring
> argumentation around US policy, squads would actually be learning something
> completely new.  It would definately be interesting. (Such evidence can be
> found in political theory textbooks regarding institutional legitimacy,
> power, authority, etc.)  I just finished reading a book about Cuba that
> explores such areas.  I think it was by José Murillo (dont hve it in front
> of me).
> 

I completely agree.  Mike says this too--I have no problems with this.  I 
too think it would be interesting.  My problem with it is purely from an 
evidence position.  I think it would be a very educational approach, but 
I'm not sure that there are enough resources to find ev. for an entire 
semester.

On a related note, has anyone in the CEDA community tried to do research 
from Latin America's domestic perspective?

> 
> >Resolved: That the United States government should substantially change
> >its foreign policy toward Cuba.
> 
> How could such a resolution achieve the same effect as Cuba going through
> reforms.  At the level that you are using a remote (the us) to shape Cuban
> policies, the outcome becomes uncertain, whereas w/ cuba as the actor, plan
> would gain more workability and solvency than counterplan.  As well as
> avoiding heg and other disadvantages.
> 

I don't understand why this is true.  The solvency burdens would be 
different, not less.  The disad would be something like Castro backlash 
instead of heg.  This does not increase or decrease burdens--it only 
changes them.  Just like how domestic US cases compare to US foreign 
policy cases.

> W/ this as the topic instead of korcok's example, we'd still be examining
> the entire debate through the eyes of a US actor, thus decreasing the
> educational benefits of learning about the structure of South American
> governments, something far more educational than the repetitive US based
> argumentation and policy formation.  I doubt such ideas will be adopted
> this semester, but it would definately be a fun area to experiment with and
> debate on.  Problem does exist that a majority of the literature on South
> American Policy formation may be written in spanish.
> 

Yep, it would still be through the US.  But probably a wider variety of 
cards, too.  I guess we have to weigh competing priorities...without 
trying to sound like a T debater, it seems that the US worded topics 
give us a greater breadth of information--US politics (which we've 
certainly debated before but are always changing) and Latin American 
politics too.

> Neg would also get an agent counterplan if they wanted it.  Or we could
> just dive in head first to the alt-agent resolution and then neg could try
> to run "let the USA do it."
> 
would that be a legit CP?  Another way to think about it--Could Japan 
implement a Welfare reform system in the US?  Or give us aid to do it?  
Just a thought, I'm not sure I have a definite feeling about that 
particular CP.

later

Sean Harris
Whitman College
References:
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