Examples of progress throughout history?

[teen4truth]

I'm doing Lincoln Douglas value debate this year, and my value is progress, so I need either:

examples of when democracy was overvalued and progress was harmed,

or

examples of when democracy was valued and progress was made/upheld.

And if it helps, here is the resolution (we either debate in agreement with it as positive or against it as negative):

The United States government overvalues democracy.

You don't have to know the details of debate or give me detailed examples, I just need some ideas to research.

Please and thank you!

[Technomancer]

That's rather a set of loaded questions don't you think? One must be clear what one thinks 'progress' to be as well as what constitutes 'undervaluing' vs. 'overvaluing democracy'? One expects the specific examples of each to be pretty contentious as well.

For example, your central question:

The United States government overvalues democracy.

probably ought to be clarified more. Do you mean this in terms of how it carries out its foreign or domestic policies? Does one include American political culture as well? Are we to restrict this question to a specific administration, or across administrations irrespective of their differing practical and idealogical goals?

[Raiden no Kishi]

I'm doing Lincoln Douglas value debate this year, and my value is progress, so I need either:

examples of when democracy was overvalued and progress was harmed,

or

examples of when democracy was valued and progress was made/upheld.

And if it helps, here is the resolution (we either debate in agreement with it as positive or against it as negative):

The United States government overvalues democracy.

You don't have to know the details of debate or give me detailed examples, I just need some ideas to research.

Please and thank you!

Oho! Another NCFCA person, are we? Well, I just so happen to have had five years competing in the league, with three of them in LD value competition. This year, I'm too old to compete, so I'm an LD and speech coach. Some of my friends are debating this same resolution [including a dear friend who just so happens to be last year's LD champion.]

You'll need to start by defining democracy. After all, there are differing views concerning what democracy is. Is it majority rule? Free elections? A style of government like the U.S.'? That's where you need to start. Some advice: majority rule is probably not your best bet, especially if you're trying to support it. Pure majority rule is pretty flawed.

I would recommend this NCFCA forum , as there are many debaters working through these same issues who are discussing the resolution there. It is run with Christians in mind, so it is quite safe.

If you have any other questions about LD, do send me a PM.

.rai//

[teen4truth]

Thanks, guys!

I would specify more on the resolution, but that is all they give us lol...they leave the rest up to us. We're like supposed to define U.S. government, overvalues, and democracy.

I was really just wanting some general ideas of any kind of progress, and was going to go from there...I don't want to define too many things before I get my support together, because I don't want to have to narrow my research to only things that fit my definitions.

[Mithrandir]

Wow. I would have put money on not getting so great a response.

I *love* this place.

[teen4truth]

Whose response what? *confused*