001 – LOUSY DRIVERS! Aren’t most of them women?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Can anyone in this room honestly say that the worst drivers are not women?
CON – Don’t the lower insurance rates for young females prove they drive better than men?
PRO – Aren’t women usually less coordinated than men?
CON – Isn’t it true that men are convicted of more DWI’s than women?
002 – ROCK MUSIC! Hasn’t it been a valuable contribution to American culture?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t the incredible number of fans of all ages mean something?
CON – Isn’t it true that it has frequently glorified the
use of drugs?
PRO – Hasn’t it provided some positive role models?
CON – Don’t many of the lyrics border on the
obscene?
003 – AIDS! Isn’t mandatory testing absolutely necessary RIGHT NOW?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t marriage license applicants tested for
sexually transmitted disease?
CON – Couldn’t the money spent on testing be better spent on finding a cure?
PRO – Wouldn’t testing help determine the extent of
the disease and help stop the spread of it too?
CON – Wouldn’t it be a violation of a person’s civil rights, and for those who do test positive, wouldn’t severe discrimination be inevitable?
004 – FIDELITY IN MARRIAGE! Isn’t it more difficult for a man than for a woman?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – The simple fact is that a man is sexually aroused more easily than a woman. Doesn’t this make it more difficult to be faithful?
CON – Haven’t women been more faithful in the past because they have had less exposure to the business world and the opportunities it presents?
PRO – The male plays the dominant role in the mating game and is more sexually aggressive by nature. Isn’t that true?
CON – Isn’t there, in fact, a double standard in which cheating is “okay” for men but not for women?
005 – POLICE “STING” OPERATIONS!
Shouldn’t they be made illegal?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t they just another form of entrapment?
CON – Shouldn’t the police be allowed to use every method available to apprehend criminals?
PRO – Don’t “sting operations” actually encourage
criminal activities?
CON – Wouldn’t the knowledge that “sting operations” are legal inhibit some criminals?
006 – BEAUTY PAGEANTS! They degrade and commercialize women and should be discontinued.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Aren’t beauty contests just promoting the idea that women are sex objects?
CON – If a woman wants to compete in a beauty
contest, shouldn’t she be free to make that decision?
PRO – Isn’t this just another way for businesses to
capitalize on pretty young women in bathing suits?
CON – Why is it that homely women and feminists
are almost always the ones who want to ban beauty pageants?
007 – SEX EDUCATION! Isn’t school the most appropriate place for it?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t teachers more qualified than parents?
CON – Shouldn’t the parents be the ones to provide sex education for their own children?
PRO – Isn’t it true that in school all children can receive sex education, but at home, for a variety of reasons, some will receive little or none?
CON – Isn’t sex education in the public schools
taught biologically rather than morally or ethically?
008 – FORTUNE TELLERS and psychics!
Shouldn’t we listen carefully to what they say?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Aren’t there many people who swear by them? Can they all be wrong?
CON – Isn’t this just another form of wishful thinking?
PRO – Don’t psychics have credibility? After all, police departments frequently rely on them.
CON – Since there is no scientific evidence to support their claims, why should we take them seriously?
009 – LEADERSHIP! Aren’t men really better suited for it than women?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it true that men have dominated
leadership roles throughout history?
CON – Aren’t today’s women proving that they are just as capable, or in some cases, more capable than men?
PRO – Doesn’t a man’s more aggressive nature give him a clear edge over a woman when competing for a leadership position?
CON – Isn’t it because women have been denied
opportunities to demonstrate their abilities?
010 – ANIMAL’S RIGHTS! Are they really that important?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Shouldn’t animals have the same right to live
as humans do?
CON – Weren’t animals put on earth for the benefit of man?
PRO – Do you really think we can destroy entire
species, such as the whales, great apes and seals, and still consider ourselves humane?
CON – Don’t you think mankind’s survival is more important than worrying about animal rights?
011 – PHYSICAL FITNESS! Hasn’t the craze gone too far?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Don’t you think that women pumping iron to
build muscular physiques carry things too far?
CON – How can anyone say that things have gone
too far when millions of people, of all ages, have gotten off their butts and made fitness a part of their lives.
PRO – Isn’t it true that doctor’s offices are swamped by people with exercise related injuries?
CON – Aren’t the people who tend to be lazy the biggest critics of fitness programs?
012 – Television Soaps! Aren’t they just an attempt to escape from reality?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t this type of fantasy a senseless waste of time?
CON – Can’t the soaps actually be stimulating …after all they cover many of the important social issues, don’t they?
PRO – How can an adult who sits around all day
watching this nonsense expect to be a positive role model for children?
CON – In today’s high-pressure world is it really wrong to take a break from reality?
013 – ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION! Everybody is aware of the problem but isn’t it true that nobody gets off their butt to do anything about it?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – How many people are willing to cut back on non-biodegradable consumer goods for the sake of a cleaner environment?
CON – Isn’t environmental legislation blocked by politicians and special interest lobbies even though the average citizen would be more than willing to make certain sacrifices?
PRO – Aren’t there millions of people who complain about air pollution, but continue to purchase large automobiles that pollute more than small ones?
CON – Aren’t millions of average citizens personally
involved in helping the recycling of bottles, cans and metals?
014 – ADOPTED CHILDREN! Shouldn’t they have legal access to information regarding their biological parents?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t longing for one’s natural parents a perfectly normal emotion?
CON – Wouldn’t such a law discourage some unwed mothers from giving their child up for adoption?
PRO – Isn’t it likely that the birth parents would love to see the child and would find great happiness in the reunion?
CON – Wouldn’t it be psychologically harmful for an adopted child if the natural parents rejected him or her?
015 – PROFESSIONAL BOXING! Shouldn’t such a savage and dangerous form of entertainment be banned?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Should purposely injuring another human be
called sport?
CON – There are many other more dangerous sports like auto racing and hang gliding; should we ban them too?
PRO – Isn’t it true that many fighters suffer brain damage or severe impairment of sight, hearing or speech?
CON – Doesn’t boxing offer opportunities for wealth and stardom for some under-privileged youngsters?
016 – ETHNIC JOKES? Aren’t they in poor taste?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – How can ridiculing someone’s belief or culture be considered humorous?
CON – If they are in poor taste, how come millions
often tell them about their own ethnic group?
PRO – Don’t ethnic jokes exaggerate differences, and really do harm?
CON – Aren’t ethnic jokes really healthy since they
enable us to laugh at ourselves a little and see ourselves from another point of view?
017 – UFO’s and visitors from outer space! It’s pure fantasy!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Where is the evidence that they exist or proof that this planet has been visited by aliens?
CON – What about all the people who claim to have seen UFO’s and in some cases actually reported having been kidnapped by aliens?
PRO – Isn’t it really just a case of people being
imaginative so they can escape the reality of their unexciting day-to-day lives?
CON – Isn’t it ridiculous to believe we humans are the only intelligent life in the universe? Doesn’t it make sense that other intelligent life would try to communicate with or visit us?
018 – TELEPHONE SEX! Shouldn’t it be banned?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it terrible that children have such easy
access to this trash?
CON – Shouldn’t it be allowed? After all, isn’t it just
another form of free speech?
PRO – Isn’t there enough emphasis on sex in the
media? Why add to it?
CON – No one is forced to make that call. Shouldn’t it be an individual’s free choice?
019 – A PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT! Isn’t it really a smart move?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Doesn’t it make sense when you consider the high divorce rate?
CON – Aren’t most lawyers in it just for the bucks?
PRO – Wouldn’t an agreement help prevent court battles in the event of a divorce?
CON – What ever happened to trust and romance?
020 – PROSTITUTION! Isn’t this a profession that should be legalized?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t prohibiting prostitution a lot like trying to prevent the sale of alcohol? That failed!
CON – Wouldn’t it have a harmful effect on children
by implying that society approves of “sex for sale?”
PRO – Wouldn’t its legalization help prevent the spread of AIDS by requiring testing?
CON – Wouldn’t it accelerate the moral decay in our
society?
021 – MINORITIES! Shouldn’t they be given preferential treatment because of past injustices?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO . Without special treatment, wouldn’t it take forever for them to catch up and have the same chance as the majority?
CON – Wouldn’t they be better off if they succeeded
through their own efforts?
PRO – Shouldn’t we feel obligated to “put things
right”?
CON – How can people be proud of
“accomplishments” that were gained through favored treatment?
022 – HUNTING ANIMALS for recreation! Shouldn’t it be banned?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it about time we stopped such a barbaric practice and recognized the animals right to live?
CON – Isn’t it true that deer-hunting selectively reduces the excess population, thereby preventing the cruel starvation of many deer during the winter?
PRO – Isn’t it true that hunters often wound animals and then are unable or unwilling to track them, leaving the animal to die an agonizingly slow, cruel death?
CON – Hunters kill animals for food. How is that any
different from all the domestic livestock that is raised and slaughtered for food?
023
Men who frequent TOPLESS BARS, and women who attend MALE STRIP JOINTS are contributing to the moral decay of our society.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Doesn’t this type of entertainment encourage promiscuity and further weaken our society’s morals?
CON – Aren’t these men/women just indulging in
harmless entertainment?
PRO – Aren’t those who pay to attend such crude
entertainment, supporting the degradation of the young men and women who perform as exhibitionists?
CON – What’s vulgar about nudity and dancing?
024 – ANNOYING HABITS! Don’t men have a lot more of them than women?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Don’t men smoke those foul smelling cigars?
CON – Don’t women spend an annoying amount of
time in the bathroom putting on their makeup?
PRO – Don’t men monopolize the TV set with their
endless watching of sports?
CON – Don’t women just nag, nag, nag?
025 – LET’S FACE IT- women are simply not suited for certain jobs in the fire and police departments!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Is it realistic to expect a woman firefighter to carry a 200 pound person down a ladder?
CON – Isn’t it about time to acknowledge that women can perform any job a man can, and sometimes a hell of a lot better?
PRO – If you were being mugged by two big guys
with knives, wouldn’t you rather have a male police officer instead of a female, come to your rescue?
CON – Isn’t the notion that women aren’t suited for certain jobs just an attempt by male chauvinists to discriminate against them?
026 – THE PRESS GOES TOO FAR when it snoops into and publicizes a political candidate’s private life.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t this practice limit the number of
qualified people considering political office?
CON – Doesn’t a candidate’s private life reflect his /
her moral character?
PRO – Is the emphasis on a person’s sex life more important than his / her views on critical issues?
CON – If a candidate has a history of sexual
perversion, shouldn’t this information be reported?
027 – LIVING TOGETHER BEFORE
MARRIAGE! Doesn’t this improve the chances for a successful marriage?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t the marriage have a better chance of success if people knew each other’s
“unusual habits” beforehand?
CON – Why bother getting married when living together is so convenient? No ties! No commitments!
PRO – Wouldn’t this help a couple find out if they are sexually compatible?
CON – Aren’t the responsibilities of being married and having children totally different from
“living together” and just having plants & pets?
028 – Shouldn’t home owners be protected from unsolicited telephone sales pitches?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Is there anything more annoying than getting one of these (bleep) calls when you’re all soaped up in the shower?
CON – Isn’t selling over the phone just as legitimate
as selling door to door?
PRO – How about the computerized sales calls?
Aren’t they even more aggravating than a live salesperson on the phone?
CON – Aren’t these sales calls an important part of
business?
029 – BINGO! Isn’t gambling a strange way for religious organizations to raise money?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Doesn’t it encourage one of the more
destructive vices?
CON – People are going to gamble anyway. Why not put that money to good use?
PRO – How can religious groups that use bingo
games as a means of raising money, honestly speak against other vices?
CON – Can you really call Bingo gambling?
030 – PARENTAL ADVICE! Isn’t it wrong for a parent to continue to give unsolicited advice to their adult children?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t anyone who is old enough to vote, old
enough to make his / her own decisions and even mistakes?
CON – Doesn’t a parent deserve the right to give
advice to an adult child?
PRO – Won’t unsolicited advice only “annoy” the
adult child?
CON – What if the parent is convinced the advice he or she has to give could save the adult child from physical or emotional harm?
031 – BIGOTRY! Hasn’t it been overcome?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Doesn’t integration seem to be working?
CON – Aren’t today’s immigrants meeting with the
same old prejudices?
PRO – Haven’t racial, religious, ethnic and gender barriers been largely removed?
CON – Haven’t racial tensions increased alarmingly
in the last few years?
032 – EMPHASIZING SEX IN ADVERTISING! There’s nothing wrong with it.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Aren’t advertisers selling more of their product by using this technique?
CON – Doesn’t the emphasis on sex make women
“sex objects”?
PRO – Isn’t the use of sex in ads handled in good
taste?
CON – Doesn’t it distort a child’s view of what sex is
all about?
033 – CHILD MODELING! Isn’t it harmful to the child?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t children dragged around to model
agencies mainly to satisfy the parent’s ego?
CON – Couldn’t modeling earn a lot of money for the child’s college education?
PRO – Wouldn’t rejection hurt the child emotionally?
CON – Couldn’t success at modeling lead to a career in the entertainment world?
034 – TEENAGE SUICIDE! Isn’t it caused by the breakdown of the traditional family unit?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t suicide more likely for a child who lacks the strong emotional support provided by a mother and father?
CON – Aren’t the use of drugs and alcohol the real reason for this tragedy?
PRO – Aren’t there more suicides among children
from broken homes?
CON – Hasn’t TV violence, heavy metal music, and other negative influences been contributing factors?
035 – The parents of a week-old baby are informed by doctors that their child has an incurable disease. The life expectancy of the child is 4 to 5 years. The child needs emergency surgery to survive. The parents withhold permission. AREN’T THEY RIGHT?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – If the child had the surgery and survived,
wouldn’t the knowledge that the child was going to die in a few years be devastating for the parents?
CON – Since medical science has been wrong more than a few times, isn’t it at least possible that a cure might be found for the child’s disease within the next 4-5 years?
PRO – Wouldn’t it actually be cruel to help this baby survive, knowing it could only live for a few years?
CON – Doesn’t the baby deserve to have those 4-5 years of life?
036 – COLONIZATION OF THE PLANETS! Isn’t it a noble goal that should be pursued aggressively by world governments?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it a wonderful outlet for man’s
adventurous spirit?
CON – Shouldn’t our government’s limited resources be spent on the immediate and pressing problems right here in our country, instead of on exotic adventures into space?
PRO – Isn’t it man’s destiny to voyage beyond the
earth, and couldn’t it bring nations together for a common goal?
CON – Shouldn’t we learn how to live in harmony on this planet before we go to others?
037 – THE OLYMPICS! Shouldn’t all athletes, amateur and professional, be allowed to compete equally?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t the Olympics then truly represent the very best athletes in the world?
CON – Wouldn’t it destroy the “spirit” of the games which has prevailed since the Olympics began?
PRO – Wouldn’t the increased level of competition in some sports raise the levels of excellence?
CON – Wouldn’t the increased competition lead to
even greater use of steroids and other drugs?
038 – CELEBRITIES! Don’t we demonstrate an obsessive interest in them?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Hasn’t this obsession been demonstrated
when celebrities commit suicide and are followed by a rash of “copycat” suicides?
CON – Isn’t it normal to admire the rich and famous, and be interested in their lives?
PRO – Just look at the newspapers, magazines, talk shows, tabloids, etc., don’t they constantly keep celebrities in the limelight?
CON – Isn’t it the media that has the obsession and
not the general public?
039 – THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION! Hasn’t it been beneficial for our society?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Hasn’t the freedom to write and talk candidly about many things, including sex, been a positive step?
CON – How can this be true, when AIDS is running
rampant in our society?
PRO – Hasn’t the popular life-style of unmarried couples living together expanded our options?
CON – Isn’t the “sexual revolution” at least partly responsible for the high rate of teenage pregnancy?
040 – ASTROLOGY! Isn’t it absurd to believe that the positions of the stars can influence our lives?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it true that there is no scientific evidence to prove that the stars influence our lives?
CON – What about all the famous people (past and
present), who relied on astrology as a guide to their daily decisions?
PRO – When you get right down to it, isn’t it just another superstition?
CON – What about the millions of people who read and believe their daily horoscope?
041 – The President is alerted to an imminent nuclear attack on our allies, and the continental U.S. He refuses to order a preemptive nuclear strike against enemy military targets.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t this the best possible decision when there is the slightest chance that the information could be wrong?
CON – Isn’t he failing in his sworn duty to protect the
citizens of the U.S.?
PRO – Couldn’t he use the “hot line” to persuade the enemy to change their minds?
CON – Isn’t he just being a coward?
042 – A woman discovers that her best friend’s husband, after 20 years of marriage, is having an affair. Shouldn’t the woman tell her friend?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t any real friend tell her the truth?
CON – Isn’t this a situation where a friend should
mind her own business?
PRO – Wouldn’t any wife want to know the truth?
CON – Isn’t it possible that the extra-marital fling
might be short-lived and therefore better left a secret?
043 – BETTER EDUCATION! Shouldn’t we extend the number of days in the school year?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Since most of the world’s industrial nations have longer school terms, shouldn’t we?
CON – Isn’t the quality of education the real issue,
rather than the number of hours spent in the classroom?
PRO – In a world of growing competition and
emphasis on education, do we really have a choice?
CON – Wouldn’t longer school hours make it more
difficult for teenagers who have to work after school and during the summers?
044 – SPANKING CHILDREN! Isn’t it always wrong?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t spanking harm the child
psychologically?
CON – Isn’t the old proverb “spare the rod and spoil
the child” true?
PRO – Doesn’t spanking a child often cross the thin line to physical abuse, especially when a parent is very angry?
CON – Hasn’t the trend toward less spanking been a contributing factor in the loss of respect for authority?
045 – SUDDEN WEALTH! Receiving a large inheritance, or winning a lottery would have a very negative effect on most people.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t it be hard to handle so many new friends and re-discovered relatives?
CON – Wouldn’t it actually have a positive effect by freeing us from the day-to-day rat-race for survival?
PRO – Wouldn’t most people squander the money and lose their desire and motivation to achieve something in life?
CON – Wouldn’t it provide great possibilities for travel, education and charitable works?
046 – Playing Sports builds character… doesn’t it?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Weren’t many of our political and military
leaders active in sports while growing up?
CON – How does trying to beat an opponent build
character?
PRO – Doesn’t the discipline and dedication,
required to excel at sports, build character?
CON – What about the extensive use of steroids to improve sports performance?
047 – MILITARY RECRUITMENT! It should be by a draft, not voluntary.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t it be best if a cross section of qualified citizens equally shared the responsibilities of protecting our nation?
CON – Isn’t it probable that volunteers will make a
better fighting force than those forced to join?
PRO – Isn’t it true that the volunteer force is largely
made up from low income groups who do not fairly represent the whole population?
CON – Doesn’t voluntary service make the most
sense in a free country?
048 – EDUCATIONAL CHOICE! Shouldn’t the government give money to parents so they can choose either private or public schools for their children?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t this provide healthy competition for
the public schools?
CON – Isn’t this counter to the idea of “separation of
church and state?”
PRO – Wouldn’t it be fairer than the present system?
CON – Wouldn’t it result in a reduction of funds that are badly needed for the public schools?
049 – The 55 mph highway speed limit! Shouldn’t it be rigidly enforced?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t the fact that the 55 mph limit saves lives, sufficient reason to enforce it?
CON – Don’t modern cars and highways make a 55 mph limit unrealistic?
PRO – Isn’t a reduction in the need for imported oil another good reason to maintain the 55 mph limit?
CON – Why is it that some European countries don’t have speed limits on their highways and yet their fatality rates are lower?
050 – The DEATH PENALTY! It can never be justified in a civilized society.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – By carrying out the death penalty, isn’t society just as guilty as the murderer?
CON – Doesn’t the execution of a murderer assure that the person will never kill again?
PRO – Shouldn’t the death penalty be banned since
there is always a chance an innocent person might be executed by mistake?
CON – If a terrorist killed 50 women and children, who but a bleeding heart would not feel justified in executing that person?
051 – PSYCHOTHERAPY! Isn’t there an enormous amount of time and money wasted on it?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it true that people were no worse off
before it became popular to see “shrinks?”
CON – Aren’t clients the best judges of a therapist’s
value?
PRO – Isn’t it true that many people become overly
dependent on therapists?
CON – If therapy wasn’t successful, why is it so
popular?
052 – The AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE! Isn’t the quality steadily improving?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t medical care in the U.S. the best in the
world?
CON – Isn’t it true that air and water quality continue to decline?
PRO – Aren’t the educational and recreational opportunities better than ever?
CON – Isn’t traffic congestion becoming intolerable?
053 – LEGALIZED ABORTION! Isn’t this really every woman’s right?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Shouldn’t a woman have the right to make a decision regarding her own body?
CON – Doesn’t the unborn child have the right to
live?
PRO – Isn’t it a blessing that women no longer have
to risk the dangers of “back alley” abortions?
CON – How can killing an unborn child be thought of as a person’s right?
054 – TELEVISION! Doesn’t it have a positive impact on our society?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t TV offer a wide range of educational
programming?
CON – Isn’t it true that time spent viewing TV could be better used for other activities, such as: reading, conversation, sex, community service or political action?
PRO – Doesn’t TV provide an inexpensive form of entertainment for millions?
CON – Don’t parents too often use it as a “built-in
babysitter?”
055 – A pooper-scooper law requiring dog owners to pick up after their animals in public is stupid and degrading!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – If picking up after a St. Bernard in public is
not degrading, what is?
CON – Isn’t it infuriating when you accidentally step
in “it” because of some inconsiderate S.O.B.?
PRO – Do you think dog owners would obey the law without the absurdity of having a policeman on every corner?
CON – Isn’t animal waste disgusting to see and smell on public streets as well as a genuine health problem?
056 – SMOKING! It should be permitted in public places.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Is a person smoking in public any greater a
health threat to others than say a person who has a bad cold?
CON – Why can’t smokers understand that their civil rights end at the point they endanger the health of others?
PRO – People expel harmful fumes into the
atmosphere everytime they drive cars. Why aren’t they restricted?
CON – Why should non-smokers go home smelling of smoke because of an inconsiderate smoker?
057 – CONJUGAL VISITS! Shouldn’t they be a basic right for all prisoners?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t such privileges be beneficial for the
spouse or lover, too?
CON – Doesn’t the denial of normal sex life while in prison serve as a deterrent to future crimes?
PRO – Wouldn’t such visits help reduce the incidence of rape in prison?
CON – What about the prisoners who don’t have
mates, is it fair to them?
058 – Terrorists have occupied the Statue of Liberty and killed 2 hostages. They threaten to blow it up unless certain demands are met! Our government refuses to negotiate.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – How can you negotiate with murderers?
CON – Since the Statue is a national symbol,
shouldn’t the demands be met to avoid its destruction?
PRO – By giving in to terrorists’ demands, don’t we
encourage more terrorism?
CON – Couldn’t our government agree to their
demands, then at an opportune moment, capture and/or kill them?
059 – Life imprisonment with no parole possible!
It beats having a death penalty.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it more humane?
CON – Doesn’t it give the convicted murderer a
chance to kill again, either in prison or after an escape?
PRO – Isn’t it an improvement over present policies where murderers are paroled?
CON – Wouldn’t the death penalty be a strong
deterrent to a person considering murder?
060 – Dating services! They’re a safe way to meet people.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Aren’t the prospective “dates” thoroughly screened and interviewed by the agency?
CON – Isn’t there always the chance of being
matched up with a lunatic, or a sex pervert?
PRO – Haven’t the dating services been responsible for an impressive rate of marriages and satisfied couples?
CON – Is it any different from having your daughter jump into some stranger’s car?
061 – ALCOHOL VS. ILLEGAL DRUGS! Aren’t they equally bad?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it true that either one can cause serious
medical problems?
CON – Aren’t drugs more addictive than alcohol?
PRO – Isn’t it true that the use of either, frequently results in tragedies such as automobile accidents and domestic abuse?
CON – Aren’t intravenous drugs a greater danger
than alcohol when you consider the spread of AIDS?
062 – The drinking age should be 18!
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Shouldn’t anyone old enough to vote be able
to drink?
CON – Doesn’t the great number of driving accidents at that age make it unwise to encourage drinking?
PRO – Shouldn’t anyone old enough to serve in the military, have the right to drink?
CON – Doesn’t alcohol often lead to the use of hard drugs-why speed up the process?
063 – AIDS or CANCER! If we could find a cure for only one, it should be for cancer.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t cancer responsible for many more
deaths?
CON – Isn’t AIDS a much greater long term threat
than cancer?
PRO – Isn’t AIDS more controllable because we know how it is transmitted and how to prevent it?
CON – Isn’t AIDS a greater threat because it is
contagious?
064 – Youthful good looks, as opposed to “brains!” Aren’t we too concerned with “Looking good” and forgetting that intelligence is what really counts?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t too much time being spent in beauty
salons, health spas, and boutiques, while intelligent discussion is becoming an “endangered species?”
CON – Aren’t youthful good looks important in the business world and in attracting a mate?
PRO – Shouldn’t we be more interested in learning, if we hope to remain competitive with other countries?
CON – What’s wrong with a little pampering of our
bodies, since it’s important for self-esteem?
065 – MALE/FEMALE COLLEGE DORMS! Aren’t they a mistake?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Don’t they provide unneeded temptations and invite sexual activities?
CON – Isn’t it just the “prudes” who think so?
PRO – What about privacy? Some of the students
walk around half naked.
CON – Doesn’t it offer young people an opportunity to learn how to get along with both genders, a valuable lesson for future marriage?
066 – VIETNAM-MIAs/POWs! Isn’t it just a futile search?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it true that since the war’s end not a single prisoner has been found alive nor has evidence shown that there are any alive?
CON – The families of these brave men surely haven’t given up hope, should we?
PRO – Doesn’t this search just delay the resumption of normal relations with the government of Vietnam?
CON – Can any American really want to end the
search as long as there’s the slightest hope?
067 – “STAR WARS”- Isn’t the S.D.I. program an enormous waste of taxpayers’ money?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Can we justify spending on a defense program that many scientists say will never work?
CON – Wouldn’t even a partial defense against nuclear missiles be valuable if there were an accidental firing by an enemy?
PRO – Couldn’t the billions of dollars allocated for
“Star Wars” be spent on social programs or used to reduce the national debt?
CON – The Russians have a space defense program, why shouldn’t we?
068 – A Woman, happily married for 15 years, with two children, made the mistake of having an affair. She is 8 months pregnant and feels quite sure her husband is not the father. She does not tell him!
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t telling the truth destroy a good
marriage and “mess up” the lives of three children?
CON – What if the biological father decides someday that he wants to meet his child?
PRO – Isn’t there the slim chance her husband just might be the father of the child?
CON – Wouldn’t it be terrible to deceive the husband and the child?
069 – PACIFISTS! It’s commendable to be opposed to violence-but in real life it’s rarely practical.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – If the majority of us were pacifists, wouldn’t
freedom perish?
CON – Wouldn’t the world be a better place if there were more pacifists?
PRO – How could anyone remain nonviolent in a situation where loved ones are being physically threatened?
CON – Didn’t the great Indian leader, Gandhi, prove pacifism was effective?
070 – The United States as a world power! Isn’t it true that we are in decline, and have been for years?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wasn’t our inability to win the war in Korea
and our defeat in Vietnam indications of this decline?
CON – If the U.S. is in decline, why do so many people from around the world want to come here?
PRO – Isn’t it clear that we are losing our competitive edge and are in economic decline?
CON – Isn’t this talk of decline just a lot of hogwash from the defeatists in our ranks?
071 – ACTORS WHO MAKE COMMERCIALS!
If they accept pay to promote a product they don’t use, aren’t they just plain hypocrites?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – As role models, aren’t they setting an example of dishonesty?
CON – Wouldn’t everyone do the same (for money) if they had the chance?
PRO – Since most of them are wealthy enough, why must they misrepresent themselves for money?
CON – Since virtually everyone knows they are
simply doing it for the money – how can it be called deception?
072 – A father of two is serving on the jury trying a major crime figure. He receives a death threat. Fearful for his own and for his family’s safety, he requests that he be dismissed from the jury. Isn’t he justified?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it stupid for a citizen to risk his life, and
possibly his family’s lives for the “privilege” of serving on a jury?
CON – Wouldn’t it be impossible to convict any crime figure if all they had to do was frighten anyone on a jury?
PRO – Isn’t it understandable that a man’s concern for his family’s safety would come first?
CON – Shouldn’t a citizen be willing to risk his / her life to protect one of the country’s essential institutions -the Justice System?
073 – TERRORISTS HOLDING HOSTAGES!
Ransom should never be paid to these animals!
PRO-BLUE CON RED
PRO – Wouldn’t paying ransom encourage more
terrorism?
CON – What about a situation where great loss of life would result if ransom wasn’t paid?
PRO – When we pay ransom to terrorists, it just goes to fund more terrorism, doesn’t it?
CON – What if the terrorists were threatening to
torture and kill the person you love most?
074 – POVERTY! Isn’t it really the leading cause of crime?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it true that in lower income areas the crime rate is very high?
CON – Why is it that the majority of those living in poverty do not commit crimes?
PRO – Don’t children in poor areas turn to crime in
greater numbers, especially when their role models are drug pushers?
CON . Isn’t the cause of crime simply an individual’s conscious decision to commit an evil act?
075 – Religious values are disappearing!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t people generally paying less attention
to religious values?
CON – Aren’t there many people doing volunteer
work who are motivated by religious values?
PRO – Can’t many of our serious social problems be attributed to the loss of religious values?
CON – Aren’t there signs of an increase in religious values, such as a genuine concern for the homeless, for those with AIDS, and for world peace?
076 – If a teenage boy gets a teenage girl pregnant, he and/or his parents should be legally responsible for child support.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t such a law help reduce the very high rate of teenage pregnancy?
CON – Wouldn’t having the young father and/or his parents pay half the cost of child support be
PRO – Isn’t it about time the male was made to take responsibility for the consequences of his actions?
CON – Why should parents be held financially
responsible for the actions of a teenage son?
077 – SPORTS! Don’t American men spend far too much time thinking, talking, watching and reading about them?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t you say the majority of American
women think they do?
CON – Isn’t it just an intellectual elitist that would be so critical of male sport’s fans?
PRO – Don’t most men identify with the
achievements of their sport’s heroes?
CON – Isn’t the amount of time men spend following
sports greatly exaggerated?
078 – TV EVANGELISTS! Aren’t they providing a worthwhile service?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Don’t millions of people tune them in every
week?
CON – Hasn’t that service been greatly tarnished by
all the recent scandals?
PRO – Don’t they provide inspiration for many and a chance for viewers to worship God in the privacy of their own homes?
CON – Aren’t they overly aggressive in requesting
donations?
079 – Girls and boys playing contact sports together! ISN’T IT DUMB?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Can anyone really believe that a girl should be permitted to play on a boys’ football team?
CON – Shouldn’t a girl who wants to play on a boys’ football team at least be given a fair tryout?
PRO – Wouldn’t the situation get a little embarrassing at times if a girl joined a boys’ wrestling team?
CON – Isn’t it about time that girls had real equal
opportunity in sports?
080 – TV DEBATES between the presidential candidates! Do they really help in selecting the one most qualified?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it the only time we get to see them face to face, discussing the issues?
CON – Aren’t the debates so staged that they end up being a series of political statements instead of true debates?
PRO – Doesn’t it give us an opportunity to see how they react to the sometime ‘hostile’ questions from the media?
CON – Don’t the candidates only present viewpoints they have carefully rehearsed for weeks?
081 – PANHANDLERS! Don’t they deserve our charity?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t many of those begging on the streets mentally and/or physically handicapped?
CON – Aren’t there a lot of “phonies” out there who take our hard-earned money to buy alcohol and drugs?
PRO – Would it really hurt to give a dollar occasionally to a beggar? He/she obviously needs it.
CON – Aren’t there plenty of governmental programs for those who really want help?
082 – A black presidential candidate could certainly win the election.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t bigotry a thing of the past and hasn’t a qualified black candidate an equal chance against a white candidate?
CON – Don’t both political parties still lack the
courage to place black candidates on the presidential ticket?
PRO – Doesn’t the widespread support for Jesse Jackson in the 1988 primaries confirm the fact that our country is ready?
CON – Wouldn’t racial bigots likely stir up trouble if a black candidate did run for president?
083 – Government funded day care centers! They are a waste of taxpayers’ money.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t it be better to give the money spent on these centers directly to the mothers so they could stay home and care for their children?
CON – Don’t they help women compete more fairly with men for jobs and career opportunities?
PRO – Haven’t there been enough scandals involving child abuse in day care centers?
CON – Don’t these centers provide a healthier atmosphere for the children than the neighborhoods they live in?
084 – PUBLIC EDUCATION! It is an embarrassment to America!
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Aren’t the number of students who are
graduated from high school without basic communication skills, a disgrace?
CON – Haven’t SAT scores improved during the last
decade?
PRO – What about the scandalous dropout rate in
many high schools?
CON – If it’s so bad, how come many adults of all
ages go back to school and find it enriching?
085 – WORKING MOTHERS- a leading cause of family problems!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Shouldn’t the mother be at home when the children are young, to insure a healthy mother / child relationship?
CON – Aren’t many families dependent on the
mother’s income to maintain a decent standard of living?
PRO – With drugs easily available and teenage pregnancy a major problem, shouldn’t mothers be at home?
CON – What about the fathers responsibility? Why
can’t he stay home?
086 – LABOR UNIONS! Haven’t they outlived their usefulness?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t the uniformity of wages for union employees work against those more motivated?
CON – Wouldn’t employees be at the mercy of
management, as in the past, if labor unions disappeared?
PRO – Don’t too many of them have a reputation for
corruption?
CON – Don’t they still help to provide decent wages and working conditions for millions of American workers?
087 – JOKES-there are certain subjects that should never be joked about.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Shouldn’t we always avoid joking about
handicapped people?
CON – Wouldn’t there be darned few jokes left if we
banned all the jokes which someone found objectionable?
PRO – Shouldn’t we always avoid joking about
tragedy?
CON – Isn’t any joke that gets a laugh worth telling?
088 – A prisoner in wartime has information that, if revealed, will severely harm his country. He believes he will be tortured and forced to reveal what he knows. He has a chance to take his own life but decides NOT to! Isn’t he right?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t suicide wrong under any circumstances?
CON – Isn’t his life insignificant compared to his
country’s welfare?
PRO – Isn’t the instinct for survival greater than the desire to do what is best for one’s country?
CON – Since he will most probably be killed after being tortured, isn’t suicide the logical choice?
089 – WELFARE! Shouldn’t the recipients who are able be required to take any job offered?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Shouldn’t they welcome a chance to help pay their own way?
CON – Wouldn’t job training be better in the long run than some low paying service job?
PRO – Isn’t any job a stepping stone if the person diligently applies him/herself?
CON – Shouldn’t single welfare mothers remain at
home to protect their children from harmful influences?
090 – COLLEGE EDUCATION! Isn’t its importance greatly exaggerated?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – If a person has natural talents and drive, won’t he/she be successful even without a college degree?
CON – Wouldn’t a study of those in leadership
positions show the vast majority to be college graduates?
PRO – Aren’t there many college graduates who are not at all prepared for the real world?
CON – Isn’t the average college graduate equipped
with the tools for learning that give him / her a clear edge over those who only graduated high school?
091 – Members of different religions who marry are making a serious mistake.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Don’t religious differences make things confusing for the children?
CON – Isn’t it true that religion doesn’t play as important a role in people’s lives today?
PRO – Wouldn’t the in-laws present a potential
problem?
CON – Isn’t a successful marriage based on love and not on racial, ethnic or religious issues?
092 – A young married couple wants desperately to have a child on their own. After two years it is discovered one partner is infertile. The other feels justified in asking for a divorce.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – If the person wanting the divorce is so
desperate to have a child of his or her own, wouldn’t staying married only cause bitterness?
CON – Why not simply adopt a child?
PRO – Wouldn’t the partner understand the request for a divorce, since he or she was also desperate for a child?
CON – What ever happened to the marriage vow,
“for better or for worse?”
093 – PATRIOTISM! Isn’t it declining in America?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it true that there would be great resistance to any attempt to reinstate the “draft?”
CON – If patriotism is declining, how do you explain the fact that our armed forces always get enough volunteers to fill their quotas?
PRO – Doesn’t the fact that so many people don’t vote, show a lack of interest and pride in being an American?
CON – Don’t you think that if our country was facing a crisis, and was threatened, all citizens would unite in support of it?
094 – Environmental pollution and a higher standard of living! Aren’t they in direct conflict?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it obvious that a higher standard of living means more manufactured products and increased pollution levels?
CON – Wouldn’t a strong economy provide more money for research, making manufacturing processes more efficient, thus reducing pollution levels?
PRO – A higher standard of living means more traveling by car, bus and plane. Doesn’t this add to pollution levels?
CON – Wouldn’t recycling help neutralize the damaging effects of greater production?
095 – THE MORTON DOWNEY, JR. SHOW-The best talk show in town!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it the most exciting and controversial
show on television?
CON – Do you really feel that berating and insulting
the show’s participants is a proper way for a host to conduct a discussion?
PRO – Wouldn’t you say that the audience
participation is a great forum for hearing the views of average Americans?
CON – Doesn’t all the screaming and hollering on the show often make it impossible to hear what is being said?
096 – ADULT CHILDREN LIVING AT HOME!
Shouldn’t they pay at least one week’s salary a month for rent?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Since most parents have spent thousands of dollars raising their children, isn’t this a reasonable request?
CON – Wouldn’t a half-week’s salary be fair?
PRO – Isn’t a week’s salary inadequate in most
circumstances?
CON – As long as children live at home, shouldn’t parents continue to pay all the expenses?
097 – WHITE COLLAR CRIMES! Shouldn’t the punishment be imprisonment?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t special treatment like “community service” be out-and-out discrimination?
CON – Wouldn’t prison be too harsh an experience
for a person who is not a hardened criminal?
PRO – Wouldn’t tough prison sentences send a strong message to those considering white collar crimes?
CON – Wouldn’t community service be more effective in rehabilitating a white collar criminal than imprisonment?
098 – Dog owners are oblivious to their dogs being a nuisance.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – If they cared, wouldn’t they use a pooper-
scooper?
CON – Aren’t most of the complainers just people who hate animals?
PRO – Why do we hear so many barking dogs,
particularly at night?
CON – Aren’t the majority of dog owners responsible for their pets?
099 – The cloning of humans will soon be possible. It should be prohibited to prevent social chaos.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t population growth already too rapid?
CON – Would it really be so bad to clone a few of the top medical and scientific people in the world?
PRO – Wouldn’t the power to create identical human beings open up the possibility that someone would try and create a “super race?”
CON – Wouldn’t the power to clone yourself present the possibility of living indefinitely?
100 – A single girl or woman should always pay her own way on dates before getting married.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO. Isn’t it about time that women’s “equal rights” included paying their own way?
CON – Wouldn’t this arrangement destroy a tradition that men and women have felt comfortable with for years?
PRO – Isn’t this especially proper today when young people stay single longer and date numerous partners?
CON – Hasn’t the tradition of the man paying for the woman been a demonstration of that wonderful quality called chivalry?
101 – A couple married 6 years, with no children, is seeking a divorce. The husband makes $100,000 a year. The wife did not work during the marriage but maintained a very comfortable home life. The husband found this to be very convenient. The wife is demanding 1/3 of his salary for at least six years while pursuing a career of her own.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t her demands justified since they mutually agreed she would not work?
CON – Isn’t the wife just being greedy?
PRO – Since her lifestyle includes many luxuries,
shouldn’t she be entitled to a decent alimony?
CON – Aren’t her demands ridiculous? She could
have pursued a career since they didn’t have any children.
102 – Today’s young people are burdened with difficult social, moral, economic and political problems because their parents failed to deal effectively with these problems.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t it be a better situation for today’s
young if they didn’t inherit a world armed with nuclear weapons?
CON – Isn’t it true that the problems facing today’s kids are no worse than those faced by their parents?
PRO – How can parents explain the monstrous
national debt that the young must cope with?
CON – Isn’t it true that the parents of today’s young
have managed to prevent a world war for over 40 years?
103 – MARRIAGE AND FLIRTING! It’s perfectly normal once in a while, and a spouse shouldn’t object.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t flirting totally harmless?
CON – Doesn’t flirting often lead to further
involvement?
PRO – Doesn’t a little innocent flirting act as a
“safety-valve” for most normal people?
CON – Aren’t you hurting the one you really love by this so-called “innocent” act?
104 – Football is a more exciting sport to watch than baseball!
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Can anything in baseball match the
excitement of a quarterback throwing a long pass for a TD with seconds remaining?
CON – Can anything in football match this drama? A 5-2 score in the bottom of the 12th, bases loaded, and the 3-2 pitch is hit for a home run.
PRO – Doesn’t football have a lot more action and
excitement?
CON – Doesn’t the constant confrontation of pitcher and batter make for great drama?
105 – NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS! Aren’t they essential for our energy needs in the future?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t they the only practical alternative we have due to the decreasing supply of oil?
CON – Doesn’t the risk of nuclear accidents make these power plants unacceptable alternatives to fossil fuels?
PRO – Shouldn’t the use of fossil fuels be curtailed as soon as possible because of the resulting
“greenhouse effect?”
CON – Aren’t there safer and cleaner alternative
energy sources, like wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal?
106 – INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE! Shouldn’t it be encouraged as one of the positive steps toward achieving racial harmony?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t the children of these marriages be
without racial prejudice?
CON – Wouldn’t such encouragement inflame the extremists of the different races?
PRO – Isn’t this approach the only real hope of a
long term solution?
CON – Wouldn’t the children of these marriages be victims of discrimination by both racial groups?
107 – DWI OFFENDERS! Shouldn’t the culprit’s picture along with his / her conviction be published in the local newspapers?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t the embarrassment caused by it, give second thoughts to those who drink and drive?
CON – Isn’t humiliating people the wrong way to try and change their thoughtless behavior?
PRO – Isn’t it about time these people were exposed for their dangerous and irresponsible acts?
CON – Since this procedure is not recommended for drivers who are caught speeding, why should those convicted of DWI be singled out?
108 – Desperate and homeless people who refuse to accept food and shelter should be forcibly taken to a shelter for their own welfare.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t this the kindest thing to do, especially when many of the homeless are former mental patients?
CON – Don’t most homeless people resist going to
shelters because of the dirty and dangerous conditions that prevail in them?
PRO – Isn’t the government morally obligated to help if the homeless person’s life is threatened?
CON – Should a homeless person’s civil right to
refuse aid, be respected?
109 – GOVERNMENT! Doesn’t it interfere too much in our lives?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it interference when they enact laws requiring the use of car seat belts, no smoking in public places, or the use of pooper scoopers for dogs?
CON – Aren’t the so-called interferences actually the will of the majority?
PRO – Aren’t government regulations far too
numerous?
CON – Wouldn’t it be a dog-eat-dog society if the government didn’t “interfere” in our lives with laws and regulations?
110 – MUD WRESTLING! Aren’t the people who watch it and engage in it just plain crude?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it just a vulgar sport that degrades women?
CON – What’s wrong with people having some good “clean” fun?
PRO – Aren’t the boorish people who watch it
showing a total disregard for good taste?
CON – Aren’t the people who look down their noses at mud wrestling just a bunch of snobs?
111 – Donation of one’s organs after death is morally the right thing to do.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it wrong for some people to be dying just because others won’t make a commitment to donate their organs after death?
CON – What about people who don’t believe in having their body parts removed after they die, for whatever reason?
PRO – How would you feel if you or someone you love were faced with the need for an organ transplant and none were available?
CON – What about some people’s fears that an overzealous doctor seeking an organ donor might declare you dead prematurely?
112 – BREAST-FEEDING in public! Shouldn’t it be accepted?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t it a beautiful and natural act?
CON – Doesn’t it make too many people
uncomfortable?
PRO – Wouldn’t the convenience encourage more
women to breastfeed -which is healthier for children?
CON – Wouldn’t the sight of a woman’s bare breast be disturbing to many people?
113 – CREDIT CARDS! Wouldn’t we be better off without them?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t fewer people be in debt if there were no such thing as “credit cards.
CON – Haven’t they been a great convenience for everyone?
PRO – Wouldn’t having to pay by cash or check
make us more conscious of the money we spend and thus more careful shoppers?
CON – Aren’t they valuable when we might have the opportunity to buy an item on sale but don’t have any cash?
114 – THE HOMELESS IN AMERICA! Aren’t we all partially responsible?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – The large number of homeless in our country is a modern day tragedy. Would it be happening if each of us really cared?
CON – Why shouldn’t the government solve the
problem? We pay enough taxes, don’t we?
PRO – Aren’t we all members of the human family, in which each of us should help the other?
CON – How can we be responsible for people we don’t even know? Besides, isn’t there help available for these people if they want it?
115 – FEMALE SUPERIORITY! It’s obvious, isn’t it?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t more violent crimes and drug abuse
committed by men, proving they are weaker than women?
CON – Aren’t more men chosen for leadership roles
than women?
PRO – Aren’t women more rational in an argument?
CON – How come most geniuses have been men?
116 – Shouldn’t graphic violence and sex in today’s movies be restricted?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
CON – Shouldn’t people be able to choose what they wish to see in the movies?
PRO – Do vou doubt that impressionable people can be influenced by viewing such material?
CON – Is there any evidence to prove that these movies cause people to imitate violent acts?
PRO – Why do we have to be subjected to such
graphic detail, when in most cases it does very little to help a well-directed movie?
117 – A world without nuclear weapons… it’ll never happen.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t we going in the other direction, with more and more nations obtaining nuclear weapons?
CON – Isn’t the recent agreement between the U.S. and the USSR an indication that it can happen?
PRO – How could any country give up its nuclear
weapons without knowing that every country has done the same?
CON – Shouldn’t we hope that someday common sense and the desire for world peace will prevail?
118 – PLASTIC SURGERY…Aren’t we going too far for the sake of vanity?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t there too much emphasis on bodily
appearance and too little on intellectual achievement?
CON – Doesn’t it provide psychological benefits by increasing a person’s self-esteem?
PRO – Haven’t many people been permanently disfigured due to these operations?
CON – Is it really much different from hair implants, toupees, false teeth, and elevated shoes?
119 – AUTOMOBILES! American cars are superior to foreign cars.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t American cars more comfortable?
CON – Aren’t safety features better on foreign cars?
PRO – Don’t American cars have superior styling?
CON – Aren’t foreign cars built to last longer?
120 – BUMPER STICKERS! Aren’t they a public nuisance?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t being distracted by them cause a lot
of fender benders?
CON – Don’t they often make you smile?
PRO – Aren’t many of them in poor taste, and
sexually suggestive?
CON – Aren’t they a good way to express one’s
personality?
121 – DOG OWNERSHIP! Isn’t it more of a headache than its worth?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Don’t some of the problems like fleas,
barking, vet and kennel costs prove it just “ain’t” worth it.
CON – Doesn’t the love and companionship far
outweigh any problems?
PRO – Aren’t many parents left with a dog when their children, who initially wanted the dog, move out?
CON – What about the positive aspects of owning a dog, like protection, loyalty, being a joy for children, and companionship?
122 – AMERICANS ARE CULTURALLY ILLITERATE! Isn’t it true?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Don’t statistics show Americans are woefully
ignorant of history, geography, literature and the arts?
CON – Doesn’t it depend on who decides what “culturally literate” means?
PRO – Aren’t Americans ignorant regarding the
cultures of other countries as well as their own?
CON – We’re average Americans! We’re playing this game! Ain’t we culturally literate?
123 – A single person shouldn’t be allowed to adopt a child.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Isn’t it psychologically healthy for a child to
have both parents?
CON – Haven’t single parents frequently
demonstrated that they have the ability to raise a child?
PRO – Aren’t there too many single parents already
due to the high divorce rate?
CON – Wouldn’t an institutionalized child be happy to have even one parent?
124 – Extravagant weddings are nonsensical!
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t a modest wedding leave a nice chunk of money for a down payment on a home?
CON – Doesn’t the biggest celebration in most people’s lives justify extravagance?
PRO – Aren’t the bride’s parents often put into debt
just to satisfy the bride and groom’s desire for a lavish wedding?
CON – Isn’t it true that an elaborate wedding can lead to a long-lasting marriage?
125 – LEGALIZED GAMBLING! Doesn’t it really benefit society?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Wouldn’t it get the criminal element out of
illegal gambling?
CON – Don’t we have enough gambling addicts in our society already?
PRO – Couldn’t the extra income for the government help reduce taxes?
CON – How do you prevent organized crime from infiltrating government-run gambling?
126 – A couple has been happily married for ten years. One evening the husband comes in drunk and wishes to make love but his wife does not. He brutally forces himself on her. She accuses him of marital rape and files charges.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Shouldn’t a married woman or man have the
right to say no to sex at any time, especially when the spouse is under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
CON – Since a charge of marital rape relies on one person’s word against another’s isn’t it just about impossible to prove the charges?
PRO – Hasn’t our male dominated culture promoted the idea that a wife must submit to sex at her husband’s beck and call?
CON – What’s to prevent a woman from seeking revenge in a situation where the husband was found to be cheating?
127 – GOD EXISTS! The proof is obvious!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Can anyone really believe that life in all its complexity and beauty, just happened?
CON – Would a God create human life and then
expose it to all the diseases and disasters that cause such terrible suffering?
PRO – Isn’t mankind’s long standing belief in a
supreme being, a proof of God’s existence?
CON – If God does exist, why is it that some of our
most educated people can’t see the evidence?
128 – SOCIETY’S VALUES! They must be questioned when it rewards its athletes and rock singers far better financially than it does scientists and educators.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Won’t children’s values get confused when they see who receives the greatest financial rewards?
CON – Isn’t it just envy, and not society’s values that is the problem?
PRO – Isn’t our society hypocritical to stress the
importance of education, and then to reward some who have little education so highly?
CON – Isn’t it fair to mention that the top singers and athletes are relatively few in number and do not last many years at the top in their professions?
129 – A WOMAN AS PRESIDENT! Wouldn’t it be a big mistake?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Aren’t women too emotional?
CON – If Margaret Thatcher can be England’s Prime Minister, why not a female U.S. President?
PRO – Wouldn’t a woman as the Commander in
Chief, lack the qualities to lead effectively during wartime?
CON – Isn’t it because men want to feel superior, that they claim a woman wouldn’t make a good President?
130 – ORGAN TRANSPLANTS!.. Because there is a severe shortage, these operations should be restricted to people under 65.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t it make sense to give priority to the young who have potential to contribute to society?
CON – What if the President of the U.S. was 67 years old and needed a kidney transplant?
PRO – Wouldn’t it be more compassionate to extend the life of a young person rather than an older person?
CON – What if a 70 year old top medical researcher, working on a cure for AIDS, needed an organ transplant?
131 – WORLD PEACE! It’s a beautiful dream but not a realistic one.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Since human nature has never changed, why should man’s desire to fight wars change?
CON – Won’t man’s growing knowledge of genetics make it possible, someday, to modify his aggressive nature?
PRO – Since we can’t even prevent fighting between
family members, how can we hope to stop it between nations?
CON – Isn’t mankind beginning to realize the need for cooperation to prevent mutual suicide?
132 – MANKIND’S FUTURE! Based on its performance to date, it looks pretty grim.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Wouldn’t you say that with all the wars in this century we have good reason to be pessimistic?
CON – Doesn’t the recent arms agreement between the Super Powers offer hope for the future?
PRO – Doesn’t the exploding population and man’s destruction of the environment make the future look bleak?
CON – Doesn’t the improvement in global communication offer hope for better understanding between nations?
133 – TELEVISION NEWS! It’s strongly biased toward reporting the violent and sensational, because that’s what the majority of viewers want, and expect!
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – If viewers weren’t satisfied with the content of the average news broadcast, wouldn’t the producers know it?
CON – How will we know what viewers want if they
aren’t given a choice?
PRO – Don’t the majority of people live such routine, unexciting lives, that they prefer violent and sensational news?
CON – What about people who don’t watch TV
News… they’re probably dissatisfied with the content.
134 – BIRTH CONTROL! Shouldn’t it be the woman’s responsibility?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Doesn’t that make sense, considering the woman is the one who can become pregnant?
CON – Can any reasonable person deny that the responsibility should be shared equally?
PRO – Aren’t the birth control methods available to a woman more convenient for lovemaking than those for men?
CON – Since the woman must bear the responsibility and pain of giving birth, why can’t the man take responsibility for birth control?
135 – SURROGATE MOTHERHOOD! Shouldn’t it be legal?
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Doesn’t it fulfill the legitimate desires of
married couples who can’t have a child normally?
CON – Aren’t there serious social and psychological disadvantages for the child of a surrogate mother?
PRO – Isn’t it better to make it legal so that there can be safeguards for all parties?
CON – Doesn’t the fact that money is being paid demean the entire agreement?
136 – America worships youth, but neglects its elderly.
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Isn’t American advertising predominantly
youth oriented?
CON – Doesn’t the social security system show
concern for the elderly?
PRO – Aren’t older people discriminated against by
employers?
CON – If the country worships youth, why are there so few drug programs available for the young people who desperately need them?
137 – A middle income family owns their own home. The County plans to buy the house next door for use as a supervised group home for former mental patients. The family thinks the purpose is commendable but feels they must protest.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Since a home is a family’s biggest investment, aren’t they justifiably concerned?
CON – How would you feel if a member of your family hoping to live in a group home, couldn’t, because neighbors protested?
PRO – Wouldn’t former mental patients be a danger
to neighborhood children?
CON – Isn’t it unfortunate that most people support good ideas only when they’re not directly affected?
138 – MONOGAMY! Doesn’t the high incidence of infidelity prove it is an unnatural state?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Don’t married persons remain faithful only
because they lack the opportunities to cheat?
CON – If monogamy is unnatural, how do you
account for many long-term marriages?
PRO – Doesn’t having sex with the same person over a long period of time get monotonous?
CON – How could the institution of marriage have lasted thousands of years if its concept is flawed?
139 – A woman’s husband has had cancer for three years and is considered terminal. He receives medication but the pain is overwhelming. He pleads with her to end his life. She finally does, and feels justified.
PRO-BLUE CON-RED
PRO – Shouldn’t a terminally ill person who is
suffering, have the right to end his or her life?
CON – Can we be sure that a person in severe pain is making a rational decision?
PRO – Isn’t life treated with more respect when a patient’s request for a dignified death is granted!
CON – Wouldn’t the sanctity of life be further
diminished if a terminally ill person, even at their own request, could be legally murdered?
140 – Shouldn’t a woman who marries change her last name to that of her husband’s?
PRO-RED CON-BLUE
PRO – Hasn’t this arrangement always satisfied
women in the past?
CON – Isn’t it a holdover from a time when men
treated women as second-class citizens?
PRO – Isn’t it enormously convenient in everyday
affairs?
CON – What about a woman who uses her last name in business or in a profession, and then gets married.
Mean World Syndrome 
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