Extemp Questions June / July 2014

June

• Can new Egyptian leadership bring about needed reforms?
• What long term effects will Edward Snowden’s information leaks have on US national security?
• What can be done to curb the rising costs of higher education?
• What can the Iraqi government do to ensure security?
• Does the ISIS terrorist group pose a serious risk to US interests in the Middle East?
• Is the terrorist group ISIS a clear and present danger to the security of the United States?
• Will the Tea Party faction hold sway over the GOP in the midterm primaries?
• Should the federal government do more to curb the costs of higher education?

July

• What does the future hold for the Kurdish region of Iraq?
• Should the US push Israel to pull back on the recent Gaza occupation?
• Could Russia be held liable for the downing of Flight 17?
• Should the US take a more active role in the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia?
• Will the escalating casualties in Syria be enough to get the international community to intervene?
• What does the long-term US economic outlook suggest about America’s economic influence internationally?
• Has the US real estate market rebounded?
• Should immigration reform be a higher priority for Congress?
• How well cna the Russian economy weather international sanctions?
• Can the UN provide enough international pressure to force a Gaza cease-fire?
• What effects will Argentina’s debt default have on the long term health of that nation’s economy?

Extemp Questions April/May 2014

April

• What doe the future hold for former Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf?
• How should the international community be reacting to Russia’s annexation of Crimea?
• Should the US do more to alleviate poverty in Afghanistan?
• How can the Afghan government develop the economy
• What can the international community do to curb the violence in the Central African Republic?
• Will Obamacare be a losing issues for Democrats in the midterm elections?
• Can Republicans win back the majority?
• Should NSA domestic surveillance programs be curbed?
• Should America be doing more to aid Syrian refugees?
• What does the failure of the international community to stabilize Syria say about the state of international diplomacy?
• What will the EU’s Sentinel satellite help us discover about the Earth?
• Can the international community end the ongoing death and human suffering in the Central African Republic?
• Are American police forces overly militarized?
• Is the international community reacting appropriately to Russian action in the Ukraine?
• Will economic sanctions be sufficient to deter Russia from further intervention in the Ukraine?
• When will the Internet revolution reach the Cuban economy?
• Will the trial of Abu Hamza al-Masri mean for the war on terror?
• How should NATO countries react to continued Russian action in the Ukraine?
• What can Russia do to make it’s economy attractive to foreign investors?
• Are American tech stocks overvalued?
• Does the Eurozone  require additional quantitative easing?
• Can upcoming elections provide a real political solution for Syria?
• What risk does the ongoing crisis in Ukraine pose to the NATO alliance?
• What should be done to stop the killings in South Sudan?

May

• Will Russia Invade Ukraine?
• Should sanctions be targeted against Russian President Vladimir Putin?
• Will the peace deal in South Sudan hold?
• Are women in positions of power held to a different standard than men?
• What does new leadership mean for the future of India?
• Is the political influence of the Tea Party waning?
• Will anger and frustration ignite much needed reform in the Department of Veterans Affairs?
• What does a military coup mean for the future of Thailand?
• How long will the military remain in control of Thailand?
• Will the “Right to be Forgotten” decision in the European court change the way tech and Internet companies operate in the US?
• Will the staggering number of General Motors recall’s have an impact on the larger US economy?
• Should the federal government push for a national data breach notification law?
• Should western nations push Saudi Arabia for greater political rights for women?
• Can President Obama’s foreign policy shift towards soft-power diplomacy successfully redefine America’s international role?

Extemp Questions March 2014

March 2014

• Is America’s policy towards Syria failing?
• Will the the new Ukrainian leadership seek closer ties to Europe and the EU?
• Is it time for a new international strategy in Syria?
• Will Mexican and US government actions against the Sinaloa drug cartel lead to further violence in the ar on drugs?
• Should the US impose sanctions on Russia?
• Is America’s policy influence on the global stage weakening?
• Should American foreign policy be a keystone issue for the 2014 midterm elections?
• Will internal disagreements over social issues weaken the Republican Party in the midterm elections?
• Should America be more actively engaged with Venezuela?
• Will Congress levy sanctions against Venezuela?
• Are free and fair elections in Pakistan possible?
• Should the US take a more active role in Darfur?
• What more should the International community do to curb the violence in the Sudan?
• What has been the legacy of Hugo Chavez?
• Will Western sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis have the intended effect?
• What effect will economic sanctions have on Russia?
• Can international pressure stop Russian actions in Crimea?
• Should NCAA rules allow college athletes to be paid?
• Will the looming Obamacare enrollment deadline encourage more young people to sign-up?

extemp questions from Jan / Feb 2014

• What is the outlook for Obamacare in 2014?
• Should the individual mandate in Obamacare be delayed?
• Is security in Iraq still a primary concern for stability?
• Will a deteriorating security situation in Sudan cause the international community to intervene?
• Does the deal to freeze Iran’s nuclear development mean real progress?
• Are international peacekeeping forces necessary to maintain stability in the Central African Republic?
• What is needed to maintain peace in the Central African Republic?
• Will new peace talks make any headway in South Sudan?
• Should the international community reduce sanctions against Iran?
• Is it time for the US to end the embargo against Cuba?
• Are French President Hollande’s proposed spending cuts a distraction from personal allegations against him?
• Will a compromise US budget deal encourage further bipartisan cooperation in the US Congress?
• Has America’s foreign policy lost touch with the world?
• How important will the fight against global poverty be in bringing peace to conflict zones?
• Will renewed protests in Egypt create a path to stability or just more violence?
• Can the new round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva succeed?
• Do the protests in Ukraine signal a major government revolution?
• Should the US be more actively engaged in the Syrian peace talks?
• Is 2014 the year the Chinese economy slows?
• Can the Colombian government and the FARC reach a peace deal?
• Can the Taliban retake Afghanistan?
• What’s next for Syria?
• Is online privacy essential for the future of the Internet?
• Should the UN take a more active role in the Central Aftrican Republic crisis?
• Should the US be more concerned about protests and growing dissent in the Ukraine?
• What does the future hold for electronic privacy in the United States?
• Do electronic surveillance programs in the US pose a significant risk to economic growth?
• How long will oil prices remain so high?
• Should the Fed tighten up its loose monetary policies?
• Will Scotland vote for independence?
• Should the international community impose sanctions against the Ukraine?
• Does the UK government need to take drastic measures to reform its education system?
• Can America afford for Congress to keep delaying on immigration reform/
• Is Thailand’s political system rigged against real reforms?
• Will the political crisis in Thailand lead to a split of the country?
• Should the central banks of G-20 nation give their effects on developing nation’s economies greater consideration?
• What does the future hold for US-Russia relations?
• Does Ukraine’s new leadership fac serious questions to their legitimacy?
• What should the EU do about the ongoing problems in the Ukraine?
• What role should the US play  in the Ukraine crisis?
• What steps are necessary for reconciliation in the Ukraine?
• Can the US and Russia cooperate effectively on the international stage?

Extemp Oct. / Nov. 2013

October

• What effect would a US government shutdown have on the global economy?
• Should Obama give ground to prevent a government shutdown?
• What would be the long-term effects of a US det default?
• What does suspension of US aid to Egypt signal about the future of US foreign policy?
• Is brinksmanship over the debt ceiling good for American politics?
• Are significant election reforms needed to remove the partisanship from US politics?
• What would it take to bring the Muslim Brotherhood back into the politial system in Egypt?
• How long can China continue at it’s current rate of economic growth?
• Will repeated brinksmanship between Congress and the President have significant negative impacts for the US economy?
• Will history view Edward Snowden as a hero for privacy?
• Can Iran’s new President Rouhani work out a deal with the International community for sanctions relief?
• Is China doing enough to clean up it’s environmental record?
• Should China be doing more to reduce its carbon footprint?
• Should additional constraints be placed on placed on US intelligence data gathering methods?
• Does the US need to make greater effort to repair its reputation in the international community?
• Is the Middle East at significant risk of a nuclear arms race?
• How can the Federal government repair the rollout of Obamacare?
• Is a military solution possible in Syria?
• How can the Indian government continue to fuel economic growth?
• How significantly has the government shutdown impacted US military readiness?
• Does continued political brinksmanship over the US budget harm the global economy?
• What measures should be taken to control American entitlement spending?
• Does the end of the current government shutdown only delay resolution of the partisan fight?

November

• How can President Obama best preserve the legacy of his second term?
• Does Puerto Rico face a significant debt crisis?
• When will public opinion of Washington hit bottom?
• Does the declining perception of America in the global community harm US national security?
• Has the government shutdown harmed America’s credibility on the international stage?
• What does the future hold for the Republican Party?
• Will an end to the M23 insurgency in the DR Congo lead to a lasting peace?
• What does India’s mission to Mars signal about the future of space exploration?
• Are the Euro zone economies doing enough to curb unemployment?
• Does new leadership of the Pakistani Taliban create a significant threat for the Pakistani government?
• Should the Obama Administration pay more foreign policy attention on emerging Asian economies?
• What can be done to reign in the drug cartels in Mexico?
• Is a nuclear deal with Iran really possible?
• Would a nuclear deal with Iran be good for the Persian Gulf region?
• Can Germany elect a stable government?
• Is political instability in Germany having negative impacts on European economies?
• Have Democrats in Congress begun to lose confidence in the sucessfulness of Obamacare?
• Do Democrats face serious risk of losing seats in Congress over Obamacare?
• Will China be able to implement planned reforms in the next five years?
• Can the new Chinese leadership implement real reforms?
• Will Chile’s new leadership move the government far to the left?
• Will divisions among the goals of Western nations prevent an agreement with Iran over nuclear development?
• Can President Maduro restore economic stability in Venezuela?
• Will continued daily hardships reduce the power of the Chavista movement in Venezuela?
• Is it too early to understand the long term effects of the Affordable Care Act?
• Should the US Congress push for greater sanctions against Iran while a nuclear deal is still being negotiated?
• Will the Republican Party split further during the 2014 election cycle?
• Should more be done to combat piracy along the Somali coast?
• Is political reconciliation possible in Thailand?
• Will Thaksin Shinawatra be allowed back into Thai politics?
• Will peace talks between the FARC and Colombian government succeed?
• Is a lasting peace between the government and the FARC impossible

Extemp Questions July / Aug 2013

July • Has the Arab Spring failed to materialize real progress? • Do race relations still pose an area of conflict in American politics? • Should senate rules be modified to override filibusters by simple majority vote? • Will comprehensive immigration reform come out of Congress this year? • Will European unemployment continue to rise? • Has the Tea Party turned the Republican Party into an ineffective political organization? • Does American trade policy need more protectionist measures to balance trade deficits with Asia? • Will the LDP return to power in Japan’s Diet?? • How will Venezuela change after the death of Hugo Chavez? August • How can America create more middle class jobs? • Is the class divide in the US greater than the racial divide? • Will Egypt fall into military dictatorship? • Can President Obama meet his second term economic objectives? • Has BP failed in in it’s response to the gulf oil spill? • Does the conviction and sentencing of Bradley Manning set a significant precedent for journalists? • (alternative) what significance does the decision in the Bradley Manning case have for journalists? • Are free and fair elections in Zimbabwe possible? • Does the conviction of Silvio Berlusconi signal a new era for Italian politics? • Should the US continue drone strikes in Pakistan’s territory? • Is a sense of personal shame missing in American politics? • Are the chances for a Middle East peace deal better or worse today than previously? • What is needed to release Zimbabwe from the control of the Zanu-PF party? • Will an Iran under the leadership of new President Rouhani be more open to negotiate on matters of nuclear development? • Is Iran ready to be serious about nuclear negotiations? • Should the US withhold military aid to Egypt? • Should America take any reactive steps to Russia’s grant of asylum to Edward Snowden? • Will Republicans in Congress and President Obama come to a budget agreement? • Has the Obama Administration done enough to shape the public debate between privacy and security in American intelligence policy? • has the Japanese government done enough to clean up after Fukushima? • What are the prospects of Congress passing immigration reform in the upcoming session> • What does growing nationalist sentiment mean for Japanese policymakers? • Will continued violence lead to another political revolution in Egypt? • Should American foreign policy towards Egypt change? • Should the US cut off aid to Egypt? • How should the world react to Syria’s possible use of chemical weapons? • Will the release of former Egyptian President Mubarak help stabilize the embattled nation? • Should the US use stronger diplomatic leverage to block Iran from continued nuclear development? • Hae BP and Halliburton been held properly accountable for the Deep Water Horizon oil spill? • Should the US take military action in Syria?