Final Debates--Topic Review #2

The second topic is a classic "society versus the individual" argument. The resolution calls for the needs of the majority taking precedence over individual rights. Some would say this was the primary philosophy of Fascism seen in Italy and Germany in the 1930s or the de facto actions of Communist China and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. However, we see such actions as seizing private property through "imminent domain" here in the United States for public works projects. In the 20th century, the US saw actions by the legislative branch (House Un-American Activities Committee) destroy individuals and the actions were strongly supported by the public. Probably the big question in the resolution implies that we determined the "will of the masses" through some kind of process. How do we determine, "The will of the masses?" Is it determined through a democratic process, a representative procedure, or an edict from a bureaucracy? Most of the events described in Topic Review #1 also apply to this resolution for both Affirmative and Negative arguments.

The opposition to the resolution can use the United States Constitution and the Amendments to support the premise we hold individual rights at least as important if not more important to majority rule. Historically the US Constitution could not pass until a Bill of Rights was assured. Most of US law is based on due process clauses in the 5th and 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Many of the major Supreme Court decisions of the past 100 years supports individual rights over the authority of government or majority opinion in contemporary society.

Understanding the legal as well as traditional history of the United States will greatly assist your efforts in debating this topic.