BeIR/webis-touche2020 huggingface dataset:
Giving Foreign Workers the Right to Vote would Foster Global Equality

Its a very flimsy argument at its best. Firstly, granting them voting rights would not mean including them in 'minor decisions' but instead making them accountable for major policy decisions which may have a significant bearing on the society in the future; a society which the foreign workers may never be able to call as their own (we all are aware of how deep rooted nationalistic tendencies can be, irrespective of the amount of leverages given in the host country). Secondly, equality which the proposition seems so vehement to achieve, can be attained through varied other means, most of them would never include awarding of voting rights. Peace will not be hampered as long as you keep the working class happy, don't make them a subject of undue exploitation and treat them as aliens not belonging to their sphere. Voting rights, on the other hand, may hamper the whole peace equation which the proposition are so intently espousing. What if, in the process of making the foreign workers comfortable and at home, we end up igniting our own workforce? What if the reverse discrimination principle takes roots within our own people? What if they revolt on the basis of minority being favoured over the majority nationals? It would lead to an overall decimation of our local industrial and labour force which is inimical to any country's economic, social and political interests. We totally agree on the point that a foreign workforce is essential for any country's economy; however our basic stand remains that should they be given a higher pedestal than our local workers? And a higher pedestal it sure will be, if this voting rights question is affirmed in the positive by any government. Hence the opposition stands firm on the ground that integration with the society, making them feel safer in a different place, securing their interests are all legitimate demands and can very well be incorporated, but so far as governance issues are concerned, lets keep these cocooned from foreigners.
Counter-Counterpoint: Social Stability + Economic Benefits

The proposition is speaking of social stability sans security. This is ridiculous as stability is unimaginable without security. Further, the proposition has not explained as to how the granting of suffrage would peacefully quell social insurrections. The fact that foreigners are being granted voting rights will never go down well with the natives and they will surely oppose it wholeheartedly. The racist attacks against the Indians in Australia were due to the fact that the Indian students had begun to take away the jobs of the Australians and had started to replace them in their own State. In such a case will Australia ever grant voting rights to Indian workers? Will Indians crave to work in Australia in absence of security conformation by the State even if the voting rights are granted to Indian workers? The answer is a big no as no one will risk his life and stand in the queue to cast the vote. Right to life is a basic human right, not right to vote. Workers surely go for the profit and not the fruit as the same will be available in their country as well. No one would spend money to go abroad and work unless remuneration issue is involved. The proposition pointlessly talks about "empowering the workers to look after themselves". Even after granting the suffrage if the foreign workers have to look after themselves, then what is the use of granting suffrage? The government cannot shirk off its responsibility of providing security by granting suffrage and still asking people to look after them. The proposition has nowhere tried to explain as to how the issue of granting suffrage to foreign workers will help. It is out of proportion what the proposition is trying to mean by citing the issue of the foreign workforce. True that the foreign workers bring wide range of skill and experience with them but how is it related to voting rights? The proposition is clueless regarding the after-effects of granting voting rights which is the inherent say of a citizen.
Proposition Summary + Conclusion

Opp’s theme is granting foreign workers (FW) suffrage wouldn’t solve, but exacerbate the SQ. FW aren’t interested in society, and they’re only a minority. Also, representative gov’t is the only way to protect them from exploitation, which can’t be done. They attacked the morality issue, by that FW are intrinsically different and unequal to natives. Moreover, competition in resources, chaotic society, and harmed national sovereignty are the disads, and there are other ways to make foreign workers happy. Further, the sole goal of the FW is better chances in life, so they should be satisfied. Prop explained that suffrage for FW will help maintain social stability, decrease human exploitation, enhance global equality, and benefit the economy. Violent protests had become a weapon against exploitation. The resolution will reduce social imbalance in SQ by including FW’s voices in the community. Suffrage will give them a voice in society to prevent more abuses and help different cultures understand each other and interact. FW fill the unattractive yet keystone jobs. Some also take up high skilled jobs that citizens can’t. This benefits the economy by creating more jobs. When coming to a decision in a debate, we must consider what’s right and most sensible. In SQ, FW are exploited because they don’t have a voice or any clue how to claim their rights. In fact, some are fired for standing up for their rights, but don’t know how to deal with it; this leads to social instability like France, where violent protests are used to alert the society. FW can avoid these if they had a voice and the right tools. Giving FW suffrage wouldn’t cause hatred among natives, for many of them do understand FW’s situation and their contribution to the society. Economic imbalance in SQ can be solved by suffrage, offering FW legitimized places in society, welcome their skills and existence, provide insurance against exploitation, and encourage participation in markets where they’re needed. This encourages FW to fill demands of global job markets in foreign states. In the utilitarian aspect, this works as a double benefit for the host nation since the FW improve the economy by filling job gaps while creating more jobs as the economy grows. Thus suffrage is not simply an inherent say of a native. It’s a healthy way of communication in democratic society. Also, we don’t have to worry about national sovereignty since local elections are only parochial. Other disads such as political chaos or competitions in resources are insignificant as the Opp conceded that FWs are only a minority, and this shouldn’t dissuade us from creating a better society. The resolution is a positive step towards global peace and prosperity. It ultimately stops exploitation, violent protests and promotes cultural interaction, while improving the economy and increasing employment rates. Hence, passing this resolution is not only a sensible thing, but also the right thing to do.
Immigration Issue

Opposition would like to submit 'immigration' as point which cannot be ignored in the present context of the debate as foreign nationals who come without legal work permit and stay in the country and work there, hamoer the interest of the citizens of the country in terms of job employment. And then they want voting rights to have a better say in the community! Clearly if we follow the proposition's proposal, the already increasing problem of immigration which has literally plagued the developed and semi-developed countries would then become a full fledged problem. If we grant them a path to citizenship and hence ensuring that right to vote is also guaranteed, following problems are bound to arise: a) it grants amnesty to criminals b) it disrespects all the legal immigrants who are still waiting for a legitimate citizenship c) legalized aliens are unlikely to be patriotic Therefore giving right to vote whether it be local election or national elections to foreign nationals specially in case of immigrants is disrespect to all the citizens of that particular country who have actually earned their citizenship rather than illegal immigrants who seek a short cut to land of opportunity. By providing them right to vote it will hamper national interest as they will misuse their votes and create a state of political turmoil in the country.
Allowing Foreign Workers to Vote in Local Elections would Help Maintain Social Stability

Granting suffrage to those workers would reduce violence in the society by reducing intercultural tensions. The municipal government would recognise their position in the community by helping them participate in society. We the Proposition believe that our “embracing” policy, showing that the workers are welcome and that they are open to contribute to the society, would definitely ease out cultural tensions between the foreign workers and the society. In SQ, the limited worker rights of the foreign workers are enforcing the workers to resort to the solution of the desperate and disenfranchised - violent rebellion. In France, where granting foreign workers suffrage has been controversial for 30 years, urban violence initiated in late 1970’s and has broken out again recently, exacerbated by apartheid in suburban communities. On August16, 2010, in the Tebrau Industrial area in Malaysia, workers from Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, and India working in a factory destroyed a guard post and hurled stones and rubbish at bystanders. According to Johor state unity and human resources committee chairman M. Asojan, the death of a Nepalese factory worker was what triggered the riot, but the cause was the explosion of their frustration, anger and misery over the harsh environment they were forced to live in for a very long time. The issue is not simply about a riot by foreign workers, but a fight for reasonable treatment and basic human rights. [[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/08/21/prospering-sweat-and-blood-foreign-workers.html]] Providing foreign workers the right to vote can easily avert such tragedies by allowing them legitimacy and a recognized place in local society. A say in local elections gives marginalized members of a society a healthy way to let their voices be heard. The opportunity to vote fosters social cohesion and a sense of belonging in local communities, reducing the pressures that lead to violent outbreak.
Giving Foreign Workers the Right to Vote would Foster Global Equality

Compared to the past years where there was little interaction between nations, understanding of different cultures have grown significantly in the modern society. The world that we live has more interaction between different cultures. However, we still see conflicts between people of different races. By giving these people of different cultures - those with working visas- voting rights, the local government would help them feel welcome in the community. Granting them voting rights would include them in minor decisions that directly affect them would show them that the community cares about them and we are including them in community decisions. This means that we would be embracing these foreign workers and accepting them more into our society, increasing overall peace in the society. As voting rights seemed to be aspect of national sovereignty, it appeared to be difficult to extend voting rights to non-national residents. Therefore, a theoretical and political work of disconnection of local citizenship from national sovereign elections aimed to advance through recognition of local suffrage for foreign residents. The majority of European countries have now advanced in that way, but some countries still resists extending local voting rights to non-European residents. [[http://www.migrationeducation.org]] European countries like Ireland and Sweden have implemented political integration of foreign workers by granting local voting rights to foreign workers. French parties and human rights organizations began to discuss the possibility of extending voting rights to foreign residents. In the early 1970s, the most important argument was the claim for equality between foreigners and French people, a universal conception of equality suggested that there should be no difference between foreigners and nationals in the access to the political scene. The human equality is essential to the democratic principles, which the contemporary seems to value so much.
Counter-Counterpoint: Social Stability + Economic Benefits

Social security has nothing to do with our contention. Granting suffrage would peacefully quell social insurrections and keep our society STABLE Opposition mentioned why foreigners go overseas to work. However, the workers pick fruit not for profit alone, but for better conditions than at home. We all believe that it is unacceptable to take exploit humans. In order to protect the socially vulnerable workers, we must go beyond offering theoretical rights and empower them to look after themselves. After all, they fill in the unattractive jobs to sustain private businesses like hotels. Skillful ones fill the high sectors that boost the host’s economy and reduce unemployment rate. Foreign workers bring a wide range of skills and experiences, and knowledge about different markets around the world. Keppel and SembCorp for instance, hire 20,000 people. These jobs wouldn’t exist without the foreign workers, and vice versa. [[http://barangaysingapore.com/immigration/singapore-needs-more-foreign-workers-in-order-to-grow/]] Many who work overseas are frustrated with limited rights and little interaction in the society. The Opposition said the West enjoys flows of highly skilled Indian workers; but this won’t be true forever with India’s economic growth as the Indian workers prefer home with full rights to overseas where their voices are unheard The Opposition then misconstrues that foreign workers would only vouch for their economic profits. However, it doesn’t matter if the workers want to discuss social issues. The point of giving them suffrage is to sanction their value by granting civil rights. Our issue is not whether or not the foreign workers can win the elections. We should focus on how the workers need a voice in issues directly affecting their lives. This is like young Helen Keller struggling to communicate with her parents Foreign workers, as the Opposition kindly noted, are a minority. Illegal and legal immigrants deplete more resources than foreign worke
Suffrage is a serious matter; don’t make a mockery of it

The Opposition claims that equality can only exist if there are two groups who form part of the same cult, but they do not realize how immigrants become "equal" with native citizens. For example, permanent residents of Canada should have lived there for 3 out of the last 4 years. According to the Opposition's logic these people are technically citizens, yet they stated that foreign workers do not identify themselves with those characteristics. Since those immigrants and foreign workers differ only by their title and their reason of residence, who is to say that the immigrants possess those "characteristics" and the foreign workers do not? To be honest, Canadian society is a melting pot, composed of citizens who were all once immigrants themselves. Therefore, the division between citizens and foreign workers is not as distinct as side Opposition claims. Our underlying intention is to make those workers feel welcome in society and to respect their rights, as the contemporary seems to value democracy so much. We do concede that the title "community citizenship" does not exist, but the concept does. Those foreign workers can be regarded as "community citizens" because they form the society and contribute to the community, as the Opposition acknowledged that "a foreign workforce is essential for any country's economy." Many countries offer legally-protected rights to foreign workers from countries that do not offer similar protection to workers, as many of them do not recruit foreign workers. This is not about reciprocity; it is about supply and demand. If we recruit foreign workers because we feel the need to, then we have the moral responsibility to protect them, as well as the practical motivation to attract them. Thus we the Proposition believe that granting suffrage to foreign workers, while also acknowledging that this would not implement definite global equality, but take a step toward the goal; the goal that we believe the Opposition should bear in mind too.
Counter-Counterpoint: Suffrage is a serious issue; don’t make a mockery of it

We take that the opposition’s terms for the distinction between immigrants and natives is continued from their Montesquieu quote; “law should be determined by the characteristics of a nation.” However, not only should inherent characteristics NOT contribute to who can have suffrage, but also, this is the main reason why social instability is at large; people ignoring the ‘foreigners’ because they aren’t of equal national status. We agree that human rights and suffrage are different, yet believe they are linked; not giving them a voice in the society will make them vulnerable to exploitation, which is certainly violating human rights. Firstly, we have proven theoretical rights on documents are not enough to protect the foreign workers from being exploited. Secondly we ask, how does preventing exploitation which leads to social instability have a negative effect on a state’s soft-power? Their locals and foreigners ratio argument can be easily torn down by the fact that hiring laws prevent countries from “senselessly” inviting a wave of foreign workers, and if a state wants to bring in foreign workers, it needs to prove that no other nationals can do the job that needs to be filled. However, if the odd scenario of foreigners overpowering the locals was to happen, it would not cause civil strife or hamper the relations between countries. It would be another step towards global peace because more foreigners mean more understanding of diverse cultures. With this we can prevent discrimination and misunderstanding of cultures in the world. Lastly, we would like to point out that the opposition failed to attack our rebuttals for their 2nd contention, thus our counter-arguments still stand, and their whole arguments on illegal immigration basically falls.
Granting Foreign Workers Suffrage would Protect Them from Human Exploitation

On the point of "it will strengthen their position as members of a community” we would like to show to the proposition that they have either neglected or completely misunderstood the point the best example of which is the treatment of Mexicans in the State of Texas. Does the proposition really think that this will ensure Mexicans a better say in the state of Texas? Moreover it is totally a country's prerogative and right to decide who can or cannot vote. Hence the whole point of the proposition is UTOPIAN in nature. The opposition would like to quote the ICCPR which dismisses Article 22 of UDHR, that being , where right to vote and election is mentioned and is only guaranteed to the citizen of the state and that to, not in electing all organs of the state. On the point of "gives a outlet for foreign workers to express their opinions and participate as local citizens without posing any threat to national sovereignty". Well if that were to be the case then Canada, wouldn't have denied the Permanent Residents the right to vote in local election for national security reasons. Another issue which arises is that many countries still don't have dual citizenship and how many foreign workers would risk losing their citizenship just to earn the right to vote remains to be seen. Although all the foreign workers enjoy all the recognized basic human rights and still if they are marginalized and discriminated, the government should first take stern action against such acts and ensure that they enjoy a decent life rather than extending voting rights which would hardly have an impact in such case. Protection from exploitation can only be achieved when immigrants have a representative government. That can never happen. The voter base would have to be greater than than the native population. There is always a trade-off for earning higher profits. In this case it is unequal treatment in a few cases. Voting being one of them. Right to suffrage clearly solves nothing.
Economic Benefits – A Win-Win Proposal

The proposition obviously lives in an economy vastly different from the rest of the world. India is one of the largest outsourcing markets, due the plethora of cheap, semi-skilled labour. India also exports one of the largest number of professionals, especially to the West. And it it the West which is crying out that their jobs are being 'taken' by foreigners. I just wish they had as open minds as our worthy opponents. No, wait a minute. Our worthy opponents are the West. They have just made an argument so contrary to their foreign policy, I hope I might be forgiven for considering it a typographical error. The reason for granting jobs to foreigners is not as the proposition puts it, "to fill the demands of the global job markets." It is done because in a capitalist economy cheap labour is a boon. An Asian, for example, will be willing to do the same work for a fraction of the salary. This is why they are hired so easily and in such large numbers. Now if voting rights are added to the benefits given to immigrants and foreigners, this will encourage even more immigration, thereby leading to further loss of jobs for natives. The proposition makes the argument that "hiring laws require the companies hiring them to demonstrate that national workers with appropriate skill are not available for such jobs". Does this mean that every foreign software engineer or human resource manager who is hired abroad possess some skill that domestic workers do not? The notion is absurd. Currently there are a large number of people living in nations other than their own. They are living , working and thriving. They continue to live because there is a certain motivation to continue doing so. What is this motivation? The search for a better life. If they are enjoying this better life without voting rights then where does the problem come in at all? In the opinion of the opposition it is an unnecessary move that will have no benefit, but possible harm might befall the nation.