Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Extemp Questions 2019 Nov


  • Does the international community need a convention to govern cyber-warfare?
  • Will Democrats face a political backlash for impeachment proceedings against President Trump?
  • What will America’s formal withdrawal from the Paris accords mean for future international climate change agreements?
  • Is Beijing poised for a heavy crackdown against the Hong Kong protesters?
  • Is it too late for new candidates to jump into the race for the Democratic presidential nomination?
  • Will President Trump pardon Roger Stone?
  • How will the Hong Kong protest end?
  • Are police actions in Hong Kong adding fuel to the continuing protests?
  • Has President Trump’s strategy towards North Korea failed?
  • Should the federal government more tightly regulate assisted reproduction?
  • What should the GOP do to win back female voters in the 2020 elections?
  • Is passage of the Equal Rights Amendment within sight?
  • Will the scandal around Prince Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein damae the British royal family?
  • What measures should the federal government take to better regulate vaping?
  • Should standardized tests be made optional for college admissions?
  • Should the use of genetic genealogy tools by US law enforcement be more tightly restricted?
  • Will Lula’s return strengthen the political left in Brazil?
  • What does Morales’ resignation mean or the future of Bolivia?
  • Why are so many protest movements erupting around the world at the same time?
  • Is becoming carbon neutral a realistic goal for the global community?
  • What does the future hold for the DACA program?
  • Are the protests in Hong Kong nearing an end?
  • Can Europe keep the Iran nuclear deal alive?
  • Has Viktor Organ killed democracy in Hungary?
  • What actions should the Indian government take to improve air qualities in its major cities?
  • What will Netanyahu’s indictment mean for Israel’s third election?
  • Has America abandoned the international fight for human rights?
  • Should the international community do more to condemn China’s treatment of its Uighur and Hui populations?
  • How long can Italy keep Venice afloat?
  • What will international agreements on climate change mean for the long term future of the global oil industry?
  • What wil an IPO of Saudi Aramco mean for the future of Saudi Arabia?
  • Can Pete Buttegeig win a spot among the top Democratic Presidential candidates?
  • Has the nuclear threat posed by North Korea lessened under the Trump Administration?
  • What can the US do to repair the frayed relationship between South Korea and Japan?
  • Is Chile on track to get meaningful constitutional reform?
  • Can Venezuela still be saved?
  • What does Trump Administration support mean for the future of Israeli settlements?
  • Does the UK’s Labour Party have a problem with antisemitism?
  • Will public protests bring real reform to Iraq?
  • Is Malta making real headway in combating political corruption?
  • What effect is the fight between doctors and the government having on the public in Zimbabwe?
  • What effect will support for Hong Kong have on trade war between the US and China?
  • Is progress being made towards eding the conflict in Yemen?
  • Will rudy Giuliani’s reputation survive the Trump Presidency intact?
  • Will the ICC hold leadership in Myanmar responsible for crimes against the Rohinjya?
  • What do Hong Kong’s local elections signal about the future of the pro-democracy protests?
  • Are congressional Democrats rushing through the impeachment inquiry?
  • Can new leadership bring significant progress rooting out corruption in the Iraqi government?
  • Can western democracy solve climate change?
  • Does Scotland’s future lie as an independent nation?
  • Is President Trump’s strategy towards Iran working?
  • Is there a path forward for Bolivia?
  • Can Doug Jones win reelection in Alabama?
  • What more should African nations be doing to combat animal poachers?
  • Has the WTO lost its usefulness?
  • Is the Thai monarchy spiralling out of control?
  • Will Senate Republicans stand with President Trump on impeachment?
  • What will it take to stem the flow of human trafficking in Europe?
  • How will the EU fare economically after Brexit?
  • How big of a threat to the UK’s governing Conservative Party is posed by Nigel Farage?
  • Can Congress still act with bi-partisanship?
  • What does Michael Bllomberg’s late entry mean for the Democratic Presidential primary?
  • Will public hearings sway public sentiment on the issue of impeaching President Trump?
  • Should the US be doing more to aid the Mexican government in the fight against the cartels?
  • Should the federal government regulate the use of AI and computer algorithms?
  • Is China’s belt and road initiative displacing American soft power in the developing world?
  • Is the FBI adequately addressing the threat of white supremacist violence in the US?
  • Will China start exporting its social credit system around the world?
  • Have the Trump Administration's actions towards Israel made a peace deal with Palestine more difficult to achieve?
  • Will impeachment proceedings further harden President Trump’s support base?
  • Is the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign weakening the bad actors within the Iranian regime?


Saturday, November 2, 2019

Extemp Questions 2019 Oct


  • \Will Hunter Biden jeopardize his father’s Presidential campaign?
  • Will continued economic pressure bring Iran back to the negotiating table?
  • Will renewed talks with North Korea bring any tangible results?
  • Will the cloud of impeachment forestall key domestic legislation in Congress?
  • Can Jared Kushner’s middle east peace plan get any real traction?
  • Is the global community ready to take real action on climate change?
  • Should the UK hold a second Brexit referendum?
  • Can Peru find its way out of policial chaos without erupting into violence?
  • Will Brexit bring an end to the Good Friday agreement?
  • Is the ongoing impeachment probe beginning to cut away at President Trump’s Republican base?
  • Should House Democrats push for censure instead of impeachment?
  • Is organized labor in America seeing a resurgence?
  • Is the Trump White House prepared to deal with impeachment?
  • Will Turkey’s invasion of Kurdish held territory in Syria spread more chaos across the region?
  • Will US withdrawal from Northern Syria bring a resurgence of ISIS?
  • Is the 21’st century becoming the Chinese century?
  • Have the IMF and the World Bank become unnecessary?
  • Should the FCC do more to prevent robocalls and fraud telephone calls?
  • Do the Democrats have a nationally viable economic message for the 2020 election?
  • Has America abandoned its Kurdish allies?
  • Is President Trump’s impeachment inevitable?
  • Is the Greek economy headed in the right direction?
  • What can be done to restore stability to Peru’s government?
  • Does the Modi government in INdia have an endgame for Kashmir?
  • What is the Indian government’s endgame for Kashmir?
  • Is the global economy headed for another major downturn?
  • Should Turkey’s membership in NATO be suspended?
  • Does the US need a new long-term strategy for dealing with China?
  • Should Western nations pay reparations for slavery?
  • Is Rudy Giuliani a liability for President Trump?
  • Who wins from the US withdrawal from Northern Syria?
  • Should Eastern Ukraine become an autonomous area?
  • Is Bernie Sander’s campaign for President effectively over?
  • Will President Trump pay a political price for withdrawal from Northern Syria?
  • Does military withdrawal from Northern Syria pose a risk to American national security?
  • Should the future of Trump’s presidency be decided at the ballot box instead of impeachment?
  • What can be done to stem growing violence in Ecuador?
  • What steps should the US take to hold Turkey accountable for their actions against the Kurds?
  • Will the decision to abandon Kurdish allies damage long-term US interests in the Middle East?
  • Should the rules around law enforcement’s authorized use of force in the US be rewritten?
  • Should the House hold a formal vote to proceed with the impeachment inquiry against President Trump?
  • Does climate change present a significant threat to American national security?
  • Should social media companies stop showing political ads?
  • Is China’s Belt-and-Road Initiative displacing American soft power o the international stage?
  • Will the hollowing out of the State Department do lasting damage to American influence around the globe?
  • How much will the killing of ah-Baghdadi impede ISIS efforts around the world?
  • What steps should the government of Ecuador take to calm growing protests?
  • Does the political survival of the UK’s Conservative Party depend on delivering Brexit at any cost?
  • Has the peace deal with Ethiopia been good for Eritrea?
  • What effect will international diplomatic pressure have on curbing Turkey’s actions against the Kurds in Northern Syria?
  • What steps should Congress take to improve the relationship between law enforcement and minority communities?
  • Can Elizabeth Warren’s Presidential campaign keep up its forward momentum?
  • Has the Trump Administration done lasting damage to the special relationship between the US and the UK?
  • Has Bashar al-Assad finally won Syria’s civil war?
  • Should the international community be helping Syria rebuild?
  • Should Congress establish a domestic terrorism statute?
  • Should Congress move towards decriminalisation of drug use?
  • Does the FAA rely too heavily on companies to police themselves for public air safety?
  • How long will it take for Boeing to recover from the scandal around the 737-MAX?
  • How will Brexit reshape UK politics over the long term?
  • What does the future hold for the Catalan independence movement in Spain?
  • Is Canada at a major political crossroads?
  • What does the reelection of Justin Trudeau signal about the future of Canadian politics?
  • Should the DNC take steps to rapidly narrow the field of Presidential candidates?
  • Can the Mexican government be trusted to combat narcotics trafficking?
  • Is his political support base starting to break away from President Trump?
  • Is Medicare for all a step too far for Democrats to win over independent voters in 2020?
  • How much longer will the Hong Kong protests last?
  • Are lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors an effective tool to combat the opioid epidemic?
  • What does Russia’s increased role mean for the future of Syria?
  • What does the deal between Turkey and Russia mean for US interests in the region around Syria?
  • Is Israel headed for another election?
  • What role should the US play in Haiti?
  • Should Facebook be regulated more like a content publisher?
  • Should the international community do more to help bring stability to Haiti?
  • Will US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan strengthen the Taliban?
  • Will protests in Chile grow ore violent?
  • Will protests bring down Haiti’s President Moise?
  • Will new government programs be able to bring down teen pregnancy rates in Thailand?
  • Can the UK Labour Party take control in the December snap elections?
  • Will Boris Johnson be able to get a governing majority from the upcoming UK elections?
  • What steps should Congress take to prevent voter suppression in the 2020 elections?
  • Will the death of al-Baghdadi be a death blow to ISIS?
  • Can protests bring necessary anti-corruption reform to Lebanon?
  • Is Hezbollah strengthening its political influence in Lebanon?
  • Are the violent political crackdowns of the Pinochet era returning to Chile?
  • How big will the issue of judicial nominations be in the 2020 elections?
  • How much has the trade war between the US and China dampened gloal economic growth?
  • What should be the Trump Administration’s next move with regards to North Korea?
  • Should South Korea pay more of the costs for US military presence?
  • What can be done to bridge the divide between Japan and South Korea?
  • Is Arica facing another major debt crisis?
  • Will the international community do anything to hold China accountable for its treatment of the Uighur and Hui people?
  • What impact will the Hong Kong protests have on US-China relations?
  • Will greater public scrutiny from the Trump impeachment proceedings bring real anti-corruption reforms to Ukraine?
  • Have Trump Administration actions in Syria made it more difficult to deal with future regional security threats?
  • Can new leadership restore Wells Fargo’s tarnished reputation?
  • What measures should the US take to counter Russia’s growing influence around the world?
  • Can financial regulators bring effective controls to cryptocurrencies?
  • Will Facebook bring its Libra cryptocurrency into reality?
  • Have protests in Lebanon reached a turning point?
  • Does the ballooning national debt pose a significant threat to America’s long-term economic health?
  • What should Congress do to get the federal deficit under control?
  • Is the federal government headed for another shutdown?
  • Has the Met Too movement brought real change to the treatment of women in the workplace?
  • Will the NCAA allow college athletes to capitalize on their popularity?
  • What reforms should be made to the FAA processes for certifying aircraft safety?
  • What will the death of its leader mean for the future of ISIS?
  • Is the Iraqi government sliding back into old bad habits?
  • Who will succeed Angela Merkel’s leadership in Germany?
  • Will Saad Hariri’s resignation set in motion real refors for Lebanon?



Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Extemp Questions 2019 Sept

These are heavy on International / Foreign Extemp questions. I sat on them for a day trying to decide if I wanted to add more US / Domestic stuff, but got lazy so you get a bunch of international questions. 

  • Does the failed deal with the Taliban signal that the US is abandoning the Afghan government?
  • Will Brexit bring a return of violence in Northern Ireland?
  • How secure is Joe Biden’s front-runner status?
  • Is the peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC falling apart?
  • How much more will the US-China trade war escalate?
  • Does the end of the intelligence sharing agreement between Japan and South Korea signal more regional instability to come?
  • Can Sudan’s transitional government keep together long enough for democratic elections to be held?
  • Can the E3 rescue what’s left of the JCPOA deal with Iran?
  • Is Hong Kong headed towards another Tiananmen Square?
  • Should the federal government require the use of the e-verify system for all employers?
  • Should Congress end subsidies to the fossil fuel industry?
  • Will the Hong Kong protests lead to real change?
  • Has the relationship etween Hong Kong and theBeijing government reached a turning point?
  • Can China calm the turmoil in Hong Kong?
  • Can Netanyahu create a coalition government?
  • Will the rapid shift towards impeachment backfire on Democrats in the 2020 elections?
  • What should be the Trump Administration’s next move for Afghanistan?
  • Does the United States have a real path forward in nuclear talks with North Korea?
  • Is the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran rising?
  • Should the American public take President Trump at his word?
  • Is negotiation with North Korea a fool’s errand?
  • Has the Trump Presidency permanently damaged the credibility of American foreig policy?
  • Has the time come to replace the dollar as the global reserve currency?
  • Can the federal government do more to block the import of synthetic opioids from China?
  • Is a military solution for Afghanistan still possible?
  • Can Congressional Democrats unite behind a strategy of impeachment?
  • Should the South Korean government take further steps to encourage a higher birth rate?
  • What steps should the Japanese Diet take to improve conditions for migrant workers?
  • Has Congress taken the steps necessary to secure the 2020 elections?
  • Can Zimbabwe overcome the legacy of Robert Mugabe?
  • Will impeachment actions against President Trump have negative repercussions for the US economy?
  • Is the political opposition gaining ground against Vladimir Putrin?
  • Are social media influencers changing the advertising and marketing industries for the better?
  • Will Israel move the annex the West Bank?
  • Can Justin Trueau retain control of Canada’s government?
  • Is the Trump Administration’s strategy towards Iran making the Middle East less safe?
  • What will Israel’s election mean for Jared Kushner’s Middle East peace plan?
  • What does the future hold for Israel’s Likud Party?
  • What should European nations do with citizens who became foreign ISIS fighters?
  • Can Europe and Turkey find a solution for former ISIS fighters and their families?
  • Can President Macri find a way out of Argentina’s current economic crisis?
  • How will Russia change after Vladimir Putin?
  • Is the Russian public’s discontent with the Kremlin growing?
  • What does the failure of talks between the US and the Taliban mean for the future of Afghanistan?
  • Will Trump bump Mike Pence from the ticket in 2020?
  • How much strain will Brexit put on the Bank of England?
  • Does the US need comprehensive privacy legislation on the federal level?
  • Will the creation of a continent-wide free-trade area spark significant economic growth in Africa?
  • Is the US on the path towards a shooting war with Iran?
  • Will the youth-led protests bring about real global action on climate change?
  • Does the Trump White House have a productive strategy towards China?
  • Is the world safer without the JCPOA?
  • Has Turkey become a liability for NATO?
  • Is the Internet of Things a threat to America’s critical infrastructure?
  • Will labor strikes have larger political implications for President Trump’s reelection bid?
  • Is more proactive international engagement necessary for Libya?
  • Should the FDA more tightly regulate e-cigarettes?
  • Has the time come for the US to implement a carbon tax?
  • Will Congress pass the USMCA trade deal?
  • Has the problem of Brazil’s favelas gotten worse under Bolsonaro’s leadership?
  • Has Boris Johnson’s plan for Brexit backfired?
  • How significant is John Bolton’s departure to the future of President Trump’s foreign policy goals?
  • Will the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran backfire?
  • What should the international community do to adequately condemn the actions of the Modi government in Kashmir?
  • Are new rounds of violence on the horizon for Kashmir?
  • How will Israel’s political chaos be resolved?
  • Will the Trump Administration prevail in the fight over California’s ability to set fuel efficiency standards?
  • Will Europe hold firm against Russia over it’s ongoing actions in Ukraine?
  • Is South Korean society becoming more accpeting of the LGBTQ community?
  • Is China’s Belt and Road Initiative bad for developing nations in the long run?
  • What does low election turnout signal for the political future of Afghanistan?
  • Can Congressional Democrats change the American public’s mind on the issue of impeachment?
  • Is the Trump White House adequately prepared to deal with impeachment?
  • Can global action on climate change overcome current political hurdles?
  • Will impeachment processes in Congress stall President Trump’s policy agenda?
  • Should the US cut aid to Egypt over human rights abuses?


Monday, September 2, 2019

Extemp Questions 2019 August


  • Are Congressional Republicans getting tired of having to defend President Trump?
  • Will Modi’s decision to end its autonomy benefit Kashmir in the long run?
  • What are the chances for a positive outcome in President Trump’s trade war with China?
  • What will political instability mean for the economic future of Italy?
  • Will South Africa’s Jacob Zuma end up behind bars?
  • Should Congress take steps to minimize the spread of online disinformation?
  • Is the Chinese government losing patience with the protesters in Hong Kong?
  • Will the US and China reach a trade deal before the 2020 elections?
  • What steps should the federal government take to speed the deployment of 5G networks?
  • How important is the growth of the green economy for America’s economic future?
  • What should the US do to mend the frayed relationship between Japan and South Korea?
  • What will the Oklahoma verdict against Johnson & Johnson mean for the larger opioid epidemic?
  • Are efforts to save the Amazon rainforest too little too late?
  • Will protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea spark a new move for the rights of indigenous Hawaiians?
  • Is Bolsonaro’s popularity among the Brazilian public slipping?
  • Will Scotland make another move for independence?
  • Has Boris Johson throw the UK into a constitutional crisis?
  • Is the G7 losing its international relevance?
  • Is China headed towards another Tiananmen Square in Hong Kong?
  • Has the Trump Presidency done permanent damage to US relationships with international allies?
  • Should Congress pass laws making domestic terrorism a crime?
  • How much will growing tensions between Japan and South Korea hurt the global economy?
  • Is President Trump winning his trade war with China?
  • Can China afford to wait out the Trump White House on making a trade deal?
  • Will continued North Korean weapons tests making a nuclear deal more difficult to accomplish?
  • Will the Hong Kong protests lead to Chinese military action?
  • Is a real peace deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government near at hand?
  • Is the Trump Administration’s approach to reducing Central American migration working?
  • Is the American economy losing steam?
  • Are the debate thresholds set by the DNC having negative consequences for the Democratic Presidential candidates?
  • Can Boris Johnson get a new deal for the Irish Backstop?
  • Should the US shorten its election cycle?
  • What should large cities in the US do to better adapt to the effects of climate change?
  • What does the Fed interest rate cut mean for the US economic outlook?
  • What should Congress do to reduce dark money in American politics?
  • Is the political chaos in Puerto Rico nearing an end?
  • What will the political protests mean for the long-term economic health of Hong Kong?
  • Is America ready to abandon the fight in Afghanistan?
  • Has the trade war with China done long-term damage to America’s dairy and farming industries?
  • Is a Palestinian state necessary for the future of Israel?
  • Does the Trump Administration’s decision to leave the INF treaty mean a new arms race is on the horizon?
  • Has the Tea Party movement within the Rpublican Party died?
  • How much responsibility should the pharmaceutical industry bear for the opioid epidemic?
  • Should the US government restrict arms sales to Saudi Arabia?
  • Do President Trump’s words contribute to white supremacist violence?
  • Will India’s policy changes for Kashmir lead to new rounds of violence?
  • Is a negotiated deal with the Taliban the only real path to peace in Afghanistan?
  • Is there still room for centrists in American politics?
  • Will a nuclear accident deter Russia from further development of new nuclear weapons systems?
  • What role should America play in Hong Kong’s protests?
  • Has the Trump Administration taken a wrecking-ball to federal environmental protections?
  • Can the rest of the world still rely on America for global leadership?
  • How will South Korea’s diplomatic break with Japan affect regional security?
  • Can Republicans candidates win over African-American voters in 2020 with President Trump at the top of the ticket?
  • Is Trump’s ego damaging America’s foreign policy interests?
  • Will Sudan’s power sharing arrangement hold until democratic elections can take place?
  • What should the international community do to help ease Sudan’s economic crisis?
  • Should Russia be allowed to rejoin the G7?
  • Has the global community abandoned Syrian civilians yet again?
  • What can be done to improve Russia’s nuclear safety?
  • Will India’s decision to end Kashmir’s special status backfire?
  • Is the trade war with China good for the American economy in the long run?
  • Are the Trump Administration's anti-immigration policies working?
  • What should the international community do to crack down on piracy in West African waters?
  • Should the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement be restricted?
  • Should the US withdraw from Afghanistan?
  • What will a US deal with the Taliban mean for the future of Afghanistan?
  • What can be done to bring order back to Italy’s political chaos?
  • Does President Trump face any real challengers for the 2020 Republican nomination?
  • What steps should the Japanese government take to improve the treatment of low-skilled migrant labor?
  • Can President Trump rely on the US economy to win reelection in 2020?
  • Can Emmanuel Macron save the JCPOA deal with Iran?
  • What steps should the Colombian government take to salvage the peace deal with the FARC?
  • Is there any hope left for removing Maduro from power in Venezuela?
  • Will nuclear accidents weaken Putin’s grip on power in Russia?
  • Should the international community do more to control deforestation in the Amazon?
  • Is the Modi government fundamentally changing Indian democracy?
  • What role should America play in Venezuela?
  • What should the federal government do to mitigate the threat of ransomware attacks on state and local governments?


Saturday, August 3, 2019

Extemp Questions 2019 July

  • Can Facebook get cryptocurrency to see widespread adoption?
  • What will increasingly violent protests mean for the political future of Hong Kong?
  • Is the Trump Administration losing the legal fight over its anti-immigration agenda?
  • What can be done to bring an end to the chaos and anarchy in Libya?
  • Does antibiotic resistant diseases pose a significant threat to the future of human society?
  • What makes President Trump so resilient to accusations of sexual assault?
  • Can the power sharing agreement in Sudan hold?
  • Is immigration reform too big of a problem for Congress to fix?
  • Is President Trump winning his trade war?
  • Is the American political system too slow to keep up with tech and big data?
  • Is the gig economy bad for American workers?
  • Has Facebook broken democracy?
  • Does growing deficit spending pose a significant risk to the long-term health of the US economy?
  • Can President Trump successfully sell his economic message to independent voters in 2020?
  • Will China’s Belt-and-Road initiative hasten the arrival of a multipolar world?
  • Does Turkey threaten the future of the NATO alliance?
  • What creative new ways will the Democrats find to lose again in 2020?
  • Is Joe Biden out of touch with the modern Democratic Party?
  • Can a new government bring real anti-corruption reforms to Moldova?
  • What are the appropriate next steps for the Trump Administration to take towards a nuclear deal with North Korea?
  • Will America have to accept North Korea as a nuclear power on the international stage?
  • What should the Republican Party do to bolster its support among female voters?
  • Should the US restrict Huawei’s business in America?
  • Are the sovereign wealth funds of Arab Gulf States taking on too much risk?
  • What will Brexit mean for the future of London?
  • Has Greece fully returned to normalcy since the economic crisis?
  • Is the independence of The Fed under attack from President Trump?
  • How much have Trump Administration cuts to foreign aid exacerbated the migrant crisis at the US southern border?
  • Can free speech effectively combat hate speech?
  • What steps should the international community take condemn China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority population?
  • Should Labor Secretary Acosta be forced to resign?
  • Have extrajudicial killings been successful at combating drugs in the Philippines?
  • Is AMLO making progress rooting out government corruption in Mexico?
  • Will Mueller’s testimony before Congress change the American public’s attitude towards impeachment?
  • Is Pelosi losing control of the Democratic caucus?
  • Is the Trump Administration ignoring vital national security implications of climate change?
  • Will social media companies face tighter regulation ahead of the 2020 elections?
  • Should the Fed lower interest rates?
  • How much further will protests in Hong Kong escalate?
  • What more can the international community do to control the spread of Ebola in the Congo?
  • Can anything be done to keep the JCPOA alive. 
  • Will Jacob Zuma be convicted on corruption charges?
  • Will Netanyahu win Israel’s new election?
  • Will Iran and the US government come back to the negotiating table before the 2020 elections?
  • Are changes for a nuclear deal with North Korea slipping away?
  • Has the 1MDB scandal brought more government accountability to Malaysia?
  • Should Americas faith communities be providing aid to migrants at the southern border?
  • Should the Citizens United decision be overturned?
  • Is Bolsonaro making progress on strengthening Brazil’s economy?
  • Should Congress end the mortgage interest tax deduction?
  • Is the US trade relationship with China getting back on the right track?
  • Does President Trump’s foreign policy strategy of tying together security and trade issues work in the best interests of America?
  • Can AMLO reform Mexico’s key government institutions?
  • What effect will the collapse of the NRA have on the 2020 elections?
  • Are the Venezuelan people losing hope of ousting Maduro from power?
  • Is the economic outlook for Greece looking brighter?
  • Will the Trump Administration get to put a citizenship question on the 2020 census?
  • What does the future hold for the Kurdish population in Syria?
  • Can radical restructuring save Deutsche Bank?
  • Are President Trump’s social media antics a smoke screen or failing White House policies?
  • How will Hong Kong’s political crisis end?
  • Is President Trump doing what he should to expand his political support base?
  • Should the EU play a larger role in ensuring global stability?
  • Is a No-Deal Brexit now inevitable?
  • Can Boris Johnson convince the UK to unite behind him?
  • What steps should the new Prime Minister take to ease growing tensions between the UK and Iran?
  • Will Boris Johnson deliver a No-Deal Brexit?
  • Is the Trump Administration's approach towards Iran finding success?
  • Is the political opposition to Maduro in Venezuela a lost cause?
  • What will Boris Johnson as Prime Minister mean for the special relationship between the US and the UK?
  • Is President Trump’s rhetoric narrowing the Republican voter base?
  • Will the unfolding crisis with Iran undermine Boris Johnson’s tenure as Prime Minister from the start?
  • Is an international program needed to clean up debris in the space around Earth?
  • What steps should Boeing take to rebuild its tarnished reputation?
  • What does President Trump’s embrace of long-standing adversaries mean for US foreign policy in the long term?
  • How much of a threat does Russia pose to American elections?
  • Will the Fed continue lowering interest rats?

                                                                                                                                                        Thursday, July 4, 2019

                                                                                                                                                        Extemp Questions 2019 June

                                                                                                                                                        Happy 4'th of July - just remember, if you blow your fingers off with fireworks, you can't unlock your phone anymore. Here's the June list.

                                                                                                                                                        • Why does the Catholic Church continue to fail on its handling of sexual abuse cases?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the Greens continue to gain political strength across Europe?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can traditional center-left and center-right parties regain their political strength  in Europe?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Israel’s second election delay a full rollout of the Trump Administration’s Middle East peace plan?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the threat of escalating trade tariffs be enough to get Mexico to stem the tide of Central American migrants flowing to the US border?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Iran’s growing economic crisis incite a regime change?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the NSA stop hackers and foreign governments from copying its cyber-weapons?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is international support for ousting Venezuela’s President Maduro falling away?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should Congress pass strict genetic privacy protections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should Washington DC be a State?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Israel’s snap election kill Jared Kushner’s Middle East peace plan?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does the future hold for the UK’s Tory Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the Trump administration still have a path forward for nuclear talks with North Korea?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the Trump White House build an international consensus against Iran?
                                                                                                                                                        • What can be done to de-escalate growing tensions between the US and Iran?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can civil disobedience force the military leadership of Sudan to cede power to a civilian government?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the Colombian government abandoned the peace process with the FARC?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does Mohamed Morsi’s death signal about the political future of Egypt?
                                                                                                                                                        • What can be done to get Trump and Kim back to the negotiating table?
                                                                                                                                                        • Which of the Democratic candidates is best able to challenge President Trump in 2020?
                                                                                                                                                        • What effect are US sanctions having on internal Iranian politics?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the Trump Administration given up on removing Maduro from power in Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can “one country, two systems” survive in Hong Kong?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Boris Johnson secure the British Premiership?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will be Theresa May’s legacy?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the Trump Administration do more to stop attacks against civilians in Idlib Province?
                                                                                                                                                        • How real is the threat of armed conflict between the US and Iran?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Hong Kong’s Chief Executive be forced to resign?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is there any viable alternative to Assad in Syria?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the Trump Administration’s policy towards Syria been a failure?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Bolsonaro rein in the growing problem of Brazil’s militias?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is it too late for President Trump and Congressional Democrats to make a deal on any major issues?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can President Trump win over independent voters again in 2020?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is federal legislation necessary for telecom companies to get control of robocalls?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should solitary confinement be abolished in the American prison system?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Britain’s special relationship with the US still healthy?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Sarah Sanders find her political future damaged by her time in the Trump White House?
                                                                                                                                                        • When will Sudan get to have real democratic elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • What should the Canadian government do to reduce the number of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the Sudanese public be optimistic about their political future?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Mexico meet President Trump’s expectations for reducing the number of migrants at the US southern border?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much will emergency funding from Congress reduce the humanitarian crisis at the southern border?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Thailand’s new Prime Minister find a way to unite a divided Parliament?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should Western nations cut their aid and support to Egypt?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is China creating a new generation of militant Islamic extremists?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is a political agreement with the Taliban possible for the Afghan government?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump’s use of tariffs for non-trade diplomacy damage America’s international influence in the long run?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is social media a threat to American democracy?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will Sarah Sanders’ departure mean for the relationship between the Trump White House and the press?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should Congress be doing more to prevent foreign interference in the 2020 elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Trump Administration driving America towards armed conflict with Iran?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are House Democrats drawing closer to impeachment proceedings against President Trump?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is US military assistance to Saudi Arabia making the humanitarian crisis in Yemen worse?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should America’s big tech companies be broken up?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are more active measures necessary to desegregate America’s public schools?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Japan still rely on the US for military defense?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is President Trump’s unpredictability good for American interests on the global stage?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has President Trump permanently changed the norms of the American Presidency?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the Trump Administration lost the opportunity for a nuclear deal with North Korea?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the international community losing faith in America’s global leadership?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are conditions for LGBT people in Africa improving?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are international sanctions against Vladimir Putin working?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the treatment of migrant children at the US border help or hurt President Trump’s reelection bid in 2020?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should the federal government take to improve rural Americans’ access to quality healthcare?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is partisan politics undermining public trust in the US Supreme Court?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Democatic Party leaving behind moderate, centrist voters?
                                                                                                                                                        • Do traditional conservatives still have a home in Donald Trump’s Republican Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the press have greater access to the facilities holding detained migrants from the US southern border?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the humanitarian crisis at the US southern border improving?
                                                                                                                                                        • How likely is a no-deal Brexit?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Brexit lead to a resurgence for Britain's Labour Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • When will Japan legalize same-sex marriage?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Erdogan’s time in power in Turkey coming to an end?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Netanyahu survive a second Israeli election?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can a new official currency stabilize Zimbabwe’s economy?
                                                                                                                                                        • What can be done to prevent Ethiopia from spiralling into chaos?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will scandals over sexual assault in South Korea lead to real and lasting changes?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is a peaceful solution to the political crisis in Venezuela still possible?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should Congress take to lower the costs of prescription medications?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign bring Iran back to the negotiating table?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the Trump Administration pull off a peace deal for Afghanistan?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Jared Kushner’s peace plan win over any Palestinian support?
                                                                                                                                                        • Would Donald Trump’s reelection be better for South Korea than a new American President in 2021?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much do the Presidential debates still matter in American elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Who should be held responsible for the treatment of migrants detained at the US border?


                                                                                                                                                        Wednesday, June 12, 2019

                                                                                                                                                        Extemp Questions 2019 May

                                                                                                                                                        About a week and a half late. What can I say? I've been busy

                                                                                                                                                        • Can Boeing recover from the scandal over the 737 MAX 8?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does President Trump’s use of Twitter help or hurt his re-election chances?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the abdication of Emperor Akihito bring major changes for Japanese society?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will NASA be supplanted by private space travel?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the US economy strong enough to secure a second term for President Trump?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will financial mismanagement bring down the NRA?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are Congressional impeachment proceedings against President Trump inevitable?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Trump White House claims of executive privilege over the Mueller Report hold up in the courts?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the US become less engaged in global affairs?
                                                                                                                                                        • How will the influx of oil money change Guyana?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will increased sanctions bring Iran back to the negotiating table?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the Japanese government successfully increase the participation of women in the workforce?
                                                                                                                                                        •  Will escalation of the trade war result in a more favorable deal with China?
                                                                                                                                                        • What more can the U.N. do to solve the issue of economic migration?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the US more tightly control remittances sent by immigrants to family members abroad?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the US achieve regime change in Iran without major military intervention?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the JCPOA deal with Iran survive the Trump Presidency?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Congressional Republicans develop a plan to replace the ACA ahead of the 2020 elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is traditional US diplomacy dead and gone?
                                                                                                                                                        •  Is his Presidency damaging the Trump brand?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Facebook’s pivot towards privacy restore its brand reputation?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does increased US military presence in the gulf make armed conflict with Iran significantly more likely?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much farther will the trade war between the US and China go?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the Trump Administration’s tough stance bring about behavior change in the Iranian regime?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Huawei poised to win the fight for 5G networks despite US objections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Taiwan’s legalization of same-sex marriage bring a political backlash in President Tsai Ing-wen’s re-election bud?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should the UK take to move forward on the issue of Brexit?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Austria’s snap elections push the country further towards the nationalist right?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does Australia’s election signal about the global community’s willingness to take on climate change?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will Theresa May’s resignation mean for Brexit?
                                                                                                                                                        • Who will succeed Theresa May as Britain’s Prime Minister?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Britain crash out of the EU?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has President Trump permanently damaged public discourse in America?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does Facebook act responsibly in its handling of misinformation online?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the new President improve Ukraine’s relationship with Vladimir Putin?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should India’s election be viewed as a referendum on Modi’s first term?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will America’s economy help or hinder President Trump’s reelection chances in 2020? 
                                                                                                                                                        • How long can Nancy Pelosi continue to stave off calls for impeachment from Congressional Democrats?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Democratic base moving farther to the left?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are America’s colleges and universities capable of dealing with the rise in mental health issues that they’re seeing?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should South Africa’s ANC take to address systemic unemployment?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Congress still act with bipartisanship when it needs to?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does Spain’s political turmoil signal about the state of the populist movement in Western Europe?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Mueller report leading America down the path towards a constitutional crisis?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the ANC regain the trust of the South African public?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the new conservative majority on the US Supreme Court take steps to severely restrict abortion?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should private universities be bound to the same First Amendment free speech protections as public ones?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has violence become normalized in France’s yellow-vest movement?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is public support for France’s Gilet Jaunes movement losing steam?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Africa becomng the next hotspot for international jihadist violence?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should the international community do to bring security and stability to the Sahel?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Trump Administration provoking a conflict with Iran?
                                                                                                                                                        • What role should monarchies play in modern society?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the Trump Administration still make progress on getting a trade deal with China?
                                                                                                                                                        • How quickly will all the children separated from their parents under the Trump Administration’s family separation policy be reunited?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the US be willing to use military force to remove Maduro from power in Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Iran drop out of compliance with the JCPOA?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are social media companies putting conservative commentators at an unfair disadvantage?
                                                                                                                                                        • Have America’s giant tech companies gotten too big?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can social media companies be trusted to regulate their own platforms?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is President Trump’s escalation of the trade war with China having the desired effect?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is President Trump’s unilateralism good for America in the long run?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much will the US-China trade war hurt the global economy?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does increased aggression with Iran damage US credibility on the international stage?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Sudan making real progress towards having a civilian-controlled government?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the SEC more tightly regulate stock trading in dark pools?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the UK need a written constitution?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Brexit renew calls for Scotish independence?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is India’s caste system holding it back?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will threats of new tariffs against Mexico by President Trump derail the USMCA?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the gig economy good for American workers?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the socialist label still politically fatal in US politics?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should any future nuclear talks between the US and North Korea include discussions about human rights?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the scandal around Boeing change how air travel safety is regulated around the world?
                                                                                                                                                        • What more should the Japanese government do to address the falling national birthrate?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the ongoing trade war hurt China more than the US?
                                                                                                                                                        • Would escalating the tariff on Chinese goods backfire on the US economy?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can President Trump still work out a trade deal with China?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the White House stonewalling of Congressional investigations backfire on President Trump’s re-election campaign?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should American public schools move to a four-day school week?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump blink first in the escalating trade war with china?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will new state laws restricting abortion lead to the Supreme Court overturning the Roe v Wade decision?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Cyril Ramaphosa restore the credibility of South Africa's ANC?
                                                                                                                                                        • What should the ANC do to increase foreign investment in South Africa?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the Stockholm Agreement change the tide of the humanitarian disaster in Yemen?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Trump Administration underestimating Iran’s political resolve?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is a denuclearized North Korea a lost cause?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the US adopt a nationwide universal basic income?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the US still be an honest broker for Mideast Peace?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should Congress take to relieve the growing issue of student debt?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the growth of student debt become a crisis for the US?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should for-profit colleges and universities be more tightly regulated by the federal government?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the nationalist right be strengthened in the EU parliamentary elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are its citizens losing faith in the EU?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the time come for the US to pass paid family leave?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has South Africa’s ANC lived up to the legacy of Nelson Mandela?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will it take for climate change to become a bipartisan issue in America?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the outbreak of African swine flu in China offer an opportunity for a breakthrough in the trade war with the US?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the Trump Administration be more outspoken over President Erdogan’s growing authoritarianism in Turkey?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the addition of an adversity score on the SATs improve America’s college admissions?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does the electoral surge by the Greens mean for the future of the EU?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the US significantly cut back arms sales to Saudi Arabia?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can France’s Macron hold the line against the right-wing nationalists?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Turkey still a democracy?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the US given up on improving human rights in China?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Netanyahu build a new electoral coalition?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran working?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Attorney General Barr’s new declassification powers widen the rift between the Trump Administration and the US intelligency community?
                                                                                                                                                        • What more should the international community be doing to combat Ebola in the Congo?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has William Barr’s tenure as Attorney General damaged his reputation?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is identity politics tearing apart American society?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should illegal immigrants already in the US be provided a path to citizenship?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should the federal government take to prevent American employers from hiring undocumented workers?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Netanyahu era in Israel nearing an end?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Congressional Republicans stand against President Trump’s threats of new tariffs against Mexico?

                                                                                                                                                        Saturday, May 4, 2019

                                                                                                                                                        Extemp Questions 2019 April


                                                                                                                                                        • Can Syria move past ISIS?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does Turkey’s purchase of Russian weapons systems pose a threat to the NATO alliance?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the US still be an honest broker for peace in the Middle East?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the scandal over the 737 MAX prove to be fatal for Boeing?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Israel move to annex the West Bank?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is it in NATO’s interest to provide military support to Ukraine?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the digital revolution killed off personal privacy?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Theresa May workout a viable Brexit deal with the Labour Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • Do purges in senior DHS staff pose an unnecessary risk to America’s national security interests?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the US declaration of Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist organization increase the risk to US forces in the Middle East?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Israel move to annex part of the West Bank?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does Israel’s election signal about Bibi Netanyahu’s future?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does the future hold for international arms control agreements?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Congress force the Trump Administration to withdrawal military support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps can the US take to defeat the threat of ISIS as an insurgent force?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will more violence follow the overthrow and arrest of Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir
                                                                                                                                                        • How much more turnover and turmoil can the Trump cabinet sustain?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Britain’s political system broken?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will cutting US foreign aid to Latin America prove counterproductive to President Trump’s immigration objectives?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Congressional Democrats still work out a DACA deal with President Trump?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has it become impossible to get comprehensive immigration reform through Congress?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the rhetoric of the Trump Administration making the migration crisis worse?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the federal government have the tools necessary to adequately deal with the cyber security threat posed by China?
                                                                                                                                                        • How will the release of the Mueller report shape the 2020 Democratic primary?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the Supreme Court allow a citizenship question on the 2020 US census?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Donald Trump destroying the Republican Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Joe Biden win over Democratic voters in the 2020 primary?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should be taken to reduce political partisanship in the US Supreme Court?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will the Mueller Report mean for the 2020 elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does the end of the Mueller investigation mean for the future of the Trump Presidency?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the federal government adequately prepared to protect the 2020 elections from foreign interference?
                                                                                                                                                        • What impact has the Trump Administration had on international climate change agreements?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should global use of palm oil be reduced?
                                                                                                                                                        • Do Trump Administration efforts towards deregulation pose a significant threat to public health and safety?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can anything be done to overcome partisanship in Congress?
                                                                                                                                                        • What action should Congress take to rebuild America’s middle class?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Afghan government ready for a peace deal with the Taliban?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the Republican Party re-nominate Donald Trump for President in 2020?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much will the ban on bump stocks reduce American deaths due to gun violence?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is a no-deal Brexit inevitable?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Congressional Republicans come up with a viable healthcare plan to replace the ACA?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will the resignation of President Bouteflika mean for the future of Algeria?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the Trump Administration been irresponsible with its handling of classified materials?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Jared Kushner’s Middle East plan be a real chance for peace?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump pay a political price for intervening on security clearances for his family and staff?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the large number of interim appointments in the Trump Administration undermine the credibility of key government institutions?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the International Criminal Court lived up to the expectations of the global community?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC at risk of collapsing?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has President Trump’s political inexperience been detrimental to America’s national security interests?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does President Trump have the credibility to negotiate effectively with Congress?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the growing concentration of wealth a threat to democracy around the world?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the new President take steps to move Ukraine closer to the EU?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the rise in hate crimes across the US bring an increase in gun ownership by minorities?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Congress take up changes to America’s asylum process sought by the Trump Administration?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the fight over Brexit creating more anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Middle East facing a second Arab Spring?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Russia successfully expand its regional influence in the Middle East?
                                                                                                                                                        • Have the Palestinians lost the support of the rest of the Arab states in getting a favorable peace deal?
                                                                                                                                                        • What more should Congress do to reduce the number of missing and murdered Native American women?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is NATO still relevant today?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the global economy headed towards a downturn?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the Fed lower interest rates again?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has Turkey’s President Erdogan lost his political support base?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will electoral wins by the opposition mean for Turkey’s political future?
                                                                                                                                                        • What can be done to stabilize Turkey's economy?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much credit does President Trump deserve for America’s economic health?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump hold the support of Evangelical voters in 2020?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the Indian government be doing more to stop the practice of honor killings?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the federal minimum wage be raised?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the legacy of the Trump Administration’s family separation policy follow Kristjen Nielsen into her future?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does Netanyahu’s reelection effectively kill the changes for a two-state solution?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Netanyahu’s close relationship with President Trump be a liability for Israel in the long run?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Trump Administration gearing up for military action against Iran?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the Trump Administration preparing for military intervention in Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Joe Biden reconcile his political record with the modern Democratic Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can protesters in Sudan sustain their momentum to get the reforms they’re demanding?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the removal of Omar al-Bashir bring real reform to Sudan?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the release of the Mueller report mark a real turning point for the Trump White House?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can a new generation of activists bring real action on climate change?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the new Ukrainian President end the war in Eastern Ukraine?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Ukraine’s new President rely on the US for support against Russia?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should Congressional Democrats move forward with impeachment proceedings against President Trump?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Israel’s drift towards the political right irreversible?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Jair Bolsonaro’s leadership of Brazil off to a weak start?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does Volodymyr Zelenskiy have the political power necessary to find real solutions to Ukraine’s problems?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are the prospects for the Rohingya refugees being able to return home soon improving?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the international community be doing more to support Bangladesh’s refugee relief programs?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal brough real anti-corruption measures throughout government?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro making real progress rooting out government corruption?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will happen to Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should the international community take to condemn Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women’s rights activists?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is a nuclear deal with North Korea an impossible dream for the Trump Administration?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has Attorney General Barr’s handling of the Mueller Report damaged his credibility and reputation?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the issue of the Irish border cost Theresa May her Prime Ministership?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should Congress take to stem growing white supremacist violence in the US?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is social media still a net positive for democracy around the world?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the secular state losing ground in Indonesia?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should the international community take to help the UN-backed government bring stability to Libya?
                                                                                                                                                        • What role should social media companies play in countering online radicalization?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can protesters in North Africa bring about real democratic reforms?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should Sarah Sanders resign?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will federal lawsuits against pharmaceutical distributors lead to real progress in combating the opioid epidemic?
                                                                                                                                                        • What more should Congress be doing to protect the 2020 elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Joe Biden too old for today’s Democratic Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should the international community take to stave off the threat from antibiotic resistant diseases?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the endgame near for the Maduro regime in Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump and Congressional Democrats strike an infrastructure deal?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the political influence of NRA dwindling?
                                                                                                                                                        • What’s next for Venezuela’s Juan Guaido?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the NRA lose its tax-exempt status?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will a delay until October give the UK enough time to work out a solution for Brexit?



                                                                                                                                                        Sunday, March 31, 2019

                                                                                                                                                        Extemp Questions 2019 March


                                                                                                                                                        • Can President Trump still deliver on North Korean denuclearization?
                                                                                                                                                        • What effect will ongoing tensions with Pakistan have on India’s upcoming elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • What should the international community do to deal with child soldiers as conflits end?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the denuclearization of North Korea still a realistic goal?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the sanctions regime against North Korea fraying?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does AMLO’s anti-poverty overhaul mean for the future of Mexico?
                                                                                                                                                        • What role should America play in Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • What effect will President Trump’s border wall have on the humanitarian crisis on the US border?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will American intervention in Venezuela make the flood of migrants to the US border worse?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much does the America’s history in Latin America undercut efforts to remove Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Was President Trump’s second summit with Kim Jong-un a diplomatic failure?
                                                                                                                                                        • Was the collapse of the second Trump-Kim summit a de facto acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear power?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will the collapse of the second summit mean for the future of North Korean denuclearization?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the US still have the leverage necessary to get a denuclearization deal with North Korea?
                                                                                                                                                        • What effect will the indictment of Bibi Netanyahu have on the upcoming Israeli elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will indictment sink Netanyahu’s chances for re-election?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Netanyahu pull off another election win?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps can the federal government take to ensure that American copies are adequately dealing with cybersecurity threats?
                                                                                                                                                        • How should Western countries deal with foreign-born ISIS brides and their families?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does additional delay make a No-Deal Brexit more likely?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much is the Trump Administration willing to sacrifice to strike a deal with the Afghan Taliban?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has Africa become too dangerous for aid workers fighting Ebola?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will Netanyahu’s indictment mean for the prospects of a Mideast peace plan?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Jared Kushner a liability for the Trump Administration?
                                                                                                                                                        • How much leverage does the US still have in Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Algeria ready for new political leadership?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is China’s Belt and Road program a long-term blunder?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does Brexit still pose an existential risk to the European Union?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the US need to develop a national strategy around artificial intelligence and machine learning?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Speaker Pelosi keep the new class of House Democrats in line?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the WTO outlived its usefulness?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Facebook rebuild its reputation?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should expansion be a priority for NATO?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the EU use Brexit as an impetus for a new round of expansion?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the UK crash out of the EU without a deal?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will Brexit bring the troubles back to Ireland?
                                                                                                                                                        • How will Ireland change after Brexit?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will populism destroy the EU?
                                                                                                                                                        • What reforms will the FAA make to safety certification processes?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the FAA lost the ability to remain objective and independent?
                                                                                                                                                        • What can be done to make the college admissions process for fair?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the college admissions process and the criteria it uses face more government oversight?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the DOJ put more focus on prosecuting white collar crimes?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the yellow-vest movement in France losing momentum?
                                                                                                                                                        • What role should human rights play in trade discussions with China?
                                                                                                                                                        • What role should human rights play in future negotiations with North Korea?
                                                                                                                                                        • What’s next for nuclear talks between the US and North Korea?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the Democrats avoid making the same mistakes in the 2020 election?
                                                                                                                                                        • What’s next for Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should China’s slowing economic growth be seen as a serious risk for the global economy?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should the international community do more to pressure Saudi Arabia over its treatment of women’s rights activists?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will foreign born ISIS brides and their children be left stateless?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can Justin Trudeau still win re-election?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are fair elections in Thailand possible?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is China’s economy nearing its peak?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the momentum behind the American economy starting to slow?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump’s proposed budget lead to another government shutdown over wall funding?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the Ghandis wrest control from Modi in India’s upcoming election?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can real political reform be accomplished in Algeria?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does President Bouteflika’s decision not to run for re-election mean for the future of Algeria?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can anything be done to bring security and stability to Libya?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is the temporary appointment of many acting senior officials damaging the Trump Administration’s ability to govern effectively?
                                                                                                                                                        • Can the international community do more to control the applications for and use of CRISPR technology?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the SNC-Lavalin scandal dealt a political deathblow to Canada’s Justin Trudeau?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will Britain’s relationship with the EU look like after Brexit?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has Theresa May’s brinkmanship over Brexit politically damaged the Conservative Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does anti-vaccine sentiment pose a serious threat to American public health?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has federal law enforcement overlooked the threat posed by far-right extremists?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is America adequately prepared for a real Cyberwar?
                                                                                                                                                        • What can be done to mitigate the risk of social media as a tool for radicalization?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will student protests over climate change result in any real environmental policy action?
                                                                                                                                                        • What will Netanyahu’s indictment mean for America’s relationship with Israel?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the 2020 election see a generational changeover in the leadership of the Democratic Party?
                                                                                                                                                        • What steps should be taken to reform America’s system of privatized prisons?
                                                                                                                                                        • How long can Syria’s Assad dodge international accountability for his actions?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the Varsity Blues scandal result in changes to college admissions processes?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will the transition of power in Kazakhstan result in societal instability?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Afghanistan ready to look after its own security?
                                                                                                                                                        • What does the use of commercial genetic testing services by law enforcement to solve cold cases mean for the future of personal privacy?
                                                                                                                                                        • What should be done to clean up waste and human remains from Mount Everest?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is democracy in Israel on decline?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is America’s foreign policy in the Horn of Africa failing?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is China’s Belt and Road program a threat to Africa’s future?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are the nations in sub-Saharan Africa getting better at holding free and fair elections?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has anti-muslim sentiment become normalized in Australia?
                                                                                                                                                        • How big of a threat does ISIS still pose?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has the end of the Mueller investigation vindicated President Trump?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has America become irreconcilably divided along partisan political lines?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump’s renewed focus on repealing the ACA strengthen Democrats chances in 2020?
                                                                                                                                                        • What should the EU learn from Brexit?
                                                                                                                                                        • Should America’s top marginal tax rates be raised?
                                                                                                                                                        • Are cryptocurrencies poised to make a comeback?
                                                                                                                                                        • Is Macron the right person to lead Europe towards a more stable future?
                                                                                                                                                        • What’s next for Venezuela?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does his relationship with the Trump Administration damage Juan Guaido’s legitimacy with the Venezuelan public?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does Turkey face an imminent crisis with foreign debt?
                                                                                                                                                        • Will President Trump close the US border with Mexico?
                                                                                                                                                        • Does the Mueller Report open new opportunities to improve the relationship between the US and Russia?
                                                                                                                                                        • Has Donald Trump permanently changed the norms of the American presidency?

                                                                                                                                                        Thursday, March 21, 2019

                                                                                                                                                        NSDA 2019 March/April Topic— "Resolved: The illegal use of drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice."

                                                                                                                                                        I was going to post the whole outline here, but I started it in Word and it's 9 pages and I don't feel like correcting the errors from the copy / paste, so here's the link to the PDF version:
                                                                                                                                                        https://drive.google.com/file/d/19jvaERUAJjScm2FJYwACWgXoT_jqbGlW/view?usp=sharing

                                                                                                                                                        Monday, March 18, 2019

                                                                                                                                                        NSDA 2019 April PFD Topic —"Resolved: The United Nations should grant India permanent membership on the Security Council."

                                                                                                                                                        As it happens, I was expecting to spend my entire day yesterday judging Congress and ended up spending on half a day there. So this left me with an unexpected half day free. Below is an outline / notes for the April Public Forum resolution. Time permitting, I'll do a similar set for the LD resolution in the next few days. The PDF document version of this can be found on Google Drive here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jwwXyp9z2LInqEIO1STi-2Mfki8_BIcn/view?usp=sharing



                                                                                                                                                        PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE (BEGINNING AND ADVANCED): NSDA 2019 April PFD Topic —"Resolved: The United Nations should grant India permanent membership on the Security Council."

                                                                                                                                                        General Questions:
                                                                                                                                                        1. When was India last a member of the Security Council?
                                                                                                                                                        a. Jan. 2011 to Jan 2013 was the most recent
                                                                                                                                                        b. Has been elected to the UNSC a total of seven times
                                                                                                                                                        2. How many and who are the current members of the Security Council?
                                                                                                                                                        a. 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members who have two-year terms
                                                                                                                                                        b. Belgium, Ivory Coast, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, South Africa and the 5 permanent members
                                                                                                                                                        3. How many and who are the current permanent members of the Security Council?
                                                                                                                                                        a. Five permanent members – China, France, Russia, UK, US
                                                                                                                                                        4. Are there UN member states who have never been part of the Security Council
                                                                                                                                                        a. “More than 60 United Nations Member States have never been Members of the Security Council.
                                                                                                                                                        5. When can UN members not on the Council get involved in issues that the UNSC take up?
                                                                                                                                                        a. “A State which is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that country's interests are affected. Both Members and non-members of the United Nations, if they are parties to a dispute being considered by the Council, may be invited to take part, without a vote, in the Council's discussions; the Council sets the conditions for participation by a non-member State.”
                                                                                                                                                        6. What would it take to make a change like the resolution to the membership of the UNSC?
                                                                                                                                                        a. Would require and amendment to the UN charter
                                                                                                                                                        b. “Any reform of the Security Council would require the agreement of at least two-thirds of UN member states in a vote in the General Assembly, and must be ratified by two thirds of Member States. All of the permanent members of the UNSC (which have veto rights) must also agree.”
                                                                                                                                                        7. What new obligations and rights would be gained by a member state if it became a permanent member?
                                                                                                                                                        a. No real answer here, it depends on the details of how the charter would be amended. It could be that a new permanent member gets veto power, but maybe not. The charter itself doesn’t talk about “rights” of permanent or temporary UNSC members. While it describes certain powers (e.g. veto) to permanent members, the language of the charter deals more with “responsibilities"
                                                                                                                                                        c. See also Chapter 6 Article 33, 34, etc. - http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-vi/index.html
                                                                                                                                                        d. See also Chapter 7, Article 39, etc. - http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-vii/index.htm
                                                                                                                                                        8. On what basis were the current permanent members granted that status?
                                                                                                                                                        a. They were the major powers and allied victors at the end of WWII and were involved in pushing for the adoption of the UN charter. There wasn’t any set of objective criteria used for their selection. 
                                                                                                                                                        9. How are the non-permanent members of the UNSC selected?
                                                                                                                                                        a. Vote in the general assembly quotas by geographical region

                                                                                                                                                        Aff/Pro
                                                                                                                                                        1. The G4 (Brazil, Germany, Japan, India) are all seeking permanent membership on the UNSC as part of more comprehensive reforms of the UN
                                                                                                                                                        a. The G4 proposal would actually expand the UNSC to 25 permanent members
                                                                                                                                                        b. Currently, no South Asian nations are represented as permanent members of the UNSC (for that matter, neither is Africa or South America or the Middle East)
                                                                                                                                                        2. India’s claims to justify permanent status
                                                                                                                                                        a. Second largest population
                                                                                                                                                        b. Largest (by population) liberal democracy
                                                                                                                                                        c. Seventh largest economy
                                                                                                                                                        d. Third-largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping missions
                                                                                                                                                        e.
                                                                                                                                                        3. Expansion of the UNSC would better allow the UN to meet new and emerging challenges to international peace and security
                                                                                                                                                        4. The only significant reforms to the UNSC since it was chartered was in 1965 – to expand non-permanent seats from six to ten. 
                                                                                                                                                        5. Five members do not adequately address the world. Particularly when the full 15 member set are often not representative of areas of concern around the globe.
                                                                                                                                                        6. Member states support expansion
                                                                                                                                                        a. The problem lies in coming up with a unified text of the necessary charter amendment in order to being negotiation.
                                                                                                                                                        7. The idea of expanding the UNSC to include the G4 as permanent members is supported by the UK, France, US and Russia
                                                                                                                                                        8. India’s position on expansion of the UNSC (as of 2011 statement)
                                                                                                                                                        a. The UNSC should have representation by members closer to the areas of its attention.  “in the months of January and February 2011, more than 70% of the Council's meetings were on African issues and in terms of the amount of time spent, more than 90% of the Council’s attention was focused on African issues. And yet there is no single permanent member from Africa!”
                                                                                                                                                        b. Representation on the UNSC is limited and too restricted. “in the instance of the Latin American region, all slots have been filled up for the Council’s elected seats till 2034 and so there are no further opportunities.”
                                                                                                                                                        c. “For the record, let me also reiterate that the overwhelming majority of UN member-states have expressed their clear preference for expansion of the Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories.”
                                                                                                                                                        9. Failing to address necessary reforms will weaken the UN in the face of modern challenges
                                                                                                                                                        a. India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj at the UN: "Step by slow step, the importance, influence, respect and value of this institution is beginning to ebb... The United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform. Reform cannot be cosmetic. We need to change the institution's head and heart to make both compatible to contemporary reality. Reform must begin today; tomorrow could be too late. If the UN is ineffective, the whole concept of multilateralism will collapse. India does not believe that the United Nations should become the instrument of a few at the cost the many."
                                                                                                                                                        10. China is using its permanent status as a way to keep India under thumb and assert its superiority in the region. 
                                                                                                                                                        11. Under the current structure the UNSC has lost the ability to act in a timely manner, which harms its effectiveness, which damages its credibility and legitimacy.
                                                                                                                                                        a. As recently as the week of Mar. 10, the UN has reported on killings in the DR Congo from the previous December and warned that “new waves” of killings may be forthcoming. There is a weak call for state intervention, but no plan to force any such intervention or to do anything beyond monitoring and probing the killings. 
                                                                                                                                                        12. India has been elected to the UNSC seven times, most recently with a significant number of votes. Permanent membership would formalize its status. It might also make sense to add all of the G4 countries
                                                                                                                                                        b. “As of 2013, the current P5 members of the Security Council, along with the G4, account for eight of the world's ten largest defense budgets, according to SIPRI. They also account for 9 of the 10 largest economies by both nominal GDP and Purchasing Power Parity GDP.”
                                                                                                                                                        13. Need to put a deadline on current open-ended discussions to get an actual decision instead of just the de facto “no” of constant delays and talks with no progress
                                                                                                                                                        a. “Daniel Drezner (professor at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and blogger): Right after the US moves its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem: it has been promised for decades by presidential candidates but never comes to fruition. Ten years would be a really optimistic estimate.”
                                                                                                                                                        b. Plus, we just moved the embassy to Jerusalem, so I guess, it’s time?
                                                                                                                                                        14. Chapter I, Article 1 of the UN Charter says that the first primary purpose of the UN is “To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace” 
                                                                                                                                                        a. Would affirmation of the resolution do this? Yes. It expands representation, giving the UNSC more legitimacy, it provides a venue to address areas of concern in a more timely manner and it recognizes the growing importance of India as well as the growing interdependence of nations around the world. Both in terms of economic interests as well as security and peace interests. So should we affirm? Yes.
                                                                                                                                                        15. Some questions to ask the aff
                                                                                                                                                        a. If the UNSC is broken, what about it is broken and how would adding India as a permanent member fix it?
                                                                                                                                                        b. Are there any objective criteria that we could use to determine who should have membership and permanent membership on the UNSC? Would GDP be a measure? Population? Contributions to the UN? Should it include nations with nuclear weapons? Or some combination of these criteria? Or no objective criteria at all?
                                                                                                                                                        i. And if there’s no objective criteria, I nominate Tahiti as the only permanent member because they have nice beaches. 
                                                                                                                                                        c. Do the reforms to the UNSC need to include more than just adding India? More than just adding the G4? More regional representation in Africa and the Middle East? What about revisions to who has veto power?
                                                                                                                                                        d. Would affirmation make the conflict over Kashmir worse? If not, how would the Pakistani’s be placated?
                                                                                                                                                        e. If India contributes significantly to UN efforts including peacekeeping, what would be the real consequences of NOT giving them a permanent seat on the UNSC?
                                                                                                                                                        f. How important is membership (not necessarily permanent membership) on the UNS for the purposes of maintaining international peace and security? For example, Switzerland didn’t even join the UN until 2002 but they’re not out starting wars. If more than 60 UN member states have never been part of the UNSC, let alone a permanent member, how critical is permanent membership to being able to maintain peace?
                                                                                                                                                        g. Why is expansion of the USNC better than other alternatives, for example, heavier reliance on regional arrangements/organizations under Article 52 of the UN Charter (e.g. reliance on the African Union to resolve disputes in Africa)?

                                                                                                                                                        Neg / con 
                                                                                                                                                        1. TLDR – if it an’t broke, don’t fix it. 
                                                                                                                                                        a. The composition of the UNSC was set in 1945 and has changed very little while the overall geopolitical landscape has changed significantly. Still the UNSC remains the top body for international peace and conflict resolution.
                                                                                                                                                        2. No text for the necessary amendment exists which is necessary to even being negotiations about expansion of the UNSC. Members don’t yet have anything near a consensus about the terms of such an amendment – how many permanent seats to add, who to add, what other reforms (e.g. ending the veto power of permanent members) should be included. 
                                                                                                                                                        a. It might be possible to push forward on smaller, more limited change like just adding the G4 countries, but then you could easily lose the support of other UN members that would be left out. 
                                                                                                                                                        c. There’s no large-scale consensus on the details of reforms to the UNSC.
                                                                                                                                                        3. China opposes reforms to the UNSC. Sometimes publicly, though more often they publicly express neutrality and negligence rather than opposition.
                                                                                                                                                        a. More specifically, China’s position is that they don’t want to “rush” a vote on any such changes / reforms. They say it will damage the interests of developing countries, 
                                                                                                                                                        b. Expansion and reforms should wait until a significant consensus on the details can be reached. 
                                                                                                                                                        c. China calls for UNSC reforms to increase the representation of developing countries because they make up more than two-thirds of UN member states 
                                                                                                                                                        4. If we go with expansion of the UNSC to include all G4 countries there is historical mistrust – Germany in Europe, Japan in Asia, corruption in Brazil, conflict between India and Pakistan, that make it difficult to gain regional support and global consensus. 
                                                                                                                                                        5. Even India has effectively given up on its demands in more recent times. India’s demands to be included as a permanent member of the UNSC have largely been ignored with no real consequences (e.g. removing Indian peacekeeping forces)
                                                                                                                                                        6. Too much diplomatic effort to change the charter
                                                                                                                                                        a. Negroponte: I think we should keep the number of seats at 15 but have more permanent members. But it would take a significant amount of diplomatic effort to modify the charter.
                                                                                                                                                        c. It’s way too difficult to find a consensus on who to add and what to change
                                                                                                                                                        i. Drezner: Brazil and Japan, and the EU should have one seat. No African or Mid-East country is a really obvious candidate -- no one state or supranational organization possesses the requisite power.
                                                                                                                                                        ii. Graham Allison (Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School): If you are trying to make the Security Council reflective of the world we live in today, it should include at least India, but also a state from Africa (Nigeria or South Africa), and one from South America, most likely Brazil.
                                                                                                                                                        iii. Andrew Bacevich ( Professor of International Relations and History, Boston University): Who should? India, Germany, Japan, Brazil. Who will? None of them.
                                                                                                                                                        7. The UNSC is becoming less relevant anyway. While reforms and expansion might help stave that off, that’s not a sure thing and could just as easily lead to gridlock within the UNSC and General Assembly and make it less relevant
                                                                                                                                                        a. Drezner: I'm not sure about its [overall effectiveness] going forward. It can move along well on issues like terrorism but will underwhelm on issues that infringe on national sovereignty: separatist movements, democracy promotion, etc.
                                                                                                                                                        b. Bacevich: The UNSC matters -- it just doesn't matter all that much.
                                                                                                                                                        c. Thomas Pickering (Chairman, Board of Directors, American Academy of Diplomacy, and former U.S. Ambassador): The danger is that the Council becomes too large and irrelevant that way.
                                                                                                                                                        8. Let’s assume the UNSC is broken, then we need larger scale reforms than just adding India (or even adding the G4) as permanent members. 
                                                                                                                                                        a. These should include the following five reforms
                                                                                                                                                        i. membership categories,
                                                                                                                                                        ii. veto powers of the five permanent members,
                                                                                                                                                        iii. regional representation,
                                                                                                                                                        iv. the size of an enlarged UNSC and it’s working methods
                                                                                                                                                        v. the relationship between the General Assembly and the UNSC.
                                                                                                                                                        9. Under Chapter 8 (e.g. Article 52) and other portions of the UN Charter, there are provisions to rely on regional organizations to resolve conflicts which are better suited to deal with conflicts than the larger UN body. These groups inherently have a stronger interest in peaceful resolution of conflicts within their region than would an expanded UNSC, and are better positioned to respond in a timely and effective manner. While the UN should reserve the power and responsibility to step in should need arise, the resolution asks us to take preemptive steps to expand the UNSC in order to address the mere possibility of ineffective regional organizations. Such steps are unwarranted. 
                                                                                                                                                        10. Adding India to the Security Council would give it international cover for human rights abuses against minorities (such as Muslims) much in the same way that China’s status on the UNSC gives it international cover for its human right abuses against minorities (e.g. Muslims, Uyghurs)
                                                                                                                                                        a. China is “in a league of its own” for human rights violations
                                                                                                                                                        d. While the US says that it ‘may’ use sanctions against China and leaders it believes are responsible for human rights violations, it hasn’t done so yet. And (see below) Secretary of State Pompeo’s statement is to the effect that the US will ignore human rights if it’s in the interests of the US. 
                                                                                                                                                        f. So what does the US actually do about it? Mike Pompeo complains, but it’s not a significant part of trade negotiations, there are no UN or US sanctions. Basically the US just ‘calls them out’ on it. In part because of trade and in part because China has a permanent seat on the UNSC. In fact, Pompeo says the US (or Trump Administration at least) will work with anybody regardless of their human rights records as long as it’s in America’s interest. Putting India on the UNSC would put India in the same position as China – able to violate human rights with no real consequence on the international stage. 
                                                                                                                                                        h. Indeed, as recently as the week of March 10, China is delaying UN sanctions that India wants against militant groups and their leaders. China is cracking down on it’s own Muslim population while giving cover to Pakistani-based terrorists.
                                                                                                                                                        k. And they can get away with it because they have a permanent seat on the UNSC – and the veto that comes with it. Giving India similar leverage will provide India with international cover to violate human rights. Something they’re already doing. 
                                                                                                                                                        q. So if you want to give India cover for more human rights violations in Kashmir, then yeah, go ahead and affirm the resolution
                                                                                                                                                        11. Questions to ask the negative
                                                                                                                                                        a. What is the primary objective of the UNSC?
                                                                                                                                                        i. The UN was chartered with four major objectives
                                                                                                                                                        1. Maintain international peace and security
                                                                                                                                                        2. Develop friendly relations among nations
                                                                                                                                                        3. Cooperate on solving international problems
                                                                                                                                                        4. Be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations
                                                                                                                                                        ii. The UNSC was chartered to address the first of these
                                                                                                                                                        b. Yemen, Venezuela, Kashmir, Syria, Central Africa, Gaza and the West Bank. How effective has the UNSC been recently at maintaining international peace and security?
                                                                                                                                                        c. Why does it make sense for the more active areas of conflict around the world not to have representation on the premier body for maintaining international peace and security?
                                                                                                                                                        i. E.g. Middle East, Central Africa, Kashmir, Latin America
                                                                                                                                                        d. The five current permanent members (US, UK, France, China, Russia) are all nuclear powers. Doesn’t it make sense that membership be expanded to include the newer nuclear powers in order to minimize the risk of a conflict escalating towards nuclear deployment?

                                                                                                                                                        Change Log
                                                                                                                                                        rpalmeira 2019.03.17 v1a – minor corrections to spelling and grammar