Resolved: in a democratic society felons ought to retain the right to vote

ok Ladies and Gentlmen first im going to attack my opponents case and them i am going to strenghten the base of my own. The first thing that i would like to point out is that my opponent is mis interperting the resolution. After reading the resolution thrice over I still fail to see were it mentions existing republics of any kind. The Resolution states and I quote "In a DEMOCRATIC society felons ought to retain the right to vote" Not in DEMOCRATIC Ladies and Gentlemen you cannot argue the resolution until you understand that you are arguing over a non existant society. I pointed this out in my Opening speech. Also my opponent explains how only 5 % of felons are registered to vote. I must ask in what DEMOCRATIC country? Surely you can't be speaking of the U.S. Its a republic! and this country not only strays beyond the scope of the resolution, but doesnt apply. Unless you can't prove to me that every single last person votes on every single last bill and amendment in the U.S, and that people are not appointed to take care of these things, then you can't prove the U.S is a Democratic society, so i pray you do not mention it again. If you take a moment to read the definition of republic, and of democratic in my first speech you will see that they do not have the same definition, so are not the same thing. Also, your rebuttle to my second contention is that by stripping people of thier right to vote, you are not subjecating these people to oppression due to thier qualities. So let me ask you this. Is bieng a felon a quality? Yes. So by not allowing somone to vote because they are a felon in essence is not allowing somone to vote because of a trait, or quality that they posses. So by choosing these peoples leadership for them because of thier traits you are subjegating them to oppression because of who they are So my opponents argument is invalid. Thirdly as addressed before i said that no democratic society exists in reality, so this debate is strictly moot. So when my opponent says that the society i am speaking of can't exist. I know, because i told you that in my first speech. Simply because the resolution brings up a non existant society doesnt mean it is our job to assume it means the next closest thing. We need to take the resolution for what it is. So if the resolution states a Democratic society then we assume that it is talking of a democratic society, and a democratic society is one in which everyone votes. Now to attack my opponenets contentions First of my opponent claims that according to John Lock everyone in a society makes a social contract to obey it's laws. However John Lock was also a firm beleiver in liberty and Equality. Waht my opponent is forgetting is that in a Democratic society voting is seen as a fundamental right. A fundamental right is a birth right that cannot be taken away under any circumstance. By stripping someone of this right the society is once again no longer democratic. Now for the sake of the reader i must point out i am not saying that criminals should not be punished, because they should. However i am saying that punish them as you may you cannot remove their right to vote under any circumstance because you lack the authority to remove a brith right as you are not god, and because by removing this right you are breaching the integrity ad values of your society. My opponents second contention is that by allowing criminals to break the law and retain their rights you are creating a double standard. But i must ask how so? The criminal is receiving thier punishment is that not enough for you? How do you suppose punishment should be handled. In a democratic society punishment is equal and opposite. you cannot give somone the death penalty for parking in a handicapped spot. these men have recieved thier punishment, and by stripping them of thier right to vote you are breaching the the rule of equal and opposite punishment excuse me if this seems rushed but my tourny is tomorrow and i gotta right a neg myself toight so i hope i dint miss any thing