Debate

So this weekend I went to judge a High School debate tournament. In one word the experience was goosebumps!

You always hear about the young kids doing doing drugs, inhaling glue and doing all kinds of bad stuff. But on Saturday, I was surrounded by young people brimming with bright ideas, ambitious and full of hope. They wanted to change the world and they will. They are the future politicians, lawyers and CEOs. They will map the future of the world.

That all these young kids show up on a Saturday morning to debate wearing suits and are ready to tackle arguments and solve world problems is simply amazing to me. What was I doing when I was their age? Sleeping in?

The topic was the new stimulus package. Is it good or is it bad? Now I was concerned about the topic because I obviously have my own opinions about this. So I wondered if I would be biased. But when the debate rounds started, it was clear to me. Regardless of my opinions on this, ultimately it came down to the persuasion skills and the logic. Who is a better debater? And I gave points based on how well the debate round was executed.

And boy these kiddos could argue about their point. It wasn't what they believed in. It was all about how well they presented the argument and how well they defended their arguments.

Man these people know how to think on their feet. And know how to argue. They would make really bizarre statements and then go on to logically explain what they meant by it.

Here is some random stuff I heard at the tournament.

• My criterion is superior that his.
• My criterion is more realistic to achieve.
• My criterion is not of a Utopian nature.
  
• Capitalism creates war.
• Capitalism creates racism.
• Government can't measure happiness. People can.
• There is value in self-actualization.
• If people don't regulate their own money, we don't need to regulate the money for them and give them more money.
• Cannibalism is connected to capitalism.
• Slavery is a brilliant capitalistic economic move. Free labor. But it is unjust and unfair.
• Revolutions are vehicles for history.
• Some CEOs have more money than God due to capitalism.

Oye.

Needless to say but when I came home I had to find something stronger than wine. Sorry wine makers world wide. Considering no one is shipping me free wine cases, I am allowed to deviate once in a while.

I no longer know what my opinion is about the bailouts. I have to absorb all the information I got and analyze it.

But bravo to all the kiddos that participated. Our future is in good hands.