topic
stringlengths
3
73
argument
stringlengths
24
222
label
stringclasses
2 values
Breastfeeding in public
That breastfeeding is natural does not make it decent in public
CON
Banning vuvuzela horns at the 2010 World Cup
Guests at World Cup should embrace S. African vuvuzela tradition.
CON
Banning vuvuzela horns at the 2010 World Cup
Ear plugs can effectively limit any damage from vuvuzela.
CON
Banning vuvuzela horns at the 2010 World Cup
Fans can be trusted to use vuvuzelas safely.
CON
Medical marijuana dispensaries
That marijuana is herbal does not mean it is safe
CON
Medical marijuana dispensaries
Marijuana is a safer alternative to many medications
PRO
Instant replay in baseball
Machines shouldn't be determining calls in baseball
CON
Instant replay in baseball
Instant replay should not exist for sake of personal achievements
CON
Instant replay in baseball
Not enough important bad calls occur to justify instant replay
CON
Instant replay in baseball
Instant replay does not diminish human element of baseball
PRO
Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla
Israeli raid in international waters violates i-law
CON
Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla
Israeli use of force on flotilla was disproportionate.
CON
Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla
Israel issued warning to Gaza flotilla, which they ignored
PRO
Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla
Israel miscalculated on flotilla, but acted in self-defense
PRO
Balanced budget amendment to US Constitution
Unworkable to measure and define balanced budget
CON
Balanced budget amendment to US Constitution
Congress shouldn't make Amend if it can't make good fiscal leg.
CON
Balanced budget amendment to US Constitution
Balanced budget amend in states is often a bad thing.
CON
Balanced budget amendment to US Constitution
Politicians can't make hard choices; BBA necessary
PRO
Balanced budget amendment to US Constitution
General statements in favor of balanced budget amendment.
PRO
Balanced budget amendment to US Constitution
Balanced budget will bring fed spending in line with states'.
PRO
Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010
Consumers can be protected w/o new financial bureaucracy
CON
Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010
Capitalism is wonderful, but requires regulations
PRO
Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010
Goldman Sachs fraud case highlighted need for financial reform
PRO
Greece bailout
Public opinion does not support the Greece bailout
CON
Greece bailout
Greek debt is too large for bailout to solve
CON
Greece bailout
Bailout addresses wrong problem: liquidity not solvency
CON
Greece bailout
Bailing out Greece is a necessary evil
PRO
Greece bailout
Bailout of Greece provides long-term solution.
PRO
Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Treaty)
Geneva Conventions regulates use of landmines; ban is excessive.
CON
Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Treaty)
Mine Ban Treaty fails to distinguish between different kinds of mines.
CON
Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Treaty)
Efforts to clear landmines should be improved, instead banning them.
CON
Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Treaty)
The usefulness of landmines is significantly over-represented
PRO
Graduated response antipiracy laws
Graduated response unnecessary; antipiracy laws already exist
CON
Graduated response antipiracy laws
Graduated response is best compromise b/w stakeholders
PRO
Network neutrality
Existing laws check unfair practices by broadband owners
CON
Network neutrality
Net Neutrality is a solution in search of a problem
CON
Network neutrality
ISPs have right to free speech, including right to limit access.
CON
Network neutrality
Net neutrality regulates service providers, not Internet
PRO
Network neutrality
Net neutrality has historical precedent
PRO
Constitutionality of US health insurance mandates
Not buying insurance is no transaction; no commerce clause authority
CON
Constitutionality of US health insurance mandates
There is no fundamental right to go without insurance
PRO
Constitutionality of US health insurance mandates
Health insurance mandates fall under taxation powers
PRO
Constitutionality of US health insurance mandates
Commerce clause gives power to mandate health insurance
PRO
US debt ceiling deal
Sweeping statements against the debt deal.
CON
US debt ceiling deal
Deal far less damaging than default.
PRO
US debt ceiling deal
Deal's cuts more modest than GOP wanted; easier on econ.
PRO
US debt ceiling deal
Debt ceiling helps Obama appeal to moderates.
PRO
US offshore oil drilling
Allowing offshore drilling is all about oil company profits
CON
US offshore oil drilling
Offshore oil still valuable, even if years away
PRO
US offshore oil drilling
Offshore drilling has a very strong environmental record
PRO
US offshore oil drilling
Offshore drilling rigs are resilient, withstanding even hurricanes
PRO
Google decision to stop censoring results in China
Google should not politicize its commerce in China
CON
Google decision to stop censoring results in China
Bad idea for Google to leave biggest search market
CON
Google decision to stop censoring results in China
Google's decision in China was mostly ethics, not business
PRO
War on Drugs
War on Drugs has been effective in many places
PRO
War on Drugs
War on Drugs is a good idea even if not winnable
PRO
War on Drugs
State justified in protecting individuals from own drug abuse.
PRO
Gay marriage
Acceptance of gay marriage should not be imposed on citizens
CON
Gay marriage
Marriage is mainly for reproduction; can't include gays
CON
Gay marriage
Gay parenting is just as good as straight parenting
PRO
Gay marriage
Marriage is about much more than kids; gays qualify
PRO
Gay marriage
Gay marriage should not be banned for tradition
PRO
Gay marriage
Gay marriage is a fundamental, equal right
PRO
Corporate personhood
Corps. not full community-members, ineligible for personhood
CON
Corporate personhood
Corporations are property; should have few rights
CON
Corporate personhood
Corps focus on profits, not eligible for rights
CON
Corporate personhood
Corporations have a right to defend their interests
PRO
Corporate free speech
Free speech does not apply equally to companies
CON
Corporate free speech
Wrong to fine/jail corporate citizens for speech
PRO
Corporate free speech
Voters can be trusted to judge corporate speech/messages
PRO
Big government
Government avoids pitfalls of focus on profits
PRO
College football playoffs
College football can evolve to include a playoff
PRO
2010 US bank tax
2010 bank tax is pure populism
CON
2010 US bank tax
Bailout benefited taxpayers; repayment unnecessary
CON
2010 US bank tax
Bank tax will not crimp lending to taxpayers
PRO
2010 US bank tax
Bank tax is not too great of a burden on banks
PRO
Full-body scanners at airports
Scanners do not reveal things in body cavities
CON
Full-body scanners at airports
There are better alternatives to body scanners at airports
CON
Full-body scanners at airports
Full-body scanners are very expensive.
CON
Full-body scanners at airports
Scanners can be modified to accommodate children.
PRO
US health care reform
2009 health bill rushed through for political reasons
CON
US health care reform
2009 health care reform bill can be improved over time
PRO
Direct democracy
Being part of the process is a requirement in a democracy.
PRO
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is relatively cheap
PRO
Affirmative action
Minority schools disprove perceived value of diversity
CON
Affirmative action
Affirm action justly asks whites to sacrifice for common good
PRO
Affirmative action
Diversity is supplimentary to goal of fairness.
PRO
EU elected president
Strong presidential state powers are unnecessary and uncalled for.
CON
EU elected president
EU population not involved enough to elect president
CON
EU elected president
Being a part of the process is an important requirement in any democracy.
PRO
Gene patents
Genes cannot be owned practically, are part of commons
CON
Gene patents
Isolated gene sequences are new, not part of nature
PRO
Gene patents
Gene sequencing can be useful and thus can be patented.
PRO
Gene patents
Little evidence exists that gene patents hurt research
PRO
Gays in the US military
Most members of US military support ban on gays
CON
Gays in the US military
Gay soldiers do not undermine unit morale and cohesion
PRO
Gays in the US military
Privacy issues with gays in the military can be resolved
PRO
Nuclear energy
Uranium is abundant and will last for hundreds of years
PRO
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy economies of scale are improving
PRO
Nuclear energy
Nuclear waste radiation no worse than natural radiation
PRO