It is time for the farmers of the San Wakeen valley to go to war with the federal govt

At first glance I thought Sadolite was only joking when he suggested that mere farmers should go to war with the federal government if their demands were not met. And I was tempted to engage in semantics so that I could beat him. Upon closer examination these sorts of tactics will be entirely unnecessary because my opponent seems to have put forth this resolution in all seriousness. Sadolite's opening argument reads like a hoax text, and the knowledge that it is not a hoax should be disturbing to anyone who cares about the future of intellectual and political discourse in the United Sates. ========= Contention 1: War is not the answer to this situation. ========= "If the water is not turned back on and I mean today, right freakin now, the farmers and the people of that region should form a militia and take matters into their own hands, turn the water back on and defend the free flow of water to their farms to the death if necessary."- Sadolite Even if I were to grant that the situation of the farmers in San Joaquin valley was indeed a problem that deserved the attention of scrupulous people it is a non sequitur to conclude that war is the solution to this situation. [1] One simply cannot imagine how war, and the explicit use of violence that comes along with it, would be a good solution to this issue. When we as a people choose to engage in war, for either offensive or defensive purposes "collateral damage"—the maiming and killing of innocent noncombatants—will be unavoidable. [2] Given what is at stake in this situation it would simply be unthinkable to place so many innocent people in danger over what is little more than a policy dispute. Even if we could determine that destitute farmers could overthrow government armies through their mastery of pitchfork ninjutsu, it would still be and intolerable and immoral means to resolving this issue. This analysis merely stems from the fact that modern warfare guarantees that innocent people will be killed, blinded, orphaned and severely disfigured in the act of war. And since warfare in such a situation would be flagrantly unnecessary we can dismiss it as a choice. ========= Contention 2: The Farmers of San Joaquin valley have better options than war. ========= If the farmers of San Joaquin Valley feel unrepresented or mistreated then they should create a petition, gather signatures, and campaign vigorously for it in congress until their voices have been heard. [3] They can also run for elected office, if they so choose, and try to advance their position that way. [4] Either of these possibilities doesn't have the absurd effect of needlessly wasting life over an ultimately reconcilable terrestrial dispute. The fact that you have provided no sources in your opening round has made my job needlessly difficult. How am I to know that you are being truthful if you start making claims and then back them up with zero evidence? And the fact that you spelled Joaquin wrong didn't help much either when I was doing research. Needless to say I expect better things from you in the next round. If you know something that I don't then please feel free to reveal it to me. And this time try to have some evidence. ======== Conclusion ======== Sadolite's resolution is, in my opinion, probably the product of the combined effects of too many red bulls; an almost paranoid mistrust of Government; too many hours of listening to Sean Hannity on the Radio; too many hours of watching UFC; and a serious lack of sleep. Why should farmers risk their own lives and the lives of countless innocents in a pointless campaign of violence and bloodshed over a dispute that can almost certainly be resolved by peaceful means? Gathering a militia of farmers armed with pitchforks, shotguns, and their deranged revenge fantasies for the purpose of warring with the Federal government is a phantasmagorically absurd option to resolve this issue. Such a decision would ruin whatever chance the farmers had of mediating their disputes peacefully and it would almost certainly condemn countless scores of people to an untimely death for no good reason. Resolution negated- (Vote Con) All the best, Freeman ====== Sources ====== [1] http://en.wikipedia.org... [2] http://www.ethicapublishing.com... [3] http://www.gopetition.com... [4] http://www.centeroncongress.org...