Debate heats up politics
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The American University Eagle. Mar. 3, 2003 The AU College Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians met Saturday night in the first of series of debates between campus political parties. There will be a debate each month centered on a different political topic. Saturday's debate was supposed to center on economic policy, although each group often veered off-topic to promote different agendas on education, security, and drug policy. More than 70 people attended the somewhat informal debate held in Letts Formal Lounge. By the end of the debate, people were crowded into the back of the room, cheering their side on with gusto. Frequent outbursts from panel members on all sides and from the audience occasionally halted the progression of the debate. Emotions were high among the debaters -- with Democrat Noah Black screaming and on the verge of tears at one point, Republican Bob Nardo barraging the other parties with questions, and Libertarians equating the other two parties "Republicrats" -- who are falsely "arousing people" with false promises much like callers on "phone sex lines." Each team had a four member panel and opened with a three minute opening speech, made a two-minute constructive argument on how they would structure the economy, was allowed a cross examination and rebuttal period, and then a five-minute closing speech. The Democrats defended former President Bill Clinton's administration and the need for social welfare. The Republicans defended trickle-down economics and talked about how President George W. Bush's tax cuts were necessary to keep Americans free to spend money and keep businesses open. The Libertarians argued that the government should not have any role in the economy, especially in taxation, because people know how to spend their money the best. One of the main points discussed was the government's role in people's lives, in terms of taxation and the breadth of government programs. The College Democrats said that substantial federal taxes are necessary to support programs like welfare, education, Medicaid, and Medicare. "America is about helping people because at one point people helped you out and now you have to help," Black said. The Libertarians held that people know how to help people the best and the government should stay out of it. "We've let the government try to fix our problems for more than 60 years and it has not worked," Biterman said, while pacing around the room. "Before the 1950s, when the government took over, there was a charity hospital on every street." The Democrats responded that one could not count on people to be altruistic all the time. "The purpose of the government is to do what people will not do," Democrat Kevin Sheneberger said. The Republicans and Libertarians mainly discussed taxes and government spending. The Libertarians held that if the government ended the "war on drugs" -- on which the government has spent $80 billion, according to Biterman -- then that money could go into the free market. "Libertarians want to end the prosecution of harmless criminals like pot smokers and other non-violent offenders to make room for violent criminals like rapists and murderers," Libertarian Molly DeFelice said. While the Republicans did not agree with the Libertarian approach to drug policy, they conceded that some government programs were necessary, but argued that tax cuts, rather than the elimination of all taxes, would best help the economy. "An extra $300 check in the mail enables families to spend the money on what they need," Republican Tina Stanton said. The Libertarians condemned President Bush and the Republicans for overseeing increases in government's size and authority post-September 11, but the Republicans responded that actual and feared acts of terrorism could scare or even kill consumers, thus hurting the market even more. "Terrorism is a threat to the lives, liberty, and happiness of our," Republican Graham Gawrysiak said. "That is why we need to spend money on Iraq and terrorism." This was the first debate between the College Democrats and College Republicans since 1998, Nardo said. This is the first debate that they have had with the College Libertarian organization, which is new on campus this year. Nardo said that other third party clubs might be invited to participate in the debates from time-to-time, depending upon what the clubs arrange. Learn more about the College Libertarians, including photos from the debate, at http://www.AULibertarians.org. |
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