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Re: Artificial Counterplans - Definitions from the respondants



Didn't see your second email concerning this when I sent my response.  
This has always been my understanding of artifical competition, and I 
think many of the examples you gave could be construed as artifically 
competitive, but I don't think the theoretical reasons are there.  Very 
simply:  Artifical counterplans have one or more action included that are 
not necessary for solvency or any net benefit that are there only to 
provide competition.  Example:  Aff plan recognizes Taiwan.  Counterplan 
is World Government.  There is a plan "plank" that bans all unilateral 
action, thus banning the affirmative.  In this scenario we will assume 
that the neg has no evidence indicating that one additional unilateral 
action hurts wolrd government or makes the transition more difficult.  
This counterplan is artifically competitive because the one plan plank 
that provides competition (the ban) could be severed without affected the 
net benefits debate.

Another example with the same affirmative could be to place a U.S. naval 
base in Taiwan.  We will assume that the primary aff advantage is to stop 
a Sino/Taiwan war.  The neg counterplan text says "continue with current 
U.S. diplomatic relations with taiwan and begin a permanent naval 
stationing relationship."  The first plan action would be artifically 
competitive.  We could sever it with no impact on CP solvency, but if we 
were to sever it, the counterplan is no longer be competitive.

Mike Ross
Marshall

References:

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