pre-pay pumps after dark

While I can appreciate my opponent's claimed responsibility, she certainly can't speak for everyone. As my opponent herself admits, her way of handling money is "not everyone's"; the resolution, as she types it, is "should gas stations make it mandatory to prepay after dark?" It's reasonable to assume that not everyone is as responsible as my opponent claims to be, and so obligatory prepayment at gas stations needs to be instituted so that everyone can follow Con's fine example, and, just maybe, Con herself can develop an even higher level of personal accountability; though spending money is "kind of fun" for my opponent, we have to understand that 'having a good time' needs to be balanced with responsibility, and while my opponent has taken multiple steps in the right direction, I reiterate that not everyone has such a conscientious code of conduct, and prepayment at gas stations will help others to take the same types of measures that Con discusses. When I say that people need to anticipate the needs of those around them, I mean that in a very general sense. For example, my opponent doesn't have to know that her uncle's blood sugar will bottom out, but she could certainly carry some extra cash for that particular purpose; in a broader sense, nighttime prepayment at gas stations will encourage people to bring some extra money to avoid the kinds of situations described by my opponent in round one, like paying too much for gas, then being unable to splurge on a candy bar. Speaking of candy bars, that brings us to the health argument. Notice that I don't advocate that indulging on these things leads to an unhealthy lifestyle or drains one's wallet; however, I am advocating the positives; refraining from these kinds of indulgences will add up over time, leading to an even healthier lifestyle, and those dollars saved can easily add up over time; and, for those that don't 'junk out' in moderation, prepayment at gas stations will teach people to splurge in temperance. Overall, we'll become a more responsible society if we simply mandate prepayment! My opponent goes on to admit the horrors of stealing gasoline, which is exactly what I was hoping for! :) Now, because stealing is impermissible, we must understand that, by mandating prepayment after dark, we can easily cut down on gasoline theft by eliminating thieves' ability to pump-n-pay; at least, after dark. Though current security measures stop some thieves, it doesn't stop all of them; I see no reason not to build on our current success by instituting prepayment after dark. I don't know about my opponent, but an inconvenience that takes all of 5 minutes is a reasonable price for cutting down on crime; besides, it seems to me that, since one pays at the pump, and one knows exactly how much money they want to spend before they fill up, there's hardly any inconvenience! In this context, prepayment is definitely a twofer! Her next arguments take steps away from the resolution; we aren't arguing prepayment at restaurants, or at Hollister; we're arguing this only in the context of gas stations, and that's where I'd like my opponent to keep this debate centered. If she wants to debate prepaying at restaurants, or at Hollister, she can challenge me to a debate over that, also; though, coincidentally, prepayment to prevent dine-n-dashers, by having them pay for each course or drink they order before they get it, would probably be a pretty good idea. It's almost like my opponent is affirming the resolution for me! 1. Prepayment builds on Con's current self-control, and forces other people to learn some. We aren't arguing this topic based on what my opponent most prefers; there ARE other people in the world. :) Also, as far as my opponent's looks are concerned... "pics or you're lying", as the kids say. 2. Refer to the argument above, regarding how being receptive to the needs of others can be as simple as carrying some extra cash, just in case an incident were to occur. 3. Though I've agreed that measures are in place to protect against gasoline thievery, that doesn't discredit the effectiveness of mandatory prepayment as a further measure to combat stealing; as I explained, instituting another measure to build on top of existing success is obviously a good decision, even if we accept that it could be a minor annoyance to some people. As someone who admitted that stealing should be discouraged, my opponent should agree that any extra measures to combat thievery should be encouraged, regardless of the 'inconvenience'. 4. Bonus argument!!! :D a. Once again, the resolution isn't being argued on whether or not my opponent likes mandatory prepayment; this topic centers on whether or not we should, as a general rule, institute obligatory prepayment. I don't always like the inconvenience of taxes, but that doesn't give me license to stop paying them. Stimulation of the economy helps not only my opponent, but it helps everyone, by making more money available and lowering prices on consumer goods. Regardless of my opponent's apathy over our economy, the fact that prepayment aids our entire economy is more than reason enough to vote Pro. b. I'm not certain as to why being a kleptomaniac equates lack of compassion for the state of our economy; while I care about the stimulation of our economy, kleptomania is a psychological condition that makes it nearly impossible for me to not take things when the opportunity arises; this argument is an ad hominem, tu quoque, and a non sequitur all balled up into one. With that being said, I've got Fettuccine Alfredo to cook, and I do apologize if this round sounds a bit absent-minded on my part. I'm hungry, and I never think well when I'm hungry. :( Good luck to my opponent in Round 3, though!