Resolved: The Democratic Party is better than the Republican Party

C5: Gay Rights My opponent brings up two bills; Don't Ask Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act. Don't Ask Don't Tell is merely a derivative of The Uniform Code of Military Justice from the 50s. The Defense of Marriage act was passed in 1996 by a Republican Congress, demonstrating the anti-gay policies of the GOP. In some cases, the GOP has tried not only to make gay marriage illegal, but to make homosexuality itself illegal. [3] Ironically enough, however, "he Right's attempts to whip its base into opposing gay rights in 2004"have actually made the public more accepting of it. [4] My opponent has made a rather vague statement regarding gay rights as an issue on which "neither party is better than the other" when Republicans are clearly the ones who have openly dismissed this groups' right to express themselves as people and serve their country in the armed forces. This fact only supports the fact that Republicans are the party of No (C7), where they are using their majority in the House of Rep to block the lifting of Don't Ask don't tell and denying American citizens the right of expression, clearly outlined in the Constitution which the Republican party claims to defend. [1] On the other hand, Democratis are currently trying to add gay rights into the immigration debate, hoping to pass both to secure rights for lesbians and gays. [5] My opponent is right that the legislation has not yet passed; but the intent is clear, and it's much more than mere rhetoric, thus placing the GOP one step behind the Democratic Party yet again. C6: Party Strength Today's resolution asks which party is better for the American people. Thus, logically, the party with more popular support is the one regarded by the American people as more fitting of their views. Since the Democratic Party has 72 million members versus 55 million Republicans, it's clear that the American people have chosen the party which better represents their interests and values. He also states that "Appealing to the lowest common denominator isn't something to brag about". Actually, it is – the "lowest common denominator" is actually the deciding factor who will spend their next term in office. My opponent makes a random, vague jab at "stolen taxpayer dollars". Without specifics, this statement holds no ground in today's round. C7: Party of No My opponent's response is merely a cop-out to responding to my actual argument. Contention 7 explains how the purpose of Congress, which is to form compromises and thus craft moderate, meaningful legislation that appeals to as many as possible, is being undermined by the Tea Party's influence on the GOP. He states that "compromising on exactly how much to expand government is not a good thing", but does not explain why. My opponent is entitled to his opinion, but because he believes that compromising on how much government can expand is bad does not make it so. Furthermore, the scope of my contention is much broader than my opponent's response. Compromises are not being made on ANY major issues in Congress, and Republican obstructionist policy and the Tea Party is killing off moderate Republicans that would normally have the decency to simply discuss legislation with Democrats. My opponent has yet to respond to my contention fully, and thus you can extend the specifics of Contention 7 from the previous round. C8: Republican Agenda vs. Conservative Ideology My opponent has conceded this point to the Pro. Republicans are not part of big government; bills such as the CFMA and FSMA, which deregulated the oil futures market, created the Enron Loophole, and deregulated the economy and ultimately lead to the recession are clear examples of how Republicans are for less government involvement. My opponent's claim is, at best, false. Although the GOP likes big spending, big spending is not the equivalent of big government. The government provides public and social services like security, welfare, schooling, libraries, community centers and other programs on which our community depends- in addition to regulation to ensure our banks and large corporations don't endanger the economy as we have already seen in the past few months... a small, broke government (due to tax cuts) rendered powerless by deregulation cannot be "small" as Republicans want and still maintain oversight of the largest economy in the world while still providing necessary programs to its whole population. C9: Framing I have numerous responses. 1)My opponent is right; the death tax is a tax on those who die. However, the reason "death tax" is referred to as an example of framing is because Republicans pretended that this tax would apply to all citizens; not just the elite. Only 12,000 fall into this category, and many GOP candidates do as well; hence their distaste for such a tax. However, the economic impact of removing the death tax was a devastating $1 trillion in ten years alone. 2)My opponent then states, "the "estate tax" is a tax on people that are dying. lowering the amount of their money that they're able to use as they see fit." Simply put, this is false. The estate tax is only a tax on inheritances, and is only applicable to an individual after his or her death. 3)My opponent calls this "theft". His argument regarding "theft" is one not against the Estate Tax, but one that is applicable to any tax in general. However, the reality is that taxes exist; and they are not theft. Taxes are the average citizen's way of repaying a country that has allowed them to garner such prosperity by providing the government with money to ensure services will remain funded. 4)"As for the "death panels" scare tactics—it doesn't matter whether or not Obamacare actually included death panels." Actually, it does matter. There are no "death panels" that are being created by Obamacare. My opponent proves this point himself with his reference to the FDA, where he states that "death panels" already existed. The reason framing is such a controversial issue is because it is a LIE; the death panels frame was a lie, and my opponent has proven that point. 5)Glenn Beck has called those who don't pay taxes "un-American" while the tax cuts his party advocates do just that- tax cuts rob the government of funding it requires to provide security, social welfare and services to its citizens. Failing to provide to the people = "un-American" by the GOP's own standards. ----- I will now refute my opponent's points. C1: Economy My opponent has two responses. 1."First, I claimed that the Fed causes inflation" As I stated, the Federal Reserve has no hand in controlling inflation; they merely respond to the policies enacted by the political parties in power. Since, when the GOP is in power, they enact policy which requires the Fed to react in a manner that increases inflation, it is actually the GOP's fault for proposing and passing such legislation, not the Federal Reserve's fault for fulfilling it's purpose by reacting. 2. My opponent's second claim is about the business cycle, and how it occurs regardless of the political party in power. I agree that the economy fluctuates naturally; however, policy enacted by the GOP has an undeniably drastic effect on the economy, as exemplified by the current recession. Since inflation and unemployment rates are dependent on the state of the economy, which is dependent on the policy enacted by the political party in power, it's clear that my contention and all my statistics regarding the Democrat's economic superiority still stands. Both of my opponent's responses to this contention are false; thus, you can wipe his response off the flow and extend my first contention. I will respond to the remainder of my opponent's responses in Round 4. Vote PRO. 1]http://tinyurl.com... 2]http://tinyurl.com... 3]http://tinyurl.com... 4]http://tinyurl.com... 5]http://tinyurl.com...