Pros and Cons - Debbie Newman, Ben Woolgar 2014

Pros and Cons - Debbie Newman, Ben Woolgar 2014

Section A. Philosophy/political theory

Capitalism v. socialism

Censorship by the state

Civil disobedience

Protective legislation v. individual freedom

Social contract, existence of the

Section B. Constitutional/governance

Churches in politics

Extremist political parties, banning of

Monarchy, abolition of

Political candidacy, age of

Politicians’ outside interests, banning of

Proportional representation

Referenda, increased use of

Social movements: courts v. legislatures

State funding of political parties

Term limits for politicians

Voting age, reduction of

Voting, compulsory

Section C. International relations

Armaments, limitations on conventional

Commonwealth, abolition of the

Democracy, imposition of

Dictators, assassination of

European Union, expansion of the

Military drones, prohibition of

Non-UN-sanctioned military intervention

Nuclear weapons, right to possess

Private military corporations, banning of

Sanctions, use of

Terrorism, justifiability of

Terrorists, negotiation with

United Nations, failure of the

United Nations standing army

United States of Europe

Section D. Economics

Bonuses, banning of

Child labour can be justified

Euro, abolition of the

Failing companies, bailing out

Fairtrade, we should not support

Inheritance tax at 100 per cent

Regional trade blocs over global free trade

Salary capping, mandatory

State pensions, ending provision of

Section E. Social, moral and religious

Abortion on demand

Affirmative action

Alcohol, prohibition of

Animal experimentation and vivisection, banning of

Drugs, legalisation of

Euthanasia, legalisation of

Gay marriage, legalising of

God, existence of

Holocaust denial, criminalisation of

Homosexuals, ordination of

Homosexuals, outing of

Immigration, limitation of

Mandatory retirement age

National identity cards

National service, (re-)introduction of

Political correctness

Polygamy, legalisation of

Population control

Prostitution, legalisation of

Right to strike for public sector workers

Slavery, reparations for

Smacking, remove parents’ right to

Smoking, banning of

Veil, prohibition of the

Women fighting on the front line

Section F. Culture, education and sport

Arts funding by the state, abolition of

Beauty contests, banning of

Blood sports, abolition of

Boxing, banning of

Cultural treasures, returning of

Examinations, abolition of

Gambling, banning of

Indigenous languages, protection of

Music lyrics, censorship of

Nursery education, free provision of by the state

Performance-enhancing drugs in sport

Press, state regulation of the

Privacy of public figures

Private schools

Religious teaching in schools

School sport, compulsory

Size zero models, banning of

Sport, equalise status of men and women in

Sport, regretting the commercialisation of

Sports teams punished for the behaviour of fans

University education, free for all

Violent video games, banning of

Zoos, abolition of

Section G. Crime and punishment

Capital punishment

Community sentencing

International Criminal Court, abolition of the

Judges, election of

Jury trials, abolition of

Mandatory prison sentences

Parents, responsibility for the criminal acts of their children

Prisoners’ right to vote, denial of

Prison v. rehabilitation

Racial profiling

Right to bear arms

Sex offenders, chemical castration of

Televised trials

Terrorist suspects, torture of

Section H. Health, science and technology

Cars in city centres, banning of

Contraception for under-age girls

Cosmetic surgery, banning of

DNA database, universal

Environmental responsibility, developed world should take more

Eugenics: IVF and genetic screening

Genetic engineering

Global warming, binding emission targets for

Obese children, compulsory attendance at weight-loss camps

Organ donation: priority for healthy lifestyle

Organs, legal sale of

Social networking has improved our lives

Space exploration

Surrogate mothers, payment of

Section I. United Kingdom issues

BBC, privatisation of

Disestablishment of the Church of England

English Parliament

House of Lords, elected v. appointed

Police, arming of the

Scottish independence

Should Britain leave the EU?

Written constitution