Choose a position and construct the strongest possible argument for it, even if you disagree. This is the most important skill for honest discourse.
“Countries should strictly limit immigration.”
This is often dismissed as xenophobia, but there are legitimate policy arguments about labor markets, public services, and integration capacity.
“Citizens should have the right to own firearms with minimal regulation.”
Often reduced to 'they just like guns,' but the position draws on constitutional, historical, and practical arguments about self-defense and state power.
“Government-run universal healthcare is a bad idea.”
Frequently dismissed as 'wanting people to die,' but there are serious economic and quality-of-care arguments worth engaging with.
“The Electoral College should be preserved, not replaced by popular vote.”
Often called 'undemocratic,' but defenders argue it serves structural purposes in a federal republic.
“Tax cuts for high earners stimulate economic growth that benefits everyone.”
Often mocked as 'trickle-down,' but supply-side economics has genuine theoretical foundations worth understanding.
“Every citizen should receive a universal basic income regardless of employment status.”
Often dismissed as 'paying people to be lazy,' but there are substantial economic and social arguments for providing a basic income floor.
“Voting should be mandatory for all eligible citizens.”
Critics call this an infringement on freedom, but proponents argue it addresses fundamental democratic representation problems.
“The government should forgive most or all outstanding student loan debt.”
Often framed as 'rewarding bad decisions,' but there are broader economic and equity arguments about systemic issues in higher education financing.
“Significant portions of police budgets should be redirected to social services.”
Often caricatured as wanting no law enforcement, but the actual policy position is about resource reallocation to better address root causes of crime.
“The criminal justice system should prioritize rehabilitation over punishment.”
Often seen as 'soft on crime,' but there is substantial evidence that rehabilitation-focused systems produce better outcomes for public safety.
“Civilian ownership of semi-automatic firearms should be banned.”
Often dismissed as 'wanting to disarm law-abiding citizens,' but there are evidence-based public health and policy arguments for restricting high-capacity weapons.
“Countries should move toward open borders with minimal immigration restrictions.”
Easily mocked as 'naive' or 'suicidal,' but there are serious economic, moral, and historical arguments for dramatically freer migration.
“The U.S. should replace private insurance with a single-payer healthcare system.”
Often attacked as 'socialism' or 'government takeover,' but most developed nations use some form of universal coverage with strong outcomes data.
“The federal minimum wage should be raised to at least $22 per hour.”
Often dismissed as a 'job killer,' but there is substantial evidence that moderate minimum wage increases have smaller employment effects than classical theory predicts.
“AI-powered surveillance cameras should be deployed in all public spaces.”
Easily dismissed as 'Orwellian,' but proponents have genuine safety arguments and point to real crime reduction data.
“Social media companies should not moderate political content.”
Often called 'enabling misinformation,' but the position raises important questions about who decides truth and the history of censorship.
“Companies collecting user data provides more benefit than harm to consumers.”
Usually framed as pure exploitation, but there are genuine arguments about personalization, free services, and medical research.
“Children under 16 should be banned from using smartphones.”
Critics call this 'moral panic,' but there is growing evidence about developmental impacts and valid concerns about children's capacity to consent to data collection.
“We should slow down AI development even if it means losing competitive advantage.”
Often dismissed as 'Luddism,' but there are serious arguments about existential risk, labor displacement, and the pace of societal adaptation.
“Social media platforms should be legally required to verify users are at least 16 years old.”
Critics argue this is unenforceable or amounts to surveillance, but growing evidence links early social media use to developmental harm.
“AI tutoring systems should replace traditional homework and become central to K-12 education.”
Often met with fears about replacing teachers or enabling cheating, but there are compelling arguments about personalized learning and equity.
“Manufacturers should be legally required to provide repair tools, parts, and documentation to consumers.”
Companies argue this compromises safety and intellectual property, but there are strong arguments about ownership rights and environmental impact.
“Companies should be required to publicly disclose how their algorithms make decisions that affect people.”
Often resisted as threatening trade secrets or being technically infeasible, but the case for transparency grows as algorithmic decisions affect hiring, lending, and criminal justice.
“Governments should implement strict data privacy regulations similar to or exceeding the EU's GDPR.”
Often opposed as stifling innovation or being too burdensome for small businesses, but there are compelling arguments about fundamental rights and market correction.
“Governments should require pre-approval licensing for training AI models above a certain capability threshold.”
Tech companies argue this kills innovation, but there are compelling arguments from nuclear and pharmaceutical regulation precedents.
“Banning minors from social media would cause more harm than it prevents.”
Feels counterintuitive when headlines focus on teen mental health crises, but there are real arguments about digital literacy, social connection, and enforcement costs.
“Standardized testing should remain central to college admissions.”
Frequently attacked as 'biased and reductive,' but defenders argue tests provide an objective signal that actually helps disadvantaged students.
“The concept of 'cultural appropriation' is overused and counterproductive.”
Often called 'dismissing real harm,' but there are thoughtful arguments about cultural exchange, artistic freedom, and the difference between appreciation and exploitation.
“Public shaming campaigns ('cancel culture') do more harm than good.”
Defenders of accountability dismiss this as 'wanting no consequences,' but there are serious arguments about proportionality, mob dynamics, and rehabilitation.
“Meritocracy is a myth and the concept itself causes harm.”
Often dismissed as 'making excuses,' but there are substantive arguments about structural barriers, luck, and how the meritocratic narrative justifies inequality.
“Universities should allow all speakers, including those with offensive views.”
Critics say this 'platforms hate,' but proponents draw on deep liberal traditions about the marketplace of ideas and the purpose of academic institutions.
“Nuclear energy should be a central part of the strategy to combat climate change.”
Often dismissed due to fears about safety and waste, but there are strong arguments about nuclear's essential role in reliable, low-carbon energy production.
“Companies should be required to offer remote work options for any role that can be performed remotely.”
Critics argue this infringes on business autonomy and harms collaboration, but there are significant equity and productivity arguments for remote work.
“Government spending on space exploration should be significantly increased, even at the cost of other programs.”
Often mocked as frivolous when there are problems on Earth, but there are practical, strategic, and existential arguments for space investment.
“Immigration policy should be restructured around a points-based system prioritizing skills and economic contribution.”
Often criticized as dehumanizing or elitist, but countries like Canada and Australia have built successful immigration systems around this model.
“A four-day, 32-hour work week should become the standard, with no reduction in pay.”
Often dismissed as economically unrealistic, but there is growing evidence from large-scale trials and historical precedent for shorter work weeks.
“Parents should receive government-funded vouchers to send their children to any school, including private and religious ones.”
Critics call this 'defunding public schools,' but there are genuine arguments about educational freedom, competition, and equity for low-income families.
“Nuclear power should be phased out entirely, even to fight climate change.”
Often dismissed as irrational fear, but there are real economic, environmental justice, and risk arguments against nuclear energy.
“Companies are right to mandate full-time return to office for all employees.”
Easy to dismiss as backward-thinking management, but there are legitimate arguments about collaboration, mentorship, and organizational culture.
“Governments should impose heavy taxes on meat consumption to fight climate change and improve public health.”
Often ridiculed as 'nanny state' overreach, but there are strong environmental, public health, and economic externality arguments for pricing meat's true costs.