Round 1: mblahnikluver vs vkey08 - "Healthcare Reform"

The topic for this debate is "The New Healthcare Bill Is A Conspiracy To Make People More Dependant On Big Government."

"mblahnikluver" will be arguing the "Pro" position and begin the debate.
"vkey08" will be arguing the "Con" position.


Each debater will have one opening statement each. This will be followed by 3 alternating replies each. There will then be one closing statement each and no rebuttal.

There is a 10,000 character limit per post.

Any character count in excess of 10,000 will be deleted prior to the judging process.

Editing is strictly forbidden. For reasons of time, mod edits should not be expected except in critical situations.

Opening and closing statements must not contain any images and must have no more than 3 references. Video and audio files are NOT allowed.

Excluding both the opening and closing statements, only two images and no more than 5 references can be included for each post. Each individual post may contain up to 10 sentences of external source material, totaled from all external sources. Be cognizant of what you quote as excess sentences will be removed prior to judging.

Links to multiple pages within a single domain count as 1 reference but there is a maximum of 3 individual links per reference, then further links from that domain count as a new reference. Excess quotes and excess links will be removed before judging.

The Socratic Debate Rule is in effect. Each debater may ask up to 5 questions in each post, except for in closing statements- no questions are permitted in closing statements. These questions should be clearly labeled as "Question 1, Question 2, etc.

When asked a question, a debater must give a straight forward answer in his next post. Explanations and qualifications to an answer are acceptable, but must be preceded by a direct answer.

This Is The Time Limit Policy:

Each debate must post within 24 hours of the timestamp on the last post. If your opponent is late, you may post immediately without waiting for an announcement of turn forfeiture. If you are late, you may post late, unless your opponent has already posted.

Each debater is entitled to one extension of 24 hours. The request should be posted in this thread and is automatically granted- the 24 hour extension begins at the expiration of the previous deadline, not at the time of the extension request.

In the unlikely event that tardiness results in simultaneous posting by both debaters, the late post will be deleted unless it appears in its proper order in the thread.

Judging will be done by a panel of anonymous judges. After each debate is completed it will be locked and the judges will begin making their decision. One of the debate forum moderators will then make a final post announcing the winner.

In the Tournament, winners will be awarded 2 points for each debate they win.

All AboveTopSecret.com Terms and Conditions Apply at all times in all debate formats.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and keep my opening very simple and concise.

1) The new healthcare bill, while flawed, is a needed and logical progression at this time in our nation's history.

2) Within the framework of this bill are provisions to allow for people to continue to have choice in their healthcare, not just to have it from the central government, therefore preserving some aspects of our free market system.

3) With the rising costs of care, and the recession droning on, unemployment in the double digits, and no real relief in sight, it is high time the government steps up to assist those in desperate need of care, instead of just urning a blind eye to the suffering of millions, medicare and medicaid are broken, this is a fix.

With that said, my position on this is clear, while it does afford some more government involvement in our lives, it should be no more intrusive than those already receiving medicare or medicaid, and in fact may save cash strapped families much needed funds for food, gas and power (as well as heating in those ares that so need it.) This is not a conspiracy to have the government telling you what to do, if it were there would be no choice, it would be the government mandate health plan or no plan. As the bill stands now, all it requires is that you HAVE insurance, and that that insurance will be and can be provided by a number of different sources, you may price shop to get the best deal.

Don't let rampant speculation about death panels scare you, this is not about deciding who lives and who dies for some grand plan of gradual population control, it is about helping those who need insurance, who cannot afford insurance, get insurance. Nothing more and nothing less, and I hope to be able to show that, in the coming days..

Thank you.

One of the biggest concerns in all of this, and the root of people possibly calling it a conspiracy is the fear that there will be one, all encompassing health care plan, that serves all. This could not be further from the truth.

There will still be choice, private insurance companies will still be able to exist, and still be able to provide coverage under the mandates that they do not, or can not exclude for preexisting conditions, and also coexist alongside the "public option" government provided health care company.

The secondary fear is that this "public option" would become cheaper and therefore be the plan of choice for small business, and individuals. If this is the case, like anything in a free market, the bigger insurance companies would have to cut their premiums to compete, creating a bigger pool of places to choose from, again the main word here to remember is choice. If this were truly a conspiracy to get everyone under government control, there would be no choice, just one option, just one plan and one size would fit all.

The Bill

mblahnikluver has missed two of their posts and thus forfeits the debate.

vkey08 moves to the second round.