Tyler is heading to the Minnesota Debate Teachers Association (MDTA) Jamboree today for his very first debate tournament and the official start of the debate season. I’m also going to be there judging rounds. It has been 35 years since I flowed a debate round!

The policy resolution selected for this season is:

Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.

Listening to the arguments around this topic had me remembering the resolutions I debated in high school. I couldn’t remember them exactly but did remember the themes well. I found this comprehensive list of High School Policy Debate Resolutions on a blog with a wonderful debate-inspired name “The 3NR”. Love that.

1987/1988
Resolved: That the United States government should adopt a policy to increase political stability in Latin America.

1988/1989
Resolved: That the federal government should implement a comprehensive program to guarantee retirement security for United States citizens over age 65.

1989/1990
Resolved: That the federal government should adopt a nationwide policy to decrease overcrowding in prisons and jails in the United States.

I remember the prison overcrowding one the best for sure. My partner Jeff and I were varsity debaters that year and took that resolution and stretched it very far in various arguments. I’m looking forward to seeing all of these debaters today making their cases around intellectual property.