Pro Arguments
What are two of the four pro arguments?
support the economy, harm the job market, cause crime, protects human rights
What are two of the four con arguments?
Danger to small businesses, harms native workers, disrupts national security, unjust to legal immigrants
What is the impact scenario for con?
unstable market for natives
The con side has evidence native workers are hurt, the pro side has evidence native workers are not hurt. What is one way to win the argument without reading more evidence?
the recency of evidence, words in the evidence, credibility of the source, logical arguments
What are the best two arguments for pro (in your opinion) and why?
How do illegal immigrants threaten the native job market?
illegal competition, stealing jobs, depressing wages
How does legal competition harm native workers?
employment rates fall, working hours fall
What are the three factors in impact calculus?
probability, magnitude, time frame
Why might competition between undocumented immigrants and natives be limited?
native unemployment rates in secondary sectors are higher, natives are drawn to higher-level jobs
What is the resolution word for word?
resolved: immigration reform should include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States
In what ways do illegal immigrants suffer without citizenship?
stigmatized by society, inhumane working conditions, low pay, illegal fees
How is citizenship for illegal immigrants inequitable to legal immigrants?
not following rule of law, skipped the line, closes our eyes to crime
What example could you compare to the pro sides impact scenario?
car crash
How does giving illegal immigrants citizenship encourage illegal immigration?
faster than legal immigration, less likely to get denied
What is one question the pro team could ask the con in the first CX?
1. Since documented immigrants pay taxes, wouldn’t our nation benefit from giving them citizenship?
2. Immigrants directly compete with natives for jobs, why should we choose the citizens of other nations over our own?
3. Won’t allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens reduce crime by giving them more opportunities for legal jobs?
4. Isn’t it dangerous to have millions of anonymous people living in our country where they can easily attack our people?
Pro argues that undocumented immigrants have high rates of crime. How would citizenship reduce the amount of crime?
more opportunities, less incentive to make statements of crime for suffering, more likely to get caught
How do illegal immigrants endanger small businesses?
dependence on illegal work, fewer resources to ensure protection/legality
What is the argument to make for pro?
increasing citizenship means growing our economy through wages, capital, and labor allowing for continued growth and stability
Why might the con team argue that helping small businesses is more important than helping the general economy?
small businesses innovate more, they are more susceptible, general benefits are negligible
What is the framework for either side of the debate (pro or con)?
pro: The American economy is sustained by reducing crime, receiving taxes, and the protection of workers and wages.
con: America’s economy is protected by ensuring national security, sustaining low unemployment, and protecting innovative small businesses.
What role do taxes play in sustaining the economy?
government support/protection, means more money flowing through the economy
How can citizenship be used as a weapon against our country?
fraud the system (avoid background checks, federal aid), terrorists get documents/passports
Pick one side and explain why its impact scenario is greater than the others:
* Pro - high probability, low magnitude, short/instant time frame
* Con - moderate probability, moderate magnitude, short/instant time frame
200 bonus points for whoever can refute the reasons just given
The con side says giving illegal immigrants access to citizenship is dangerous, pro says not having documentation for them is more dangerous. Pick one side and explain why it is more dangerous than the other.
200 bonus points to whoever can refute the reasons just given
You are con, respond to this CX question:
since documented immigrants pay taxes, wouldn't our nation benefit from giving them citizenship?
No, because the amount we gain in taxes is less than the amount they cost our nation in services.