How Bout' You Watch Your AFF (Split Up)

Todo
Topicality
PotentialAbuseThenegativeteamcantclaimpotentialabuse,makethemcome
uphereandtellyouhowweareabusiveinroundorhowwespecificallylimit
theirabilitiestodebateinround.MakethemPROVEwheretheabuselies.
Also,dontvoteonpotentialabusebecauseourdefinitiondoesntallowustoshift
outofanyoftheirpositions.Ourdefinitioncanstillprovidegooddebate.
ReasonabilityBecausetopicalityistheonlyargumentinthedebateroundthat
canimmediatelycastaballotagainsttheaffirmative,itcannotbetakenlightly.Do
NOTpullthetriggerontopicalityunlessyouarecompletelysurethatnopartof
theaffirmativeistopical.SolongasyouhaveANYreasontobelievethatweare
reasonablytopicalandprovideforgooddebate,thenyoushouldvoteaffirmative.
Goodisgoodenoughbecauselanguageisinherentlyambiguous,itis
impossibletoseekandfindthebestdefinition.Infact,thebestdefinition,ifthere
issuchathing,maynotexistinthisround.Therefore,theaffneedonlymeetthe
criterionofprovidinganacceptablecounterinterpretation.Ifthenegativedoesnot
provideagoodinterpretation,youmustrejectthatalso.
Clampitt2005(CommunicatingforManagerialEffect,SagePublishing,
PhDinCommunication,UniversityofWisconsinGreenBay)
Languageisinherentlyambiguous.Weexperiencetheambiguityinthewordsweuse,thesentencesweutter,andin
countlesscommunicationbreakdowns.Oneresearchersaysthatforthe500mostfrequentlyusedwordsinthe
Englishlanguage,thereareover14,000definitions....Communicatorswhofailto
understandtheprobabilisticnatureofinterpretationsmayencounterserious
difficulties.
A2Youhavetwoplans
Weareallowedtohaveourownenforcerofourplan,thatiswherecongressional
oversightcomesin.Weonlyhaveoneplan.
A2Surveillanceiswatchingofpeopleincriminalinvestigations
Theirinterpretationisbadfordebateforacoupleofreasons
1. Theirinterpretationmeansthatsurveillanceonlyhappenswhenyou
specificallyidentifyasuspect.Thatmeansthataccordingtotheir
definition,thesurveillanceyoudobeforeyoutargetaspecificsubjectis
notsurveillance.
2. Also,itmeansthatmetadatacollection,thebiggestaffonthetopic,wouldntbe
topicaleither
3. Ifwewantedtobetopicalaccordingtotheirdefinition,affirmativescouldonly
runacasethatrestrictedthetargetedsurveillanceofcriminalsonthelocallevel.
a. Theyoverlimitthetopic,withtheirdefinition,itessentiallygives
negativeteamsasilverbullettodefeatallaffirmativeplansbecausethe
scopeofthemwouldbesosmallthattherewebeverylittleaffirmatives
beingruniftheywantedtobetopicalundertheirdefinition.
4. Accordingtoourdefinition,weallowthedatacollectedbeforeandaftera
suspectisidentifiedtobeconsideredsurveillance,weprovidethebestplatform
toevaluatingtheresolutionathandsincewearemoreinclusive
a. Weincreaseeducationintheroundbecauseweprovideadefinitionthat
isinclusivetomanytypesofsurveillancecasesmeaningthatthereis
moretolearnaboutintermsofthenatureofmasssurveillance.
a.
A2USFG
WemeetWepassourplanthroughcongresswhichispartofthelegislativebranch
CounterInterpretationThefederalgovernmentisthecentralgovernmentofthe
UnitedStates.
ElizabethJewell,2001(Editor),OXFORDAMERICANDICTIONARY,01,620.
Federal:Of,relatingto,ordenotingthecentralgovernmentoftheUnitedStates.
CounterInterpretationUSFGalsoincludesagencies
BlacksLaw90BlacksLawDictionary,1990p.695"government"
IntheUnitedStates,governmentconsistsoftheexecutive,legislative,andjudicial
branchesinadditiontoadministrativeagencies.Inabroadersense,includesthefederal
governmentandallitsagenciesandbureaus,stateandcountygovernments,andcityandtownship
governments.
A2USFGmeansyouhavetouseallthreebrancesofgovernment
1. NegunderlimitsVirtuallynopoliciessimultaneouslyuseallthreebranches
atonce,thereareeffectsseenonall,butontheinitialpassageallthree
branchesarenotused.
2. Makethenegativeteamnamethreecasesthatuseallthreebranchesofthe
federalgovernmentatoncetoprovetheirdefinitionisreasonable,ifnot
defaultontheaffs
difficulties.
A2Should
WemeetOuractofcurtailingsurveillanceissensiblebecausewedontcurtailall
surveillance,justmass,westillallowfortargeted.
CounterInterpShouldindicatesdesirable
OxfordDictionaries132013
http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/should
Definitionofshouldverb(3rdsing.should)
1usedtoindicateobligation,duty,orcorrectness,typicallywhencriticizingsomeonesactions:he
shouldhavebeencarefulIthinkweshouldtrustourpeoplemoreyoushouldnthavegone
indicatingadesirableorexpectedstate:bynowstudentsshouldbeabletoreadwithalarge
degreeofindependence
usedtogiveoraskadviceorsuggestions:youshouldgobacktobedwhatshouldIwear?
(Ishould)usedtogiveadvice:IshouldholdoutifIwereyou
difficulties.
A2Substantially
WemeetWecurtailthegovernmentsabilitytomasssurveybyrepealinganumber
ofpoliciesthatthegovernmentcannolongerusetosurvey.
CounterInterpretationSubstantiallymeanstochangethefundamentalpurpose
ofthedomesticsurveillance,notjustattributesofit.
CollinsDictionary2015,
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/substantial
Adjective:ofaconsiderablesizeorvaluesubstantialfundsworthwhile;importanta
substantialreformhavingwealthorimportance(offoodorameal)sufficientand
nourishingsolidorstronginconstruction,quality,orcharacterasubstantialdoorreal;
actual;truetheevidenceissubstantialoforrelatingtothebasicorfundamental
substanceoraspectsofathing(philosophy)oforrelatingtosubstanceratherthanto
attributes,accidents,ormodifications
A2Substantially=percentage
1. Thenegativesdefinitionofsubstantiallyisbadfordebatebecause
a. Itishardtoquantifythecurtailingofoursurveillance,oranyaffirmatives
surveillance,basedonthefactthattherearedozensanddozensof
surveillanceprograms
b. Somearenotrevealedtothepublicsowecantincludethosein
quantification.
c. Virtuallynoaffirmativecasecouldberunbecausenoaffcasewouldhave
aneasytimeidentifyingtheexactamountofsurveillancetheycurtail.
2. MaketheNegteamnamethreecasesthathavetheabilitytodeterminetheirexact
percentageofcurtailmentofdomesticsurveillance
difficulties.
A2Curtail
WeMeetWeputrestrictsonthegovernmentsdomesticsurveillancebyrepealing
theuseofpoliciesorprogramsthatwerepreviouslyused.
CounterInterpretationCurtailmeanstoreduceorlimit
CollinsDictionary2015,http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/curtail
English:curtailIfyoucurtailsomething,youreduceorlimit
it.VERB:Thereareplansto
curtailthenumberoftroopsbeingsenttotheregion.
A2Curtail=Eliminate
1. Ifthenegativeteammeansinorderforustobetopical,wemusteliminateall
formsofdomesticsurveillancethenthatisunreasonablebecausevirtuallyno
affirmativeteamcouldwriteacasethatdoesthat
2. WemeetIftheymeaneliminateasinpolicyelimination,thenwemeet
becausewerepealXO12333,FISAA2008,ThePatriotAct,etc.
difficulties.
ReasonabilityBecausetopicalityistheonlyargumentinthedebateround
thatcanimmediatelycastaballotagainsttheaffirmative,itcannotbetaken
lightly.DoNOTpullthetriggerontopicalityunlessyouarecompletelysure
thatnopartoftheaffirmativeistopical.SolongasyouhaveANYreasonto
believethatwearereasonablytopicalandprovideforgooddebate,thenyou
shouldvoteaffirmative.
A2Its
WemeetwecurtailsurveillancethatspecificallytheUSFGmandates
CounterinterpItsmeansrelatingto
MeriamWebster13http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/its
DefinitionofITS
:oforrelatingtoitoritselfespeciallyaspossessor,agent,orobjectofanaction<going
toitskennel><achildproudofitsfirstdrawings><itsfinalenactmentintolaw>
ExamplesofITS
thedoginitskennel
Thelandscapeisbeautifulinitsownuniqueway.
Eachregionhasitsowncustoms.
Thecompanyishopingtoincreaseitssales.
difficulties.
A2Domestic
(becauseofbackdoors)
WemeetbackdoorsremovalisintheUS.TheNSAcanttellforeigncountriesto
decrypttheirnetworks,theyareonlyabletowithdomesticcompaniesinthestatusquo.
Bypassingplan,companiesintheUShavenobarriertoencrypttheirnetworks.
(becauseFISAA2008ismeanttocollectforeignpersonsinformation)
1)WemeetcrossapplySubpointBofInherency(Kaminski;2013)FISAcollectsUS
citizensinformation.
AlthoughFISAA(ForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceAmendmentsAct)wasoriginally
intendedtobeusedtocollectinformationonforeignpersons,theinformationthathas
beencollectedwiththeFISAAof2008regularly,althoughunconstitutionally,picksup
dataofUSpersonsaswell,whichmakesitadomesticissue.
Allofourimpactsarepredicatedoffofuscurtailingdomesticsurveillance,notforeign
surveillance,thereisnoprovenabuseintheround.Makethemcomeuphereandsay
howwelimittheirdebatingabilities.Wehaventhadanyargumentsthatforceyoutosay
thatforeignsurveillanceisgoodorbad,andevenifyoudidsaythatthenitdoesntlink
tocasebecausewedontactuallycurtailforeignsurveillance
DomesticsurveillanceisintelligencegatheringonUSpersons
Small8MATTHEWL.SMALL.UnitedStatesAirForceAcademy2008Center
fortheStudyofthePresidencyandCongress,PresidentialFellowsProgrampaper"His
EyesareWatchingYou:DomesticSurveillance,CivilLibertiesandExecutivePower
duringTimesofNationalCrisis"
http://cspc.nonprofitsoapbox.com/storage/documents/Fellows2008/Small.pdf
Beforeonecanmakeanysortofassessmentofdomesticsurveillancepolicies,itisfirstnecessaryto
narrowthescopeofthetermdomesticsurveillance.Domesticsurveillanceisasubsetof
intelligencegathering.Intelligence,asitistobeunderstoodinthiscontext,is
informationthatmeetsthestatedorunderstoodneedsofpolicymakersandhasbeen
collected,processedandnarrowedtomeetthoseneeds(Lowenthal2006,2).Inessence,
domesticsurveillanceisameanstoanend;theendbeingintelligence.The
intelligencecommunitybestunderstandsdomesticsurveillanceastheacquisitionof
nonpublicinformationconcerningUnitedStatespersons(ExecutiveOrder12333(3.4)(i)).
Withthisdefinitiondomesticsurveillanceremainsanoverlybroadconcept.Thispapersanalysis,in
termsofPresidentBushspolicies,focusesonelectronicsurveillance;specifically,wiretappingphone
linesandobtainingcallerinformationfromphonecompanies.SectionfoftheUSAPatriotActof2001
defineselectronicsurveillanceas:
[T]heacquisitionbyanelectronic,mechanical,orothersurveillancedeviceofthecontentsofanywire
orradiocommunicationsentbyorintendedtobereceivedbyaparticular,knownUnitedStatesperson
whoisintheUnitedStates,ifthecontentsareacquiredbyintentionallytargetingthatUnitedStates
person,undercircumstancesinwhichapersonhasareasonableexpectationofprivacyandawarrant
wouldberequiredforlawenforcementpurposes;
difficulties.
A2Distinctdifferencebetweenforeignanddomesticsurveillance
1. CROSSAPPLYSubpointBofourinherency(Kaminski13)theabilityfor
domesticandforeigncommunicationdistinctionsforsurveillanceisonly51%
correct.Linesareblurred
2. Theirdomesticvs.foreignintelligencedistinctionisflawedStatusquodata
collectionmakesthedistinctionmeaningless
3. Foreigndatacollectionisstillallowed,weonlycurtailsurveillancethat
directlyaffectsUScitizens
Banks2009,
(WilliamC.BanksisanAmericanLawProfessorandanexpertinconstitutionallaw,nationalsecuritylaw,andcounterterrorism
law.;ResponsestotheTenQuestions,35WM.MITCHELLL.REV.5007,5012,pp.LN,KEL)
Second,theAttorneyGeneralsubmitsclassifiedprocedurestotheFISCbywhichtheGovernmentwilldeterminethat
acquisitionsconductedundertheprogrammeettheprogramtargetingobjectivesandsatisfytraditionalFISAminimization
procedures.Afterajudgeapprovestheprogramfeatures,executivebranchofficialsauthorizethesurveillanceandissue
directivescompellingcommunicationscarrierstoassist.Althoughdetailsoftheimplementationofthe
programauthorizedbytheFAAarenotknown,abestguessistheGovernmentusesa
broadvacuumcleanerlikefirststageofcollection,focusingontransactionaldata ,where
wholesaleinterceptionoccursfollowingthedevelopmentandimplementationoffilteringcriteria.ThentheNSA
engagesin[*5015]amoreparticularizedcollectionofcontentafteranalyzingmineddata.
AlthoughtraditionalFISAordersarestillrequiredfor"intentionalacquisition"of
domesticcommunications,accidentalorincidentalacquisitionofU.S.personsinsidethe
UnitedStatessurelyoccurs,especiallyinlightofthedifficultyofascertainingatarget's
location.NordotheminimizationrulesrequiretheGovernmenttodiscard
communicationsofU.S.personsincidentallycollectedwhentheGovernmentis
targetingsomeoneabroad.NSAmaydecidetoretainanycommunicationsthat
constituteforeignintelligence,andthereisnoreviewoftheNSAdecisions.
A2XTTheyremovebackdoorsinternationally,notdomestic.
1. Backdoorsarentatangiblething;wedontcollectthesoftwarefromforeign
countries,bringitbacktotheUSandtakethemout.Backdoorsarejust
decryption,akacodingthatallowsforanagentnotfromthecompanyitselfto
accessinformationonthoseservers.
2. CROSSAPPLYKelly4/2/15fromAdvantage2in1AC,thatsayscurrent
companiesinthestatusquoaretryingtoencrypttheirstufftopreventtheNSA
fromhavingaccess,butcantbecausetheNSA,FBI,etcpreventthemfromdoing
sobyrequiringbackdoors.
3. WhatllhappenisbypassingSSRAandpreventingthegovernmentfrom
accessingprivatecompaniesformation,thecompanieswillhavenobarrierorno
onestoppingthemforencrypting(ormakingaccessharder)andwillbeabletodo
so,meaningthoseinternationalclientsinformationcanbeaccessedbyno3rdparty
(akaNSA)anymore.
XTGoodIncreasingcongressionalhearingsisnotcurtailingsurveillance.Yougotus,
ourbad,XTdoesntwarrantaballotagainsttheaffirmative.Weshouldntgetthedeath
penalt,letusseveretheuntopicalpartofplan.Theystillgettorunnewargumentsinthe
2ncand
Wetakeyourcomplaintandclaimsofabuseandrectifythemandtrytorectifypartsof
youstandards,wecantrestarttheround,butwecanstillsalvagepartofround.Ifthey
justkeepcallingusoutonhavinganuntopicalplan,thenitdemonstratesthattheir
argumentistowinasillygame,notthattheyactuallycareabouteducation
Allwedoisfiatpassisplan,congressthemselveswouldimposeoversight.Oversightand
hearingsareapartofnormalmeansofenforcementofplan.Iftheyweretovoteagainst
ourenforcementmechanism,thentheywouldhavetovoteagainsteverypartofplanthat
hasenforcement.Wearetalkingaboutcongressionaloversighttoenforceplan,itisnot
unpredictable,itiswithintheboundsoftheresolution.
A2Standards
Ground:WeincreasenegativegroundbyspecifyingtheactiontheFederal
Governmenthas.Thenegativehasmanyoptionstoattackthepolicieswe
remove,theactorweuse,theeffectsourplanhasonlawenforcementetc.
Thenegativechoosesnottoattackallofthesefacetsofourplans,butwe
shouldnotbepenalizedfortheNegativeteamsstrategicdecision.Litis
easilyaccessibletoourcaseandwerunacasethatremovesmultiplewell
knownpoliciesthatiseasilypredictablebytheaffirmative.
EducationWeincreasetheeducationinthisroundbecauseweallowfor
thedebateontheremovalofmanypoliciesthathavebeeninthepublics
eyelately.Weprovideaplatforminwhichatleastfourpeopleintheround
(fiveifthejudge)canlearnabouttheactionwetake
LimitsWespecifyaction,yetprovidebroadenoughactiontodebate.There
isanabundantamountofgoodliteraturethatsupporttheactsthatweplan
onrepealing.Wepresentacasethatisnotobscure,onethatiswidely
recognizedasoneofthemajortopicsthathavebeenapartofthesurveillance
debate,realworlddebatesincluded.TheAFFprovidesthebestplatformto
evaluatelimits.
PotentialAbuseThenegativeteamcantclaimpotentialabuse,makethem
comeuphereandtellyouhowweareabusiveinroundorhowwe
specificallylimittheirabilitiestodebateinround.MakethemPROVE
wheretheabuselies.
MorecardsforT
Domesticsurveillance.
Wemeetwearedomesticsurveillance.Theplancurtailsdomesticsurveillance
itsthebiggestaffonthetopic.Herescontextualevidence.
RT15RTUSAaRussianEnglishlanguagenewspublication,2015(BipartisanbillwouldrepealPatriotAct,cutdown
Americansurveillance,March25th,AvailableOnlineathttp://rt.com/usa/243745billrepealpatriotactsurveillance/,Accessed06
202015)

ThebipartisanSurveillanceStateRepealAct,ifpassed,wouldrepealdragnetsurveillanceofAmericans
personal communications ,overhaulthe
federaldomesticsurveillance program,and provide
protectionsfor
whistleblowers.HouselawmakersMarkPocan(DWis.)andThomasMassie(RKy.)arecosponsoringbillH.R.1466,
whichwasintroducedonTuesdayandwouldrepealthe2001PatriotAct,limitpowersoftheFISAAmendmentsAct,andprohibitretaliationagainst
federalnationalsecuritywhistleblowers,accordingtoTheHill.ThePatriotActcontainsmanyprovisionsthatviolate
theFourthAmendmentandhaveledtoadramaticexpansionofour domesticsurveillancestate ,
saidRep.Massieinastatement."OurFoundingFathersfoughtanddiedtostopthekindofwarrantlessspyingandsearchesthatthePatriotActand
theFISAAmendmentsActauthorize.ItislongpasttimetorepealthePatriotActandreasserttheconstitutionalrightsofallAmericans.Specifically,
thebillwouldrevokeallthe
powersofthePatriotAct
,
andinstructtheD
irectorof
N
ational
Intelligenceand
the
A ttorney
G
eneral
todestroyanyinformationcollectedundertheFISA
AmendmentsActconcerninganyUSperson notunderinvestigation.ItwouldrepealprovisionsoftheFISA
AmendmentsActtoensuresurveillanceofemaildataonlyoccurswithavalidwarrantbasedonprobablecause.Thebillwouldalsoprohibitthe
governmentfrommandatingthatmanufacturersbuildmechanismsallowingthegovernmenttobypassencryptioninordertoconductsurveillance.
Additionally,thebillwouldprotectafederalwhistleblowerseffortstoexposemismanagement,waste,fraud,abuse,orcriminalbehavior.Itwouldalso
makeretaliationagainstanyoneinterferingwiththoseeffortssuchasthreateningthemwithpunishmentorterminationillegal.Really,whatweneed
arenewwhistleblowerprotectionssothatthenextEdwardSnowdendoesnthavetogotoRussiaorHongKongorwhateverthecasemaybejustfor
disclosingthis,Massiesaid.TherehavebeenpreviousattemptstolimitdragnetsurveillanceunderthePatriotActsinceformerNationalSecurity
AgencyanalystEdwardSnowdenleakedinformationregardingtheprogramsin2013,buttheSenatebillintroducedin2013neverreachedthefloorfora
vote.Thewarrantlesscollectionofmillionsof frominnocent
personalcommunications

Americans isadirectviolationofourconstitutionalrightto
privacy,saidRep.Pocaninastatement.
RevelationsabouttheNSAsprograms
revealtheextraordinaryextenttowhichtheprogramhas
invadedAmericansprivacy .Irejectthenotionthatwemustsacrificelibertyforsecuritywecanliveinasecurenationwhichalso
upholdsastrongcommitmenttocivilliberties.Thislegislationendsthe
NSAsdragnetsurveillance
practices,

whileputtingprovisionsinplacetoprotecttheprivacyofAmericancitizens throughrealand
lastingchange.
A2DeathK
CrossXofthe1NC
Thetagofyourlandevidencesaysweshouldembracedeath.Why?
Whatifwedontwantto?
Doyoubelieveinhappiness?
Evenifhappinessisanillusion,whatistheharminbelievingthatitisreal?
DoyouactuallybelieveinthealternativeoftheKritikandtheethicyoupresent?
Areyourassumptionsbasedonthefactthatyoubelievenuclearwarwillnotcauseany
suffering;akatherewillbeNOsurvivorsimmediatelyafterthebomb(noradiation
poisoningetc)?
Underthelogicofdeathgood,wasntHitlerhelpingthepeoplebykillingthemto
endsuffering?
2AC
WebeginwithapoembyDylanThomas
(http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/donotgogentlegoodnight)
Donotgogentleintothatgoodnight,
Oldageshouldburnandraveatcloseofday;
Rage,rageagainstthedyingofthelight.
Thoughwisemenattheirendknowdarkisright,
Becausetheirwordshadforkednolightningthey
Donotgogentleintothatgoodnight.
Goodmen,thelastwaveby,cryinghowbright
Theirfraildeedsmighthavedancedinagreenbay,
Wildmenwhocaughtandsangthesuninflight,
Andlearn,toolate,theygrieveditonitsway,
Gravemen,neardeath,whoseewithblindingsight
Blindeyescouldblazelikemeteorsandbegay,
Andyou,myfather,thereonthesadheight,
Curse,bless,menowwithyourfiercetears,Ipray.
The1nctellsusthatdeathisinevitable.ThatsjustaboutthemostunnecessaryFYI
Iveeverheard.Welearnedthatwhenwewere,what,threeyearsold,andwere
remindedofiteveryday.The1ncasksusnottosecureourselvesagainstdeath.
Toembraceit.Wewilldoneither.Wewillrageandfightagainsttoothandnail,
knowingfullwellthatwellfail.Thisbattleisrootedinandreaffirmsourloveof
lifeandtosurrendermakeslifemeaninglessandthe1acsimpactsinevitable.Avote
foraffisavoteforlife.
Willhoite1961(FredJr.ProfessorofPoliticalScienceatLSU,AlbertCamusPolitics
ofRebellion,TheWesternPoliticalQuarterly14,2,jstor)
ButCamus'beliefthatlifeisabsurddidnotimply
forhimweary
resignationtothewhimsofaninscrutable
fate.
For
afinalsignificantmotifplainlyexpressedinNocesisman'srebellionagainstwhateveroppresses
hismindandbody in
particulartheultimateoppressor,death.Thefirstclearexpressionofthisthemein
Camus'workresultedfromanintenselypersonalexperienceundergonebytheyoungwriterwhen,faced
withtheimminentpossibilityofhisowndeathfromtuberculosis,hetraveledthroughItalyattemptingto
recoverfromthedreaddisease.InFlorencehestrolledthroughthegraveyardoftheSantissimaAnnunziata
observingthat,fromthetenoroftheepitaphs,itappearedthatallthoseburiedtherehadwillinglyaccepted
death.Suddenlyheexperiencedamomentoffiercerebellionagainstsuchplacidresignation:Everything
withinmeprotestedagainstthiskindofresignation."Onemust,"saidtheinscriptions.
ButIsaidno,and
myrevoltwastrue.Thatjoywhichgoesabouttheearth,indifferentandabsorbedinitselflikeapilgrimI
hadtofollowitstepbystep.Andasfortherest
,Isaidno
.
Isaidnowithallmystrength.
Theseslabstaught
methatthiswasfutile....
But
today
Istilldonotseewhatfutilitytakesawayfrommyrebellion,andI
feelkeenlywhatistherebyaddedtoit.3InthismomentofinstinctiverebellionCamusdiscovered
thathislovefortheearth,forlifeinitsmingledjoyandhopelessness,wassopowerfulthathecould
notresignhimselftothedeathwhichhisluciditywouldnotpermithimtooverlook.Themovementof
rebellionsurgedup withinhim,andhediscoveredthatalltheforcesoftheworldwhichaimatthe
obliterationofhuman
lifemustberesisted.Hisexperientialsequence:lifeisverygoodthoughmortaland
thereforeabsurd;yetwhenthejoyoflivingoverwhelmsus,
werebelagainstdeathandalldeathbringers;
becauseour revoltisinthenameoflife,itleadsustoakeenerawarenessofthepoignanthappinessthat
canbeoursifweaffirmourallegiancetotheearth.Thisdistinctivelyindividualexperienceofrebellion,
laterconceptualizedbyCamusinhisattempttodelineateitsnatureandsignificance,becameinhiswritings
theexistentialstandardbywhichpoliticalideasandempiricalpolitiesaretobeevaluated.Whateverof
valuewemaydiscoverinCamus'conceptionofpoliticsspringsultimatelyfromhisownintenselypersonal
reactiontohumanmortality.ButCamuscouldnotspeakmeaningfullytothelifeofmaninsocietyuntilhe
hadpassedbeyondhisownimmediateexperienceofandreactiontotheworldtoarriveatserious
considerationofthecorporatedimensionofman'slife.Althoughhisearlyworkscontainintimationsof
suchaconcern,onthewholeitseemstruethatthechaoticcircumstancesofthewaryearsprovidedthe
matrixforandastimulustoCamus'developmentbeyondthedelineationofpersonalexperiencetowardthe
constructionofapositivemoralityfortheindividualandhumanepoliticalprinciplesforsociety.Camus'
experientialapproachtotheformulationofpersonalideasandconvictionsleadstotheconclusionthathis
activeparticipationintheResistance(aseditoroftheclandestinenewspaperCombat)mustcertainlyhave
affectedhispointofview.Aprofoundsenseofhumansolidarityinthestruggleagainsteviland
oppression,avisceralcontemptfortotalitarianismanditstreatmentofpersons,anupsurgingfaithinthe
potentialitiesofhumanfeelingandintelligencetheseweresomeofCamus'attitudesthatwereeitherborn
orreachedmaturityduringthedifficultyearsoftheOccupation.Themostmovingandeffectiveexpression
ofCamus'newlyarticulatedpoliticalhumanismishisgreatnovel,LaPeste(publishedin1947),whichtells
oftheravagesofabubonicplagueepidemicinanAlgeriancityandofthereactionstothiscrisisofvarious
groupsandindividuals.Camusindicatesonthetitlepagethatthisbookisallegorical,butitcontains
severallevelsofmeaning.Inthefirstplaceitisanallegoryoncontemporaryevents,suchastheGerman
Occupationandthetotalitarianworldofconcentrationcamps,terror,andwhollydepersonalized
bureaucracy.Butevenmoresignificantly,thecharactersandeventsof
La
Peste
giveevidenceofthe
developmentandenrichmentofCamus'conceptionofthehumancondition.Inparticular,thenecessityand
efficacyofactioninthesocialsphereareaffirmed,intheguiseofapatientanddeterminedemergencyc
publichealthteamledbyastoicalyoungdoctor.Rebellionagainsttheplaguedeath,suffering,and
injusticeispresentedasthepathwaytogenuinehumanity.Themoralsolipsismoftheabsurdmanis
somehowbrokenintobyafeelingthathispersonalrevoltisgroundedinanexperiencecommontohis
fellows.Happinessremainsofcentralvalue,
but
inthesensethat
furtheringthehappinessofothers
becomesadutyfortherebel.Camusattemptedelsewheretoreasonoutthemotivationsfortheplague
fighters'andhisownservicetohumanity,buttheseintellectualeffortswerenotinthemselvesvery
persuasive.ThewaythatCamusfelttowardhisfellowmenwasinfinitelymoreimportanttohimthanthe
wayhethoughtaboutthem.Togivehopetothehumiliatedandthedebasedwashisaim,but"Notthrough
virtuebutthroughasortofalmostorganicintolerance,whichyoufeelordonotfeel.Indeed,Iseemany
whofailtofeelit,butIcannotenvytheirsleep."InCamus'compellingpersonalvisionofthehuman
conditionthustraversesadifficultroutefromitsstartingpointoflife'sabsurditytoaradicallyearthbound
andtoughmindedhumanism,inwhichinstinctiverebellionagainstsuffering,oppression,anddeathleads
toinvolvementintheproblemsofhumansociety.FromthisstandpointCamusinterpretsmodern
totalitarianismasthetragicallycorruptedoffspringoftherebellionofmenagainsttheirconditionrebellion
whichisitselfessentialfortherealizationoftruehumandignity.Theexperienceofrebellionholdsthe
centerofthestageinCamus'reflectionsonpoliticallifeandthought,
asheseekstoshowhowithasgone
awryinmoderntimesandcallsforrenewedfidelitytotrue
rebellionastheonlyhopeforajustandhumane
socialorder.
Byadoptingthealternativeyouarecommittingaformofphilosophicalsuicide
takingtheinevitabilityofdeathandusingitasareasontodrowntheselfoutof
existencewhichisseenastheperpetratorofsuffering.Wecantescapeourfate,but
werefusetobepassivewhileithappenswhichisfarworsethanlivingwith
suffering.The1acsattempttostopextinctionisfarabetteroptionthenegatives
allowanceofit
Solomon1993(Robert,ProfessorofPhilosophyatUTAustin,NoExcuses:ExistentialismandTheMeaningofLife,The
PlagueandTheFall)
Butthequestion,howwefacedeath,ofcourseisanancientquestion,onethattheGreekswereobsessed
with;onethatwemodernsgenerallytendtoignoreordeny.Ofcourse,weallknowthatweregoingto
die,andthisisamajortheminexistentialism.
Butacceptingthefactthatyouregoingtodie,
andwhatthat

means,acceptingyourmortality,thatsaverydifferentmatter. Andwhenwefacedeathtogether,asin
theplaguesituation,thatsaveryrealquestionofwhoweareandwhatwethinkofourselves.What
shouldwedoabouttheabsurd?Well,theresapicturehere,ananswerhere,whichwedontgetinthe
earlierworkswetalkedabout,andthatisweneedtofaceittogether.Theresaverystrongsensibilityin
Camus,eventhoughitdoesntcomeoutinearliernovelsandwritings,anotionofsolidarity,anotionof
howwereallinthistogether
.Andalthoughitdoesntcomeoutasamajorthemeotherworks,inthe
Plagueitmakesitquiteclear.Thatifweretounderstandtheabsurd,ifweretodealwiththeabsurdina
straightforwardandhonestway,oneofthethings
wehavetorecognizeisthatitis
theabsurdthatfaces
allofus.InalateressaycalledTheRebel,CamuswritesthatIrebel,thereforeweexist.Itisthat
senseofsolidaritythathedefendshere,anditisthatsensethatDr.Rieux,inparticular,bestillustrates.
Evilistypicallyfaceless,evenwhenithasaconcreteface,suchassay,Hitler.Theresasenseinwhich
evilisinevitable,catastropheisgoingtostrikeallofus.Weareallgoingtodie,and,intheend,
perhapshumanityisfinishedaswell.Butthequestionis
howdoweunderstandthis?
Dowe
understandthiswith
akindof
despair?
Doweunderstandthissimply
withcynicismanddismissal?

Dowejustdenyit?Orratherdoweliveonthebasisofit?
CamushasaconceptintheMythofSisyphuswhichappliesverywellhere.Hecallsitphilosophical
suicide.Philosophicalsuicideistheattempttodenytheabsurdorescapefromit.Itcanbedoneina
numberofways.FatherPaneloux,orthechaplaininTheStranger,illustratesoneofthem.Theappealto
God,theappealtoanafterlife,theappealtoaworldbeyondthisone,isawayofdenying,ofdiminishing
theevilsthathappentoushere.Andifnotsayingthattheyarentreal,forexamplesayingdeathisnotreal
becausetheresanotherlifeafterit,itneverthelesskindofshrinkstheminsignificance.Thislife,withall
itssufferings,isinsignificantcomparedwiththelifeofblissthatcomesafterit.ForCamus,thats
philosophicalsuicide.It
is
nottakingthislifeseriouslyitisnotlivingthislife,andallofitsmoments,tothe
fullest.
Thereareotherformsofphilosophicalsuicide.Forexample,ImentionedthatCamushasserious
disagreementswithsomeofhisMarxistandCommunistcolleagues.Oneofthemistheattempttodefend
presentcruelties,orevenmassacres,suchastheGulagunderStalin,bytheappealtoafuturesociety,a
utopiansociety.Weshouldremindourselvesthewordutopiameansbasicallynowhere.Theideaisthatto
thinkofyourlifenow,andyourbehaviorsnowsimplyintermsofsomeabstractfutureisaformof
philosophicalsuicide.WhatThePlague
isaboutisaboutfacingourcollectivefatetogetherandquite
honestlycomingtotherecognitionthatevenifwecantchangethatfate,wecantjustsitbyandletit
happen.NorshouldwebeascorruptasthecharacterCottardturnsouttobe,andsimplybeacynicandsay
Iminitforme,andtheothersdontmatter.
Ourfightagainstdeathdoesntdenytherealityofdeathorsufferingbutis
groundedinthatveryreality,.Deathcanonlybeembracedbythoseprivileged
enoughtohaveneverexperiencedit.Thosewhohavewitnessedsufferingknowthat
theonlyoptionistorebelandtoendalllifeisjustappeasementofsuffering.
Camus1947(Albert,ThePlague)note:TarrouisarichmanandRieuxisthedoctor
leadingthefightagainsttheplague.
Tarrousquaredhisshouldersagainstthebackofthechair,thenmovedhisheadforwardintothelight.
"DoyoubelieveinGod,doctor?"
Againthequestionwasputinanordinarytone.ButthistimeRieuxtooklongertofindhisanswer.
"No,butwhatdoesthatreallymean?I'mfumblinginthedark,strugglingtomakesomethingout.ButI'velongceased
findingthatoriginal."
"Isn'tthatit,thegulfbetweenPanelouxandyou?"
"Idoubtit.Panelouxisamanoflearning,ascholar.Hehasn'tcomeincontactwithdeath;that's
whyhecanspeakwithsuchassuranceofthetruth,withacapitalT.Buteverycountrypriestwho
visitshisparishionersandhasheardamangaspingforbreathonhisdeathbedthinksasIdo.He'd
trytorelievehumansufferingbeforetryingtopointoutitsexcellence."Rieuxstoodup;hisface
wasnowinshadow."Let'sdropthesubject,"hesaid,"asyouwon'tanswer."
Tarrouremainedseatedinhischair;hewassmilingagain.
"SupposeIanswerwithaquestion."
Thedoctornowsmiled,too.
"Youlikebeingmysterious,don'tyou?Yes,fireaway."
"Myquestion'sthis,"saidTarrou."Whydoyouyourselfshowsuchdevotion,consideringyou
don'tbelieveinGod?Isuspectyouranswermayhelpmetomine."
Hisfacestillinshadow,Rieuxsaidthathe'dalreadyanswered:thatifhebelievedinanallpowerfulGodhewould
ceasecuringthesickandleavethattoHim.ButnooneintheworldbelievedinaGodofthatsort;no,noteven
Paneloux,whobelievedthathebelievedinsuchaGod.Andthiswasprovedbythefactthatnooneeverthrewhimself
onProvidencecompletely.Anyhow,inthisrespectRieuxbelievedhimselftobeontherightroad,in
fightingagainstcreationashefoundit.
"Ah,"Tarrouremarked."Sothat'stheideayouhaveofyourprofession?"
"Moreorless."Thedoctorcamebackintothelight.
Tarroumadeafaintwhistlingnoisewithhislips,andthedoctorgazedathim.

"Yes,you'rethinkingitcallsforpridetofeelthatway.ButIassureyouI'venomorethanthe
pridethat'sneededtokeepmegoing.Ihavenoideawhat'sawaitingme
,
orwhatwillhappen
whenallthisends.ForthemomentIknowthis;therearesickpeopleandtheyneedcuring.Later
on,perhaps,they'llthinkthingsover;andsoshallI.Butwhat'swantednowistomakethemwell.
IdefendthemasbestIcan,that'sall."
"Againstwhom?"
Rieuxturnedtothewindow.Ashadowlineonthehorizontoldofthepresenceofthesea.Hewasconsciousonlyofhis
exhaustion,andatthesametimewasstrugglingagainstasudden,irrationalimpulsetounburdenhimselfalittlemore
tohiscompanion;aneccentric,perhaps,butwho,heguessed,wasoneofhisownkind.
"Ihaven'tanotion,Tarrou;IassureyouIhaven'tanotion.WhenIenteredthisprofession,Ididit
'abstractedly,'sotospeak;becauseIhadadesireforit,becauseitmeantacareerlikeanother,one
thatyoungmenoftenaspireto.Perhaps,too,becauseitwasparticularlydifficultforaworkman's
son,likemyself.AndthenIhadtoseepeopledie
.Doyouknowthattherearesomewhorefuseto
die?Haveyoueverheardawomanscream'Never!'withherlastgasp?Well,
Ihave.
AndthenI
sawthatIcouldnevergethardenedtoit.Iwasyoungthen,andIwasoutragedbythewhole
schemeofthings,orsoIthought.SubsequentlyIgrewmoremodest.Only
,I'venevermanagedto
getusedtoseeingpeopledie.That'sallIknow.Yetafterall?"
Rieuxfellsilentandsatdown.Hefelthismouthdry.
"Afterall??"Tarroupromptedsoftly.
"Afterall,"thedoctorrepeated,thenhesitatedagain,fixinghiseyesonTarrou,"it'ssomething
thatamanofyoursortcanunderstandmostlikely,but,sincetheorderoftheworldisshapedby
death,mightn'titbebetterforGodifwerefusetobelieveinHimandstrugglewithallourmight
againstdeath,withoutraisingoureyestowardtheheavenwhereHesitsinsilence."
Tarrounodded.
"Yes.Butyourvictorieswillneverbelasting;that'sall."
Rieux'sfacedarkened.
"Yes,Iknowthat.
Butit'snoreasonforgivingupthestruggle."

"Noreason,Iagree.Only,Inowcanpicturewhatthisplaguemustmeanforyou."
"Yes.Aneverendingdefeat."

Tarroustaredatthedoctorforamoment,thenturnedandtrampedheavilytowardthedoor.Rieux
followedhimandwasalmostathissidewhenTarrou,whowasstaringatthefloor,suddenly
said:
"Whotaughtyouallthis,doctor?"
Thereplycamepromptly:
"Suffering."X
Intheend,wemaynotbeabletoanswereveryphilosophicalquestion.Wedont
knowthemeaningofsufferingorthemeaningoflife.Butwedoknowthatwehave
hope.Andthatsmorethantheycansay.
Camus1947(Albert,ThePlague)
ForthefirsttimeRieuxfoundthathecouldgiveanametothefamilylikenessthatfor
severalmonthshehaddetectedinthefacesinthestreets.Hehadonlytolookaroundhim
now.Attheendoftheplague,withitsmiseryandprivations,
thesemenandwomenhad
cometoweartheaspectoftheparttheyhadbeenplayingforsolong,thepartof
emigrantswhosefacesfirst,andnowtheirclothes,toldoflongbanishmentfromadistant
homeland.Onceplaguehadshutthegatesofthetown,theyhadsettleddowntoalifeof
separation,debarredfromthelivingwarmththatgivesforgetfulnessofall.Indifferent
degrees,ineverypartofthetown,menandwomenhadbeenyearningforareunion,not
ofthesamekindforall,butforallalikeruledout.Mostofthemhadlongedintenselyfor
anabsentone,forthewarmthofabody,forlove,ormerelyforalifethathabithad
endeared.Some,oftenwithoutknowingit,sufferedfrombeingdeprivedofthecompany
offriendsandfromtheirinabilitytogetintouchwiththemthroughtheusualchannelsof
friendship,letters,trains,andboats.Others,fewerthese,Tarroumayhavebeenoneof
them,haddesiredreunionwithsomethingtheycouldn'thavedefined,butwhichseemed
tothemtheonlydesirablethingonearth.Forwantofabettername,theysometimes
calleditpeace.
Rieuxwalkedon.Asheprogressed,thecrowdsgrewthicker,thedinmultiplied,andhe
hadafeelingthathisdestinationwasrecedingasheadvanced.Graduallyhefound
himselfdrawnintotheseething,clamorousmassandunderstandingmoreandmorethe
crythatwentupfromit,acrythat,forsomepartatleast,washis.Yes,

theyhad
sufferedtogether, inbodynolessthaninsoul
,fromacruelleisure,exilewithout
redress,thirstthatwasneverslaked.Amongtheheapsofcorpses,theclangingbellsof
ambulances,thewarningsofwhatgoesbythenameoffate,amongunremittingwavesof
fearandagonizedrevolt,thehorrorthatsuchthingscouldbe,alwaysagreatvoice
had
beenringingintheearsoftheseforlorn,panickedpeople,avoicecallingthembackto
thelandoftheirdesire,ahomeland.Itlayoutsidethewallsofthestifled,strangledtown,
inthefragrantbrushwoodofthehills,inthewavesofthesea,underfreeskies,andinthe
custodyoflove.
Anditwastothis,theirlosthome,

towardhappiness ,theylongedto
return,turningtheirbacksdisgustedlyonallelse.
Astowhatthatexileandthatlongingforreunionmeant,Rieuxhadnoidea.Butashe
walkedahead,jostledonallsides,accostednowandthen,andgraduallymadehisway
intolesscrowdedstreets,
hewasthinkingithasnoimportancewhethersuchthingshave
orhavenotameaning;allweneedconsideristheanswergiventomen'shope.
2ACNUCLEARWAR=SUFFERING
Nuclearwarmakestheworstformsofsufferinginevitablecomparativelyworse
thananyeventinhistory
Child,86(JamesW.,professorofphilosophy,BowlingGreenStateUniversity,NuclearWar:The
MoralDimension,TransactionPublishers,pg.3339,Tashma)
Arenuclearwaranditsconsequencesmorallymeasurable?Orisittrulyaninfiniteevil,
"unbounded"asMcNamaraandBethesay?Theanswerhasprofoundconsequences
formoralanalysis.Toassessthemoralcostofnuclearwarwemustbeginby
conceivingofit.Canwe?Foralongtimewetoldourselvesthatwecouldnot.And
ifitwouldimposetrulyinfinitehumancosts,itislittlewonder.Wecalledit"the
unthinkable"andworksoffictionskirteditsboundaries.NevilShute,inOnthe
Beach}wroteaboutconsequencesoccurringwellafteranuclearwar,exclusivelyfrom
radiationeffectsandonlyintheSouthernHemisphere.Eventhatwasfrightening
enough.TerrySoutherntookusrighttotheedgeinthefilm,Dr.Strangelove,then
leftustotrytoconceiveitforourselves.Notsoanylonger!Numerousworksof
nonfictionhavebeenwrittenabouttheeffectsofnuclearwar,fromtheOfficeof
TechnologyAssessmentssoberTheEffects0fNuclearWartoJonathanSchell's
ratherfranticTheFateoftheEarth}Severalattemptshavebeenmadetoassessthe
medicalconsequences,includingLastAidandTheFinalEpidemic?Atlonglast,
popularfictionanddramahavebeguntograppledirectlywithnuclearwar,rather
thantodancearounditsedge.ExamplesincludeGeneralSirJohnHackettsThe
ThirdWorldWar,thenovelWarday,andthefilmsTheDayAfter,Testament,
andThreads.Thoughthedefinitivefictionalaccountofanunlimitednuclearwar
hasyettobepublished,wecanbegin,throughthesefictionalaccounts,toseethe
outlinesofwhatitmightbelike.Thetruthisthatnuclearwarisquiteconceivable,
althoughdoingsotakeshardworkandisprofoundlydisturbing.A.TheNotionof
MoralCommensumbi/ilyCantheeffectsofnuclearwarberelatedtoourhistoryin
ameaningfulway?Cantheybecomparedtopastcatastrophes?lftheanswertothe
twopreviousqustionsisyes,thenmoralanalysisandevaluationcanatleastbegin.
Furthermore,wecanemploythecategoriesandconceptsofpreviousmoralthought
abouthumanconflictand,inparticular,justwartheory.lf,however,nuclearwaris
fundamentallydifferent,geniuneiynewunderthesun,thennewcategoriesanda
newconceptualframeworkmightwellberequired.Whichisit?Theantinuclear
movementhasansweredwithoutmuchinquirythatnuclearwarissuigeneris,andthat
isahandyanswer.Butisittherightone?Asweshallsee,thatisacomplex
question.Whatkindsofnuclearwarsarewereferringtoandwhataretheir
consequences?llowmuchhumandeath,suffering,andprivationdoes,ormight,
agivenkindofnuclearwarproduce?lsitcommensurablewiththehuman
experienceofotherwarsortheBlackPlague,forexample?Canitbemeasuredon
thesamescaleofhumancost?Awordaboutthenotionofmoralmeasurement.We
workherewithaconceptfamiliartoeconomists,gametheorists,andbusiness
planners.Itisknownas"utility."Utilityisjustsomegoodorvalue.Itmaybe
pleasure,happiness,selfexpressionandselfdevelopment,oroneofseveralother
things,dependinguponthemoraltheoryofvalueoneholds.Theimportantthingis
thatitisabstractand,bydefinition,quantifiableand,therefore,measurable}
Sinceweareworkingwithbadthingshere,likewarsandthebombingofcities,we
willspeakmoreofnegativeutility.Itisinterestingthatphilosophersandmoralists
moreoftenagreeaboutnegativeutilitythanaboutpositive.Itseemsobviousto
mostofusthathumanpain,suffering,deprivation,anddeatharebad(havenegative
utility).Iwillrefertothisnegativeutilityas"humancost."Somewouldsaythat
therearebadthingsotherthanthosewhichcanbemeasuredintermsofhuman
cost,suchasblasphemingGodormakinganimalspecieswhichhavenoutilityto
manextinct.Others,likeme,wouldsaythatviolatingtherightsofpeople,or
failingtocarryoutdutiesowedtothem,isalsobad,nevermindthatnohumancost
mayresult.Butwhetheritistheonlybadthingornot,nearlyuniversalagreement
existsthathumancostisverybad,indeed.Notealsothatwhileweoftencannot
measureinstancesofhumancostdirectly,wecertainlycan(andoftendo)rank
theminorderofseverity.Arupturedappendixisworsethanahangnail.Achild
beinghungryisworsethanachildbeingdeprivedoftelevision,andthehungerof
tenchildrenisworsethanthatofone.Onethousandhumandeathsareworsethan
ten,and(togotoafarmoredifficultmoralclaim)weintuitivelyfeelthatthedeath
ofaninnocentpersonisworsethanthedeathofapersonwhosomehow"deserves
it":aterroristwhoiskilledinhisownefforttokillmanyotherinnocentpeople,for
example.Asweapproachtheconsequencesofnuclearwarandattempttogeta
conceptualgripuponacatastropheofsuchlargehumanproportions,wemust
knockdownoneverylargebogymanraisedbytheantinucleardefensemovement.
ThephilosopherMichaelDummettsays:Thosewhodevisenuclearstrategiesandtalkof
megadeathsarealreadyinsane.*IndescribingthenumericalproportionsofaU.S.
attackontheSovietUnion,HelenCaldicotttellsus,"Thesenumbersareobscene,""
andbyimplicationshecalls"obscene"anyonewhoanalyzesnuclearwarbyusing
suchnumbers.Theactress,ColeenDewhurst,atameetingoftheCambridge
Union,hassaidthatdefenseplannerswhothinkaboutnuclearwarare"pureevil."
Itisnotevil,norobscene,norinsanetothinkandtalkabouttheconsequencesofnuclearwar.
Tobetoldthatitiscanonlybeunderstoodasnamecallingandbullying.The
readershouldnotethatthosewhousesuchabusiveadhominemargumentsalmost
alwaysgoontodiscussnuclearwaranditseffects.Theydonotdeemthemselves
tobeinsane,obscene,orevil,onlythosewhomightusesuchnumberstodisagree
withthem.Totalkaboutquantitiesofhumancostdeath,pain,andsuffering
andtoreasonaboutthem,doesnotnecessitateacallousorindifferentattitude
towardthatsufferinganddeath.Nordoesitindicateapprovaloftheactionswhich
causeit,whatevertheymaybe.Wemaytalkoftensofthousandsofdeathsin
conventionalbombingraidsinWorldWarllormillionsofdeathsinanuclear
war[l`hehorrorfeltatthedeaths,oftenpainful,ofmanyofourfellowhumans
oughtnevertoleaveus.Formyself,atleast,itneverdoes.Wemustnotbecome
inuredtothehorrorbyusingnumbers,butneithershouldweletitparalyzeour
thinkingprocess.Wearenotlesshumaneorhumanforpushingbeyondthehorror
wefeeltousewhattoolsofreasonwehave,tothinkandtoanalyze.Wemust,after
all,decidewhatweshalldo,forgreatdecisionsaboutnuclearwarandpeace
remaintobemade.Timeandeventsdictatethatthesedecisionswillbemade.But
itisourchoicewhethertheyaremadethoughtfullyandcarefullyorbydefault.
Unexaminedhorrorandreactivcrevulsionalonewillmakeforverypoordecisions,
andperhapsdangerousones.Nowforthecommensurabilityofwars.Warsaregreat
producersofallsortsofhumancostand,thus,ofmassiveamountsofclisutility.
Wecancomparethosedisutilitiesandmeasurethem(atleastranktheminorderof
theirseverity,ifnotonanexactmetricscale).Wars(oranyothereventsproductive
ofhumancost)arecommensurable{flheycanbemeasured0nthesamescale.That
isallthatisatissuehere!Comrnensurabledoesnotmean"noworsethan."I
shallarguethattheconsequencesofanypracticallypossiblenuclearwarareindeed
comrnensurablewithpasthumancatastrophes.Thisclaim,ifsatisfactorily
established,hasimportantmoralconsequences.Indeed,itleadstoanswersto
seeminglyunanswerablemoralquestions.Forthereislittlewonderthat
"unboundedcalamities"aremythicinnature.Theyareverydifficulttothinkabout
anyotherway.Butabounded,finitecatastrophe,howevervast,howeverunequaled
inourhistory,iscommensurableandthuscomparable.Theneartermeffects
(withinthefirstninetydays)ofvariouspossiblenuclearwarsare,withinvery
broadbutmeaningfullimits,known;thus,wecanarriveatapproximationsof
commensurability.Thelongtermet`fects,ontheotherhand,arealmostcompletely
unknown.Indeed,thetheoryofthenuclearwinterappearstoholdthatinimportantsorts
ofways,nuclearwarmightbetrulyincommensurable.Andlshallexaminethetheoryand
theseapparentclaims.Butletuslookfirstattheconsequencesthatwouldoccurin
thefirstninetydaysfollowinganuclearwar.lB.TheCnmmensurabililyofNuclear
WarinHistoricalPerspectivelnthinkingaboutwarsinhistory,oneisinclinedto
thinkoftheneat,orderlybattlefieldsofFredericktheGreatortheDukeof
Marlborough,whereeacharmyformedneatlines,andeachsoldierwasina
colorfuluniformwhichclearlyidentifiedhimasacombatant.lnthesekindsof
battles,noncombatantswerenowheretobeseenorthreatened.Butwemust
rememberthatbattlesarelikethisonlyinHollywoodepics.Grapeshotwasa
viciousweaponwhichoftenstruckoffheadsorlimbs,ordisemboweleditsvictims.
Anasymmetric,tumblingmusketballbehavedmuchlikeamoderndumdum
bullet,whichwasoutlawedatGenevaasinhumane.Warskillbrutallyand
painfully!Theyalwayshave.Still,wars,likethoseofFrederickorMarlborough,
madeupofaseriesofbattlesbetweenprofessionalarmies,oftenmercenariesand
alwayspredominantly(beforetheFrenchRevolution)volunteers,onisolatedfields,
arenotevenagoodparadigm.Warshavealwaysbeenworsethanthat,farworse.
Wholepeopleshavemadewartheirprimaryculturalactivity,orsourceof
livelihood,orboth.TheYanomamooftheOrinocoValleyinVenezuelaliveto
fight."Warandplunder(moreoftenthannotvisiteduponnoncombatants)were
centraltothetribalexistenceoftheMongols,theNorseraiders,andnumerous
AmericanIndiantribes.Ofmorerelevancetoourpurposes,totalwardefinedas
theobliterationofwholesocietiesandtheenslavementorslaughterofwhole
peoplesdidnotarrivewiththenuclearweaponorevenwiththestrategicbomber.
Itisliterallyasoldasrecordedhistory.SargonofAkkad,forexample,conducted
strategicdevastationthroughoutMesopotamiaaround2250B.C.lfoneactivity
capturestheessenceofwarinhistoryitisnotthebattlefield,butthesiegeandsack
ofcitiesandthedevastationofthecountryside:totalwarcarriedoutupon
civilians.TheSecondPunicWar(218201B.C.)matchedtwoofthegreatest
generalsoftheancientworld,HannibalandScipioAfricanus.Thebattlesthey
foughtarestillstudiedinmilitaryschools.Lessoftenrememberedisthehorrible
devastationthatresultedinSouthernItaly,thelocusofmostofthecampaigns,
devastationthatresultedfromthemarchingarmies,ratherthanthehistoricbattles.
Someclaimthat50perecentofthepopulationwaskilledordiedofhungeror
diseaseintheseventeenyearsofthewar."GenghisKhan(1162?1227),oneofthe
greatestconquerersofalltime,quiteconsciouslyusedterrortopromptsurrender.
lnoneparticularlybrutalcampaign,heattemptedtoslaughtertheentirepopulation
oftheKhorezinEmpireofPersia."Hedidnotquitesucceed,althoughmillions
musthavediedandscoresofcitiesandtownswerecompletelydestroyedinthe
process.DesmondSeward,inhisexcellentbook,TheHundredYearsWar:The
Eng/ishinFrance[337[453,givesusafrighteningaccountofstrategicdevastation
onasmallerscale,butonewhichiscompletelycharacteristicofmilitarycampaigns
throughouthistory.On13July1346theEnglisharmadalandedatLaHogue,on
thenorthoftheCherbourgpeninsula....ThefollowingdaytheKinglauncheda
chevaucheethroughtheCotentin,deliberatelydevastatingtherichcountryside,his
menburningmillsandbarns,orchards,haystacksandcornricks,smashingwine
vats,tearingdownandsettingfiretothethatchedcabinsofthevillagers,whose
throatstheycuttogetherwiththoseoftheirlivestock.Onemaypresumethatthe
usualatrocitieswereperpetratedonthepeasantsthemenweretorturedtoreveal
hiddenvaluables,thewomensufferingmultiplerapeandsexualmutilation,those
whowerepregnantbeingdisembowelled.Terrorwasanindispensable
accompanimenttoeverychevuucheeandEdwardobviouslyintendedtowreakthe
maximumdumpnumthemedievaltermforthattotalwarwhichstruckatan
enemyKingthroughhissubjects....On26JulyEdwardsarmyreachedCaen,
largerthananytowninEnglandapartfromLoudon,andsoonstormedtheirway
throughthebridgegate.Whenthegarrisonsurrendered,theEnglishstartedto
plunder,rapeandkill,forthesoldierswerewithoutmercy.Thedesperate
inhabitantsthenbegantothrowstones,woodenbeamsandironbarsfromthe
rooftopsdownintothenarrowstreets,killingmorethan500Englishmen.Edward
orderedtheentirepopulationtobeputtotheswordandthetownburnt,andthere
weredoneinthetownmanyevildeeds,murdersandrobberies~althoughGodefroi
d`l{arcourtpersuadedtheKingtorescindhisorder.Thesacklastedthree
daysand3,000townsmendied."AndsogoesthegrimtalethroughoutEdwards
entirecampaigninFrance.Closertoourowntime,itisestimatedthatinthe
Thirty\earsWar(16181648)asmuchas40percentofthepopulationof
Germanywaswipedouteitherdirectlybysiegeorbystrategicdevastationwithits
consequentdiseaseandhunger.Reportsofstarvationandcannibalismwerenot
uncommon.Whatwasalmostcertainlythegreatesthumancosteverexpendedin
humanconflictbeforethedawnofthetwentiethcenturyisalmostunknowninthe
West.Chinainthemiddleofthelastcenturywaswrackedbyaseriesof
revolutionsandoutburstsofcivilviolenceonascaleneverseenanywherebefore.
Theylastedfrom1850until1878.Thecostinlivescanneverbeknownwithin
evenaworthwhileapproxima~tion,butitwasvast.Theworstoutbreak,calledthe
TaipingRevolution,lastedfrom1850to1864.lthasbeenestimatedthatforty
millionpeopledied,perhapsl0percentoftheentirepopulationofChina.Muchof
thismonumentalhumancostresultedfromtheconsciouspoliciesofboththerebels
andthelmperialManchuarmiesastheykilledciviliansandinducedstarvationby
strategicdevastation.Togetameasureoftheethnocentrismwepracticeinthese
matters,considerthefactthatthistitanichumancataclysmdoesnotevenmeritits
ownarticleinmostEnglishlanguageencyclopedias.Asweshallsee,this
ethnocentrismisakeyfeatureofourassessmentofnuclearwar.lngeneral,wars
throughouthistorywerecharacterizedbyarmiesmarchingfromsiegetosiegeand
layingwastetothecountrysidealongtheway.Moreover,oneisconstantlystruck
whilereadinginprimaryhistoricalsourcesjusthowcasuallysuchbrutalitywas
accepted.HugoGrotius,whomwehavemetbefore,didasmuchasanyoneto
civilizeandhumanizewar.Nonetheless,inhisTheLawofWarandPeace,he
blithelycommentsthatafteracityfallstosiegethecommanderoughttoturnit
overtohistroopsforthreedaysofplunder(alwaysunavoidablyattendedby
rapesandkillings).ltisafterall,heassuresus,aconventionallawofwar,
honoredthroughouthistory.Hewasquitecorrect,ofcourse.Andbesides,he
continues,itistheirdue!Justthreedaysthough,H0more.Quitesimply,mostwars
inhistoryhavebeentotalwarswagedwithoutquarteragainstcombatantsand
noncombatantsalike,withthelevelofdestructionlimitedonlybythemeans
available.Sometimesthisviciousnessandbrutalitywaspartoftheconscioususeof
terror;sometimesitwascompletelywithoutrationalpurpose.Whetherpurposiveor
not,itoccurredoverandoverthroughouthistory.Ofcourse,factdoesnottranslate
tovalue;thefrequentoccurrenceofsuchfrightfuleventsdoesnotrenderthem
justifiable:mostcertainlynot.Itonlysetsthestageforconsiderationofwhatweface
today.Ittellsusthatourproblemsmightnotbewithoutprecedentinhistory.The
siegeandsackofcitiesandthedevastationofruralareasmadethewhole
populationofacityandthesurroundingcountrysidehostagetotheirleaders`
policiesandtheirenemiesmercy.Constantriskoftotalwarthestakesbeing
deathorenslavementseemstohavebeenanelementofthehuman<>0dition.
Quitesimply,theperiodbetweentheThirtyYearsWarandtheadventofthe
strategicbomberinWorldWarllrepresentsashorthiatus,whiletheeraofstrategic
bombingandnuclearweaponsisareturntothenorm.lfthemilitaryhistorian
MichaelHowardiscorrect,eventhisrelativelyhumanerespitefromanotherwise
horrifyingtaleofbrutalitywasnotduetothemoralvaluesoftheWestbut,instead,
tothemeagernationaltreasuriesthatfundedwarsduringthattime.'Butsurely,we
wanttosaythat,howeverregrettablethissadtaleis,nuclearwarisworsethanthese
examplesofhumancrueltyandstupidity.Anunlimitednuclearwarbetweenthesuperpowers
would,quitesimply,betheworstcatastropheinhumanhistory,substantiallyworsethan
anythingthathasprecededit.
2ACFightGood
Preventabledeathshouldbeavoided
Kelsang99internationallyrenownedteacherofBuddhism
Geshe,http://dealingwithfear.org/fearofdeath.htm
PreparingforDeathGenerally,ourfearofdeathisanunhealthyandunrealistic
fearwedontwanttodie,soweignorethesubject,denyit,orgetmorbidly
obsessedbyitandthinkthatlifeismeaningless.However,rightnowwecannotdo
anythingaboutdying,sothereisnopointfearingdeathitself.Whatkindoffearisuseful ?A
healthyfearofdeathwouldbethefearofdyingunprepared,asthisisafearwecando
somethingabout,adangerwecanavert.Ifwehavethisrealisticfear,thissenseofdanger,we
areencouragedtoprepareforapeacefulandsuccessfuldeathandarealsoinspiredtomake
themostofourveryprecioushumanlifeinsteadofwastingit.Thissenseofdanger
inspiresustomakepreparationssothatwearenolongerinthedangerweareinnow,for
examplebypracticingmoraldiscipline,purifyingournegativekarma,andaccumulating
asmuchmerit,orgoodkarma,aspossible.Weputonaseatbeltoutofasenseofdanger
oftheunseendangersoftrafficontheroad,andthatseatbeltprotectsusfromgoingthrough
thewindscreen.Wecandonothingaboutothertraffic,butwecandosomethingabout
whetherornotwegothroughthewindscreenifsomeonecrashesintous.Similarly,wecan
donothingaboutthefactofdeathbutwecanseizecontroloverhowwepreparefordeath
,
andhowwedie.Eventually,throughTantricspiritualpractice,wecanevenattaina
deathlessbody.InLivingMeaningfully,DyingJoyfully,GesheKelsangsays:Dying
withregretsisnotatallunusual.Toavoidasadandmeaninglessendtoourlifeweneedto
remembercontinuallythatwetoomustdie.Contemplatingourowndeathwillinspireusto
useourlifewiselybydevelopingtheinnerrefugeofspiritualrealizations;otherwiseweshall
havenoabilitytoprotectourselffromthesufferingsofdeathandwhatliesbeyond.
Moreover,whensomeoneclosetousisdying,suchasaparentorfriend,weshall
bepowerlesstohelpthembecauseweshallnotknowhow;andweshallexperience
sadnessandfrustrationatourinabilitytobeofgenuinehelp.Preparingfordeathis
oneofthekindestandwisestthingswecandobothforourself
Havetoaccepttheworldandattempttochangeit
May5Todd,ClemsonUniversity,Tochangetheworld,tocelebratelife,PhilosophySocialCriticism
2005;31;517,sagepub
Forthoseamonguswhoseekinphilosophyawaytograpplewithourlivesrather
thantosolvelogicalpuzzles;forthosewhosereadingandwhosewritingarenot
merelyappropriatestepstowardacademicadvancementbutastruggletosee
ourselvesandourworldinafresher,clearerlight;forthosewhofindnourishment
amongimpassionedideasandgohungryamongemptytruths:thereisastruggle
thatisoftenwagedwithinus.Itisastrugglethatwillbefamiliartoanyonewho
hasheardinFoucaultssentencesthestammeringofafellowhumanbeing
strugglingtospeakinwordsworthhearing.WhyelsewouldwereadFoucault?We
seektoconceivewhatiswrongintheworld,tograspitinawaythatoffersusthepossibility
forchange.Weknowthatthereismuchthatis,touseFoucaultsword,intolerable.
Thereismuchthatbindsustosocialandpoliticalarrangementsthatareoppressive,
domineering,patronizing,andexploitative.Wewouldliketounderstandwhythisisand
howithappens,inorderthatwemaypreventitscontinuance.Inshort,wewantour
theoriestobetoolsforchangingtheworld,forofferingitanewface,oratleastanew
expression.Thereisstruggleinthis,struggleagainstideasandwaysofthinkingthatpresent
themselvestousasinescapable.WeknowthisstrugglefromFoucaultswritings.Itis
notclearthatheeverwroteaboutanythingelse.ButthisisnotthestruggleIwant
toaddresshere.Forthereis,ontheotherhand,anothersearchandanothergoal.Theylienotso
muchintherevisioningofthisworldasintheembraceofit.Thereismuchtobecelebratedinthe
liveswelead,orinthoseledbyothers,orintheunfoldingoftheworldasitis,aworldresonant
withtherhythmsofourvoicesandourmovements.Wewouldliketounderstandthis,
too,tograspinthoughttheelusivebeautyofourworld.Thereis,afterall,nootherworld ,except,
asNietzschetaught,forthosewhowouldhavecreatedanotheronewithwhichto
denigrateourown.Inshort,wewouldlikeourthoughttocelebrateourlives.To
changetheworldandtocelebratelife.This,asthetheologianHarveyCoxsaw,isthe
strugglewithinus.1Itisastruggleinwhichonecannotchoosesides;orbetter,a
struggleinwhichonemustchoosebothsides.Theabandonmentofoneforthesakeofthe
othercanleadonlytodisasterorcallousness.Forsakingthecelebrationoflifeforthe
sakeofchangingtheworldisthepathofthesadrevolutionary.Inhisprefaceto
AntiOedipus,Foucaultwritesthatonedoesnothavetobesadinordertoberevolutionary.
Thematterismoreurgentthanthat,however.Onecannotbebothsadand
revolutionary.Lackingasenseofthewondrousthatisalreadyhere,amongus,onewhois
bentuponchangingtheworldcanonlybecomesolemnorbitter.Heorsheisfocusedonlyon
thefuture;thepresentiswhatistobeovercome.Thevisionofwhatisnotbutmust
cometobeoverwhelmsallelse,andthepointofchangeitselfbecomeslost.The
historyoftheleftinthe20thcenturyoffersnumerousexamplesofthis,andthe
disasterthatattendstoitshouldbeevidenttoallofusbynow.Thealternativeis
surelynottoshiftonesallegiancetothepurecelebrationoflife,althoughtherearemanywho
havechosenthispath.Itisatbestblindnessnottoseethemiserythatenvelopssomanyofour
fellowhumans,tosaynothingofwhathappenstosentientnonhumancreatures.The
attempttojettisonworldchangingforanuncriticalassenttotheworldasitisrequiresaself
deceptionthatIassumewouldbeanathemaforthoseofuswhohavestudied
Foucault.Indeed,itisanathemaforallofuswhoawakeneachdaytoanAmerica
whoseexpansiveboldnessismatchedonlybyanequallyexpansivedisregardfor
thoseweplaceinharmsway.Thisisthestruggle,then.Theonebetweenthe
desireforlifecelebrationandthedesireforworldchanging.Thestrugglebetween
revelinginthecontingentandfragilejoysthatconstituteourworldandwrestingitfromits
intolerability.Iamsureitisastrugglethatisnotforeigntoanyonewhoisreading
this.IamsureaswellthatthestakesforchoosingonesideoveranotherthatIhave
recalledhereareobvioustoeveryone.Thequestionthenbecomesoneofhowto
choosebothsidesatonce.
Lifewillneverhaveobjectivemeaningorgoodness,butintheendlessfightagainst
meaninglessnesswecangiveitsubjectivemeaning,onlythecowardiceofsuicideby
lettingdeathhappentrulynegatesthegoodnessoflife.
Simen2011(http://enthusiasms.org/post/103090660,Norwegianphilosopher)
Ontheotherhand,mayberevoltisnomoremeaningfulinthegrandschemeofthingsthatsuicide

oracceptance.Maybetheactofrevoltitselfcan
meaning.MaybethatswhatCamus
create

means:thatthelogicalconsequenceofmeaninglessnessistorebelagainstit bycreating
meaning.Mypreferredanswertothequestion
shouldwekillourselves,knowingthattheworld
iswithoutmeaning?hasalwaysbeenthat
theworldhasnoinherentmeaning,
noultimateor
necessarymeaning,butwe humans
cancreatemeaning
,howeverfleeting,and
thatisenough
.
Meaningdoesnthavetobetranscendental,otherwordly,holyornecessaryinorder
togivelife

purpose.Theresnomeaningoflife,buttherecanbemeaning
in
life.Butitdoesntappearthat
thisiswhathessaying.Hesmarriedtotheideathatwemustembracethecontradictionthat
givesrisetotheAbsurd.Wemustrebelknowingwecantwin.Ifwecancreatemeaning,then
werewinning, but
toCamus
thewholepointisthefight.
Wemustfight,always,nevergiveup,
butwemustneverwineither.Ifweeithergiveuporwin,weredenyingAbsurdity.Camus
presentsthisasthelogicalconsequenceoftheabsurdlife,butfrankly,hisreasoningisabsurd,not
logical.(Andsincehespendssometimedenyingthatabsurd logicisthewaytogo,thatsnot
deliberate.)That
revoltgiveslifeitsvalue.
Spreadoutoverthewholelengthofalife,it
restores
itsmajestyto
that
life .Toamandevoidofblinders,thereisnofinersightthanthatofthe
intelligenceatgripswitharealitythattranscendsit.Thesightofhumanprideisunequaled.No
disparagementisofanyuse.()Consciousnessandrevolt,theserejectionsarethecontraryof
renunciation.Everythingthatisindomitableandpassionateinahumanheartquickensthem,on
thecontrary,withitsownlife.
Itisessentialtodieunreconciledandnotofones
own
freewill.

Suicideisarepudiation.The absurdmancanonlydraineverythingtothebitter
end,anddeplete
himself.Theabsurdishisextremetension,whichhemaintainsconstantlybysolitaryeffort,for
heknowsthatin thatconsciousnessandinthat
daytodayrevolthegivesproofofhisonlytruth,
whichisdefiance.
Suicideisbadtheonlycoherentpositionwhenfacedwiththemeaninglessnessoflife
isrevolttogiveitmeaning.
Simen,2011(,http://enthusiasms.org/post/103090660,Norwegianphilosopher)
IllletCamustrytoexplainhisposition:NowIcanbroachthenotionofsuicide.Ithas
alreadybeenfeltwhatsolutionmightbegiven.Atthispointtheproblemisreversed.It
waspreviouslyaquestionoffindingoutwhetherornotlifehadtohaveameaningtobe
lived.Itnowbecomesclear,onthecontrary,thatitwillbelivedallthebetterifithasno
meaning.Livinganexperience
,aparticularfate,
isacceptingitfully.
Now,noonewill
livethisfate,knowingittobeabsurd,unlesshedoeseverythingtokeepbeforehimthat
absurdbroughttolightbyconsciousness.Negatingoneofthetermsoftheoppositionon
whichhelivesamountstoescapingit.Toabolishconsciousrevoltistoeludethe
problem.Thethemeofpermanentrevolutionisthuscarriedintoindividualexperience.
Livingiskeepingtheabsurdalive.Keepingitaliveis,aboveall,
contemplatingit.Unlike
Eurydice,theabsurddiesonlywhenweturnawayfromit.Oneof
theonlycoherent

philosophicalposition
s
is
thus
revolt
.Itisaconstantconfrontationbetweenmanandhis
ownobscurity.Itisaninsistenceuponanimpossibletransparency.Itchallengesthe
worldaneweverysecond.Justasdangerprovidedmantheuniqueopportunityofseizing
awareness,sometaphysicalrevoltextendsawarenesstothewholeofexperience.Itis
thatconstantpresenceofmaninhisowneyes.Itisnotaspiration,foritisdevoidof
hope.Thatrevoltisthecertaintyofacrushingfate,withouttheresignationthatoughtto
accompanyit.Thisiswhereitisseentowhatadegree
absurdexperienceisremotefrom
suicide.Itmaybethoughtthatsuicidefollowsrevoltbutwrongly.Foritdoesnot
representthelogicaloutcomeofrevolt.Itisjustthecontrarybytheconsentit
presupposes.Suicide,liketheleap,isacceptanceatitsextreme.Everythingisoverand
manreturnstohisessentialhistory.Hisfuture,hisuniqueanddreadfulfuturehesees
andrushestowardit.Initsway,suicidesettlestheabsurd.Itengulfstheabsurdinthe
samedeath.ButIknowthatinordertokeepalive,theabsurdcannotbesettled.Itescapes
suicidetotheextentthatitissimultaneouslyawarenessandrejectionofdeath.Itis,atthe
extremelimitofthecondemnedmanslastthought,thatshoelacethatdespiteeverything
heseesafewyardsaway,ontheverybrinkofhisdizzyingfall.Thecontraryofsuicide,
infact,isthemancondemnedtodeath
AT:ExtinctionGood
Eveniftheywinthatlifeisnetsufferingtheirethicshouldntbeexportedoutsideof
theself.Facingcollectivedeathchangeseverything
SOLOMON8(facingdeathtogether:camusstheplagueRobertC.SolomonArtandEthicalCriticism.EditedbyGarryL.Hagberg.2008BlackwellPublishing
Ltd.ISBN:9781405134835QuincyLeeCentennialProfessorofPhilosophyandBusinessattheUniversityofTexasatAustin.Overthecourseofhiscareerhealsotaughtat
numerousotherplaces,includingPrinceton,theUniversityofPennsylvania,theUniversityofPittsburgh,UCLA,theUniversityofCaliforniaRiverside,SimonFraserUniversity,
theUniversityofBritishColumbia,andtheUniversityofAuckland)
Weareallcondemned.Welive
underadeathsentence.Thisbitofpopshockphilosophyisneitherprofoundnor
terrifying.Itistriteandobvious.Andyetwelivemostofourlivesasifitwerenotobviousatall,asifwewould
neverdie,orasifthatdayissofaroffthatitcouldnotpossiblymakeanydifferencetous,atleastfor
now.Butthen,onafewmorbiddays,wedohavethissensethatourwholelivesareovershadowedbythebrutefactofourmortality,andthequestionthenis:Whatdowedo

withthis?Therealizationofourimpendingdeathcanbeparalyzing. Everyaim ,everypleasure,andeverygooddeed
seems
tobe
renderedpointless.Orthisrealizationcanbeinvigorating,impressinguponusthelimitedamountoftimeavailable.Indeed,therealizationofonesimpending
deathcanbeagoadtophilosophizing.TheGermanthinkerMartinHeideggerdidnothesitatetoremindusthatwearebothbeinguntodeathandontologicallyinauthentic,
meaningthatalthoughdeathwasourmostnecessarypossibilitywetendtodenythisandfallbackintotheforgetfulnessofeverydaylife.Butmostofushavemomentsof
personallyprofoundreflection,whetherornotthesecountasauthenticity,inwhichtherealizationofourownimpendingdeathpromptsneitherpanicnorfrenziedactivitybut
Whatwillorcouldmylifeamountto,given
seriousthoughtandasinceresearchforperspective.Whathasmylifeamountedto,thusfar?
whattimeIhaveleft?HaveIliveduptomypromise?Andregardingpromisestootherpeople,whatpromiseshaveImade?WhichhaveIfulfilled?WhichhaveIbetrayed? Did
thosepromisesmakeanysense,intermsofwhoIreallywantorwantedtobe?HaveIpossibly

missedthewayofmylife,perhapsaltogether?WhoamIreally?Whatdoestheramblingtaleofmy
lifetellmeaboutwhereIstandinthelargerschemeofthings,oreveninjustmyownnarrative?[]If
therewerenodistancingoneselffromthehorror,thenonewouldbecomeavictim,andthehorrorwouldbepushedasidebythemoreexigentemotionsoffearandanxiety.There
isnodoubtthat,forCamus,thepeopleofOranwerelikepeopleheknew,whichmadetheidentificationevenmorepoignant.And,forus,thespecificnames,descriptions,and
conversationsofthecharactershelpustoidentifythem,aswecouldnot,forexample,thenamelessArabsinTheStranger.ButthefactthatThePlagueisapieceoffictionthat
Camuswaswritinginadifferentplaceandinthefaceofaverydifferenthorrorprovideshimwiththenecessarydistancingforhisworktoremainphilosophicalratherthan,asfor
DrRieux,amatteroftruthfulreporting.Boththefictionandtheexoticlocationprovidethedistancingforus. Thisisnotastoryofanyparticular
plague,noranallegoricalhistoryoftheNaziinvasionandoccupation.ThehorrorthatCamusdescribesisnothing
lessthanthehumancondition.Nomatterhowhappyourlivesmaybe,thereisanawfulfatethatlies
attheendofthem,forallandforeachandeveryoneofus.InThePlague,thepeopleofOrandonotfacedeathalone.Nor,insofar
hisorher
asweidentifywiththeirfate,dowe.Itistrue,asHeideggerremindsus(withmoreprofunditythanthepointisworth)that eachofusmustdie
owndeath.But inplaguewefaceacollectivedeath,oratleastweallface
asimilarcauseofdeaththat
threatensusallatmoreorless
thesametimein
moreorless
thesame
horrible
way.Thischanges
everything.Whatisthedifferencebetweenindividualdeathandcollectivedeath?RobertJayLiftondescribesthehorrificphenomenonoftheseconddeath
experiencedbythevictimsofNagasakiandHiroshima,inwhichtheirownindividualdeathswereevidentlyaccompaniedbythedeathoftheirentireworld,makingindividual
deathallthemorehorrible.Itisonethingtofaceyourowndeath.Itissomethingquitedifferenttofaceatthe
sametimethedeathsofyourlovedones,thedeathsofyour friends,
thedeathsofyour
neighbors,
the
deathsofyourentirecommunity ,thedeathofyour
societyand
your
culture
.Insuchcircumstances,
onecould,ofcourse,continuetofocusonlyononesowndeathandhopeonlythatoneselfmightbe
saved,whateverhappenstotheothers.
But
suchapersonwouldbe
anass,
acad,
something
inhuman.Mostofus,socialandcaringcreaturesthatweare,wouldcareasmuch(ormore)about
thedeathsofatleastsomeotherpeople.Whetherornotweweretodieatexactlythesametime,ourdeathswouldnolongerbeindividual,andwe

wouldnoteachdieonlyourownindividualdeath.And ifitweretheentirecommunity
,theentirepopulaceofasubstantial
citythatwassothreatened,the
possible
death
ofallaroundus
wouldnotbeamereabstraction
,
despitethesmallnumberofpeopleweactuallyknow.Itwouldbeverymuchlikeaseconddeath,
thedeathofourworld.ButdeathinThePlagueisyetmorecomplicatedandconfusing.Itisnotjustindividualdeath,althoughthereareagreatmanyindividualdeaths.TheplagueofOran
isnotthesuddendeathofanentireworld,allatonce,asinnuclearholocaust.DeathinThePlagueiscollectivebutnotsimultaneous,noteveryoneatonce.Andsomepeoplewillsurelysurvive(asinjustaboutevery
otherknownplagueinhistory.Somepeople,remarkably,haveimmunity.)Asunimaginableasthelossofoneswholeworldisandasuncomfortableastheideaofthecontinuationoftheworldwithoutmemight
betosomepeopletheuncertaintyofdeathbyplaguefurtherincreasestheanxietyandaddstocollectivedeathacuriouslycompetitiveelement.Tounderstandthepeculiarityofplaguedeath,wehavetounderstand
thispeculiarformofirrationality.Addedtothedesperateirrationalismthatoftendefinesthoughtsandbehaviorregardingimpendingdeath,thereisanadditionalingredient,theideaofeitheryouorme,anideathat
maynotbewarrantedbyourknowledgeofepidemics,butisalmostunavoidableanyway.Knowing,forexample,that30percentofthepopulationarelikelytodieofasufficientlylethalplague,itishardnottothink
aboutwhetherornotoneisincludedinthat30percent,andifnot,whois.Thusthethoughtmaybeme,maybenot,isoddlycompetitiveandempatheticatthesametime. Thustheimportance
ofDrRieuxsconstantinsistencethatwefighttheplaguetogether ,
whetherornotthereis
anythingeffectivethatwecanreallydo.Forgingsolidarityandwithit empathyi
san
essentialpartofthebattle.Deathistheultimateenemy,but,in

ThePlague atleast,the
fragmentationofsocietyemergesasaclosesecond.FacingdeathinThePlague ,
BeingwithOthers
turnsouttobeoneoftheultimatevalues.Amorefamiliarformofirrationalityistobefoundintheaccusationsofcomplicityandothersortsofblamethatoften
accompanythethreatofdeath,aswhenlongtermsmokersareblamedfortheircancersand,appallingly,gaymenwereoriginallyblamedforHIV/AIDS.Thisisonemoremanifestationoftheblamingperspective,
whichpervadesthewholeofJudeoChristianthinking.(Talkofforgivenessalreadypresupposestheblamingperspective.)Inacompetitivesituation,orinasituationthatis,howeverirrationally,thoughttobe
competitive,theblamingperspectivewillbeallthemorepronounced.Itservesasrationalization(Well,yes,soandsodiedbuthedrankthewater,orHedidntsayhisprayers,andsoon).AsIhavearguedin
myaccountofTheFall,16thisformofrationalizationissurprisinglyeffective,andthereforealsoquitewidespread.Itisnotaboutblameforthesakeofblame.Itisaboutblameasasourceofhopedforimmunity,
exception,orsalvation.(Ididnotdrinkthewater.Idopray.)Itobviouslycontributestothecompetitivenessandtothefragmentationofthecommunityandthereforehastobecountered.Theblamingperspective
isnotthewholestory,ofcourse,althoughpeoplelikePanelouxstruggletokeepitalive(allowingCamusoneofhisfewboutsofblackhumorinagrimnovel).Buttheveryideathatwhetherornotonecomesdown
in
Thestruggle ,as
ThePlague
withtheplaguehasanythingtodowitheitherluckorblameencouragesthedivisivenessthatisthesecondmortalenemyofthenovel.
opposedtothesupposedlyheroicstruggletokeeptheAbsurdalivethatdefinedCamuss
philosophyjustafewyearsearlier,isasocialstruggle.Itisnotsomuchastruggleagainstdeathasa
struggleforsolidarity.Itisonlybystickingtogether,Camusissuggesting,
thatwecanmakeany
headwayagainstourultimatecommonenemy.But evenifthereisnoavoidingdeath,wecan,by
appreciatingourcommonfate,transcendtheisolationthatcanmakestrangersofusall.
AT:Altisbetterthancase
Thereisnomiddlecourseoneeitherchoosestoliveorchoosestodie,choosesto
fightalongsideonescommunityorchoosestobetrayifyouvoteforthenegatives
ethicofallowalldeathtooccur,youarethereforerejectingALLformsoflifethatthe
affirmativeteamproposes.
Camus1947(Albert,ThePlague)
But,Panelouxcontinued,therewereotherprecedentsofwhichhewouldnowremindthem.Ifthe
chroniclesoftheBlackDeathatMarseilleweretobetrusted,onlyfouroftheeightyonemonks

intheMercyMonasterysurvivedtheepidemic
.
Andofthesefourthreetooktoflight
.Thusfar
thechronicler,anditwasnothistasktotellusmorethanthebarefacts.Butwhenhereadthat
chronicle,Father
Paneloux
hadfoundhisthoughts
fixedonthatmonkwhostayedonbyhimself,
despitethedeathofhisseventysevencompanions,and,aboveall,
despite
theexampleof
his
threebrotherswhohadfled.And,bringingdownhisfistontheedgeofthepulpit,Father
Panelouxcriedinaringingvoice:
"Mybrothers,eachoneofusmustbetheonewhostays!"
Therewasnoquestionofnottaking
precautionsorfailingtocomplywiththeorderswiselypromulgatedforthepublicwealinthe
disordersofapestilence.Norshouldwelistento
certainmoralistswhotoldustosinkonour
kneesandgiveupthestruggle
.No,
weshouldgoforward,
gropingourwaythroughthe
darkness,
stumblingperhapsattimes,andtrytodowhatgoodlayinourpower.Asfortherest,
wemustholdfast,trustinginthedivinegoodness,evenastothedeathsoflittlechildren,andnot
seekingpersonalrespite.
AtthispointFatherPanelouxevokedtheaugustfigureof
BishopBelzunceduringtheMarseille
plague.Heremindedhishearershow,towardthecloseoftheepidemic,theBishop,havingdone
allthatitbehoovedhim,shuthimselfupinhispalace,behindhighwalls,afterlayinginastock
offoodanddrink.Withasuddenrevulsionoffeeling,suchasoftencomesintimesofextreme
tribulation,theinhabitantsofMarseille,whohadidolizedhimhitherto,nowturnedagainsthim,
piledupcorpsesroundhishouseinordertoinfectit,andeven
flungbodiesoverthewallsto
makesureofhisdeath.ThusinamomentofweaknesstheBishophadproposedtoisolatehimself
fromtheoutsideworld,and,loandbehold,corpsesraineddownonhishead!Thishadalesson
forusall;wemustconvinceourselvesthatthereisnoislandofescapeintimeofplague.No,
therewasnomiddlecourse.WemustacceptthedilemmaandchooseeithertohateGodorto
loveGod.AndwhowoulddaretochoosetohateHim?X
AT:BatailleSaysDestroytheSelf/EmbraceDeath
TheyvereadBatailleverypoorly.Thefightforselfpreservationiscentralfor
Bataille.
KennethItzkowitz,DepartmentofPhilosophy,MariettaCollege,Towitness
spectaclesofpain:ThehypermoralityofGeorgesBataille,CollegeLiterature,
Winter,1999
Yetinourlivestherearealsolimits.Itisunlikelythat
BataillewouldapplaudMansonforthe
samereasonheultimatelyrejectsSade.Theyarebothindiscriminate; theybothgotoofar.
"Continuityiswhatweareafter,"Batailleconfirms,butgenerallyonlyifthatcontinuity
whichthedeathofdiscontinuousbeingscanaloneestablishisnotthevictorinthelong
run.Whatwedesireistobringintoaworldfoundedondiscontinuityallthecontinuity
suchaworldcansustain.DeSade'saberrationexceedsthatlimit.(Bataille1962,13)In
otherwords,ourwastefulconsumptionmustalsohavelimits.Toactuallyapproveofour
ownselfdestructiongoestoofar.LateroninDeathandSensuality,Bataillecontinues,
Shortofaparadoxicalcapacitytodefendtheindefensible,noonewouldsuggestthatthe
crueltyoftheheroesofJustineandJulietteshouldnotbewholeheartedlyabominated.Itis
adenialoftheprinciplesonwhichhumanityisfounded.Weareboundtorejectsomething
thatwouldendintheruinofallourworks.Ifinstincturgesustodestroytheverythingweare
buildingwemustcondemnthoseinstinctsanddefendourselvesfromthem.(Bataille1962,179
80)ThispassageiscrucialforunderstandingBataille'sethics.UsuallyBataillewriteson
behalfoftheviolencethatremainsunaffectedbyabsoluteprohibitions.Prohibitions
cannotobviatethistransformativeviolence.Thereisalwaysamplemotivetoproducethe
experiencesofsacredtransformation,i.e.,totransgresstheprohibitions.Yet self
preservationisalsoafundamentalvalueforBataille;thereisalsoamplemotivetoresistthe
violencethatdeniesthevalueofthewellbeingoflifeitself.Ashesaysinthesecondof
theabovepassages,wemustcondemnwhatthreatenstodestroyus;our sovereign
aspirationscanbetakentoofar.Inanotherpassagehespeaksofourneed"tobecomeaware
of...[ourselves]andtoknowclearlywhat...[our]sovereignaspirationsareinorderto
limittheirpossiblydisastrousconsequences"(1962,181).Itiswhenweareignorantof
theseaspirationsthatwearemostvulnerabletothem,enactingthemanyway,albeit
inattentively.
AT:BatailleSacrificeGood
DoublebindEither(a.)sacrificeismeaningless&theresnoimpactor(b.)sacrifice
hassubstancetoopennewformsofthoughtlegitimizinggenocide.
Minkoff2007
C.Michael,ExistenceisSacrificeable,ButItIsNotSacrifice,April25,
http://smartech.gatech.edu/dspace/bitstream/1853/14446/8/Michael%20MinkoffLCC%204100Animal_Sacrifice.pdf
WhatNancyadmitsisthatstrictlyspeakingweknownothingdecisiveabouttheoldsacrificeandthattheWesterneconomyof
sacrificehascometoacloseitisclosedbythedecompositionofthesacrificialapparatusitself(Nancy,35).Theseconfessionsare
significantbecauseitindicatesthefearthatNancyhasofappropriatingasymbolwhichhasaremainderandavectorhecannotpredict
orcontrol.WhatBataillewantedfromsacrificewasonething,butNancyfearsthatsacrificecarriesitsownvalence.Itisliketheart
thataccedestoextinction,butsuspendsaboveitindefinitely.Theforcetoaccedetoextinctionisnotguaranteedtosuspend. The
forcethatBataille
borrowsfromsacrificeisnotguaranteedtobehaveinthewayatheismdictates .Nancy
reassertsthatWesternsacrificealwaysknewitsacrificedtonothing,butthislatentknowledgemakestheinstitutionofsacrifice
absurd,andNancyisnotwillingtodenythatsacrificesustainedandgavemeaningtobillionsofindividualandcollectiveexistences
(Nancy,35)WhatNancyfearsisthisignorance.Heknowshedoesnotunderstandthesignificanceoftheoldsacrifice .
Ifsacrificewastonooneandeveryoneknewit;whywasandisitsouniversalandwhyhavesomanybeentemptedintobelievingits
significance?Butifoneassumesthatthereisnoonetowhomonesacrifices,Bataillemaynotusesacrificeasthecenterpieceofhis
philosophybecauseifsacrificeisnottoanyone,itisnottrulysignificant.Ifitisnotsignificantormeaningful,it
hasnopower.Itbecomescomedic.Anditbecomesmassacre.ThatiswhyNancyspendsmuchofhistimetalking
aboutthesacrificeoftheJewsatAuschwitz.Withoutoverdeterminingthesignificance,thesacrificebecomesa
genocideoraholocaust.Batailleistrappedbetweentwouncomfortablepositions
lettheblood
continueto
spilltomakesacrificerealandsignificantandconcrete,
ordenythedeaththestatusofsacrifice,which
in
Bataillesmind,wouldbetodenyitrealization.NancyasksifBataillesdialecticalnegativityexpungesbloodorwhether,
onthecontrary,bloodmustineluctablycontinuetospurt(Nancy,27).IfBataillespiritualizessacrifice,itnolongerhasthepowerof
realdeath,theconcretenessoffinitenessandtheabilitytorupturefinitude.ButifBatailleinsistsontherealdeath,he
necessitatestheconstantspillingofbloodinmimeticrepetitionuntilhistoryiscompleted.
AT:Lanza/LifeAfterDeath
Lanzaisreallyjustwronginhisunderstandingofphysics.Youcantrisktheworlds
existenceonthispseudoscientifichalftheory.
Podolsky09Dmitry,PhDintheoreticalphysicsfromtheLandauInstitute,currently
worksaspostdoc@CaseWesternReserveUniversityandisaneditorofNEQNET,
Biocentrism:BookReview,http://www.nonequilibrium.net/biocentrismbookreview/
2. Dr. Lanza really misses several important pieces of the overall puzzle such as a) general
relativity. Dr. Lanza mentions it a couple of times but neveractuallydemonstrates his
understandingof whatheistalkingabout
actually,hisphysicsdiscussionsonly
includespecialrelativity.Einsteindidnotreallystopafterdiscoveringspecialrelativityin1905,
hehasalsodiscoveredgeneralrelativityin1915.Inessence,generalrelativityexplainswhatgravity
reallyisroughlyspeaking,itisacurvatureofspacetime. Spacetimeisdynamicalsinceany
matter(anynonzeromass/energydensity)curvesitsourcesitscurvature,aswesay.Iguess,Dr.
Lanzacouldthrowhisargumentspacetimeisnotrealonthetablein1905,butnotafter1915:itis
actuallypossibletodetectdynamicsofspacetimeandtheNobelPrize1993inphysicswasawarded
forexactlythat(checkoutGooglefordetails).b)generalrelativityleadstoseveralimportant
conclusionssuchas,forexample,existenceofhorizons(incosmologicalcontextaswellas
forblackholes).Toputitbrief,horizonessentiallymeans
thatan
infinitetimeisneeded
for a photon emitted inside horizon to reach the area outside it . c) There is no
problem with coupling special relativity with quantum mechanics this is what
quantumfieldtheorydoes,theareaofphysicswhichtookoffbackin1950s. Therealproblemis
tocouplegeneralrelativitywithquantummechanicsthatswhatthebuzziscurrently
aboutincuttingedgephysics(asitwasforthelast50years).IcannotbelievethatDr.Lanzacould
have missed this. d) In quantum mechanics experiments involving wavefunction
collapse and EPR paradox information cannot be transferred. This is simple to
understand,really.Surely,youknowwhatsthepolarizationofthephotonfarawayifyoumeasure
thepolarizationoftheentangledparticle,buttryinventingawaytoexploitthisknowledgetryto
sendsomeinformationviaEPR. e)decoherence.Actually, wavefunctioncollapsedoesnot
onlyhappenifwe,ourselves,trytodetectthepropertiesataquantumobject.Itis
enoughifthequantumobjectinteractswithanother,nearlyclassical,objectorevenbetterwith
environment.Formacroscopicobjects,withsizesoftheordertheoneswearedealingwithinour
everydayslife,decoherencetimeisshorterthanBiocentrism:bookreviewsec.Thatswhyweare
mostlydealingwithclassicalobjectsineverydayslife,andthatswhyquantummechanicswasonly
discoveredin20thcentury.Whetheryouwantitornot,youaresittingonaclassicalstoolinfrontofa
classicaltable.g)aprocessofquantummeasurementdoesnotreallyhavemuchtodo
withconscience.Canonically(inHeisenbergsinterpretationofquantummechanicsforexample),
any interaction ofa quantum object with a classical device can be considered a
measurement,sinceitleadstowavefunctioncollapse. Probably,Dr.Lanzawouldbeableto
incorporatealltheseideasintotheversion2.0ofhisbook,so,Iguess,thereisreallynopointin
criticizinghisideasthisway.Thereisamuchmoreimportantissuerelatedtohisconstructions. Any
theorycanonlybedenotedassuchifithasapredictivepower, i.e.,ifitpredicts
something.Ithink,Dr.Lanzastheoryhasafatalflawitexplainseverything,butitdoes
notreallypredictanything,anditis really impossibletocomeoutwithaphysics

experimentthatwoulddeterminewhetherDr. Lanzaisright.
LanzadoesntunderstandquantumphysicsExtinctionactuallyistheendofall
humanconsciousnessnotranscendenceorlifeafterdeath
Stenger92VictorJ.Stenger,AdjunctProfessorofPhilosophy,UniversityofColorado,
1992,TheMythofQuantumConsciousness,online:
http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/Quantum/QuantumConsciousness.pdf
Quantummechanicsiscalledonfurthertoarguethatthecosmicfield,likeNewtonsaether,couples
tothehumanminditself.InRobertLanzasview,thatfieldistheuniversalmindofallhumanity
living,dead,andunborn.Ironically,thisseeminglyprofoundassociationbetweenquantumandmind
isanartifact,theconsequenceofunfortunatelanguageusedbyBohr,Heisenbergandtheotherswho
originally formulated quantum mechanics. In describing the necessary interaction between the
observerandwhatisbeingobserved, andhowthestateofasystemisdeterminedbytheactofits
measurement, theyinadvertentlylefttheimpressionthathumanconsciousnessentersthepictureto
causethatstate comeintobeing. Thisledmanywhodidnotunderstandthephysics,butlikedthe
soundofthewordsusedtodescribeit,toinferafundamentalhumanroleinwhatwaspreviouslya
universethatseemedtohaveneedforneithergodsnorhumanity.IfBohrandHeisenberghadspoken
of measurements made by inanimate instruments rather than observers, perhaps this strained
relationship between quantum and mind would not have been drawn. For, nothing in quantum
mechanics requires human involvement. Quantum mechanics does not violate the Copernican
principle that the universe cares not a whit about the human race. Long after humanity has
disappearedfromthescene,matterwillstillundergothetransitionsthatwecallquantumevents.The
atomsinstarswillradiatephotons,andthesephotonswillbeabsorbedbymaterialsthatreacttothem.
Perhaps,afterwearegone,someofourmachineswillremaintoanalyzethesephotons.Ifso,they
willdosounderthesamerulesofquantummechanicsthatoperatetoday.
EnjoytheFight
Camus55(Albert,http://iheartlahs.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/Camus
MythofSisyphusandotherreadings.pdf,idonthavepagenumbers)
Ifthedescentisthussometimesperformedinsorrow,itcanalsotakeplaceinjoy.This
wordisnottoomuch.Again
IfancySisyphusreturningtowardhisrock
,andthesorrow
wasinthebeginning.Whentheimagesofearthclingtootightlytomemory,whenthe
callofhappinessbecomestooinsistent,ithappensthatmelancholyrisesinmansheart:
thisistherocksvictory,thisistherockitself.Theboundlessgriefistooheavytobear.
TheseareournightsofGethsemane.Butcrushingtruthsperishfrombeing
acknowledged.Thus,CEdipusattheoutsetobeysfatewithoutknowingit.Butfromthe
momentheknows,histragedybegins.Yetatthesamemoment,blindanddesperate,he
realizesthattheonlybondlinkinghimtotheworldisthecoolhandofagirl.Thena
tremendousremarkringsout:Despitesomanyordeals,myadvancedageandthe
nobilityofmysoulmakemeconcludethatalliswell.SophoclesCEdipus,like
DostoevskysKirilov,thusgivestherecipefortheabsurdvictory.Ancientwisdom
confirmsmodernheroism.Onedoesnotdiscovertheabsurdwithoutbeingtemptedto
writeamanualofhappiness.What!bysuchnarrowways?Thereisbutoneworld,
however.Happinessandtheabsurdaretwosonsofthesameearth.Theyareinseparable.
Itwouldbeamistaketosaythathappinessnecessarilyspringsfromtheabsurddiscovery.
Ithappensaswellthatthefeelingoftheabsurdspringsfromhappiness.Iconcludethat
alliswell,saysCEdipus,andthatremarkissacred.Itechoesinthewildandlimited
universeofman.Itteachesthatallisnot,hasnotbeen,exhausted.Itdrivesoutofthis
worldagodwhohadcomeintoitwithdissatisfactionandapreferenceforfutile
sufferings.Itmakesoffateahumanmatter,whichmustbesettledamongmen.All
Sisyphussilentjoyiscontainedtherein.Hisfatebelongstohim.Hisrockishisthing.
Likewise,theabsurdman,whenhecontemplateshistorment,silencesalltheidols.Inthe
universesuddenlyrestoredtoitssilence,themyriadwonderinglittlevoicesoftheearth
riseup.Unconscious,secretcalls,invitationsfromallthefaces,theyarethenecessary
reverseandpriceofvictory.Thereisnosunwithoutshadow,anditisessentialtoknow
thenight.Theabsurdmansaysyesandhiseffortwillhenceforthbeunceasing.Ifthereis
apersonalfate,thereisnohigherdestiny,oratleastthereisbutonewhichheconcludes
isinevitableanddespicable.Fortherest,heknowshimselftobethemasterofhisdays.
Atthatsubtlemomentwhenmanglancesbackwardoverhislife,Sisyphusreturning
towardhisrock,inthatslightpivotinghecontemplatesthatseriesofunrelatedactions
whichbecomeshisfate,createdbyhim,combinedunderhismemoryseye
andsoon
sealedbyhisdeath.Thus
,convincedofthewhollyhumanoriginofallthatishuman,a
blindmaneagertoseewhoknowsthatthenighthasnoend,heisstillonthego.The
rockisstillrolling.
Link:LivedPhilosophy
Thebestphilosopherlivesbyexample.Aretheylivingtheir1nc?
Camus55(Albert,http://iheartlahs.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/02/Camus
MythofSisyphusandotherreadings.pdf,idonthavepagenumbers)
Thereisbutonetrulyseriousphilosophicalproblem,andthatissuicide.Judgingwhether
lifeisorisnotworthlivingamountstoansweringthefundamentalquestionof
philosophy.Alltherestwhetherornottheworldhasthreedimensions,whetherthe
mindhasnineortwelvecategoriescomesafterwards.Thesearegames;onemustfirst
answer.Andifitistrue,asNietzscheclaims,that aphilosopher,todeserveourrespect,
mustpreachbyexample ,youcanappreciatetheimportanceofthatreply,foritwill
precedethedefinitiveact.Thesearefactstheheartcanfeel;yettheycallforcarefulstudy
beforetheybecomecleartotheintellect.IfIaskmyselfhowtojudgethatthisquestionis
moreurgentthanthat,Ireplythatonejudgesbytheactionsitentails.Ihaveneverseen
anyonediefortheontologicalargument.Galileo,whoheldascientifictruthofgreat
importance,abjureditwiththegreatesteaseassoonasitendangeredhislife.Inacertain
sense,hedidright.[1]Thattruthwasnotworththestake.Whethertheearthorthesun
revolvesaroundtheotherisamatterofprofoundindifference.Totellthetruth,itisa
futilequestion.Ontheotherhand, Iseemanypeoplediebecausetheyjudgethatlifeis
notworthliving.Iseeothersparadoxically
gettingkilledfortheideas
orillusions
that
givethemareasonforliving(whatiscalledareasonforlivingisalsoanexcellentreason
fordying).Ithereforeconcludethatthemeaningoflifeisthemosturgentofquestions.
Howtoanswerit?Onallessentialproblems(Imeantherebythosethatruntheriskof
leadingtodeathorthosethatintensifythepassionofliving)thereareprobablybuttwo
methodsofthought:themethodofLaPalisseandthemethodofDonQuixote.Solelythe
balancebetweenevidenceandlyricismcanallowustoachievesimultaneouslyemotion
andlucidity.Inasubjectatoncesohumbleandsoheavywithemotion,thelearnedand
classicaldialecticmustyield,onecansee,toamoremodestattitudeofmindderivingat
oneandthesametimefromcommonsenseandunderstanding.Suicidehasneverbeen
dealtwithexceptasasocialphenomenon.Onthecontrary,weareconcernedhere,atthe
outset,withtherelationshipbetweenindividualthoughtandsuicide.Anactlikethisis
preparedwithinthesilenceoftheheart,asisagreatworkofart.Themanhimselfis
ignorantofit.Oneeveninghepullsthetriggerorjumps.Ofanapartmentbuilding
managerwhohadkilledhimselfIwastoldthathehadlosthisdaughterfiveyearsbefore,
thatbebadchangedgreatlysince,andthatthatexperiencehadunderminedhim.A
moreexactwordcannotbeimagined.Beginningtothinkisbeginningtobeundermined.
Societyhasbutlittleconnectionwithsuchbeginnings.Thewormisin[hu]mansheart.
Thatiswhereitmustbesought.Onemustfollowandunderstandthisfatalgamethat
leadsfromlucidityinthefaceofexistencetoflightfromlight.Therearemanycausesfor
asuicide,andgenerallythemostobviousoneswerenotthemostpowerful.Rarelyis
suicidecommitted(yetthehypothesisisnotexcluded)throughreflection.Whatsetsoff
thecrisisisalmostalwaysunverifiable.Newspapersoftenspeakofpersonalsorrowsor
ofincurableillness.Theseexplanationsareplausible.Butonewouldhavetoknow
whetherafriendofthedesperatemanhadnotthatverydayaddressedhimindifferently.
Heistheguiltyone.Forthatisenoughtoprecipitatealltherancorsandalltheboredom
stillinsuspension.[2]Butifitishardtofixthepreciseinstant,thesubtlestepwhenthe
mindoptedfordeath,itiseasiertodeducefromtheactitselftheconsequencesitimplies.
Inasense,andasinmelodrama,killingyourselfamountstoconfessing.Itisconfessing
thatlifeistoomuchforyouorthatyoudonotunderstandit.Letsnotgotoofarinsuch
analogies,however,butratherreturntoeverydaywords.Itismerelyconfessingthatthat
isnotworththetrouble.Living,naturally,isnevereasy.Youcontinuemakingthe
gesturescommandedbyexistenceformanyreasons,thefirstofwhichishabit. Dying
voluntarilyimpliesthatyouhaverecognized,eveninstinctively,
theridiculouscharacter
ofthathabit,
theabsenceofanyprofoundreasonforliving,
theinsanecharacterofthat
dailyagitation,andtheuselessnessofsuffering. What,then,isthatincalculablefeeling
thatdeprivesthemindofthesleepnecessarytolife ?Aworldthatcanbeexplainedeven
withbadreasonsisafamiliarworld.But,ontheotherhand,inauniversesuddenly
divestedofillusionsandlights,manfeelsanalien,astranger.Hisexileiswithoutremedy
sinceheisdeprivedofthememoryofalosthomeorthehopeofapromisedland.This
divorcebetweenmanandthislife,theactorandhissetting,isproperlythefeelingof
absurdity.Allhealthy[people]havingthoughtoftheirownsuicide,itcanbeseen,
withoutfurtherexplanation,thatthereisadirectconnectionbetweenthisfeelingandthe
longingfordeath.Thesubjectofthisessayispreciselythisrelationshipbetweenthe
absurdandsuicide,theexactdegreetowhichsuicideisasolutiontotheabsurd.The
principlecanbeestablishedthatforamanwhodoesnotcheat,whathebelievestobe
truemustdeterminehisaction.Beliefintheabsurdityofexistencemustthendictatehis
conduct.Itislegitimatetowonder,clearlyandwithoutfalsepathos,whetheraconclusion
ofthisimportancerequiresforsakingasrapidlyaspossibleanincomprehensible
condition.Iamspeaking,ofcourse,ofmeninclinedtobeinharmonywiththemselves.
Statedclearly,thisproblemmayseembothsimpleandinsoluble.Butitiswrongly
assumedthatsimplequestionsinvolveanswersthatarenolesssimpleandthatevidence
impliesevidence.Aprioriandreversingthetermsoftheproblem,justasonedoesor
doesnotkilloneself,itseemsthattherearebuttwophilosophicalsolutions,eitheryesor
no.Thiswouldbetooeasy.Butallowancemustbemadeforthosewho,without
concluding,continuequestioning.HereIamonlyslightlyindulginginirony:thisisthe
majority.Inoticealsothatthosewhoanswernoactasiftheythoughtyes.Asa
matteroffact,ifIaccepttheNietzscheancriterion,theythinkyesinonewayor
another.Ontheotherhand,itoftenhappensthatthosewhocommitsuicidewereassured
ofthemeaningoflife.Thesecontradictionsareconstant.Itmayevenbesaidthatthey
haveneverbeensokeenasonthispointwhere,onthecontrary,logicseemssodesirable.
Itisacommonplacetocomparephilosophicaltheoriesandthebehaviorofthosewho
professthem.Butitmustbesaidthatofthethinkerswhorefusedameaningtolifenone
exceptKirilovwhobelongstoliterature,Peregrinoswhoisbornoflegend,[3]andJules
Lequierwhobelongstohypothesis,admittedhislogictothepointofrefusingthatlife.
Schopenhauerisoftencited,asafitsubjectforlaughter,becausehepraisedsuicidewhile
seatedatawellsettable.Thisisnosubjectforjoking.Thatwayofnottakingthetragic
seriouslyisnotsogrievous,butithelpstojudgeaman.Inthefaceofsuchcontradictions
andobscuritiesmustweconcludethatthereisnorelationshipbetweentheopinionone
hasaboutlifeandtheactonecommitstoleaveit?Letusnotexaggerateinthisdirection.
Inamansattachmenttolifethereissomethingstrongerthanalltheillsintheworld.The
bodysjudgmentisasgoodasthemindsandthebodyshrinksfromannihilation.Weget
intothehabitoflivingbeforeacquiringthehabitofthinking.Inthatracewhichdaily
hastensustowarddeath,thebodymaintainsitsirreparablelead.Inshort,theessenceof
thatcontradictionliesinwhatIshallcalltheactofeludingbecauseitisbothlessand
morethandiversioninthePascaliansense.Eludingistheinvariablegame.Thetypical
actofeluding,thefatalevasionthatconstitutesthethirdthemeofthisessay,
ishope
.
Hopeofanotherlifeonemustdeserveortrickeryofthosewholivenotforlifeitself
butforsomegreatideathatwilltranscendit,refineit,giveitameaning,andbetrayit.
Thuseverythingcontributestospreadingconfusion.Hitherto,andithasnotbeenwasted
effort,peoplehaveplayedonwordsandpretendedtobelievethatrefusingtogranta
meaningtolifenecessarilyleadstodeclaringthatitisnotworthliving.Intruth,thereis
nonecessarycommonmeasurebetweenthesetwojudgments.Onemerelyhastorefuse
tohemisledbytheconfusions,divorces,andinconsistenciespreviouslypointedout.One
mustbrusheverythingasideandgostraighttotherealproblem.Onekillsoneselfbecause
lifeisnotworthliving, thatiscertainlyatruthyetanunfruitfulone becauseitisatruism.
Butdoesthatinsulttoexistence,thatflatdenialinwhichitisplungedcomefromthefact
thatithasnomeaning?Doesitsabsurdityrequireonetoescapeitthroughhopeorsuicide
thisiswhatmustbeclarified,hunteddown,andelucidatedwhilebrushingasideallthe
rest.DoestheAbsurddictatedeath?Thisproblemmustbegivenpriorityoverothers,
outsideallmethodsofthoughtandallexercisesofthedisinterestedmind.Shadesof
meaning,contradictions,thepsychologythatanobjectivemindcanalwaysintroduce
intoallproblemshavenoplaceinthispursuitandthispassion.Itcallssimplyforan
unjustinotherwords,logicalthought.Thatisnoteasy.Itisalwayseasytobe
logical.Itisalmostimpossibletobelogicaltothebitterend.Menwhodiebytheirown
handconsequentlyfollowtoitsconclusiontheiremotionalinclination.Reflectionon
suicidegivesmeanopportunitytoraisetheonlyproblemtointerestme:istherealogic
tothepointofdeath?IcannotknowunlessIpursue,withoutrecklesspassion,inthesole
lightofevidence,thereasoningofwhichIamheresuggestingthesource.ThisiswhatI
callanabsurdreasoning.Manyhavebegunit.Idonotyetknowwhetherornottheykept
toit
Link:Inwardness
Thenegisaninwardturninthefaceofdeathdenyingthepossibilityofknowledge
beyondtheself,focusing
SOLOMON8(facingdeathtogether:camusstheplagueRobertC.SolomonArtandEthicalCriticism.EditedbyGarryL.Hagberg.2008BlackwellPublishing
Ltd.ISBN:9781405134835QuincyLeeCentennialProfessorofPhilosophyandBusinessattheUniversityofTexasatAustin.Overthecourseofhiscareerhealso
taughtatnumerousotherplaces,includingPrinceton,theUniversityofPennsylvania,theUniversityofPittsburgh,UCLA,theUniversityofCaliforniaRiverside,Simon
FraserUniversity,theUniversityofBritishColumbia,andtheUniversityofAuckland)
Weareallcondemned.Welive
underadeathsentence.Thisbitofpopshockphilosophyisneitherprofoundnor
terrifying.Itistriteandobvious.Andyetwelivemostofourlivesasifitwerenotobviousatall,asifwewould
neverdie,orasifthatdayissofaroffthatitcouldnotpossiblymakeanydifferencetous,atleastfor
now.Butthen,onafewmorbiddays,wedohavethissensethatourwholelivesareovershadowedbythebrutefactofourmortality,andthequestionthenis:Whatdowedo

withthis?Therealizationofourimpendingdeathcanbeparalyzing. Everyaim ,everypleasure,andeverygooddeed
seems
tobe
renderedpointless.Orthisrealizationcanbeinvigorating,impressinguponusthelimitedamountoftimeavailable.Indeed,therealizationofonesimpending
deathcanbeagoadtophilosophizing.TheGermanthinkerMartinHeideggerdidnothesitatetoremindusthatwearebothbeinguntodeathandontologicallyinauthentic,
meaningthatalthoughdeathwasourmostnecessarypossibilitywetendtodenythisandfallbackintotheforgetfulnessofeverydaylife.Butmostofushavemomentsof
personallyprofoundreflection,whetherornotthesecountasauthenticity,inwhichtherealizationofourownimpendingdeathpromptsneitherpanicnorfrenziedactivitybut
Whatwillorcouldmylifeamountto,given
seriousthoughtandasinceresearchforperspective.Whathasmylifeamountedto,thusfar?
whattimeIhaveleft?HaveIliveduptomypromise?Andregardingpromisestootherpeople,whatpromiseshaveImade?WhichhaveIfulfilled?WhichhaveIbetrayed? Did
thosepromisesmakeanysense,intermsofwhoIreallywantorwantedtobe?HaveIpossibly

missedthewayofmylife,perhapsaltogether?WhoamIreally?Whatdoestheramblingtaleofmy
lifetellmeaboutwhereIstandinthelargerschemeofthings,oreveninjustmyownnarrative?[]If
therewerenodistancingoneselffromthehorror,thenonewouldbecomeavictim,andthehorrorwouldbepushedasidebythemoreexigentemotionsoffearandanxiety.There
isnodoubtthat,forCamus,thepeopleofOranwerelikepeopleheknew,whichmadetheidentificationevenmorepoignant.And,forus,thespecificnames,descriptions,and
conversationsofthecharactershelpustoidentifythem,aswecouldnot,forexample,thenamelessArabsinTheStranger.ButthefactthatThePlagueisapieceoffictionthat
Camuswaswritinginadifferentplaceandinthefaceofaverydifferenthorrorprovideshimwiththenecessarydistancingforhisworktoremainphilosophicalratherthan,asfor
DrRieux,amatteroftruthfulreporting.Boththefictionandtheexoticlocationprovidethedistancingforus. Thisisnotastoryofanyparticular
plague,noranallegoricalhistoryoftheNaziinvasionandoccupation.ThehorrorthatCamusdescribesisnothing
lessthanthehumancondition.Nomatterhowhappyourlivesmaybe,thereisanawfulfatethatlies
attheendofthem,forallandforeachandeveryoneofus.InThePlague,thepeopleofOrandonotfacedeathalone.Nor,insofar
hisorher
asweidentifywiththeirfate,dowe.Itistrue,asHeideggerremindsus(withmoreprofunditythanthepointisworth)that eachofusmustdie
owndeath.But inplaguewefaceacollectivedeath,oratleastweallface
asimilarcauseofdeaththat
threatensusallatmoreorless
thesametimein
moreorless
thesame
horrible
way.Thischanges
everything.Whatisthedifferencebetweenindividualdeathandcollectivedeath?RobertJayLiftondescribesthehorrificphenomenonoftheseconddeath
experiencedbythevictimsofNagasakiandHiroshima,inwhichtheirownindividualdeathswereevidentlyaccompaniedbythedeathoftheirentireworld,makingindividual
deathallthemorehorrible.Itisonethingtofaceyourowndeath.Itissomethingquitedifferenttofaceatthe
sametimethedeathsofyourlovedones,thedeathsofyour friends,
thedeathsofyour
neighbors,
the
deathsofyourentirecommunity ,thedeathofyour
societyand
your
culture
.Insuchcircumstances,
onecould,ofcourse,continuetofocusonlyononesowndeathandhopeonlythatoneselfmightbe
saved,whateverhappenstotheothers.
But
suchapersonwouldbe
anass,
acad,
something
inhuman.Mostofus,socialandcaringcreaturesthatweare,wouldcareasmuch(ormore)about
thedeathsofatleastsomeotherpeople.Whetherornotweweretodieatexactlythesametime,ourdeathswouldnolongerbeindividual,andwe

wouldnoteachdieonlyourownindividualdeath.And ifitweretheentirecommunity
,theentirepopulaceofasubstantial
citythatwassothreatened,the
possible
death
ofallaroundus
wouldnotbeamereabstraction
,
despitethesmallnumberofpeopleweactuallyknow.Itwouldbeverymuchlikeaseconddeath,
thedeathofourworld.ButdeathinThePlagueisyetmorecomplicatedandconfusing.Itisnotjustindividualdeath,althoughthereareagreatmanyindividualdeaths.TheplagueofOran
isnotthesuddendeathofanentireworld,allatonce,asinnuclearholocaust.DeathinThePlagueiscollectivebutnotsimultaneous,noteveryoneatonce.Andsomepeoplewillsurelysurvive(asinjustaboutevery
otherknownplagueinhistory.Somepeople,remarkably,haveimmunity.)Asunimaginableasthelossofoneswholeworldisandasuncomfortableastheideaofthecontinuationoftheworldwithoutmemight
betosomepeopletheuncertaintyofdeathbyplaguefurtherincreasestheanxietyandaddstocollectivedeathacuriouslycompetitiveelement.Tounderstandthepeculiarityofplaguedeath,wehavetounderstand
thispeculiarformofirrationality.Addedtothedesperateirrationalismthatoftendefinesthoughtsandbehaviorregardingimpendingdeath,thereisanadditionalingredient,theideaofeitheryouorme,anideathat
maynotbewarrantedbyourknowledgeofepidemics,butisalmostunavoidableanyway.Knowing,forexample,that30percentofthepopulationarelikelytodieofasufficientlylethalplague,itishardnottothink
aboutwhetherornotoneisincludedinthat30percent,andifnot,whois.Thusthethoughtmaybeme,maybenot,isoddlycompetitiveandempatheticatthesametime. Thustheimportance
ofDrRieuxsconstantinsistencethatwefighttheplaguetogether ,
whetherornotthereis
anythingeffectivethatwecanreallydo.Forgingsolidarityandwithit empathyi
san
essentialpartofthebattle.Deathistheultimateenemy,but,in

ThePlague atleast,the
fragmentationofsocietyemergesasaclosesecond.FacingdeathinThePlague ,
BeingwithOthers
turnsouttobeoneoftheultimatevalues.Amorefamiliarformofirrationalityistobefoundintheaccusationsofcomplicityandothersortsofblamethatoften
accompanythethreatofdeath,aswhenlongtermsmokersareblamedfortheircancersand,appallingly,gaymenwereoriginallyblamedforHIV/AIDS.Thisisonemoremanifestationoftheblamingperspective,
whichpervadesthewholeofJudeoChristianthinking.(Talkofforgivenessalreadypresupposestheblamingperspective.)Inacompetitivesituation,orinasituationthatis,howeverirrationally,thoughttobe
competitive,theblamingperspectivewillbeallthemorepronounced.Itservesasrationalization(Well,yes,soandso
diedbuthedrankthewater,orHedidntsayhisprayers,andsoon).AsIhavearguedinmyaccountofTheFall,16thisformofrationalizationissurprisinglyeffective,andthereforealsoquitewidespread.Itis
notaboutblameforthesakeofblame.Itisaboutblameasasourceofhopedforimmunity,exception,orsalvation.(Ididnotdrinkthewater.Idopray.)Itobviouslycontributestothecompetitivenessandtothe
fragmentationofthecommunityandthereforehastobecountered.Theblamingperspectiveisnotthewholestory,ofcourse,althoughpeoplelikePanelouxstruggletokeepitalive(allowingCamusoneofhisfew
boutsofblackhumorinagrimnovel).Buttheveryideathatwhetherornotonecomesdownwiththeplaguehasanythingtodowitheitherluckorblameencouragesthedivisivenessthatisthesecondmortalenemy
in
ofthenovel.Thestruggle ,asopposedtothesupposedlyheroicstruggletokeeptheAbsurd
ThePlague
alivethatdefinedCamussphilosophyjustafewyearsearlier,isasocialstruggle.Itisnotsomuch
astruggleagainstdeathasastruggleforsolidarity.Itisonlybystickingtogether,Camusis
suggesting,thatwecanmakeanyheadwayagainstourultimatecommonenemy.
But
evenifthereis
noavoidingdeath,wecan,byappreciatingourcommonfate,transcendtheisolationthatcanmake
strangersofusall.
A2ChinaTechDA
CX
1. Okay,whatpercentageofthetechsectoriskeytoChinaseconomy?
2. WhereinyourcardsdoesitsaythatChinawillretaliateagainsttheUSand
actuallygotowarwithusforoutperformingthem?
3. Okaydoesyourcardspecificallymentionlikecloudcomputingservices,internet
technology?
4. DoesnttheChinesegovernmentheavilyspyontheircitizensaswell?
a. Okay,sowiththat,whywonttheinternationalcommunitybelesslikely
tobeinvestintheChinesecompanies?
1. NoImpactChineseeconomyresilientpredictedgrowthandempiricsdisprove
collapse
Fingleton6/28/15Eamonn,EastAsianeconomyexportandeditorforForbesmagazine,June28 ,2015,ChineseStock
th
PricesMayBeCrazy,ButtheEconomyWillKeeponTruckin',SaysTopChinaWatcher
(http://www.forbes.com/sites/eamonnfingleton/2015/06/28/chinesestockpricesmaybecrazybuttheeconomyisnt/)7/31/15ANH
WiththeShanghaiindexdownnearly20percentfromvertiginousheightsreachedin
midMay,alotofpeoplearewonderingwhatnextandnotafewaresuggestingthe
Chineseeconomyisheadedoffacliff. PatChoatebegstodiffer.Theconnectionbetween
Chinesestocksandtherealeconomyiszero, hepronounces.Chinesecorporationsdonotneed
highstockpricestokeepexpanding.Theyaregovernmentownedentitiesfinancedbya
governmentownedbankingsector.AninstitutionaleconomistwhowasRossPerotsrunningmateinthe1996
presidentialelection,heranksamongAmericasmostexperiencedChinawatchers.Assuch, hehasneverfallenforthe
storythattheChineseeconomyhasbeenteeteringonthebrinkofdisaster(astorythat
hasbeenahardyperennialatleastasfarbackas2001whenGordonChangpublishedTheComing
CollapseofChina). HeestimatesthatChinasGDPgrowthoverthenextfiveyearsislikelyto
averagebetween5and6percent .Thatislowerthanthe7.4percentachievedin2014but,ashepointsout,itis far

fasterthananyothermajoreconomyislikelytoachieve .ItismoreovertobeexpectedthatasChinasshareof
totalglobaleconomicoutputincreases,itsGDPgrowthwillinevitablybegintotailoff.Thatsaid,Choatebelieves Chinastill
hasmajoropportunitiesaheadin,forinstance,buildingfasttrainnetworksandotherwise
improvingitsinfrastructure.MeanwhileitislikelytoacquireevermoreoftheWests
mostvaluableproductiontechnologies,enablingitthereforepowerfullytoleverageitsworkerproductivity.An
ironicfactorinallthisisthatmanyChinesebluechipsdonotseemparticularlyexpensive.Althoughpriceearningsratiosof80and
morehavebeenwidelypublicized,thecompaniesinvolvedtendtobeofsecondaryimportance.Bycontrast,Petrochina,recently
Chinasbiggestcorporationbymarketcapitalization,wasonatrailingPEof16.7notremarkablyhigherthanExxonMobils12.6.
ThesmallpremiumindeedwouldseemjustifiedgivenChinasgreatereconomicgrowthprospects.SimilarlyChinaMobileisonaPE
of15.0,versus20.0forVerizo.(Fulldisclosure:Verizonslatestyearsearningsweredepressedbyspecialitemsandthecompanyis
onaprospectivePEof12.0.)
A2TerrorismDA
1. TheDAliterallyconcedes100%ofouruniquenessofouradvantagemeaning
thattheyconcedethatthereisa100%chanceofterrorismhappening
2. IftheNSAissosurethataterroristattackisgoingtohappen,thenthey
probablyalreadyhavereasonablesuspiciononspecificindividualsorgroups,
thatmaycommitsuchaterroristattack.Wesolve,westillallowfortargeted
surveillance.(TheNSAalreadyhasalreadydonesufficientinvestigationatthis
point,itisntrandosarebeingsurveilledanymore,itsspecifictargets).
3. Theplanmaintainssufficientlawenforcementtoolstopreventterrorism.
Kibbe15
(MattKibbe,PresidentofFreedomWorksaconservativeandlibertarianadvocacygroup,formerChiefofStafftoU.S.
RepresentativeDanMiller(RFL),formerSeniorEconomistattheRepublicanNationalCommittee,formerDirectorofFederal
BudgetPolicyattheU.S.ChamberofCommerce,andformerManagingEditorofMarketProcessanacademiceconomicsjournal
publishedbytheCenterfortheStudyofMarketProcessesatGeorgeMasonUniversity,2015(LetterinSupportoftheSurveillance
StateRepealAct,FreedomWorks,March24th,AvailableOnlineathttp://www.freedomworks.org/content/lettersupportsurveillance
staterepealact,Accessed06192015)
ItsimportanttonotethattheS
urveillance
S
tate
R epeal
A
ct
savesantiterrorismtools

thatareusefultolawenforcement.Itretains
theabilityforgovernment
surveillance
capabilitiesagainsttargeted individuals,regardlessofthetypeofcommunications
methodsordevicesbeingused.Itwouldalsoprotect
intelligence
collectionpractices
involvingforeigntargets forthepurposeofinvestigatingweaponsof
m
ass
d estruction.
Weurgeyoutovoiceyoursupportfor
the
S urveillance
S
tate
R epeal
A
ct
tostop
unconstitutionalspyingonU.S.citizens .Itisourhopethatyouwillaskyour
representativestocosponsorandotherwisesupportthebilliftheyhavenotalreadydone
so.
4.
LinkTurnBackdoorscauseterrorism.
CROSSAPPLYKelly4/2/15fromthe1AC
Backdoorsallowforthepotentialofterrorism
Kelly;4/2/15
(ErinKellyisreporterforUSAToday,coveringprivacyissues,cybersecurity,someimmigrationissues,generalcongressional
reportingwhowenttotheUniversityofMissouriColumbia;April2nd,2015,Billwouldstopfedsfrommandating'backdoor'todata
USAToday)
WASHINGTONAbipartisangroupoflawmakersissettopushforlegislationthatwouldbarfederalagentsfromforcingtech
companiestogivethemaccesstocustomers'emails,textsandphotos."Ithinkyouhavetherighttogoaboutyourbusinesswithout
governmentinaBigBrotherwaylisteningtoyourphonecallsorreadingyouremails,"saidRep.MarkPocan,DWis.Pocanis
sponsoringtheSurveillanceStateRepealActwithRep.ThomasMassie,RKy.Thebillincludesaprovision
thatthefederalgovernmentcannotrequireelectronicsorsoftwaremanufacturerstobuild
inamechanismtoallowthegovernmenttobypassprivacytechnology.Theissue,whichwill
comeupthisspringaspartofthedebateoverwhethertoreauthorizethePatriotAct,underscoresagrowingstruggle
betweenfederallawenforcementagenciesandthetechindustryoverdataencryption.The
bill'ssponsorsplantopushforthelegislationafterCongressreturnsfromitstwoweekrecess.AsconsumersintheUSA
andoverseasdemandmoreprivacyontheirelectronicdevices,techcompaniessuchas
AppleandGooglehavestrengthenedtheirdataencryptiontoprotectpersonalinformation
fromcybercriminalsandgovernmentsurveillance.Privacyconcernshaveriseninthewakeofthe2013
revelationsbyformerNationalSecurityAgencycontractorEdwardSnowdenthattheNSAwascollectingthephonedataofmillions
ofAmericans.TopofficialsattheFBIandtheDepartmentofJusticehaverespondedangrily,
sayingencryptionespeciallyencryptionthatcanonlybeturnedoffbyuserswill
hampereffortstomonitorcriminalactivityandcatchbadguys.Federallawenforcement
officialswanttechcompaniestogivethema"backdoor"intoencryptedcellphonesand
otherdevices."Theproblem,
"Massiesaid,"isthatIfweputinbackdoorsforthe
convenienceofthegovernment,thosebackdoorscanbeexploitedbyhackersaswell." The
techindustrysaysthereisnowaytocreateasecurebackdoorthatcannotbeexploitedby
cybercriminals."Wefeelquiteconfidentthatitisnottechnologicallypossibletoonlyallow
goodguystogetin,"saidJoshKallmer,vicepresidentforglobalpolicyattheInformationTechnologyIndustryCouncil.The
council'smembersincludeApple,Facebook,Google,MicrosoftandTwitter
.Althoughthereiscurrentlynolaw
forcingtechcompaniestobuildinwaysforthegovernmenttobypassprivacytechnologyon
electroniccommunication,PocanandMassiesaythereisheavypressureoncompaniesto
doso.
OurKelly15cardhasmultiplewarrantsastohowbackdoorscauseterrorismand
thebacklashofit.
a. Federallawenforcementistheonespushingforcompaniestodecrypt
theirsoftware,
b. Consumers(internationalanddomestically)aredemandingbetter
protectionoftheirinformation
c. Thecompaniesarepushingbackbyencryptingtheirsoftware;they
recognizetheimportanceofhavingsecuresoftware.
d. Noonehasexclusiveaccesstobackdoors.
5. N/L
Prismhasntstoppedanyterroristattacks
Landau;2013
(SusanLandauisProfessorofCybersecurityPolicyintheDepartmentofSocialScienceandPolicyStudiesatWorcesterPolytechnic
InstituteandaVisitingProfessorinComputerScienceatUniversityCollegeLondon.Herresearchisincybersecuritypolicy.Shehas
workedonprivacyandsecurityofcommunicationssurveillance,identity,andcriticalinfrastructureprotection;July/August2013;
MakingSensefromSnowden:WhatsSignificantintheNSASurveillanceRevelations;IEEESecurity&Privacy)
Aquestionforanysurveillanceregimenisitseffectiveness,andthisiswheretheNSAhasmadesubstantialclaims.At
hearingson18June,NSADirector
GeneralAlexander
saidthatAmericansurveillancehad
helpedpreventpotentialterroristeventsover50timessince9/11.33(Thiswaslateramendedto
34
)At
54,ofwhich42wereterroristplots,and12werematerialsupporttoterrorists;13oftheseinvolvedtheUS.
firstglance,detailsseemtobelacking,butthatsfairlynormalintelligenceagenciesdont
exposesourcesandmethods.Thethreecasesbrieflymentionedwereagroupofmenwho
helpedfundaterroristgroupinSomalia,agroupofmenarrestedin2004withaplantoblowupthe
NewYorkStockExchange,andthecaseofNajibullahZazi,whoplottedtoblowupNew
YorkCitysubwaycarsbeforehewasarrestedin2009.Diggingdeeperintothedetailsrevealsa
differentstory.ThesupportoftheSomaliterroristgroupwasanUS$8,500contributionto
alShabab,admittedlyaterroristgroupinSomaliabutthatsnotanamountofmoney
thatwouldjustifymajorwiretappingefforts.Thestockexchangeplotwasdescribedas
nascent,andthegroupwasntprosecutedonthecharge,althoughonememberwasconvictedof
sendingmoneytoalQaeda.TheZaziplot,however,wasserious.ZazicameunderFBI
surveillanceafterhecommunicatedwithanemailaddressinPakistanlinkedtoterrorists;
35
SoalthoughaFISAtapwasplacedonZazi,
thataddresswassuppliedtotheUSbyBritishintelligence.
itoccurredasaresultofstandardinvestigativetechniques,notfromNSAmetadata
collectionorPRISM.
6. Alsowhenyoupasstheplan,youliterallysolvealloftheproblemsmentionedinour
Kelly15card,youstopterrorism.
A2Airgapping
Airgappingdoesntapplybecausetheonethatisntsecurestillhascritical
informationonit,thatsthewholereasonwhythegovernmentputthebackdoor
thereinthefirstplace
A2Applehasasecurebackdoor
1. Firstoff,thecardaboutappleisnotaboutabackdoor,itisaboutanencryption
standard
a. Itisonlyabackdooristhegovernmenthasputitintogetaccesstoa
companysinformation
2. OurKelly15cardmentionsEXPLICITLYhowacommitteewithAppleINCLUDED
concededhowthereisnotaoneway,impenetrablebackdoor.
Kelly;15
(ErinKellyisreporterforUSAToday,coveringprivacyissues,cybersecurity,someimmigrationissues,generalcongressional
reportingwhowenttotheUniversityofMissouriColumbia;April2nd,2015,Billwouldstopfedsfrommandating'backdoor'todata
USAToday)
WASHINGTONAbipartisangroupoflawmakersissettopushforlegislationthatwouldbarfederalagentsfromforcingtech
companiestogivethemaccesstocustomers'emails,textsandphotos."Ithinkyouhavetherighttogoaboutyourbusinesswithout
governmentinaBigBrotherwaylisteningtoyourphonecallsorreadingyouremails,"saidRep.MarkPocan,DWis.Pocanis
sponsoringtheSurveillanceStateRepealActwithRep.ThomasMassie,RKy.Thebillincludesaprovisionthatthe
federalgovernmentcannotrequireelectronicsorsoftwaremanufacturerstobuildina
mechanismtoallowthegovernmenttobypassprivacytechnology.Theissue,whichwillcomeup
thisspringaspartofthedebateoverwhethertoreauthorizethePatriotAct,underscoresagrowingstruggle
betweenfederallawenforcementagenciesandthetechindustryoverdataencryption.The
bill'ssponsorsplantopushforthelegislationafterCongressreturnsfromitstwoweekrecess.AsconsumersintheUSA
andoverseasdemandmoreprivacyontheirelectronicdevices,techcompanies suchasAppleand
Googlehavestrengthenedtheirdataencryptiontoprotectpersonalinformationfromcyber
criminalsandgovernmentsurveillance.Privacyconcernshaveriseninthewakeofthe2013revelationsbyformer
NationalSecurityAgencycontractorEdwardSnowdenthattheNSAwascollectingthephonedataofmillionsofAmericans.Top
officialsattheFBIandtheDepartmentofJusticehaverespondedangrily ,sayingencryption
especiallyencryptionthatcanonlybeturnedoffbyuserswillhampereffortstomonitorcriminalactivity and
catchbadguys.Federallawenforcementofficialswanttechcompaniestogivethema
"backdoor"intoencryptedcellphonesandotherdevices."Theproblem,"Massiesaid,"isthat
ifweputinbackdoorsfortheconvenienceofthegovernment,thosebackdoorscanbe
exploitedbyhackersaswell."Thetechindustrysaysthereisnowaytocreateasecurebackdoor
thatcannotbeexploitedbycybercriminals."Wefeelquiteconfidentthatitisnottechnologically
possibletoonlyallowgoodguystogetin,"saidJoshKallmer,vicepresidentforglobalpolicyattheInformation
TechnologyIndustryCouncil.Thecouncil'smembersincludeApple,Facebook,Google,MicrosoftandTwitter.Although
thereiscurrentlynolawforcingtechcompaniestobuildinwaysforthegovernmentto
bypassprivacytechnologyonelectroniccommunication,PocanandMassiesay thereisheavy
pressureoncompaniestodoso.
A2SecureBackdoorsarecoming
1. AgainCrossApplyKelly15anditstatesthatisitnottechnologicallypossibletocreate
backdoorswiththeNSAonlyabletohaveaccess.
2. Theircardiscomingfrom______________whichmeansthatofcoursetheyaregoingto
saythatasecurebackdoorsiscomingsoonbecausetheysubstantiallybenefitfromthe
existenceofthem.
3. OurcardspecificallymentionshowApple,Facebook,Google,Microsoft,Twitter,etchave
foundthatitisntpossible.
Extracards
Backdoors have been used in cyberattacks
Sarukkai 13
Sekhar Sarukkai (Co-Founder and VP of Engineering at Skyhigh Networks, where he is responsible for engineering and
operations.), 14 November 2013, Protecting Your Company from Backdoor Attacks What You Need to Know,
Skyhigh
One of the earliest known open-source backdoor attacks occurred in none less than
the Linux kernel exposed in November 2003. This example serves to show just how
subtle such a code change can be. In this case, a two-line change appeared to be a
typographical error, but actually gave the caller to the sys_wait4 function root access to
the system. Hiding in plane sight. Given the complexity of todays software, it is possible
for backdoors to hide in plain sight. More recently, there have been many backdoors
exposed including an incident last September with an official mirror of
SourceForge. In this attack, users were tricked into downloading a compromised
version of phpMyAdmin that contained a backdoor. The backdoor contained code
that allowed remote attackers to take control of the underlying server running the
modified phpMyAdmin, which is a web-based tool for managing MySQL databases. In
another case that came to light as recently as August, 2013, a popular open-source ad
software (OpenX) used by many Fortune 500 companies including was determined to
have a backdoor giving hackers administrative control of the web server. Worse
than the number of these backdoors is the time elapsed between the planting of the
backdoor and the actual discovery of the backdoor. These backdoors often go
unnoticed for months.
Theintelligencecommunityshabitofcollectingitallonlymakesitharderfor
terrorismtobestopped.
Soloman;15
(NormanSolomanistheexecutivedirectoroftheInstituteforPublicAdvocacy;August26th,2015;Whygovernmentsurveillance
wontprotectyourdataFortune)
TheneedtofindabalancebetweenprivacyandsecurityhasbecomeatruisminAmericanmediaandpoliticalrhetoric.Surveillance
makesussafer,weretold,andtoomuchconcernwithkeepingpersonallivesprivatewouldreduceprotectionagainstterrorism .
Suchpiechartdepictionsofprivacyandsecuritymightseemlogical,buttheyrebadly
flawed.Notionsoftradeoffsbetweenprivacyandsecurityhavegainedapowerfulholdonthepublic,inthemidstofcontinuing
revelationsaboutmasssurveillancethatroutinelyviolatestheFourthAmendment.ThelatestcasecameinmidAugustwhenateamof
journalistsfromProPublicaandtheNewYorkTimesproducedanindepthstorybasedondocumentssuppliedbyNationalSecurity
AgencywhistleblowerEdwardSnowden.ThefrontpagearticlerevealedthattheNSAsabilitytospyonvastquantitiesofInternet
trafficpassingthroughtheUnitedStateshasreliedonitsextraordinary,decadeslongpartnershipwithasinglecompany:thetelecom
giantAT&TT0.45%.Newfactsinthestorywerestunningoratleastshouldhavebeen.Buttheimpactsofsuchreportinghave
diminished,largelyduetotheprevalenceofzerosumconceptsthatprivacyandsecurityareatoddswitheachother.Nomatterhow
startling,eachnewrevelationabouttheextentofsnoopingbytheNSAisapttobedeflectedbyassumptionsthatUncleSammust
sometimesmorphintoadigitalBigBrotherinordertoprotectus.Butfarfrombeinglegalisticantiquesthathaveoutlivedtheir
usefulnessinourmoderneraofterrorism,theFourthAmendmentsrequirementsforprobablecause
andspecificityofwarrantsarenotonlymattersofbedrockconstitutionalprinciple.They
alsoenhanceoursecurity.AdherencetotheFourthAmendmentwithitsinsistenceon
targetedratherthangeneralwarrantsactuallyprovidesmuchbetterprotectionagainst
terrorismthanaimingthegovernmentsdigitalblunderbussatmillionsofpeople.Former
FBIspecialagentColeenRowley,whowasaTimemagazinePersonoftheYearinthewakeof9/11,points
outthatmasssurveillancemakespreventingterrorismandcatchingbadguyslessnot
morelikely.Iflocatingterroristplottersisakintofindinganeedleinahaystack,Rowley
insists,thelastthingweshoulddoiskeepaddingmorehay.YetthatswhattheNSAscollect
itallpolicieshaveamountedto.AsanFBIwhistleblowerandwitnessforseveralU.S.officialinquiriesinto9/11
inTheGuardianinNovember.Ifearthatterroristswillsucceedin
intelligencefailures,Rowleywrote
carryingoutfutureattacksnotdespitethemassivecollectitall,dragnetapproachto
intelligenceimplementedsince9/11,butbecauseofit.Thisapproachhasmadeterrorist
activitymoredifficulttospotandprevent.Rowleyexplains:TheCIAhadonlyabout16names
onitsterroristwatchlistbackinSeptember2001andprobablymostwerejustified,but
theresnowaythemillionnamesreportedlynowontheterroristidentitiesdatamart
environmentlistcanbeveryaccurate.Thedecisiontoelevatequantityoverqualitydid
nothingtoincreaseaccuracy,unblockintelligencestovepipesorpreventterroristattacks.
Inotherwords,ashaystacksfrommasssurveillancekeepgettingbigger,theneedlesofreal
terroristsgethardertofind.TheproblemcontinuestoworsenasCongressapproveshugesurveillancebudgets.If
Rowleyiscorrect(andIthinksheis),whywouldtheU.S.governmentbespendingsomuchmoneytowidensurveillancethatnot
onlyunderminestheFourthAmendmentbutalsodamagesratherthanstrengthensthecapacityofnationalsecurityagenciesto
protectus?Theanswer,asNSAwhistleblowersWilliamBinney,ThomasDrakeandKirkWiebehavetoldme,isasfamiliarasitis
disturbing:Followthemoney.Verybigmoney.Anestimated70%oftheNSAs$10.8billionbudgetisgoingtoprivatefirmsthatI
thinkarealltooeagertoboosttheirprofitsattheexpenseoftaxpayersandcivilliberties.NSAspending,inturn,amountstoscarcely
onefifthoftheoverallNationalSecurityProgrambudgetof$52.6billion,whichalsocoverstheCentralIntelligenceAgencyandless
knownagenciesliketheNationalReconnaissanceOffice.Asamatterofroutine,largenumbersofemployeesatsuchfederalagencies
moveontomuchmorelucrativeendeavors.InvestigativejournalistTimShorrockcallstheprocessajointventureofgovernment
officialsandprivatesectoropportunistswithmassivepowerandzeroaccountability.AsShorrockreportedinMayinThe
Nation,sincethiscenturybegan,thousandsofformerhighrankingintelligenceofficialsandoperativeshavelefttheirgovernment
postsandtakenupseniorpositionsatmilitarycontractors,consultancies,lawfirms,andprivateequityfirms.Intheirnewjobs,they
replicatewhattheydidingovernmentoftenforthesameagenciestheyleft.Butthistime,theirmissionisstrictlyforprofit.
Theresnodoubtthatthesurveillancebusinessisbooming.TheU.S.governmentsexpansiveprogramsforspyingnowmonitorits
owncitizensasneverbefore.ItsallinthenameofprotectingtheAmericanpeople.Butdemocracyandsecuritywillbethelosers.
TheUSFGistakingadvantageoftheParisAttacksandisgoingrenewtheir
pressureonU.S.companiestoputinabackdoor.
Zetter;11/16/15
(KimZetterisanawardwinning,seniorstaffreporteratWiredcoveringcybercrime,privacy,andsecurity;November16 th,2015;
AfterParisAttacks,HeresWhattheCIADirectorGetsWrongAboutEncryptionWired)
ItsnotsurprisingthatinthewakeoftheParisterroristattackslastFriday,US
governmentofficialswouldrenewtheirassaultonencryptionandrevivetheir
effortstoforcecompaniestoinstallbackdoorsinsecureproductsandencryption
software.Justlastmonth,thegovernmentseemedtoconcedethatforced
decryptionwasntthewaytogofornow,primarilybecausethepublicwasnt
convincedyetthatencryptionisaproblem.ButUSofficialshadalsonotedthatsomethingcouldhappento
suddenlyswaythepublicintheirfavor.RobertS.Litt,generalcounselintheOfficeoftheDirectorofNationalIntelligence,
predictedasmuchinanemailsenttocolleaguesthreemonthsago.InthatmissiveobtainedbytheWashingtonPost,Littarguedthat
althoughthelegislativeenvironment[forpassingalawthatforcesdecryptionandbackdoors]isveryhostiletoday,itcouldturnin
theeventofaterroristattackorcriminaleventwherestrongencryptioncanbeshowntohavehinderedlawenforcement.Inthe
storyaboutthatemail,anotherUSofficialexplainedtothePostthatthegovernmenthadnotyetsucceededinpersuadingthepublic
thatencryptionisaproblembecause[w]edonothavetheperfectexamplewhereyouhavethedeadchildoraterroristacttopointto,
andthatswhatpeopleseemtoclaimyouhavetohave.Withmorethan120peoplekilledlastweekin
Parisanddozensmoreseriouslywounded,governmentofficialsarealreadytouting
theCityofLightasthatcase.FormerCIAdeputydirectorMichaelMorellsaidas
muchonCBSThisMorning,suggestingthatrecalcitrantUScompaniesandNSA
whistleblowerEdwardSnowdenaretoblamefortheattacks.
Backdoorsdontstopterrorism
Zetter;11/16/15
ForcingUScompaniesandmakersofencryptionsoftwaretoinstallbackdoorsand
handoverencryptionkeystothegovernmentwouldnotsolvetheproblemof
terroristsuspectsusingproductsthataremadeincountriesnotcontrolledbyUS
laws.TheresnowayofpreventingaterroristfrominstallingaRussian
[encryption]apporaBrasilianapp,notesNateCardozo,staffattorneyfortheElectronicFrontierFoundation.
TheUSorUKgovernmentcouldmandate[backdoors],butOpenWhisperSystemsisnotgoingtoputinabackdoorintheirproduct
periodandneitherisPGP.Soassoonasaterroristissophisticatedenoughtoknowhowto
installthat,anybackdoorisgoingtobedefeated.Suchbackdoorsalsowillbe
uselessifterroristsuspectscreatetheirownencryptionapps.Accordingtothesecurityfirm
RecordedFuture,aftertheSnowdenleaks,itsanalystsobservedanincreasedpaceofinnovation,specificallynewcompetingjihadist
platformsandthreemajornewencryptiontoolsfromthreedifferentorganizationsGIMF,AlFajrTechnicalCommittee,andISIS.
Encryptionbackdoorsandkeysalsodonthelpwhenterroristsstopusingdigital
communicationsentirely.A2011APstoryindicatedthatalQaidahadlong
agoditchedcellphonesandinternetconnectedcomputersinfavorofwalkietalkies
andcouriers.NewsreportsabouttheParisattackshaveindicatedthatsomeoftheperpetratorslivedinthesametownin
Belgiumwhichwouldhavemadeitveryeasytocoordinatetheirattackinperson,withouttheneedfordigitalcommunication.
Thereareotherwaystogetinformationthatarenotfrombackdoors
Zetter;11/16/15
2.OtherWaystoGetInformation.Theargumentsforbackdoorsandforceddecryptionoftenfail
tonotethemanyothermethodslawenforcementandintelligenceagenciescanuse
togettheinformationtheyneed.Tobypassandundermineencryption,intelligence
agenciescanhackthecomputersandmobilephonesofknowntargetstoeither
obtaintheirprivateencryptionkeysorobtainemailandtextcommunications
beforetheyreencryptedandaftertheyredecryptedonthetargetscomputer.Inthe
caseofseizeddevicesthatarelockedwithapasswordorencryptionkey,thesedeviceshaveanumberofsecurityholesthatgive
authoritiesdifferentoptionsforgainingaccess,asWIREDpreviouslyreported.Astorythisweekpointedtovulnerabilitiesin
BitLockerthatwouldmakeitfairlyeasytobypasstheWindowsencryptiontool.AndtheleaksofEdwardSnowdenshowthatthe
NSAandBritishintelligenceagencieshaveaconstantlyevolvingsetoftoolsand
methodsforobtaininginformationfromhardtoreachsystems.Werestillliving
inanabsoluteGoldenAgeofsurveillance,saysCardozo.Andthereisalwaysa
wayofgettingthedatathatisneededforintelligencepurposes.
Backdoorshavesubstantivevulnerabilitiesandtheuseofthecollectitall
mentalityonlyleadstodecreasedeffortstofightterror
Zetter;11/16/15
4.BackdoorsMakeEveryoneVulnerable.Assecurityexpertshavelongpointedout,backdoorsandencryption
keysheldbyaserviceproviderorlawenforcementagenciesdontjustmake
terroristsandcriminalsopentosurveillancefromWesternauthoritieswith
authorizationtheymakeeveryonevulnerabletothesametypeofsurveillance
fromunauthorizedentities,suchaseverydayhackersandspyagenciesfromRussia,
China,andothercountries.ThismeansfederallawmakersonCapitolHillandothergovernmentworkerswhouse
commercialencryptionwouldbevulnerableaswell.TheNationalSecurityCouncil,inadraftpaperaboutencryptionbackdoors
obtainedbythePostearlierthisyear,notedthesocietaltradeoffsinforcingcompaniestoinstallbackdoorsintheirproducts.Overall,
thebenefitstoprivacy,civillibertiesandcybersecuritygainedfromencryptionoutweighthebroaderrisksthatwouldhavebeen
createdbyweakeningencryption,thepaperstated.Ifallofthesearentreasonenoughtoquestiontheattacksonencryption,thereis
anotherreason.Overandoveragain,analysisofterroristattacksafterthefacthasshownthatthe
problemintrackingtheperpetratorsinadvancewasusuallynotthatauthorities
didnthavethetechnicalmeanstoidentifysuspectsandmonitortheir
communications.Oftentheproblemwasthattheyhadfailedtofocusontherightindividualsorshareinformationina
timelymannerwiththeproperintelligencepartners.TurkishauthoritieshavealreadyrevealedthattheyhadcontactedFrench
authoritiestwicetowarnthemaboutoneoftheattackers,butthatFrenchauthoritiesnevergotbacktothemuntilafterthemassacrein
ParisonFriday.OfficialsinFranceindicatedthattheyhadthwartedatleastsixotherattackplotsinrecentmonths,butthatthesheer
numberofsuspectsmakesitdifficulttotrackeveryone.Frenchintelligencemaintainsadatabaseofsuspectedindividualsthat
currentlyhasmorethan11,000namesonit,buttrackingindividualsandanalyzingdatainatimelymannertouncoverwhoposesthe
greatestthreatismorethanthesecurityservicescanmanage,expertstherehavesaid.Itsafamiliarrefrainthatseemstocomeupafter
everyterroristattack.IfSnowdenhastaughtusanything,itsthattheintelagenciesare
drowningindata,Cardozosays.Theyhavethiscollectitallmentalityandthathas
ledtoaridiculousamountofdataintheirpossession.Itsnotabouthavingenough
data;itsamatterofnotknowingwhattodowiththedatatheyalreadyhave.
Thatsbeentruesincebefore9/11,anditsevenmoretruenow.
Thereareotherwaystogetinformationthatarenotfrombackdoors
Zetter;11/16/15
2.OtherWaystoGetInformation.Theargumentsforbackdoorsandforceddecryptionoftenfail
tonotethemanyothermethodslawenforcementandintelligenceagenciescanuse
togettheinformationtheyneed.Tobypassandundermineencryption,intelligence
agenciescanhackthecomputersandmobilephonesofknowntargetstoeither
obtaintheirprivateencryptionkeysorobtainemailandtextcommunications
beforetheyreencryptedandaftertheyredecryptedonthetargetscomputer.Inthe
caseofseizeddevicesthatarelockedwithapasswordorencryptionkey,thesedeviceshaveanumberofsecurityholesthatgive
authoritiesdifferentoptionsforgainingaccess,asWIREDpreviouslyreported.Astorythisweekpointedtovulnerabilitiesin
BitLockerthatwouldmakeitfairlyeasytobypasstheWindowsencryptiontool.AndtheleaksofEdwardSnowdenshowthatthe
NSAandBritishintelligenceagencieshaveaconstantlyevolvingsetoftoolsand
methodsforobtaininginformationfromhardtoreachsystems.Werestillliving
inanabsoluteGoldenAgeofsurveillance,saysCardozo.Andthereisalwaysa
wayofgettingthedatathatisneededforintelligencepurposes.
A2HezbollahDA
1. Theplanmaintainssufficientlawenforcementtoolstopreventterrorism.
Kibbe15
(MattKibbe,PresidentofFreedomWorksaconservativeandlibertarianadvocacygroup,formerChiefofStafftoU.S.
RepresentativeDanMiller(RFL),formerSeniorEconomistattheRepublicanNationalCommittee,formerDirectorofFederal
BudgetPolicyattheU.S.ChamberofCommerce,andformerManagingEditorofMarketProcessanacademiceconomicsjournal
publishedbytheCenterfortheStudyofMarketProcessesatGeorgeMasonUniversity,2015(LetterinSupportoftheSurveillance
StateRepealAct,FreedomWorks,March24th,AvailableOnlineathttp://www.freedomworks.org/content/lettersupportsurveillance
staterepealact,Accessed06192015)
ItsimportanttonotethattheS
urveillance
S
tate
R epeal
A
ct
savesantiterrorismtools

thatareusefultolawenforcement.Itretains
theabilityforgovernment
surveillance
capabilitiesagainsttargeted individuals,regardlessofthetypeofcommunications
methodsordevicesbeingused.Itwouldalsoprotect
intelligence
collectionpractices
involvingforeigntargets forthepurposeofinvestigatingweaponsof
m
ass
d estruction.
Weurgeyoutovoiceyoursupportfor
the
S urveillance
S
tate
R epeal
A
ct
tostop
unconstitutionalspyingonU.S.citizens .Itisourhopethatyouwillaskyour
representativestocosponsorandotherwisesupportthebilliftheyhavenotalreadydone
so.
2. Wemaintaintargetedsurveillanceafteryoupassplan,meaningthatifIsrael
trulymodelsourpolicies,thentheywillalsomodelourtargetedsurveillance
thatismaintainedafteryouvoteAFF.
3. ThatswhatwillstopHezbollah,targetedsurveillance,soiftheterrorist
groupsreallyisabigdeal,thentheywillbeabletobestoppedevenafter
passageofplan
Backdoorshavesubstantivevulnerabilitiesandtheuseofthecollectitall
mentalityonlyleadstodecreasedeffortstofightterror
Zetter;11/16/15
4.BackdoorsMakeEveryoneVulnerable.Assecurityexpertshavelongpointedout,backdoorsandencryption
keysheldbyaserviceproviderorlawenforcementagenciesdontjustmake
terroristsandcriminalsopentosurveillancefromWesternauthoritieswith
authorizationtheymakeeveryonevulnerabletothesametypeofsurveillance
fromunauthorizedentities,suchaseverydayhackersandspyagenciesfromRussia,
China,andothercountries.ThismeansfederallawmakersonCapitolHillandothergovernmentworkerswhouse
commercialencryptionwouldbevulnerableaswell.TheNationalSecurityCouncil,inadraftpaperaboutencryptionbackdoors
obtainedbythePostearlierthisyear,notedthesocietaltradeoffsinforcingcompaniestoinstallbackdoorsintheirproducts.Overall,
thebenefitstoprivacy,civillibertiesandcybersecuritygainedfromencryptionoutweighthebroaderrisksthatwouldhavebeen
createdbyweakeningencryption,thepaperstated.Ifallofthesearentreasonenoughtoquestiontheattacksonencryption,thereis
anotherreason.Overandoveragain,analysisofterroristattacksafterthefacthasshownthatthe
problemintrackingtheperpetratorsinadvancewasusuallynotthatauthorities
didnthavethetechnicalmeanstoidentifysuspectsandmonitortheir
communications.Oftentheproblemwasthattheyhadfailedtofocusontherightindividualsorshareinformationina
timelymannerwiththeproperintelligencepartners.TurkishauthoritieshavealreadyrevealedthattheyhadcontactedFrench
authoritiestwicetowarnthemaboutoneoftheattackers,butthatFrenchauthoritiesnevergotbacktothemuntilafterthemassacrein
ParisonFriday.OfficialsinFranceindicatedthattheyhadthwartedatleastsixotherattackplotsinrecentmonths,butthatthesheer
numberofsuspectsmakesitdifficulttotrackeveryone.Frenchintelligencemaintainsadatabaseofsuspectedindividualsthat
currentlyhasmorethan11,000namesonit,buttrackingindividualsandanalyzingdatainatimelymannertouncoverwhoposesthe
greatestthreatismorethanthesecurityservicescanmanage,expertstherehavesaid.Itsafamiliarrefrainthatseemstocomeupafter
everyterroristattack.IfSnowdenhastaughtusanything,itsthattheintelagenciesare
drowningindata,Cardozosays.Theyhavethiscollectitallmentalityandthathas
ledtoaridiculousamountofdataintheirpossession.Itsnotabouthavingenough
data;itsamatterofnotknowingwhattodowiththedatatheyalreadyhave.
Thatsbeentruesincebefore9/11,anditsevenmoretruenow.
A2OffshoringDA
1. Offshoringdoesntboosttheeconomy
Bivens,ResearchandPolicyDirectorattheEconomicPolicyInstitute(EPI),
05
[L.JoshBivens,Truthandconsequencesofoffshoring,Recentstudiesoverstatethe
benefitsandignorethecoststoAmericanworkers,BriefingPaper#155,
http://www.epi.org/publication/bp155/]
Conclusion
Theissueofoffshoringdemandsacarefulresponsebypolicymakers,withthegreat
challengebeingtomakesureanypotentialbenefitsareequitablydistributedamongfirmsand
workers.Anypolicyresponsemustthereforebewellinformedaboutthecostsandbenefitsofoffshoring.Proponentsofoffshoring
andmanyeconomistshaveclaimedthatitsnegativeimpactontheU.S.economyoverthepastfouryearshasbeenexaggeratedby
politiciansandothers.Eveniftrue,thisignoresthefactthatoffshoringislikelytogrowrapidlyinthefutureandcouldwellhavelarge
effectsontheU.S.economyinyearstocome.Therefore,balancedanalysesaboutwhattheseeffectswouldbeareneeded.Thethree
reportsexaminedinthispaperexaggeratethesizeofthebenefitsofferedtoAmericanworkersbyoffshoringandglossoverthemore
troublingdistributionalconsequences.
Whileoffshoringhasclearlyprovidedsubstantialcostsavingsandimprovedprofitsfora
numberoffirmsthathaveengagedinit,onecannotassumethatthesebenefitswillscaleupfor
thebroadereconomy.Mainstreaminternationaleconomicsteachesthatdeepening
internationalintegrationusuallyincreasesnationalincome,butnotalways.The
offshoringofwhitecollarworkanditsconsequences(i.e.,foreignproductivitygrowthinwhatisanexport
sectorfortheUnitedStates)fitsinwithmanyofthecharacteristicsoftheexceptions.
Further,evenifthisoffshoringdoesincreasenationalincome,Americanworkerswillstilllikelymissouton
manyofthebenefits.Mainstreaminternationaleconomicsisequallyclearthatinternationalintegration
redistributesmoreincomethanitcreates.IftotalU.S.GDPisraisedbyoffshoring,butAmericanworkersloseat
theexpenseofcorporateprofits,thenworkersarewhollyjustifiedinresistingoffshoring,atleastuntiltheyreceivesome
compensationfortheirlosses.GoodeconomicpolicyshouldnotrestoninsistingthatAmerican
workerssacrificetheirownselfinterestintermsoflowerwagestothelargernational
interestofincreasednationalincome.Policyshouldalsonotbedrivenbystudiesthatmaskthecostsofoffshoring
whileprovidinginflatedestimatesofitsbenefits.Ifproponentsofoffshoringwanttoreapthepotentialefficiencygainsitoffers,anew
socialcontractneedstobeprofferedtoAmericanworkerstoinsurethemagainsttheveryrealrisksoffshoringposestotheirliving
standards.
2. Prooffshoringstudiesflawed
Bivens,ResearchandPolicyDirectorattheEconomicPolicyInstitute(EPI),
05
[L.JoshBivens,Truthandconsequencesofoffshoring,Recentstudiesoverstatethe
benefitsandignorethecoststoAmericanworkers,BriefingPaper#155,
http://www.epi.org/publication/bp155/]
Overthepasttwoyears,economicobservershavefocusedattentiononanewtrendinthe
Americaneconomy:increasedglobalcompetitionforwhitecollarjobsthatusedtoseemwell
insulatedandsecure.Whilebluecollarlabor(particularlyinmanufacturing)hasfeltasqueezefromglobalcompetitionfordecades,
bothintermsofemploymentsecurityandwagegrowth,whitecollarjobsheldbywellcredentialedAmericanshavebeenlargelysafe
frompressuresstemmingfromthegloballabormarket.Recentreportsofcompaniessendingworkabroad,
rangingfromcallcenteroperatorstosoftwareprogrammers,havechangedthisfeelingof
security.
Suchinsecurity,especiallycomingfromagroupthatmanyassumedwouldbeaprimebeneficiaryofglobalizationi.e.,well
credentialed,whitecollarworkershasgeneratedapotentpoliticalanxietyabouttheimplicationsof
globaleconomicintegrationforAmericanworkers.
Inresponsetothisanxietyandanincipientpoliticalbacklashagainstoffshoring,anumberofstudieshavebeenreleasedbyvarious
organizationstoutinglargeeconomicbenefitsthatwillaccruetotheAmericaneconomythroughtheoffshoringofwhitecollarwork.
Acloserexaminationofthesestudies,however,showsthatthepromisedbenefitsofoffshoring
arefaroverstated,whilethelikelyeconomiccostsarenotaddressedatall.Further,eventhepotential
benefitstotheAmericaneconomyfromoffshoringarelikelytobeconcentratedinthe
incomesofarelativelyselectpercentageofAmericanhouseholds.
Thisbriefingpaperexaminesthreestudiesclaimingthattheoffshoringofwhitecollarworkwill
resultinlargebenefitstotheU.S.economy.ThesestudieswrittenbyMcKinseyGlobalInstitute(MGI),GlobalInsight
(GI),andCatherineManninapolicybrieffortheInstituteforInternationalEconomics(IIE)havebeencitedoftenin
businessreportingabouttheoverallimpactofwhitecollaroffshoringontheAmericaneconomy.However,thesefindings
donotholduptoscrutiny,andinfact,eachpapermakesexcessiveclaimsaboutthebenefits
ofwhitecollaroffshoring.
3. AccesstoEmployees&costsavingsdetermineoffshoringnotsurveillance
BusinessInsider2011
[HeresTheTRUEReasonUSCompaniesOffshoreJobs,1/25/11,
http://www.businessinsider.com/heresthetruereasonuscompaniesoffshorejobs2011
1]
MostAmericancompaniesengagedinoffshoringsayashortageofskilleddomestic
employeesnotcostcuttingistheprimaryreasonwhytheymovesomejobfunctions
overseas.
Also,manufacturersandhightech/telecommunication(NASDAQ:QQQQ)companiesarelesslikelyto
establishoffshoreoperationsandaremovingincreasinglytowardtheuseofthirdparty
providersofoffshorelabor.
TheseareamongthefindingsofthesixthannualstudyoncorporationsoffshoringtrendsbytheCenterforInternationalBusiness
EducationandResearchsOffshoringResearchNetwork(ORN)atDukeUniversitysFuquaSchoolofBusinessandTheConference
Board,anindependentresearchassociation.Thestudyispartofongoingresearchintotheeffectsof
offshoringtrendsonAmericancompetitivenessandreflectsthesentimentsofbusiness
managers.
Overhalfoftheparticipantsinoursurveysayoffshoringhasresultedinnochangeinthenumberofdomesticjobsinmost
functions,saidArieLewin,Fuquaprofessorofstrategyandinternationalbusiness.ThefindingthattheU.S.software
sectorhasthehighestratioofoffshoretodomesticemployeesalmost13offshoredjobsper100
domesticjobsmaybeareflectionofascarcityofdomesticscienceandengineering
graduatesintheU.S.
4. TurnfearsoftheNSAarehurtingUSbusinessandtheeconomy
Horne,Aussiefinancialtechnologyexecutive,2013
[PeterHorne,CautionaryTalesofRestrictiveU.S.InternetPolicies,
http://www.customers.com/forum/cautionarytalesofrestrictiveusinternetpolicies/]
ButtheseshenanigansbythezealotsoftheU.S.intelligencecommunitiesnotonly
disadvantagednonU.S.companies;theywereinseriousdangerofputtingU.S.
companiesatseriousriskoflosingtheirplaceinthenewrace.TheU.S.doesnothavethemonopolyon
knowledgeable,smart,andmotivatedtechnologists,andsopeoplestartedtosolvetheproblemforthemselves.Infactduringthe
periodofrestrictionsontheuseofSSLoutsideoftheU.S.,anenterprisingpairofAustralianscalledEricYoungandTimHudson
createdanSSLlibrarycalledSSLeaywhichbecamethedefactoglobalstandardimplementationoftheSSLprotocoltothepoint
whereitisalsonowusedasadefaultaroundtheworldintheOpenSSLpackage(everyMachasit).Theratherstrangelynamed
"legionofthebouncycastle"isalsoawebsitedomiciledinAustraliathathoststhedevelopmentofthebenchmarkSSLlibraryforthe
Javaenvironment.WhatwasstartingtohappenwasthattheopensourcemovementandsmartpeopleoutsidetheU.S.wereworking
theirwayaroundrestrictiveU.S.policies,andIhavenodoubtthathadtherestrictionscontinuedbothNetscapeandMicrosoftwould
havebeentoppledbyaforeigndevelopedwebbrowser.
Nowwindforward20years,andthisweekendwearehearingofcloudbasedwebemailservicesfromLavaBitandSilentCircle
closingtheirdoorsbecause(anditisillegalforthemtogiveanyspecificdetail)theywouldratherclosetheirdoorsthanallowU.S.
intelligenceagenciestodemandaccesstotheirnetworksanddatabases.WealsoknowthatwhileGoogleandMicrosoftwerewilling
participantsintheNSAdatacollectionprocessesrevealedbythewhistleblowerEdwardSnowden,theNSAwasabletocoerceYahoo
andAppleagainsttheirwilltodothesame.
IhopesomeonewithsomeounceofwisdomisthinkingaboutthisintheU.S.government.Thedrumsarebanging,the
technologistsareactivating,andthecypherpunksareprintingnewtshirts.Historytells
usthatifyoukeepgoingyouaregoingtofindthatthoseoutsidetheU.S.actuallyhave
thesmartsandeconomicpowertohityouwhereithurtsinyourtechindustry.Things
willslowdown,temperswillgoup,industrywillgethurt,notalotwillbeachieved,and
you'llhavetochangebecauseifthereisonethingAmericalikesmorethanchasing
boogiemen,itisitsindustriesmakingmoneyandit'speopleinjobs.
Wedon'thavetogothroughthislessonagain,dowe?It'sonlybeen20yearssincethelasttime.
5. Theycanclaimthattheygainjobsinternationally,butthatdoesntaccountfor
thejobstheylosedomesticallyfromoffshoring,whichwekeepAmericanjobsby
preventingoffshoring.
6. Wesolvethepublicprivaterelationshipbyremovingbackdoors,whichhave
hadsubstantiveeffectontheU.S.economy,crossapplyCastroandMcQuinn
fromthe1AC.WequantifyanamountthatislostfromNSAactivitiesand
explainwhywesolve,dontletthenegativeteamcomeuphereandtellyou
anythinglessspecificthanwehaveifyouwanttotrulyevaluatetheirargument.
A2CrimeDA
1. Firstoff,thereisnoevidencethatthelocallawenforcementofficialshaveaccess
totheNSAprogramsthatwearerestrictingtheuseof
a. Westillsolve,westillallowfortargetedinvestigations
b. Policeofficersonthelocallevelstillretaintheirownstandard
investigativepowerstosolvecrimes
c. Alsobecausewedecreasetheneedleinthehaystackscenario,police
areabletosolvemorecrimes.TheDAisliterallyanadvantagetothe
passageofplan,weincreaseefficiencytoactuallysolvecrimes
2. Localcircumvention
a. isntpossiblesincetheydonthavethecollectioncapacitytomass
surveil
b. isoutweighedbyfederalcircumvention/federalviolationofourfourth
amendmentright.Itisdoneonamuchlargerscale
3. Butifyoustillbelievethatcircumventionisaissue,thenstill,congressional
oversightsolves
A2NSAMorale/RecruitmentDA
CXIfwepassplan,howmanypeoplewillquittheirjobsorhowmanypeoplewillwe
loseoutonthatwouldveoverwisewantedtoworkfortheNSA
1. N/USnowdensrevelationsstilldevastatesrecruitmentandquestionsmuchof
theethicsoftheNSA
Brumfiel3/31/15(GeoffBrumfiel,sciencecorrespondentforNPR,AfterSnowden,
"TheNSAFacesRecruitmentChallenge,"www.npr.org/2015/03/31/395829446/after
snowdenthensafacesrecruitmentchallenge)
AfterSnowden'srevelations,Swann'sthinkingchanged.TheNSA'stactics,which
includeretainingdatafromAmericancitizens,raisetoomanyquestionsinhismind:"I
can'tseemyselfworkingthere,"hesays,"partiallybecauseofthesemoralreasons."This
year,theNSAneedstofind1,600recruits.Hundredsofthemmustcomefromhighly
specializedfieldslikecomputerscienceandmathematics.Sofar,itsays,theagencyhas
beensuccessful.Butwithitspopularitydown,andpayfromwealthySiliconValley
companieswayup,agencyofficialsconcedethatrecruitmentisaworry.Ifenough
studentsfollowDanielSwann,thenoneoftheworld'smostpowerfulspyagenciescould
loseitsedge.
2. Noevidencethateverybodywillleaveifyoureformtheagency
3. WeneedpunitivemeasuresontheNSAbecausetheyaredirectlynotfollowing
thelaws,theyarestillcollectingdomesticinformationwhichisalsoduetotheir
programsbeinghighlyinaccurate,meaningthatweneedtoreformtheNSAif
wewanttorestorethelegalityoftheagency
4. TurnWeincreasemoralebecausesincewemakeitsothattheNSAdoesnt
havetolookthroughabunchofinformation,likeaneedleinahaystack,the
targetedinvestigationsthatarestillallowedwillincreasesolvencyofcrimes
whichwillultimatelyrestorethemoraleoftheNSA
5. ThemoraleoftheAmericanpeopleisworthmorethanthefewNSAagents,we
wantourcitizenstofeelandtobesafeandweallowthattohappenby
improvingoureconomyandlesseningourchancesofterrorismbyremoving
backdoors
A2Politics
ObamalostpoliticalcapitalwhenherejectedKeystone
Harderetal;11/6/15
(AmyHarderreportsonenergypolicyforTheWallStreetJournalsWashington,D.C.,bureau.Hercoverageincludescongressional
legislation,executivebranchrulemakings,lobbying,andinternationalpolicyactionsaffectingtheUnitedStates.,Ms.Hardercovered
energyatNationalJournal,basedinWashington,D.C.Ms.HarderisoriginallyfromWashingtonStateandreceivedaB.A.in
journalismwithhonorsfromWesternWashingtonUniversity.ColleenMcCainNelsonisaWashington,D.C.basedreporterforThe
WallStreetJournal.ShewritesabouttheWhiteHouse.In2010,Ms.NelsonandtwocolleaguessharedthePulitzerPrizeforeditorial
writing.Ms.NelsonisaPhiBetaKappaoftheUniversityofKansas,wheresheearnedabachelorsdegreeinjournalism;November
6th2015;ObamaAdministrationRejectsKeystoneXLPipeline,Citing,ClimateConcerns:WallStreetJournal)
WASHINGTONTheObamaadministrationsrejectionoftheKeystoneXLpipeline
Fridayendsasevenyearsagawithadeclarationthattheprojectisnotinthe
nationalinterestandwouldundermineU.S.globalleadershipinfightingclimate
change.Thepermitdenial,whichwascheeredbyenvironmentalistsandlambastedbytheenergyindustry,cappedapolitically
chargedreviewoftheoilprojectthathadescalatedintoabroaderdebateonclimatechange,energyandtheeconomy.Intheend,the
administrationsdecisionlikelywillnothavemuchimpactontheindustrysoperations,andtheWhiteHousesaidthe
rejectionwasimportanttobolsterthecountryscredibilityastheU.S.urgesother
countriestoconfrontclimatechange.PresidentBarackObama,whohadsignaled
deepmisgivingsabouttheprojectashepursuedanexpansiveagendaaimedat
combatingclimatechange,saidthepipelineultimatelytookonanoverinflatedrole
inthecountryspoliticaldiscourse.Itbecameasymboltoooftenusedasacampaigncudgelbybothparties
ratherthanaseriouspolicymatter,Mr.ObamasaidattheWhiteHouse.Andallofthisobscuredthefactthatthispipelinewould
neitherbeasilverbulletfortheeconomy,aswaspromisedbysome,northeexpresslanetoclimatedisasterproclaimedbyothers.
Theprojectwouldnothaveloweredgasprices,improvedenergysecurityormadeameaningfullongtermcontributiontothe
economy,Mr.Obamasaid.ButRussGirling,presidentandchiefexecutiveofTransCanadaCorp.,thecompanybehindtheproject,
saidtheStateDepartmentsownreviewspresentedcompellingevidencethatKeystoneXLwouldnotsignificantlyexacerbate
greenhousegasemissions.Misplacedsymbolismwaschosenovermeritandscience.Rhetoricwonoutoverreason,Mr.Girling
saidinastatement.Todaysdecisiondealsadamagingblowtojobs,theeconomyandtheenvironmentonbothsidesoftheborder.
Thepermitapplicationprocess,knownasthenationalinterestdetermination,washelmedbytheStateDepartment,which
consideredseveralaspectsofhowthepipelinewouldaffecttheU.S.,includingitsimpactontheeconomy,environmentandenergy
security.SecretaryofStateJohnKerrydeliveredthefinaldeterminationtothepresidentFridaymorning.Theadministrations
decisioneffectivelykillsthepipeline,atleastfornow.AseniorStateDepartmentofficialsaidthatforafutureadministrationto
reconsidertheproject,thecompanywouldneedtobeginthepermitapplicationprocessanew.Mr.Girlinghassaidhiscompanywas
unlikelytoabandontheprojectentirely.ButhealsotoldtheJournalinaninterviewlastmonththatTransCanadawouldconsider
writingoffthe$2.4billionithasalreadyspentontheprojectandlettingitliefallowifapprovalappearsunlikelysoon.TheKeystone
XLpipelinewouldhavemovedasmanyas830,000barrelsofoiladay,mostlyfromCanadasoilsandstoSteeleCity,Neb.,whereit
wouldhaveconnectedwithexistingpipelinestoGulfCoastrefineries.Upto100,000barrelsofthatoilwouldhavecomefromNorth
Dakotasboomingoilfields.Ifcompleted,thepipelinesystemwouldhavespanned1,700milesandcrossedsixstates.Butas
thefightoverapprovalunfolded,Keystonebecameasymbolasmuchasaproject.
Environmentalactivistsseizedonitasarallyingpoint,portrayingitasepitomizing
theU.S.srelianceonfossilfuels.Thatpromptedabacklashfromconservatives,
whoderidedcriticsasopposinganeconomicallyvaluable,jobcreatingprojectto
appeaseapoliticalinterestgroup.
Winnerswinbypassinglegislation;presidentscangainpoliticalcapital,which
theycanusetopasssomethingelse.
Friedman;2010
(ThomasFreidmanisanAmericanjournalist,columnistandauthor.HehaswonthePulitzerPrizethreetimesandcurrentlywritesa
weeklycolumnforTheNewYorkTimes;"Everyonelovesawinner;NYTimes4/20/10)
Inpoliticsanddiplomacy,successbreedsauthorityandauthoritybreedsmore
success. the world
NooneeversaiditbetterthanOsamabinLaden:Whenpeopleseeastronghorseandaweakhorse,bynaturetheywilllikethestronghorse.Havenoillusions, restofthe
waswatchingourhealthcaredebateveryclosely, waitingtoseewhowouldbethestronghorseObamaorhisDemocraticandRepublican
healthcareopponents?Ateveryturninthedebate,AmericasenemiesandrivalsweregaugingwhattheoutcomemightmeanfortheirownabilitytopusharoundanuntestedU.S.president.Itremainstobeseenwhether,inthelong
run,Americawillbemadephysicallyhealthierbythebillspassage.But ,intheshortrun,Obamadefinitelywasmade
geopoliticallyhealthier. Whenothersseethepresidentasawinnerorassomebodywhohasrealauthorityinhisownhouse,itabsolutelymakesadifference,DefenseSecretaryRobert
Gatessaidtomeinaninterview.Allyouhavetodoislookathowmanyminorityorweakcoalitiongovernmentstherearearoundtheworldwhocantdeliversomethingbigintheirowncountry,butbasicallyjustteeterontheedge,
PresidentObamahashadadivided
becausetheycantputtogetherthevotestodoanythingconsequential,becauseofthedividedelectorate.
electorateandwasstillabletomusclethethingthrough.WhenPresidentDmitri
MedvedevofRussiaspokebyphonewithObamathemorningafterthehealthcare
votetofinalizetheNewStartnucleararmsreductiontreatyhebeganbysayingthatbeforediscussing
nukes,Iwanttocongratulateyou,Mr.President,onthehealthcarevote,an
administrationofficialsaid.Thatwasnotjustrankflattery. AccordingtoanAmericannegotiator,allthroughoutthearmstalks,whichparalleledthehealthcare
debate,theRussianskeptasking:CanyouactuallygetthisratifiedbytheSenateifanarmsdealiscut?WinningpassageofthehealthcarebilldemonstratedtotheRussiansthatObamacouldgetsomethinghardpassed.Ourenemies
surelynoticed,too.YoudonthavetobeMachiavellitobelievethattheleadersofIranandVenezuelasharedthebarelydisguisedRepublicanhopethathealthcarewouldfailand,therefore,Obamaswholepoliticalagendawouldbe
stalledand,therefore,hispresidencyenfeebled.HewouldthenbealameduckforthenextthreeyearsandAmericawouldbealamepower.Giventhetimeandenergyandpoliticalcapitalthatwasspentonhealthcare,failurewould
havebeenunilateraldisarmament,addedGates.Failurewouldhavebadlyweakenedthepresidentintermsofdealingwithothershisabilitytodovariouskindsofnationalsecuritythings.Youknow,peoplemadefunof
Madeleine[Albright]forsayingit,butIthinkshewasdeadon:mostoftherestoftheworlddoesseeusastheindispensablenation.Indeed,ouralliesoftencomplainaboutaworldoftoomuchAmericanpower,buttheyarenot
stupid.TheyknowthataworldoftoolittleAmericanpowerisonetheywouldenjoyevenless.TheyknowthataweakAmericaislikeaworldwithnohealthinsuranceandalotofpreexistingconditions.Gen.JamesJones,the
:Americais
presidentsnationalsecurityadviser,toldmethatherecentlymetwithakeyNATOcounterpart,whoconcludedabreakfastbycongratulatinghimonthehealthcarevoteandpronouncing
back.Butisit?WhileObamashealthcarevictorypreventedapoweroutageforhim,itdoesnotguaranteeapowersurge.Ultimately,
whatmakesastrongpresidentisastrongcountryacountrywhoseunderlying
economicprowess,balancesheetandinnovativecapacityenableittogenerateand
project power
bothmilitary andwhatthepoliticalscientistJoeNyecallssoftpowerbeinganexamplethatotherswanttoemulate.WhatmattersmostnowishowObamausesthepoliticalcapitalthat
healthcarespassagehasearnedhim.IcontinuetobelievethatthemostimportantforeignpolicyissueAmericafacestodayisitsabilitytosuccessfullyengageinnationbuildingnationbuildingathome.Obamassuccessinpassing
healthcareandthebounceithasputinhisstepwillbenothingbutasugarhighifwecantgetourdeficitundercontrol,inspireanewgenerationofstartups,upgradeourrailroadsandInternetandcontinuetoattracttheworlds
smartestandmostenergeticimmigrants.Aneffective,selfconfidentpresidentwithaweakcountryisnothingmorethanabluffer.Aneffective,selfconfidentpresident,though,atleastincreasestheoddsofusbuildingastronger
country.
Foronlyflow:
A.ThenegframeworkisflawedtheyconflateourfiattingtheUSFGwiththe
actionofoneperson.SimulatingtheUSFGisntsimulatinganyonepersoninthe
governmentiffiatisactuallygoingtodictatethatplanovercomesinherency,then
ithastoovercomemultipleagencies.So,thepremisethatthereisonlyone
policymakerinthebackoftheroomisflawed.
CapitalbarelyaffectstheDA8%swing
BeckmanandKumar11(Matthew,associateprofessorofpoliticalscienceUCIrvine,
andVimaleconomicprofessorattheIndianInstituteofTech,Opportunismin
Polarization,PresidentialStudiesQuarterly,September,41.3)
Thefinalimportantpieceinourtheoreticalmodelpresidents'politicalcapitalalsofindssupportinthese
analyses,thoughtheresultsherearelessreliable.Presidentsoperatingunderthespecterof
strongeconomyandhighapprovalratingsgetanimportant,albeitmoderate,increasein
theirchancesforprevailingon"key"Senaterollcallvotes(b=.10,se=.06,p<.10).Figure4displays
thesubstantiveimplicationsoftheseresultsinthecontextofpolarization,showingthatgoingfromthelowerthirdof
politicalcapitaltotheupperthird
increases
presidents'chancesforsuccessby 8
percentagepoints (inasettinglike2008).Thus,politicalcapital's
impactdoesprovidean
importantboosttopresidents'successonCapitolHill,butitiscertainlynotpotentenoughto
overcomebasiccongressionalrealities.Politicalcapitalisjuststrongenoughtoputa
presidentialthumbonthe
congressional
scales,
whichoftenwillnotmatter,butcaninclose
cases.
VotingNegativecausesObamatolosepoliticalcapital.Bysimulatingfiatweassume
thatallofcongressvotesunanimouslytopassthatweimplementSSRA,butwhen
youvoteNegyouteardowntheunitycreatedinCongress,whichyouwould
otherwisegetbypassingourplan.Thatsgoingtodestroyanypoliticalcapitalhe
hasleft
ExtraCards
Winnerswin.
Halloran10(Liz,ReporterNPR,ForObama,WhatADifferenceAWeekMade,
NationalPublicRadio,46,http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?
storyId=125594396)
Amazingwhatawininamajor legislativebattle willdoforapresident'sspirit.(Turmoilover
spendingandleadershipattheRepublicanNationalCommitteeoverthepastweek,andthereleaseTuesdayofamajornewand
largelysympatheticbookaboutthepresidentbyNewYorkereditorDavidRemnick,alsohaven'thurtWhiteHouseeffortstodriveits
own,newnarrative.)Obama'sStoryThoughthepresident'snationaljobapprovalratingsfailedtogetaboostbythepassageofthe
healthcareoverhaulhisnumbershaveremainedsteadythisyearatjustunder50percenthehas earned grudging
respect evenfromthosewhodon'tagreewithhispolicies."He'sachievedsomethingthatvirtually
everyoneinWashingtonthoughthecouldn't,"saysHenryOlsen,vicepresidentanddirectorofthebusinessorientedAmerican
EnterpriseInstitute'sNationalResearchInitiative."Andthat'sgivenhimconfidence."Theprotractedhealthcare
battlelookstohavetaughttheWhiteHousesomethingaboutpower,
sayspresidentialhistorian
GilTroyalessonthatwillinformObama'spursuitofhisinitiativesgoingforward."IthinkthatObamarealizesthat
presidentialpowerisa muscle ,andthemoreyouexerciseit,
thestrongeritgets ,"Troysays."He
exercisedthatpowerandhadasuccesswithhealthcarepassage,andnowhewantstomakesurepeoplerealizeit'snotjustabliponthemap."TheWhite
Housenowhasanopportunity,hesays,tochangethenarrativethathadbeenloomingthattheDemocratswouldlosebiginthefallmidtermelections,
andthatObamawaslookingmorelikeonetermPresidentJimmyCarterthantwotermerRonaldReagan,whoalsomanagedadifficultfirstterm
legislativewinandsurvivedhisparty'sbadshowinginthemidterms.ApprovalRatingsObamaisexudingconfidencesincethehealthcarebillpassed,
buthisapprovalratingsasofApril1remainunchangedfromthebeginningoftheyear,accordingtoPollster.com.What'smore,justasmanypeople
disapproveofObama'shealthcarepolicynowasdidsoatthebeginningoftheyear.Accordingtothemostrecentnumbers:Fortyeightpercentofall
AmericansapproveofObama,and47disapprove.FiftytwopercentdisapproveofObama'shealthcarepolicy,comparedwith43percentwhoapprove.
SteppingBackFromAPrecipiceThosewatchingthereemergentpresidentinrecentdayssayit'sdifficulttoimaginethatitwasonlyweeksagothat
Obama'sdomesticagendahadbeengivenlastrites,andpunditswerepreparingtheirpiecesonafailedpresidency.Obamahimselfhadframedthehealth
caredebateasareferendumonhispresidency.Alosswouldhave"ruinedtherestofhispresidentialterm,"saysDarrellWest,directorofgovernance
studiesattheliberalleaningBrookingsInstitution."Itwouldhavemadeitdifficulttoaddressotherissuesandemboldenedhiscriticstoclaimhewasa
failedpresident."TheconventionalwisdominWashingtonaftertheDemocratslosttheirsupermajorityintheU.S.SenatewhenRepublicanScottBrown
wontheMassachusettsseatlongheldbythelateSen.EdwardKennedywasthatObamawouldscalebackhishealthcareambitionstogetsomething
passed."Ithoughthewasgoingtodowhatmostpresidentswouldhavedonetaketwothirdsofaloafanddeclarevictory,"saystheAEI'sOlsen."But
hedoubleddownandmadeitavoteofconfidenceonhispresidency,parliamentarystyle.""You'vegottobeimpressedwithanachievementlikethat,"
Olsensays.ButOlsenisamongthosewhoarguethat,longterm,Obamaandhispartywouldhavebeenbetterservedpoliticallybyanincremental
approachtoreworkingthenation'shealthcaresystem,somethingthatmayhavebeenmorepalatabletoindependentvotersDemocratswillneedinthe
fall."Hewouldhavebeenabletoshowhewaslisteningmore,thatheheardtheirconcernsaboutthesizeandscopeofthis,"Olsensays.
Musclingoutawin
onasweepinghealthcarepackagemayhaveinvigoratedthepresident
and providedevidenceofleadership ,but,hiscriticssay,itremainstobeseenwhether
Obamaandhispartycanreversewhatthepollsnowsuggestisalosingissueforthem.
Alltheirplancontroversiallinksfeedourturn.ControversialwinsswingsDems
Sargent,8/23/2010(Greg,WhyisleftsodisappointedinObama?,TheWashingtonPost,p.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plumline/2010/08/politico_channels_professional.html)
Thefetishizingofbipartisanship,andthehopethat
afew
Republicanscouldbeinduced
toback
hisagenda,isalsowhatledObamatoavoidtaking a
strong
,bottomline
standon
coreprinciples,suchasthepublicoption.WhiteHouseadvisersalsoseemedreluctantforObama to
stakerealpoliticalcapitalonprovisionsthatwere
likelytofail
,whichalsocontributedto
hismixedmessagesoncoreliberalpriorities.Tobeclear,Itendtothinkthiscritiqueisoverstated:Obamahaspassedthe
mostambitiousdomesticagendasinceFDR,andtherearesomegroundsforbelievingthattheWhiteHousegotasmuchasitpossibly
couldhave.ButmybetisthatiftheWhiteHousehadn'tfetishizedbipartisanshipearlyon;ifObamahad
drawnasharpercontrastwiththeGOPfromtheoutset;andifhehadtakenastrongerstandonbehalfof core
prioritieseveniftheyweredestinedforfailure ,hisleftycriticswouldbemorewillingto
givehimthebenefitofthedoubt .
ElectionsDA
Obamasendorsementofcandidateshadnegativeeffectsinmidtermelections;proves
polarization
Kaplan;2014
th
(RebeccaKaplan;November5,2014;HowObamaandClintoncandidatesfared
)
onElectionDay;CBSNews
WaryofPresidentObama'slowapprovalratingsheadingintothemidterm
elections,theWhiteHouselimitedhisexposureonthecampaigntrail.
Steeringclear
ofthemanyDemocraticSenatecandidatesrunninginredstateswherethepresident
wasparticularlyunpopular,Mr.Obamastucktoonlybluestateswherehewas
morelikelytohelpratherthanhurt.Didthepresidentultimatelyhurtthenine
candidateshecampaignedwithintheleaduptoElectionDay?That'shardtosay.
Hecertainlydidn'thelpmuch:Fiveoftheninecandidateslosttheirraces,andthat
numbercouldrisetosixifConnecticutGov.DannelMalloydoesnotekeoutalast
minutewininhisreelectionrace.
NotonlythecandidatesareturningagainstObama,votersaretoo.
Kaplan;2014
th
(RebeccaKaplan;November5,2014;HowObamaandClintoncandidatesfared
)
onElectionDay;CBSNews
Mr.Obama'seffectontheelectionwasmixed.Justunderhalfofvoters(46percent)
saidthepresidentwasnotfactorinthevotetheycastforHousecandidates,
accordingtoCBSNewsexitpolls,comparedto39percentwhosaidPresident
GeorgeW.Bushwasnotafactorintheirvotesin2006.Butthosewhowerevoting
basedontheirfeelingsforMr.Obamawerefarmorelikelytocasttheirballotasa
negativestatementthanapositiveone:Onethirdofvoterssaidtheirvotewasin
oppositiontothepresident,andonly20percentsaidtheirvotewasinparttoshow
supportofthepresident.Mr.Bush'snumberswere36percentand22percent
respectivelyin2006
TheRepublicanpartywillnotallowanyliberallegislationtobepassedbecausetheyare
sodedicatedtoacausethatisinoppositiontoObamas.
N/UObamawastedalotofpoliticalcapitalonhisamnestyforimmigrantsXO.Hesno
longerviewedasapowerpresident;hecanneverrestoretheinfluencehehadatthe
beginningofhispresidency.Heissimplynotviewedasapowerfulpresidentsotheres
nowaythathewillbeabletopass_______________
Anyattemptatexercisingpoliticalpowernowwillbefutilebecauseitlljustbeenseenas
anattackagainsttheDemocraticPartysinceitissopolarizedduetoObamasmistakes.
Ifsomethingfails,thenitlljustbeanotherreasonfortheoppositionofObama(liberal
andconservative)todiscusshowheisafailure.
N/Uhecantdoanythinganymore,hedoesnthaveverymanyalliesinCongress,hes
lostthemall.Heisnearingtheendofhisterm.Obamaneverreallyhadanythingthathe
couldrallysupportorunifythecountrywith.Bushhad9/11andhisresponsetounifythe
countryunderacommonenemygavehimpowertopassthePatriotActandother
surveillancelegislation.Obamahassquanderedhispoliticalpower,heranonObamacare
anditwassocontestedthatitwasseenasaflop.BushhasalegacyintheMiddleEast
andwiththePatriotAct.Hehadalotofsupportwhenhehadpresidentialpower.Obama
hasntdonealotofthingsthatpeoplewillrememberhimby,oratleastnotfondly.He
usedhispoweronthewrongthingsatthewrongtimes.Itwasandisahugefightwith
congressandthepeoplewheneverhewantedtodoanythingbecausehedoesnthave
politicalcapitalinthefirstplace,whywouldhislittle,ifany,influencebyusefulnow?
Eveninthestatusquopoliticalcapitalhasdonenothingbecauseheisalameduck.Who
inthiscountryactuallybelievesthatObamaisgoingtopasssomethingbigbeforehis
termends?
Peoplearealreadygearingupfortheelectionsandalotofcandidatesaredistancing
themselvesawayfromObama,oranyObamalikepolicies,becausetheydonotwantto
beaffiliatedwithObamaatall.Mostofthecandidatesarewillingtodoanythingtojust
wintheticket,evenifthatmeansgoingagainsttheirsamepartypresident.Becauseif
theydosupportandremindvotersofObama,thatwillruintheirchancesofbeingelected
becausevotersaresickandtiredofObama.
EvenifyoubelievethatObamahaspoliticalcapitalandcoulduseit,thenhestillcant
rallysupportinCongressbecausethemembersincongress(DemocratsandRepublicans)
arenotgoingtosupporthimbecausealotofthemarerunningforpresidentthemselves.
N/UDuringmidtermelections,candidateswereaskingObamatowithdrawhissupport
becausecandidatesrecognizethatvotersaretiredofthepresident.Hewillhaveahard
timeofrallyingthelegislature,bothparties.TheDemocraticpartyisseveringtieswith
Obama,theyareabandoninghimbecausetheywanttowin.
1. NonUnique
ObamalostpoliticalcapitalwhenthecontroversialIranDeal
waspassedandBoehnervowstoblockObamasfuturelegislation
USPresidentBarackObamaisallsettoimplementthehighlycontroversialIrannuclear
deal,includingthereleasetoTehranof$150billionworthoffrozenIranianassets,afterthe
USSenatefailedtopassaresolutionofdisapprovaltoblockthemeasurebeforethe
weekend.CriticsfearthatIranwoulduseitsrecoveredassetstoboostfinancingtoterrorist
movementsintheregion.USSecretaryofStateJohnKerryhasappointedAmbassadorStephenMull"asleadcoordinator
forIranNuclearImplementation"afterthe60daycongressionalreviewperiodlapsed.KerrysaidMull"willleadtheinteragency
efforttoensurethatthenuclearstepsIrancommittedtointheJCPOA[JointComprehensivePlanofAction]arefullyimplemented
andverified,andthatweandourpartnersaretakingreciprocalactiononsanctions,followingthenuclearsteps."MullistheUS
ambassadortoPolandandservedasexecutivesecretaryattheStateDepartmentfrom2010to2012.Healsoservedassenioradvisor
tothenUndersecretaryofStateforPoliticalAffairsWilliamBurnsandworkedonissuesrelatedtoIran'snuclearprogramme.He
playedakeyrole"indesigningUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilResolution1929,whichimposedadditionalnuclearrelatedsanctions
onIran,andmarshallingsupportforitsadoptionbytheCouncil."ThereviewperiodexpiredonThursday,accordingtoNewsmax,as
RepublicanlawmakersfailedforathirdtimetoendthefilibusterbyDemocrats.ThedealbetweenIranandtheUSandfiveother
countrieswouldgiveIran$150billionthathasbeenheldupthroughsanctions.Althoughthewayhasbeenclearedforthe
implementationofthedeal,SenateMajorityLeaderMitchMcConnell'sspokesmansaid"theIranissueisnotgoingaway,"addingthat
thedealwill"likelywillberevisitedbythenextcommanderinchief."HouseSpeakerJohnBoehnersaidhe's
mullingonlegalactiontoblockthedeal.IsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahutold
CongresslastMarchthatthedealwasa"countdowntoapotentialnuclearnightmare"bya
countrythat"willalwaysbeanenemyofAmerica."
ThefactthatBoehneristryingtoblockObamasactionstomuchprovesthatliftingtheCuban
embargowonthappenwithorwithouttheplan,republicanshavetohavetheperceptionthatthey
areliftingit.Cantbesoonbecausetheirandealpassedandoabamacantaskforitanyways.He
needstomakeembargoarbitrarysoitwontbeamassivefightuntilheaskstherepublicans,
wontbeuntiltheendofthepresidency.
2. NonUnique
EveryliberalthingpassedbetweennowandtheelectionwillN/UtheDA.Ifwecan
winthechancethatanythingliberalhappensinthenext12+monthsthenweN/U
theDA.
3. TooUnique
Theelectionsareoverayearaway;theDisadistoouniquebecauseliterallyanybill
thatwepassbeforetheelectioncanlink.
4. NoPerception/NoLink
Acertainpartorcandidatewinningtheearlyraceofthegeneralelectiondoesnot
meanthattheywillwintheactualelection.
Winningtheearlyracedoesnotwintheelection.
GelmanandKing;1993
(AndrewGelmanisanAmericanstatistician,professorofstatisticsandpoliticalscience,anddirectoroftheAppliedStatisticsCenter
atColumbiaUniversityandGaryKingisanAmericanpoliticalscientistandquantitativemethodologist.HeistheAlbertJ.
WeatherheadIIIUniversityProfessorandDirectorfortheInstituteforQuantitativeSocialScienceatHarvardUniversity;1993;Why
AreAmericanPresidentialElectionCampaignPollsSoVariableWhenVotesAreSoPredictable?;CambridgeUniversityPress)
Finally,journalistsshouldrealizethattheycanreportthepollsalltheywant,andcontinuetomakeincorrectcausalinferencesabout
them,buttheyarenothelpingtopredictoreveninfluencetheelection.Journalistsplayacriticalroleinenablingvoterstomake
decisionsbasedontheequivalentofexplicitlyenlightenedpreferences.Unfortunately,byfocusingmoreonthe
pollsandmeaninglesscampaignevents,themediaarespendingmoreandmoretimeon
'news'thathaslessandlessofaneffect.Thepublicopinionhorseraceoftheearlygeneral
electionisoftremendouspopularinterest,soonecanhardlyblamethemediaforfocusing
onitsomuch.Perhapstheresearchpresentedheremighthelpthemedia,andeventually
citizens,torealizethatwinningthisearly'race'isworthnothing:itdoesnothelpwiththe
election;anditdoesnotevenhelpthecandidatesraisemoney (sincegeneralelectionsforpresidentare
nowpubliclyfunded).Becausebeingaheadintheearlypollsisworthalmostnothing,perhaps
journalistsandthenthepublicwillunderstandthatthepollsarenotworthyofasmuch
attentionastheyget.Dowereallyneedtospendsomuchpublicattentiononwhichhorse
getsintothestartingboothfirst?
Winnerswin.
storyId=125594396)
Musclingoutawin
TPP(TransPacificPartnership)
TPPdevastatestradeandgrowthensuresrapidoffshoring
Hiltzik2715(Michael,PulitzerPrizewinningjournalist,authoroffivebooks,'Freetrade'isn'twhatTransPacific
Partnershipwoulddeliver,http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/lafihiltzik20150206column.html#page=1,CMR)
Inprinciple,almosteveryone'sinfavoroffreetrade.Itpromotesinternationalharmony,raiseswages,helpseconomiesgrow.It'san
articleofhistoricalfaiththattheenactmentofharshprotectiveU.S.tariffsin1930contributedtotheGreatDepression.Andwho
wantsthat?But"freetrade"haslittletodowith thetradedealthatPresidentObamahopeswillbeahighwatermarkfor
hisadministration'sforeignpolicy:theTransPacificPartnershiptalks,whichnowinvolvetheU.S.and11PacificRimcountries
Australia,Brunei,Canada,Chile,Japan,Malaysia,Mexico,NewZealand,Peru,SingaporeandVietnam.Thepactwhichhas
beenundernegotiationvirtuallysincetheturnofthecenturyisintroubleonCapitolHill,whereitsenemiesincludeconservatives
andliberals.TheoverallproblemmaybethattheTPP,asit'sknowninshorthand,hasbecomeasymbolof
everythingthat'swrongwithfreetradeagreementstoday.Thepactisbeingnegotiatedin
secret,althoughU.S.tradenegotiatorshavegivenbigindustriesnicelonglooksbehind
thecurtain.TheWhiteHouseisdemanding"fasttrack"approvalfromCongress,whichlimitsthesay
lawmakerswillhaveandrequiresthemtoratifyinhaste.Andpublicinterestadvocatessayitcould
underminerulesandregulationsgoverningtheenvironment,health,intellectualpropertyandfinancialmarkets(tonameonlyafew
topics)."Mostoftheseprovisionshavenothingtodowithtradeorjobs,"saysliberal
economistJosephStiglitz ,aleadingcriticofthedealandthesecrecyofthetalks.Ontheotherside
oftheargumentisthetradepact'spotentialtofostereconomicgrowthandjobcreation"650,000jobsintheU.S.alone,"as
SecretaryofStateJohnF.Kerryassertedlastmonth.Butthatwidelychallengedfigure isextrapolated
froma2012reportbythePetersonInstituteofInternationalEconomics,whichdidn'tofferajobs
estimate.Infact,thereportsaidtheTPPmightdislocateworkersanddriveolderpeople
outoftheworkforceandthatanybenefitsmightbecanceledoutbytheresultingcoststo
workersandsociety.Evidencefromearliertradepacts,includingtheNorthAmericanFreeTrade
Agreement,suggeststhatthebenefitsfordevelopingcountriesamongthetreatysignatoriesaresimilarly
oversold."Tradeliberalizationonaveragehasnotbroughteconomicgrowthforemerging
economies,"Stiglitzsaid."Theideathatit'snecessarilymutuallybeneficialisjustwrong."Doubts
abouttheTPPfallintothreemaincategories.Overreach.Domesticpoliciesandregulationsshouldn'tbe
treatedastradebarrierssubjecttointernationalnegotiation,suchaspatentandcopyright
terms,wageandworkingconditions,evenenvironmentalregulations.ButprovisionsintheTPPwouldprotect
brandnamepharmaceuticalsfromcompetitionfromgenericsindevelopingcountries,forcingupthecostofhealthcare,andwould
imposetheoverlystrictcopyrighttermsoftheU.S.,wherecopyrightlasts70yearsafterthedeathofacopyrightholder,onsignatory
countries.Criticsfearthatbringingsuchissuesintoatradepactwillencouragea racetothebottom ,favoringthe
mostbusinessfriendlyregulations."Someoftheseprovisionsrollbackimportantpublicinterestpoliciesonissueslikefoodsafety,
productsafetyandaccesstodrugs,"saysLoriWallach,theglobaltradewatchdogatthepublicinterestorganizationPublicCitizen.
"Thisisdiplomaticlegislatingonthingsthataffectourdaytodaylivesthathavenothing
todowithtrade."Especiallyworrisomeisaprocedureallowingcorporationstofileclaimsinarbitrationcourtsagainst
sovereigncountriesoverchangesintheirlawsandregulations.Asisthecaseinsomeprevioustradeagreements,commercialinterests
willbeabletoseekcompensationfor"injuries"fromanythingfromminimumwageincreasestoenvironmentalandhealth
regulations.Mexicantruckersfileda$30billioncaseobjectingtosafetyandenvironmentalrulesonU.S.roads;EliLilly&Co.is
seeking$481millionfromCanadaforitsinvalidationofLillypatentsonseveraldrugs;andPhilipMorrishassuedAustraliabecause
itsrulerequiringplainpackagingforcigarettesdeprivesthecompanyofitspropertyrightsintrademarksandlogos.Even
conservativeswhootherwisefavortheTPPdetestthisprovision.TheCatoInstitutehasurgedthatitbe"purged"fromthepact. By
givingspecialprivilegestocorporationsoperatingabroad,Catosaid,theprovisionallows
themtounderminedomesticsovereigntyand" effectivelyencouragesoutsourcing ."
Secrecy.U.S.TradeRepresentativeMichaelFroman,whoisconductingthetalks,hasbeenstingywiththetext,
criticssay,outoffearofpublicnitpicking.MostofwhatthepublicknowsoftheTPP'sdraftsand
theU.S.negotiatingpositionhascomeviaWikileaks.FromantoldtheHouseWaysandMeansCommittee
lastmonththathehastaken"unprecedentedstepstoincreasetransparency"bykeepingCongressandthepublicintheloop,butmost
observerssaydisclosurehasbeennowherenearadequate.In2012,Sen.RonWyden(DOre.)wassofrustrated
atbeingstonewalledbytheUSTRthatheintroducedabillrequiringthatalllawmakerswithoversightontradepolicybegivenaccess
tokeydocuments."Fasttracking."FasttrackingallowstheadministrationtopresentCongresswithacompletedtradepact,which
lawmakersmustvoteupordownwithin90days,withoutamendmentsandwithlimiteddebateandnofilibusteringintheSenate.The
WhiteHousearguesthatfasttrackingallowsnegotiatorstoreassuretradepartnersthat"theadministrationand
Congressareonthesamepage,"asFromantoldtheHouseWaysandMeansCommittee.Thesystem" putsCongressinthe
driver'sseat,"hesaid,becausethelawmakerscan"defineU.S.negotiatingobjectivesandpriorities."Buttheoppositeis
true:Thecongressionaldirectivesaren'tbinding,andtheresultcanbejammedthroughthe
HouseandSenate.GOPleaderssuchasSenateMajorityLeaderMitchMcConnell(RKy.)andHouseWaysandMeans
CommitteeChairmanPaulD.Ryan(RWis.)favorfasttracking,butoppositionisgrowingfromconservativeRepublicansand
progressiveDemocratsalike.Combinedwithsecrecy,fasttrackingencouragestheoverreachthatmakesthe
TPPsomuchmorethanatradepact,andsodangerous.Iffasttrackingis turneddown ,theTPPwillhave
tobewidelypublishedand openlydebated ,saysPublicCitizen'sWallach."Thatwillbringoutallthe
skunksthathavebeeninvitedtothesecretpicnic,"shesays."Someofthesethingsthatshould
neverhavebeeninthatagreementinthefirstplacearen'tgoingtofareverywellwhenthey're
exposedtosunshine.Andthat'sgood."
Therewillnotbeadealrightnow12differentcountriescannotagreeonone
Anthropeski82[August2,2015http://www.popularliberty.com/6143/transpacific
partnershipnegotiationscomescreechinghaltTransPacificPartnershipNegotiations
CometoScreechingHalt](Vaibhav)
NegotiatorsofthesecretiveTransPacificPartnership( TPP ) announced Friday thattheyhadfailedtofinalize
thedeal afterseveraldaysoftalksinHawaii.Negotiationsstalledwhennationalgovernmentsfailedtoaccedetocorporatist
demandstoopentheirbordersandallowpeople,goods,capitalandinformationtoflowfreelythroughthezone,asJapaneseTrade
MinisterAkiraAmaridescribedTPPsgoalsatanewsconferenceFridayevening(linkisexternal).***** Strikingadeal
overhowlongtoprotectdatausedtodevelopbiologicdrugswasdescribedasthebiggest
sourceoffrustrationbyasourcefromanonU.S.negotiatingnation.U.S.drug
manufacturerswant12years,butAustraliawantsfive.Acompromiseofsevenoreightyearsisseenasa
possiblecompromise. TheUSwasononesideoftheissue,whilepracticallyeveryothercountry
wereontheotherside ,thesourcetoldAssociatedPress.DivisionbetweentheU.S.andJapanover
carsandNewZealandsreluctancetosettermsondairyalsoplayedaroleinthehalting
offinalization,reportsABCAustralia.ThetalksinHawaiiwereexpectedtobringaboutthefinalizationoftheeconomic
regulatorydealwhichspans12nations.ThiswouldhavesatisfiedtheObamaAdministrationwhohadpressedCongressearlierinthe
summertodelegatetheirabilitytoamendtreatiestothePresidentforquickratification.AsCurtisEllisofWNDconcludes, the
negotiationsarelikelynowtostretchintotheupcomingpresidentialelection. Thefailureto
reachanagreementassuresTPPwillbeanissueinnextyearspresidentialcontest.Insurgent
candidatesDonaldTrumpontherightandBernieSandersontheleftopposethedeal,pressingestablishmentcandidatestotakea
standonapactthatisdeeplyunpopularwithvotersacrossthepoliticalspectrum,Elliswrites.TheTransPacificPartnershiphasbeen
describedasthelargesteconomicregulatorydealtocomeundernegotiation.ThedealinvolvesthenationsofBrunei,Chile,
Singapore,NewZealand,Australia,Canada,Japan,Malaysia,Mexico,Peru,theUnitedStates,andVietnam,encompassing40percent
ofglobalGDP.TheTPPhascomeunderharshscrutinyduetothelevelofsecrecysurroundingthedeal.MembersoftheU.S.
Congresshavebeenthreatenedwithreprisaliftheyspeakpubliclyaboutthetreatyscontents.Whatsalsoextremelyconcerningisthe
factthatmembersofCongressmustenteraprivateroominthebasementofthecapital(linkisexternal),wheretheymustsurrender
theirbelongingswhiletotallyabsentoflegalassistanceinordertoreviewsomeofthetextinthetreaty. Somehaveeven
arguedthattheTPPhasverylittletodowithtrade.
TPATradePromotionAuthority
N/UTPAWontPass.
Snelletal.;10/6/15
(KelseySnell,KarounDemirjian,CatherineHo;FourreasonsObamastradedealcouldhavetroubleinCongressandonebigreason
itcouldsucceedWashingtonPost)
TheannouncementonMondaythatnegotiatorsreachedadealonasweeping12nationPacificRimtradedealmayhavebeencause
forcelebrationforPresidentObama.ButsupportinCongressisfarfromguaranteedastheTrans
PacificPartnership(TPP)agreementisgettingamixedreceptionfromlawmakers.Duetothe
rulesgoverningconsiderationoftradedeals,itcouldbeawhilebeforethedealisconsideredwithcongressionalaidesspeculatingthe
firstvotescouldstartsometimeinApril.TheWhiteHouseisexpectedtoheavilylobbymembersinthecomingmonthstotry
andconvincereticentlawmakersinbothpartiesthatthedealwouldboostexports,createnewjobsandhelpmakethePacificregion
moresecure.Thepresidentsbiggestadvantageingettingcongressionalapprovalisthatthetradedealwillbeconsideredunderspecial
fasttrackrules,knownasTradePromotionAuthority(TPA),thatwereenactedearlierthisyear.Underthisprocess,theagreement
willbesubjecttoasimpleupordownvoteandlawmakerscannotamendorfilibusterthepact.WorkingagainstObamaisthewaning
supportfromRepublicansforthedeal,theexpectedintenselobbyingfromoutsidegroupsandthecontinuingskepticismamong
membersofhisownpartythattheagreementwillbegoodforworkers.Whatfollowsisalookattheonebigreasonthedealcouldget

throughCongressandthefourchallengesthatcouldstandinitsway.Obamasadvantage Fasttracktrade
rules:ObamaworkedcloselywithRepublicansinCongressearlierthisyeartoenactlegislationthatwouldallowtradedealstobe
consideredunderthefasttrackTPArules,arareareaofbipartisancooperationbetweentheWhiteHouseandCongress.Once
legislationtoimplementthepactisintroduced,Congresscannotamendtheagreementandittakesjustasimplemajoritytoapprove
thedeal.Thoserules,whicharecommonlyusedtohelpconvinceinternationalnegotiatorsthatCongresswontmeddleinthedetails
ofalongsoughtagreement,shouldmakeiteasiertogetabillthroughCongress.Theyremovethethreatoffilibusterandpreventthe
introductionofanypoisonpillamendmentsthatcouldsinktheentirepackage.Duetothelongcongressionalreviewprocess
establishedbythelawthatsetupthefasttrackrules,itmaybeAprilbeforelegislationimplementingthedealbeginsmoving.
Betweennowandthen,observerswillbekeepingacarefuleyeonhowmanyoftheRepublicansandmoderateDemocratswho
supportedgivingthepresidentTPAsourontheactualdealastheyporeoverthedetailsandgetlobbiedbyspecialinterestgroups .
WhatcouldgowrongfortheWhiteHouse1.Republicansmaybehesitanttohand
Obamaavictory:Republicanshavetraditionallylikedtheideaoffreetradeagreements,
butonTPPsomelikelybackershavealreadyexpressedskepticism.SenateFinance
CommitteeChairmanOrrinHatch(RUtah),whowasaforcebehindputtingthefasttrackrulesinplace,saidin
astatementthattheTPPfallswoefullyshortofthegoalsandobjectivesofasuccessful
dealbecauseitdoesnotdoenoughtoimproveaccesstoglobalmarketsforAmericanmade
products.TheUnitedStatesshouldnotsettleforamediocredealthatfailstosethighstandardtraderulesintheAsiaPacific
regionforyearstocome,Hatchsaid.Thepresidentialelectioncouldpotentiallycomplicatethedebateoverthetradedealif
RepublicansbecomemorereluctanttogiveObamaavictoryonanissueheviewsasabigpartofhiseconomicpolicylegacy.Notall
ofthecandidatesontheGOPcampaigntrailhaveopinedonthenewlysignedTPP,buttheirpositionstodateontheissuehavebeen
mixed.Sens.MarcoRubio(RFla.)andTedCruz(RTexas),forinstance,havespokenpositivelyabouttheneedforsuchfreetrade
agreements.Rubiovotedforthefasttrackauthority,thoughCruzvotedagainstthebilloveradustupconcerningtheExportImport
Bank.DonaldTrump,meanwhile,hascalledTPPanattackonAmericasbusiness.2.Obama
maynothavethe
supportofsomekeyDemocrats.Itisnotuncommonforlawmakerstobecautiousintheirearlyassessmentsofatrade
agreementandsomekeyDemocratshavebeenhesitanttobackObama.Tradehastraditionallybeenadivisive
issueforDemocratswhopridethemselvesonprotectingAmericanworkers,supporting
unionsandworkingforhigherwages.Butthisdealwasparticularlydifficultforsomeinthe
presidentsparty.IhavesaidthroughoutthenegotiationsthatIwillopposeanytradeagreementthat
doesnotprotectAmericanworkersandhumanrights,createjobs,andhelphardworking
familiesinmydistrict,saidRep.LindaSanchez(DCalif.),amemberofthepowerfulWaysandMeans
Committeethathasjurisdictionovertrade.Duringthenegotiationstherewaslittleevidencethatthiswasgoingtobeagooddealfor
themajorityofAmericanworkers.SomeDemocratscomplainedthattheywerenotgiventhechancetohavemuchinputwhilethe
dealwasbeingnegotiated.EarlyreportsindicatethatthisagreementisabaddealfortheworkingmenandwomenoftheAmerican
autoindustryandformanyothersectorsoftheU.S.economy,saidRep.DebbieDingel(DMich.)Thenegotiatorscloakand
daggerapproachhasresultedinMembersofCongressandthepublicbeingforcedtooperateonhearsaynotfactsbecausetodate,
wehavebeenunabletoaccessthesecretwebofsideagreementsandbackroomdealsthatareassociatedwiththelatestroundsof
negotiations.Tradeagreementsaretypicallynegotiatedinprivatemeetingsbetweenhighlyspecializedtradenegotiatorswhotell
talesofdealshashedoutinlatenightsessionsinhotelsuitesandintinybasementboardrooms.Itiscommonforelementsofatrade
agreementtobekeptquietwhilesensitivedetailsarestillinflux,butDemocratsgrewfrustratedwithwhattheysawasan

unprecedentedlevelofsecrecyintheTPPnegotiations.3.Powerfuloutsidelobbyinggroupsoppose the
deal.Specialinterestgroupshavebeenwaitingforthedetailsofthepacttoemergeandnowthatlawmakershavethechanceto
freelydelveintothedealshundredsofpagesoflegaljargonthegroupswillhappilybetheretohelpinterpretthecomplicateddetails.
Amongthemostcontentiousissuesisthewaythedealhandlespharmaceuticals,particularlyaclassofdrugsknownas
biologics.Pharmaceuticalcompanieswantedintellectualpropertyprotectionforthosemedicinesfor12years,butthetradedealonly
grantsprotectionforuptoeightyears.LobbyinggroupPhRMAsaidthisprovisionisdisappointing.Anothercontentiousissueisthe
investorstatedisputesettlementsection,whichallowsoutofcourtarbitrationbetweenmultinationalcorporationsandforeign
governmentsoverregulationsonsuchthingsasenvironmentalandpublichealthpolicies.Environmentalgroupsarguethisprocess
tendstofavorcorporations.Thetobaccoindustryopposesthispartofthedealaswell,butforadifferentreason.Itisspecifically
barredfromtakingadvantageofthearbitrationprocess,whichwillmakeithardertochallengeantismokinginitiatives. 4.Ifthe
finalvotefallsduringprimaryseason,vulnerablecandidatescouldbenervous
aboutbackingacontroversialdeal.CongressionalaidesestimatethatthefirstsetofvotesontheTPPdealcould
happeninApril,rightintheheatofprimaryseason.ThefirststateprimariesstartonFeb.1andmanyvulnerablememberswillstillbe
ontheballotinlatespring.Wisconsin,hometovulnerableRepublicanSen.RonJohnson,hasitsprimaryscheduledforApril5.
Pennsylvania,hometovulnerableRepublicanSen.PatToomey,isscheduledtovoteonApril26.ThoughToomeyandJohnsonwill
likelyfacetheirbiggestchallengeinthegeneralelection,theirvotesontradecouldbecomeamajorcampaignissue.Othersenators
facingtoughreelectioncampaigns,suchasMichaelBennet(DColo.)andKellyAyotte(RN.H.),mayhaveearlyprimarieswhere
TPPcouldbeanissue.
Cuba
Theyhavetoprovew/oanyshadowofdoubtthattheCubanembargoisabsolutely
keyto__________insertimpact_____________dontletthemprovidevaguelinkson
howitisspecificallykeytosolvingtheimpact
CX
1. N/UBoehnerssuccessorwillstrikedownliterallyanylegislationthatis
somewhatliberaltoappeasethosewhotookdownBoehner.
Lillis;15
(MikeLillis;September29th,2015;DemsfretoverpostBoehnereraTheHill)
HouseDemocraticleadersareamplifyingconcernsthatgoverningwillonlygettougherafterSpeakerJohn
Boehner(ROhio)stepsdown.Thelawmakerssaythey'rehopefulthatRep.KevinMcCarthy(RCalif.),themajorityleader
andcurrentfavoritetoreplaceBoehner,willworkwithPresidentObamaandcongressionalDemocratstopassbillsandkeepthe
governmentrunning.Butthey'realsoquicktoacknowledgethatthenextSpeaker,whoeverthatis,
willfaceintensepressuretocatertotheconservativeRepublicanswhodroveBoehner's
resignationorrisksufferingasimilarfate."It'sdisturbingthatSpeakerBoehnerwas
somehownotconservativeenoughformanyofourRepublicancolleagues. Butlet'sbeclear:Thisis
notaSpeakerBoehnerproblem...thisisaRepublicanConferenceproblem,"Rep.BenRayLujn(N.M),headoftheDemocrats'
campaignarm,saidTuesday."AndthenextSpeakerwillfacethesamestarkchoiceas
Boehner:goalongwiththeextremebaseorgetrunoverbythem."Rep.JackieSpeier(DCalif.)echoed
thatmessage.ShecharacterizedMcCarthyas"anamiableman"with"greatleadershipskills,"butnonethelesswarnedthathe'llbe
facing"arumpcaucusintheRepublicanParty...thatisturningintoacancer.""Theywanttheirpoundofflesh,andiftheydon'tget
theirpoundoffleshtheywillshutdownthisgovernment,"Speiersaid."AndKevinMcCarthywillbefacedwith
thesamechallengesthatSpeakerBoehnerhasbeenfacedwith:tryingtoassuagethemand
neverassuagingthemenough."Boehner'ssurpriseresignationFridaycameafteryearsofsparringwitharightflankthat
attackedhisleadershipstyleastooquicktocompromisewithObamaandDemocrats,particularlyonspendingissues.Facingarevolt
overashorttermspendingbillthatconservativeswantedtousetodefundPlannedParenthood,Boehnersaidhewassteppingdownto
preservetheinstitution."Idon'twantmymemberstohavetogothroughthis,"hesaidFriday."Icertainlydon'twanttheinstitutionto
gothroughthis."McCarthy,whoannouncedhisrunfortheSpeakershiponMonday,hastakenearlystepstodistancehimselffrom
Boehner'sapproach,criticizingthefocusontheinstitutionandvowingtolistenmorecloselytoindividualmembersanodtothe
conservativeswhoessentiallytoppledBoehner."Alotofpeoplecareaboutpower,careaboutinstitution,moresothantheycareabout
changingthelivesofeverydayAmericans,hesaidTuesdayonMSNBC's"MorningJoe"program.ButIseeaconference,ifithasa
newcultureandthat'swhataSpeakerdoes,setstheculture,bringspeopletogether,letseveryvoicebeheardandbringitfromthe
bottomup.SuchcommentsareonlyfuelingtheDemocraticconcernsthatMcCarthymaybeforcedtotakea
harderlineasCongressheadsintobigfightsbeyondthismonth'sdeadlinetofundthe
government,includingthoseoverraisingthedebtlimit,extendinghighwayfundingand
reauthorizingtheExportImportBank.
2. N/UStepstowardsliftingtheCubanEmbargoarehappeningnow
Chandler;15
(AdamChandler;September18th,2015;TheSlowShreddingoftheCubanEmbargoTheAtlantic)
OnFriday,theUnitedStatesannounceditwouldfurtherrelaxitssanctionsonCuba,anexpansionofthe
rapprochementthatbeganinearnestlastDecember.TreasurySecretaryJacobLewexplainedinastatement :Theseregulatory
changesbuildontherevisionsimplementedearlierthisyearandwillfurthereasesanctionsrelatedtotravel,
telecommunicationsandinternetbasedservices,businessoperationsinCuba,and
remittances.Astronger,moreopenU.S.Cubarelationshiphasthepotentialtocreate
economicopportunitiesforbothAmericansandCubansalike.And,inalineperhapsaimedatcriticsof
theObamaadministrationsCubapolicy,Lewadded,Byfurthereasingthesesanctions,theUnitedStatesis
helpingtosupporttheCubanpeopleintheirefforttoachievethepoliticalandeconomic
freedomnecessarytobuildademocratic,prosperous,andstableCuba.Thelooseningofsanctions
willtakeeffectMondayandincludesgrantingAmericanbusinessestheabilitytodobusinessin
Cubaaswellasopenofficesthere.MoreAmericantravelerswillbeeligibletovisitand
cruiseshipswillbeabletodirectlytravelbetweenthetwocountries.Also,Americanswill
beabletoopenbankaccountsinCuba.TheannouncementcameontheeveofPopeFrancissswingthroughCuba
andtheUnitedStates.Thepontiff,whoiswidelycreditedwithhelpingtopushtheU.S.andCubacloserafterfivedecades,is
expectedtocallonCubatoallowgreaterreligiousfreedomsandhumanrights,railagainstthe53yearoldAmericanembargo,while
(controversially)avoidingmeetingwithCubandissidents.Onsocialmedia,heseemedamixbetweendeterminedandpreemptively
fatigued:AheadofthePopesvisit,Cubaannouncedthereleaseofmorethan3,500prisoners.Willthe
TreasurysannouncementhaveenoughhefttoinoculatetheUnitedStatesfromPopeFrancisscriticismsofitsCubapolicy?Probably
not.Butthelooseningoftheembargofollowedanothersymbolicdevelopment.AsTheNewYorkTimesnoted,OnThursday,Mr .
ObamareceivedcredentialsattheWhiteHousefromthefirstCubanambassadortothe
UnitedStatessince1961.
3.
N/UCastroiswillingtocooperatewithUSstillevenwiththeembargonotlifted
Spetalnicketal;15
(MATTSPETALNICK,PATRICIAZENGERLEANDDANIELTROTTA;September18 th2015ObamachipsawayatCuba
embargo,discusseseffortswithRaulCastroReuters)
TheUnitedStatesannouncednewrulesonFridaytofurthereasetrade,travelandinvestmentrestrictionswithCuba,butCuban
PresidentRaulCastrotoldPresidentBarackObamathatWashingtonshouldgoevenfurtherandliftitseconomicembargoonthe
Communistruledisland.TherarephonecallbetweenthetwoleadersfollowedtheunveilingofchangesthatwillallowcertainU.S.
companiestoestablishofficesinCuba,expandbankingandInternetactivitiesandeliminatelimitsontheamountofmoneythatcanbe
takenthere,U.S.officialssaid.DespiteCastro'sappeal,thebroader53year
oldU.S.embargowill
remaininplace,andonlyCongresscanremoveitsomethingmajorityRepublicansare
consideredhighlyunlikelytodoanytimesoon.AidestoObamatoutedthelateststeps,whichheimplemented
withhisexecutivepowersindefianceofcriticsinCongress,asawaytoboostbusinessandpromoteeconomicandpoliticalreformin
Cuba.TheyalsomarkObama'scontinuingefforttochipawayattheembargosinceathaw.CriticsofObama'sdetenteslammedthe
moveasanotherrewardtoCubawithnocorrespondingconcessionsfromHavana,especiallyonthehumanrightsfront.Thechanges,
whilesignificant,stopshortofallowingacrossthe
boardinvestmentbyU.S.companiesorgeneralU.S.tourism,activities
bannedundertheembargoitself.TheycomeasWashingtonandHavanainchtowardnormalrelations
aftermorethanhalfacenturyofhostilitythatfollowedCuba's1959revolution.Thetwo
countriesrestoreddiplomatictiesandreopenedembassiesearlierthissummer.Speaking
forthefirsttimesincetheirhistoricmeetinginPanamainApril,ObamaandCastro
discussedwaystoadvancethenormalizationprocess,includingstepsthey"cantake
togetherandindividually,"theWhiteHousesaidinastatement.
4. N/URepublicansarehighlyunlikelytoallowforembargoremovalanytimesoon
5. N/UObamaisalreadyhavingtalkswithRaulCastro
6. N/UWecandobusinessinCuba,Cubaisreleasingprisoners,proveschangeis
alreadyonthewaybecauseCubacanseeObamaseffortatimprovingrelations
evenifhehasntremovedtheEmbargo
7. N/UCubanEmbargoisntatthetopofthedocket,itisntanissuethatisgoing
tobedealtwithrightawaybecause1)thetimeistoocontroversialwiththe
passingoftheIranDeal2)ItwillNOTbepassedifObamatriestoliftitright
now.
8. N/LCapitalbarelyaffectstheDA8%swing
BeckmanandKumar11(Matthew,associateprofessorofpoliticalscienceUCIrvine,andVimaleconomicprofessor
attheIndianInstituteofTech,OpportunisminPolarization,PresidentialStudiesQuarterly,September,41.3)
increases
impactdoesprovidean
congressional
scales,
cases.
9. LinkTurnIfObamatriestoliftitnow,thenhellbiteoffmorethanhecan
chew,Obamaistryingtoreinterprettheembargoinawaythatwhenhedoes
ask,thentherepublicanswillhavenoreasontonotliftitbecausetheEmbargos
actualeffectsarewatereddownenoughwhereitsnotabigdeal.
10. LinkTurnIfpoliticalcapitalISusednowtosomehowlifttheembargothen
therewillbepoliticalbacklashtoObamaanditllbeanIranDeal2.0aka
Boehnerwillthenagaintryanyactionsohecantorepealthatdecisionorifhe
cantdothat,hellfurtherblocklegislationorifPCdoesntdoanythingthenif
Obamaattemptstouseitontherepublicans,thentheywillbacklashandtryto
blockevenmorethingsofhisALONGwithnotliftingtheembargo.
11. NoImpactCubanEmbargoisarbitrary,itdoesntrealdoanythinginmore,its
moresymbolicthananything,wearealreadyseeingrelationsincreasenowand
Cubansaregoingtobeaffectedbythateveniftheembargoisstillinplace
becausetherestrictionsarebasicallyalllifted.
IranDeal
N/UIranDealpassed
Schwartz;9/18/15
(FeliciaSchwartz;September18th2015;AfterCongressFailstoDisapprove,AdministrationStartsMovingonIranDealTheWall
StreetJournal)
WASHINGTONAstimeranoutThursdayforCongresstoblocktheIrannucleardeal,
theObamaadministrationbeganmovingassertivelytoputitintoeffect,appointingan
officialtooverseeitsimplementationandstartingtheprocessofliftingpunitiveeconomicsanctionsagainstTehran. Congress
hada60dayperiodinwhichtovotetodisapproveofthenucleardeal,reachedbetween
Iran,theU.S.andfiveotherworldpowersinJuly.Asthatclockexpired,U.S.officialsnamedOct.18as
adoptiondayforthenuclearaccord,whenitstermsareineffectandbothsides
begintheprocessofcomplying.
ImpactTurn
Iranwillpurchaseconventionalweapons,leadingtoanucleararmsraceinthe
middleeast
Welna,7/15(DavidWelna,7152015,"IranNuclearPactCouldSparkBuildupOfConventionalWeapons,"NationalPublic
Radio,http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/07/15/423101307/irannuclearpactcouldsparkbuildupofconventionalweapons,
accessed71515,SAM)
it'sinevitablethatthe
ThedealbetweenIranandsixworldpowersislimitedtokeepingthatnationfrombuildinganuclearbomb.But
agreement,announcedTuesdayinVienna,willhavebroaderconsequencesandoneofthemcouldbea
buildupofconventionalarmsintheMiddleEast.Aspartofthenucleardeal,aUnitedNationsarmsembargoonIran,
whichwasimposedin2007inresponsetothecountry'snuclearprogram,willbeliftedinfiveyearsformostweapons,andineightyearsforballistic
hisismakingsomeU.S.alliesintheregionuneasy,andthey'relikelytoseekmore
missiles.T
conventionalweaponstocounterananticipatedbuyingspreebyIran.TheU.S.hasassureditsalliesthat
theycancountonWashington'shelpstandinguptoIran.Twomonthsago,PresidentObamainvitedtheArableadersoftheGulfCooperationCouncil,or
GCC,toCampDavid,wherehepromisedthemgreatersecuritycooperation."We'llhelpourGulfpartnersimprovetheirowncapacitytodefend
themselves,"thepresidentsaid."TheUnitedStateswillstreamlineandexpeditethetransferofcriticaldefensecapabilitiestoourGCCpartners.Wewill
worktogethertodevelopanintegratedGCCdefensecapabilityagainstballisticmissiles,includinganearlywarningsystem."Allofwhichcouldprovea
bonanzaforU.S.armsmanufacturers,saysWilliamHartung,whocloselytracksthearmstradeintheMiddleEastfortheWashingtonbasedCenterfor
InternationalPolicy."It'lldefinitelybeakindofanarmsbazaarenvironment,"hesays."Iftheygoaheadwithanintegrateddefensesystem,it'llbeahuge
boontoU.S.contractorslikeRaytheonandLockheedMartinandothersthatworkinthemissiledefenseareabecausethosesystemscouldeasily
costtensofbillionsofdollars."RelatedStoriesAnIranianfamilywalkspastantiU.S.graffitionthewalloftheformerU.S.embassyinTehranon
Tuesday.PresidentHassanRouhanitoldIraniansthat"allourobjectives"havebeenmetbyanucleardealagreeduponTuesdayaftertalkswithsixworld
powers,includingtheU.S.PARALLELSTheIranianNuclearDeal:WhatHappensNext?IsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahuspeaksduringa
pressconferenceathisJerusalemofficeonTuesday.THETWOWAYNetanyahu:'ThisDealGivesIranAPathToANuclearArsenal'Intelligence
SquaredU.S.debatestage.INTELLIGENCESQUAREDU.S.Debate:IsObama'sIranDealGoodforAmerica?Thatwouldbeinadditiontothetensof
billionsofdollarsworthofweaponsU.S.armscontractorsalreadyhavesoldtoIsrael,SaudiArabiaandotheradversariesofIran.AnthonyCordesman,
farfromstartinganarms
anexpertonMiddleEastmilitarymattersattheCenterforStrategicandInternationalStudies,saysthat,
race,thesedevelopmentswillbeaboutkeepingIranfromgettingbackintoagameinwhich
it'salreadyveryfarbehind."Itsairforces,itssurfacetoairmissileforces,itslandforces
arewornandreallynothighlycapable,"Cordesmansays."They'relargeinnumbersbutlowinwarfightingability."Despite
thatdisadvantage,therewerewarningsonCapitolHillthattheagreementreachedinViennacouldtouchoffanuclear
armsraceintheMiddleEast."Saudisarealreadytakingstepsnow,maybeworkingwith
Pakistan,toproducetheirownnuclearcapability,"saysRep.MichaelMcCaul,theRepublicanchairmanoftheHouse
HomelandSecurityCommittee."ThenTurkey'sgoingtowantthat,andEgypt'sgoingtowantit,andon
andonandon."Thatconcernisunfounded,saysPhilipGordon,whowasthetopMiddleEastadviserattheWhiteHouseuntilthreemonths
Iranawayfromthebrinkandgivingreassurancethatit'snotclosetobreakingoutandsuddenlyhavinganuclearcapability,
ago."You'retaking
whichiswhatwouldleadtheothercountriestogetone,"hesays.Cordesmansaysthat,aboveallelse,theArab
GulfStateswantWashington'sreassurance."They'regoingtowanttomakesurethattheU.S.willmakegoodonitssecurityguarantees,thatitwillbea
partner,thattherewillbe,inanyemergency,U.S.support,"hesays.Thoseassuranceswilllikelybedeliverednextweek,whenDefenseSecretaryAsh
CartertravelstoIsraelandothernationsintheMiddleEast.
Winnerswin.
storyId=125594396)
Musclingoutawin
CapitalbarelyaffectstheDA8%swing
BeckmanandKumar11(Matthew,associateprofessorofpoliticalscienceUCIrvine,andVimaleconomicprofessor
attheIndianInstituteofTech,OpportunisminPolarization,PresidentialStudiesQuarterly,September,41.3)
increases
impactdoesprovidean
congressional
scales,
cases.
CPTheory
PICSBad
1.TheCPistopicaltheyreaffirmingtheresolutionbyjustpickingadifferent
agenttoenacttheplan.
2.BadforeducationTheNEGcanrelyonargumentspredicatedonswitchingup
agenciestoenactplanratherthandevelopinguniquesolutionstopressingproblems
thiskillscriticalthinking.
3.GroundBecausethecounterplanproposestodothesamethingasourplan
justwithadifferentagentweareforcedtodebateagainstwhatweareadvocating
for.
4.PredictabilityThereare140agenciesundertheUSFGalone.Itsnear
impossibleforustopredictanycombinationoftheseagencies,alongwithprepare
foreachindividualagencysfeasibility.
5.Votersforfairnessandeducationwhendebatersrelyonnotionsthattakeaway
theotherteamsaccesstokeyarguments,theydisengageallmembersinthedebate
room.Ratherthanhavingadiscussionaboutpolicymakingthatrequiresustothink
criticallyaboutrelevantissues,theyforceustodebatelikewearedebatingnow.
Ratherthandiscussingwhytheirargumentsarepragmaticallybad,weare
discussingwhytheyaretheoreticallybad.Preservingfairandengagingdebatesis
theonlywaytodevelopuniquesolutionstopressingissuesand,itstheonlywayto
keepthediscussionfocusedonthemeritofcontroversy,allowingustoaccess
portableeducationalimpactsofdebate.PICsmakeitsothatthenegativeteam
doesnthavetodoanyrealworkonspecificsonwhytheirsolvencyadvocateis
better,insteadtheyrepresentadvocacytheftinwhichthenegativeteamjusttakes
alloftheaffirmativesideasandchangesaslightthinginordertohavean
advantage.ThisencouragesvaguesolvencyadvocatesandavagueCPasawhole.
6.WhenthenegativeteambringsupaPIC,theymaketheareaofattacksosmall
thattheaffirmativeteamiseitherforcedtoattackthe5%changedfromourplanor
the95%ofourplan.Itisinherentlyproblematicbecauseweareforcedtoattacka
policythatweactuallylikebecausethenegativeputusinacornerwherethatwas
ouronlyviableoption.
7.Wewouldlikeonecardthatwouldpassintherealmiftheycpwasanaffthat
wouldsufficeasanaff.Keepthenegativeatthesamethresholdastheaffirmative.
WouldthevagueagentCPpassasanaff??WhenthenegativerunsaPICismakes
itsothattheycangetbywithadifferentburdenofproof,itmakesvagueness
acceptableandseenasrealworldpolicysolutions..Thethresholdishigherfor
acceptingthenegativeteambecauseeventhoughtheirCPisvague,itallowsthe
teamtogaincredibilityintheroundbecausetheAFFcanonlybeascredibleasthey
areinthe1AC,atacertainpointtheAFFhitstheirthresholdandthusby
presentingavagueCPwithnorealworldsolvency,thenegativeteamisseenas
moreacceptable.Inordertogetridofalltheseviolationsandpotentialabuse,all
youhavetodoisputthenegativetothesamestandardastheaffirmativeandmake
themprovideactual,crediblesolvencyadvocates.Theynegativeshouldhaveto
providesufficientevidencethatsaystheiragentwillsolvebetterspecificallyatplan.
TopicalCPsBad
1.Theyinductivelyprovetheresolutiontobetruebysayingweshouldcurtail
surveillance,theyjustdoitinanotherwaythanwedo.Theyevenusethesameactor
Thejudgeisvotingforapolicytoaffirmornegatetheresolutionandattheheartof
thatdebateiswhatactorismostappropriateforcurtailingsurveillance.The
resolutionismorethanastartingpoint,itsrequiredtobeafocalpointintheround
andcreatesmorepredictabledebates.
2.Itforcesyoutorunoffensethatcoulddamagecase.Youshouldbeallowedtorun
allviableoffenseagainstthingsthatarentresolutionalthatsourground.This
hurtsthedivisionofgroundbetweentwoteams.
ConditionalCPsBad
1.Conditionaladvocaciescreatelesseducationaldebates.Ifthenegadvocacyshifts
throughouttheround,thenargumentsbecomelessdevelopedduetotime
constraintsandnoteamisabletothoroughlyweightwocompetingworlds.
2.Conditionaladvocaciesskewaffstrategy.
A.IfaconditionalCPwerekickedintheblock,everythingthe2ACexplained
wouldbemootanditwouldbeimpossibleforthe1ARtospeakindepthonthenew
advocacy.Negswouldalwayshavealegupinthe2NR.
B.IdontthinkthiswouldbeforconditionalCPsbutwhatever(Itcanputaffsina
positionwheretheirargumentsareturnedagainstthemforinstance,iftherewas
anecondisadandacapK.Theaffcantlinkturneconbecauseitwouldlinkthem
totheK.Theyalsocantsaytheydecreasecapitalismbecauseitwouldlinkthemto
econ.)
3.Conditionaladvocaciesarentreciprocal.Wearerequiredtodefendone
advocacythroughouttheentireround,andcantkickthatadvocacyhalfway
throughtheroundifwechoose.Allowingnegativestohavemorethanoneshotkills
fairnessandtankstheirargumentativeselectivity.
4.Conditionaladvocaciesbreedlazydebating.1NCswouldnthavetomakeas
strategicofdecisionsbecausetheywouldbeassuredtheycouldkicktheCPinthe
blockanddefendthesquoifneeded.
5.Conditionaladvocaciescreatemovingtargetsiftheyhavemorethanone,they
canshiftpositionsthroughouttheblock,makingitimpossibleforustoknowwhat
issuestrulyneedtobeengageduntilthesecondtolastspeech.
6.Unconditionaladvocacieswouldcreatebetternegativedebaters.Theywould
force1NCstothinkcriticallyaboutthebestwaytowinthedebateroundfromthe
veryfirstspeech.Thiswouldmakethembetterdecisionmakersandbetter
advocates.
Consideringmultipleissuesinrapidsuccessionpreventslongtermacquisitionofinformation,harms
criticalthinking,andturnsmultitasking
NicholasCarr,6/5/10[NicholasCarristheauthor,mostrecently,ofTheShallows:
WhattheInternetIsDoingtoOurBrains.DoestheInternetMakeYou
Dumber?,http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704025304575284981644790098.html?
mod=rss_Todays_Most_Popular]
TheRomanphilosopherSenecamayhaveputitbest2,000yearsago:Tobeeverywhereistobenowhere.Today,theInternetgrantsuseasy
accesstounprecedentedamountsofinformation.Butagrowingbodyofscientificevidence
suggests
thattheNet,withits
constantdistractionsandinterruptions,isalsoturningusintoscatteredandsuperficialthinkers. Thepictureemergingfromtheresearchis
deeplytroubling,atleasttoanyonewhovaluesthe
depth
,ratherthanjustthe
velocity
,ofhumanthought.
Peoplewhoreadtextstuddedwithlinks,thestudiesshow,comprehendlessthanthosewhoreadtraditionallineartext.Peoplewhowatchbusy
multimediapresentationsrememberlessthanthosewhotakeininformationinamoresedateandfocusedmanner.Peoplewhoarecontinually
distractedbyemails,alertsandothermessagesunderstandlessthanthosewhoareabletoconcentrate. Andpeoplewhojuggle
manytasksarelesscreativeandlessproductivethanthosewhodoonethingatatime .Thecommon
threadinthesedisabilitiesisthedivisionofattention.Therichnessofourthoughts,ourmemories
andevenourpersonalitieshingesonourabilitytofocusthemindandsustainconcentration .Only
whenwepaydeepattentiontoanewpieceofinformationareweabletoassociateitmeaningfully
andsystematicallywithknowledgealreadywellestablishedinmemory,writestheNobelPrizewinning
neuroscientistEricKandel.Suchassociationsareessentialtomasteringcomplexconcepts .Whenwere
constantlydistractedandinterrupted,aswetendtobeonline,ourbrainsareunabletoforgethestrongand
expansiveneuralconnectionsthatgivedepthanddistinctivenesstoourthinking .Webecomemere
signalprocessingunits,quicklyshepherdingdisjointedbitsofinformationintoandthenoutofshorttermmemory.
InanarticlepublishedinSciencelastyear,PatriciaGreenfield,aleadingdevelopmentalpsychologist,revieweddozensofstudiesonhowdifferentmedia
technologiesinfluenceourcognitiveabilities.Someofthestudiesindicatedthatcertaincomputertasks,likeplayingvideogames,canenhancevisual
literacyskills,increasingthespeedatwhichpeoplecanshifttheirfocusamongiconsandotherimagesonscreens.Otherstudies,however,foundthat
such rapidshiftsinfocus,evenifperformedadeptly,resultinlessrigorousandmore
automatic thinking. InoneexperimentconductedatCornellUniversity,forexample,halfaclassofstudentswasallowedtouseInternetconnectedlaptopsduringalecture,whiletheotherhadtokeeptheircomputers
shut.ThosewhobrowsedtheWebperformedmuchworseonasubsequenttestofhowwelltheyretainedthelecturescontent.WhileitshardlysurprisingthatWebsurfingwoulddistractstudents,itshouldbeanoteofcautiontoschoolsthatare
wiringtheirclassroomsinhopesofimprovinglearning.Ms.Greenfieldconcludedthateverymediumdevelopssomecognitiveskillsattheexpenseofothers.Ourgrowinguseofscreenbasedmedia,shesaid,hasstrengthenedvisualspatial
intelligence,whichcanimprovetheabilitytodojobsthatinvolvekeepingtrackoflotsofsimultaneoussignals,likeairtrafficcontrol.Butthathasbeenaccompaniedby newweaknessesinhigher
ordercognitiveprocesses,includingabstractvocabulary,mindfulness,reflection,inductive
problemsolving,criticalthinking,andimagination.Werebecoming,inaword,shallower. Inanotherexperiment,recently
conductedatStanfordUniversitysCommunicationBetweenHumansandInteractiveMediaLab,ateamofresearchersgavevariouscognitiveteststo49peoplewhodoalotofmediamultitaskingand52peoplewhomultitaskmuchlessfrequently.Theheavymultitaskersperformedpoorlyonallthetests.Theyweremoreeasilydistracted,hadlesscontrolovertheir
attention,andweremuchlessabletodistinguishimportantinformationfromtrivia.Theresearchersweresurprisedbytheresults.Theyhadexpectedthattheintensivemultitaskerswouldhavegainedsomeuniquementaladvantagesfromalltheironscreenjuggling.Butthatwasntthecase.Infact ,theheavy
multitaskerswerentevengoodatmultitasking.Theywereconsiderablylessadeptatswitching
betweentasksthanthemoreinfrequentmultitaskers. Everythingdistractsthem,observedCliffordNass,theprofessorwhoheadstheStanfordlab.Itwouldbeonethingiftheilleffectswentawayassoonasweturnedoff
ourcomputersandcellphones.Buttheydont.Thecellularstructureofthehumanbrain,scientistshavediscovered,adaptsreadilytothetoolsweuse,includingthoseforfinding,storingandsharinginformation.Bychangingourhabitsofmind,eachnewtechnologystrengthenscertainneuralpathwaysandweakensothers.Thecellularalterationscontinuetoshapethe
waywethinkevenwhenwerenotusingthetechnology.ThepioneeringneuroscientistMichaelMerzenichbelievesourbrainsarebeingmassivelyremodeledbyoureverintensifyinguseoftheWebandrelatedmedia.Inthe1970sand1980s,Mr.Merzenich,nowaprofessoremeritusattheUniversityofCaliforniainSanFrancisco,conductedafamousseriesof
experimentsonprimatebrainsthatrevealedhowextensivelyandquicklyneuralcircuitschangeinresponsetoexperience.When,forexample,Mr.Merzenichrearrangedthenervesinamonkeyshand,thenervecellsintheanimalssensorycortexquicklyreorganizedthemselvestocreateanewmentalmapofthehand.Inaconversationlatelastyear,hesaidthathe
wasprofoundlyworriedaboutthecognitiveconsequencesoftheconstantdistractionsandinterruptionstheInternetbombardsuswith.
The longtermeffectonthequalityofourintellectuallives,he
said,couldbedeadly.
A2AbolishNSA
TransparencyCP
CXHowdowedeterminewhatisdeemedsafetobereleasedtothepublic.
Perm:
1. NoreasonwhytheCPismutuallyexclusive
2. Doboth,increasetransparencyofFISCandplan
Solvency:
1. CPdoesntevenreformorrepealharmfulprograms,justreleaseinfoabout
it.AFFplandoes.AnotherreasonforthePERM
2. Doesntsolveforanythingunique,wealreadyknowaboutthemajorly
abusivemasssurveillancegovernmentalprograms,weevenrecognizeitin
the1AC.TheresnotalotofsecrecyaftertheSnowdenrevelations.
3. PlanimpliesthattheFISCwoulddisclosetheinformationbyincreasing
transparency
4. Welimitwhatmasssurveillanceprogramscanbeused,lesscourtorderswill
begoingthroughFISC.
5. Congressionaloversightsolvesnotonlyarewelimitingmasssurveillance
programs,wearealsousingcongresstocheckupontheintelligenceagencies
tomakesurenoabuseoccurs.
SolvencyPress:PICSolvencytheory
1) The2ACwouldneverbeabletogeneratethebestoffenseagainsttheCP.The
PICwouldforceaffsinapositionwherewewouldhavetosaywhyouragentor
solvencymechanismisbad.PICskillnegativecriticalthinking.Ratherthan
developingsomethingtrulymutuallyexclusiveanddistinctfromplan,1NCs
couldstealaffideasthatrequiredimmenseamountsofresearchandstrategic
decision.Thatcreatesbadadvocatesoutofnegativeteams.
2) PICsareintellectualtheft.Negativeteamstaketheworkthataffirmativesdo
andputitintotheirowncounterplan,neverdoingtheirownresearchand
stealinganothersadvocacy.Thisturnsanyoftheireducationresponsesthey
couldavoidamajorityofCPworkwiththisstrategy.
3) PICsjustifyinfinitelyregressiveCPstheycouldalwaysdotheplanbut
subtractoneelementfromit.
4) IfyoureallywanttoevaluatetheCP,thenyouhavetoputtheCPatthesame
standardasanaffirmativeplanmeaningdontletthemrungenericsolvency
advocateswithouthavingtoclarifyeverysinglelastthingaboutthesolvency
mechanismontheCP.
5) TheCP/vsAFFdebatecomesdowntowhetherornotyouwouldratherjust
publishthefindingsofsurveillanceORwouldyouratheractuallysolvethe
problematitssourcebyactuallycurtailingsurveillanceANDincreasing
transparency
6) TheCPistopicaltheyreaffirmingtheresolutionbyjustpickingadifferent
waytogoabouttheaffirmationoftheresolution.Theyreevenusingthesame
actor.Thewholepointofthenegativeteamistonotaffirmtheresolutionwhile
theAFFshouldaffirmit,thatswhythingsliketopicalityexists.
CourtsCP
1. TheCPistopicaltheyreaffirmingtheresolutionbyjustpickingadifferent
waytogoabouttheaffirmationoftheresolution.Theyreevenusingthesame
actor.Thewholepointofthenegativeteamistonotaffirmtheresolutionwhile
theAFFshouldaffirmit,thatswhythingsliketopicalityexists.
2. IftheSupremecourtactsthentheywouldhavetomassivelyexpandthescopeofthe
constitutiontolegislaturetoadapttothenewF/W.Italsomeansthatbyruling
somethingunconstitutional,itwouldexcludeinthefutureaseriesofoptionsthatthe
federalgovernmentwouldhavethatwerearenotfamiliaryet.
TheorySupremeCourt(SC)fiatismuchmoreexpansivethanlegislativefiat.
1. Whereaslegislativefiatonlyfiatsthehouseandsenate,thecourtfiatwould
theoreticallynotjustfiatactionsofthesupremecourtbutalsoallappellate,
circuit,anddistrictcourts.Alltold,itwouldchangethemindsetofliterally
thousandsofpeople.
2. Notjustthatitisexpansiveinthepeoplethatitaffects,butitisalsomore
permanentanddurable.Whenthelegislativebranchacts,theconceptisthatthe
lawistemporary,modified,appealed,orevenruledunconstitutionalatsome
point,stateoflawspassedchangedallthetime.Decisionsaretemporarywhen
youdothis;theyrelessdurable.Votingnegativeessentiallyestablishesa
durabilitythatisnotreasonableandthelawitprettysetandstoneatthatpoint
meaningmodificationsmostlywillnotbeabletotakeplace.
3. Whenopponentsruncircumventionargumentsthatisanexampleoffiatabuse.
YoucreateaSCrulingthatismuchdurableandheavyhandedandtheycanspike
outofatonofarguments.However,whenwearguethesamecircumvention
argumentsagainsttheCPtheycanmakeagainstthescopeoragilityofthecourts
decisionwillsolvebackthecircumvention.Iftheycanruncircumvention,socan
we.
4. ForexampleiftheyweretosaythatifwebanPRISM,theyllsayPRISMservers
willmoveoffshoretocircumventthelaw(orwhateverthenegissayingabout
circumvention),however,thiscircumventionargumentwillstilloccursotheylink
intoitwiththeCPanddontgettheNetBenefit.ORtheytryandexplainwhy
theydontlinkwhichjustdemonstratednotonlyinroundabuse,butalsothe
abuseoffiatbecausethenegativeteamissuddenlyallowedtochangethescope
andmeaningoffiatbuttheydontlettheAFFdothesamething.
5. ThethresholdrequiredfortheSCtomakeadecisionissubstantiallyhigherthanit
isforthelegislativetomakelawswhichtheydoeverysingleday.Forustojust
fiatlawmakerstogettheiracttogetherisnothingtotheiractofthemagicalforce
requiredtopushcourtrulings(onconstitutionalityorwhateverelse)
CourtactionagainsttheNSAuniquelycrushesmorale
Savage14(Charlie,NewYorkTimes,1/23/14,WatchdogReportSaysN.S.A.Program
IsIllegalandShouldEnd,http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/us/politics/watchdog
reportsaysnsaprogramisillegalandshouldend.html)
Whileamajorityofthefivememberboardembracedthatconclusion,twomembers
dissentedfromtheviewthattheprogramwasillegal.Butthepanelwasunitedin10other
recommendations,includingdeletingrawphonerecordsafterthreeyearsinsteadoffive
andtighteningaccesstosearchresults.Thereportalsoshedslightonthehistoryofthe
oncesecretbulkcollectionprogram.Itcontainsthefirstofficialacknowledgmentthatthe
ForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceCourtproducednojudicialopiniondetailingitslegal
rationalefortheprogramuntillastAugust,eventhoughithadbeenissuingordersto
phonecompaniesfortherecordsandtotheN.S.A.forhowitcouldhandlethemsince
May2006.TheprivacyboardslegalcritiqueoftheprogramwasapprovedbyDavid
Medine,theboardschairmanandaformerFederalTradeCommissionofficialinthe
Clintonadministration;PatriciaM.Wald,aretiredfederalappealscourtjudgenamedto
thebenchbyPresidentJimmyCarter;andJamesX.Dempsey,acivillibertiesadvocate
whospecializesintechnologyissues.ButtheothertwomembersRachelL.Brandand
ElisebethCollinsCook,bothofwhomwereJusticeDepartmentlawyersintheGeorge
W.Bushadministrationrejectedthefindingthattheprogramwasillegal.
Theywrote
inseparatedissentsthattheboardshouldhavefocusedexclusivelyonpolicyandleft
legalanalysistothecourts.Lastmonth,twoFederalDistrictCourtjudgesreached
oppositelegalconclusionsinseparatelawsuitschallengingtheprogram.Ms.Brand
wrotethatwhilethelegalquestionwasdifficult,thegovernmentslegaltheorywasat
leastareasonablereading,madeingoodfaithbynumerousofficialsintwo
administrationsofdifferentparties.Shealsoworriedthatdeclaringthatcounterterrorism
officialshavebeenoperatingthisprogramunlawfullyforyears coulddamagemorale
andmakeagenciesoverlycautiousintakingstepstoprotectthecountry .
XOCP
1. ExecutiveOrdersareperceivedasbypassingCongressandcreategreat
politicalcontroversy:
MarybethP.Ulrich,July2004,U.S.ArmyWarCollegeGuidetoNationalSecurityPolicyandStrategy,
PresidentialLeadershipandNationalSecurityPolicymaking
Executiveordershavemainlybeenusedinthreeareas:tocombatvariousformsofdiscriminationagainstcitizens,to
increaseWhiteHousecontrolovertheexecutivebranch,andtomaintainsecrets.WhenCongressperceives
thatexecutiveordersaretakentobypassCongressoncontroversialissues
,they
mayelicitgreatpoliticalcontroversy
andbea
sourceofconflictbetweenthe
twobranches.Eventheprospectofanexecutiveorderbeingissuedcan
eruptin
majorpoliticalcontroversyaswasthecasewithPresidentClintonsproposaltolift
thebanongaysservinginthemilitary.Therewasnoquestionthatthepresidenthadthelegitimate
authoritytoissuesuchanorderasTrumanhaddonetointegratethearmedforcesin1948,butthepolitical
backlashwassostrongin1993thatClintonabandonedtheideainordertosalvage
hisdomesticagendabeforeCongress.
2. N/UBoehnerssuccessorwillstrikedownliterallyanylegislationthatis
somewhatliberaltoappeasethosewhotookdownBoehner.
Lillis;15
(MikeLillis;September29th,2015;DemsfretoverpostBoehnereraTheHill)
HouseDemocraticleadersareamplifyingconcernsthatgoverningwillonlygettougherafterSpeakerJohn
Boehner(ROhio)stepsdown.Thelawmakerssaythey'rehopefulthatRep.KevinMcCarthy(RCalif.),themajorityleader
andcurrentfavoritetoreplaceBoehner,willworkwithPresidentObamaandcongressionalDemocratstopassbillsandkeepthe
governmentrunning.Butthey'realsoquicktoacknowledgethatthenextSpeaker,whoeverthatis,
willfaceintensepressuretocatertotheconservativeRepublicanswhodroveBoehner's
resignationorrisksufferingasimilarfate."It'sdisturbingthatSpeakerBoehnerwas
somehownotconservativeenoughformanyofourRepublicancolleagues. Butlet'sbeclear:Thisis
notaSpeakerBoehnerproblem...thisisaRepublicanConferenceproblem,"Rep.BenRayLujn(N.M),headoftheDemocrats'
campaignarm,saidTuesday."AndthenextSpeakerwillfacethesamestarkchoiceas
Boehner:goalongwiththeextremebaseorgetrunoverbythem."Rep.JackieSpeier(DCalif.)echoed
thatmessage.ShecharacterizedMcCarthyas"anamiableman"with"greatleadershipskills,"butnonethelesswarnedthathe'llbe
facing"arumpcaucusintheRepublicanParty...thatisturningintoacancer.""Theywanttheirpoundofflesh,andiftheydon'tget
theirpoundoffleshtheywillshutdownthisgovernment,"Speiersaid."AndKevinMcCarthywillbefacedwith
thesamechallengesthatSpeakerBoehnerhasbeenfacedwith:tryingtoassuagethemand
neverassuagingthemenough."Boehner'ssurpriseresignationFridaycameafteryearsofsparringwitharightflankthat
attackedhisleadershipstyleastooquicktocompromisewithObamaandDemocrats,particularlyonspendingissues.Facingarevolt
overashorttermspendingbillthatconservativeswantedtousetodefundPlannedParenthood,Boehnersaidhewassteppingdownto
preservetheinstitution."Idon'twantmymemberstohavetogothroughthis,"hesaidFriday."Icertainlydon'twanttheinstitutionto
gothroughthis."McCarthy,whoannouncedhisrunfortheSpeakershiponMonday,hastakenearlystepstodistancehimselffrom
Boehner'sapproach,criticizingthefocusontheinstitutionandvowingtolistenmorecloselytoindividualmembersanodtothe
conservativeswhoessentiallytoppledBoehner."Alotofpeoplecareaboutpower,careaboutinstitution,moresothantheycareabout
changingthelivesofeverydayAmericans,hesaidTuesdayonMSNBC's"MorningJoe"program.ButIseeaconference,ifithasa
newcultureandthat'swhataSpeakerdoes,setstheculture,bringspeopletogether,letseveryvoicebeheardandbringitfromthe
bottomup.SuchcommentsareonlyfuelingtheDemocraticconcernsthatMcCarthymaybeforcedtotakea
harderlineasCongressheadsintobigfightsbeyondthismonth'sdeadlinetofundthe
government,includingthoseoverraisingthedebtlimit,extendinghighwayfundingand
reauthorizingtheExportImportBank.
TopicalCP
1) Theyinductivelyprovetheresolutiontobetruebysayingweshouldcurtail
surveillance,theyjustdoitinanotherwaythanwedo.Theyusethesame
actor,buttheirexactspecificationofwhointhefederalgovernmentdoesitis
different.ButitisstilltheUNITEDSTATESFEDERALGOVERNMENT
whoisdoingtheplan.Thejudgeisvotingforapolicytoaffirmornegatethe
resolutionandattheheartofthatdebateiswhatactorismostappropriate
forcurtailingsurveillance.Theresolutionismorethanastartingpoint,its
requiredtobeafocalpointintheroundandcreatesmorepredictable
debates.
2) Itforcesyoutorunoffensethatcoulddamagecase.Youshouldbeallowedto
runallviableoffenseagainstthingsthatarentresolutionalthatsour
ground.Thishurtsthedivisionofgroundbetweentwoteams.
3) The2ACwouldneverbeabletogeneratethebestoffenseagainsttheCP.
ThePICwouldforceaffsinapositionwherewewouldhavetosaywhyour
agentorsolvencymechanismisbad.PICskillnegativecriticalthinking.
Ratherthandevelopingsomethingtrulymutuallyexclusiveanddistinctfrom
plan,1NCscouldstealaffideasthatrequiredimmenseamountsofresearch
andstrategicdecision.Thatcreatesbadadvocatesoutofnegativeteams.
4) PICsareintellectualtheft.Negativeteamstaketheworkthataffirmativesdo
andputitintotheirowncounterplan,neverdoingtheirownresearchand
stealinganothersadvocacy.Thisturnsanyoftheireducationresponses
theycouldavoidamajorityofCPworkwiththisstrategy.
5) PICsjustifyinfinitelyregressiveCPstheycouldalwaysdotheplanbut
subtractoneelementfromit.
6) IfyoureallywanttoevaluatetheCP,thenyouhavetoputtheCPatthe
samestandardasanaffirmativeplanmeaningdontletthemrungeneric
solvencyadvocateswithouthavingtoclarifyeverysinglelastthingaboutthe
solvencymechanismontheCP.
Solvencybruh
1. TheirMoeandHowell99doesntevenSTARTtoaddressouractual
arguments.AllthecardsaysisthatthepresidentCANpassanXOanddo
itquickly.Wearesayingthatstrue,butourargumentisthatwhena
presidentdoesthat,thenthereissubstantivebacklashfromCongressand
thepresidentthenlosesinfluenceandrespectinthelegislativebranch.
2. LookbythemrunningtheCPtheyareconcedingtheinherencyintheact
ofitself,whichmeansthattheyconcededplanispoliticallyunpopular.
Thatswhyplanfailedincongresswhenitwasbroughtupin2013.Which
meansacoupleofthingswillhappen.
3. First,therewillbecongressionalbacklashbutwewilltalkaboutthat
later.
4. Second,sinceObamastermisalmostover,thenhispredecessorwill
immediatelyrepealtheexecutiveorderthathewillhavepassedsinceplan
ispoliticallypopular.TheXOisfarlessdurable,meaningthattheonly
waytoproducesubstantivechangeistopushitthroughcongress.Itis
substantiallyeasiertochangeanXOratherthantochangelaw.
5. ThisfunctionallyalsoisanI/LturntotheirpoliticsDA.Obamawilllose
respectincongressbecausetherepublicansseetheactofanXOasan
evasionofactualcooperativediscussionofpolicies.Itisjustanotherform
ofthepresidenttryingtousemorepowerthanheshouldhavewhichjust
upsetscongresseven.
6. I/Lturn,passingsomethingthroughcongresswillgainObamapolitical
capital.TheCPdoesntallowthatbecause
a. XOareunilateralactionseenasawaytogetoutofdiscussionwith
congress.
LegislativeExecutivepowerisntzerosumitsarubberbanditcanbeexercised
withoutchangingthestructure
Rottinghaus;11
(BrandonRottinghausistheAssistantProfofPoliSciattheUniversityofHoustonThePresidencyandCongress,fromNew
DirectionsintheAmericanPresidency,ed.LoriCoxHan)page9697
Conclusion:"RubberBand"RelationsAlexanderHamilton'sedictfor"energy"inthe
executivecancreativelycontradicttheconstitutionalauthoritygiventothelegislative
branch.Avisibleandpowerfulpresidentnecessarilydetractsfromalegislaturewhose
jobitis(atleastonpaper)tobetheengineoflegislativeingenuity.TheConstitution
soughttobuttressparchmentbarriers'bypittingambitionagainstambition;andthe
principlemeansofdoingthatwastheelectionofpublicofficialsatdifferenttimes,by
differentpeopleandforsomewhatdifferentreasons."107Althoughthepowersofthe
presidenthavegrownimmeasurablybeyondwhattheframersenvisionedandhave
surpassedCongressintermsoftheabilitytoleadintheAmericansystem,the
functionofsharedpowerscontinuestoshapethepoliticalprocessinAmerica.To
considerthisrelationshipapendulum(ananalogysomehaveused108tosuggestthe
powerbalanceswingsfromonebranchtoanother)mayoverstatethezerosumgameof
Washingtonpoliticsthetruthisthatlegislativepowersareshared,evenifcertain
powersareexercisedatcertaintimesbyspecificinstitutionsthatperhapsencroachon
thepowerofanotherbranch.Apendulumanalogyimpliesthatthepowershifts
betweenthebranches(potentiallyatregular,predictableintervals).Thisarrangementis
falsesince,evenduringtimeswhenonebranchappearstohavemorepowerthan
another,thetruthisthatthebranchesstillrelyononeanotherforsharedpolicy
makingpower.Inreality,theexecutivelegislativerelationshipismorelikearubber
band,whereitretainsafundamentalshapebutcanbestretchedtochangeas
legislativeandexecutivetoolschangeandpoliticaleventsoccur.So,forinstance,in
utilizingunilateralpowers,presidentscanstretchthatpartoftherubberband,even
whilemembersofCongressassertthemselvesonmattersofforeignpolicyorthe
appointmentsprocess.Indeed,perpetuatingtherubberbandanalogy,jointly
understandingpresidencycenteredandCongresscenteredvariablesisalsoshownto
betteraccountforvariationsinpolicymaking.109Forinstance,recentevidence
suggestsaresurgentCongressinthecreationofforeignpolicy,afactthatseemsatodds
withthe"twopresidencies"thesis110orotherliteraturethatclaimsthatCongress
alwaysdeferstothepresidentinforeignpolicymatters.111Thissupportsthe
literaturethatCongressmaynotbeinvolvedintheformalaspectsofforeignpolicy

makingbutdoesplayarole intheinformalaspects.112Theevidencepresentedhere
alsorevealsthatCongresshasmoresayonwhenandhowthepresidentuseshis
unilateralpowersandwhomthepresidentrecommendsfornominationand
confirmationthanwaspreviouslyassumed.
1.
A2SecrecyCP
CX
1. Isthesqou,whichislargelystillfilledwithgovernmentalprivacy,isalreadyso
badthenwhywouldwemakeitworsewiththeCPwhichisbasically
intensifyingthestateofthecurrentsystem?
Vagueness
A.ViolationPlanisoverlyvague.Byonlyprovidingavagueexplanationofhow
passageofplanandthereislittletonoexplanationoftheactionsofplan,likehowit
affectsfuturepolicies,andcompliancestandards,aswellastheenforcementthat
agenciesseeafterpassageofplanThisisbadforanumberofreasons
B.PrimaFacieBurden:AffirmativesarerequiredtoovercomeaprimafacieBudeu
thatgainsinitialadherencetotheirargument.
Reike98(RiekeandSillars,RichardandMalcom.ArgumentationandCriticalDecision
Making.5thEdition.NewYork!ALSL.)
Acasethatprovidessufficientargumenttojustifyadherencetoitspropositionif
nocounterargumentoccursitiscallaprimafaciecase.ThisLatintermstillusedin
lawthatsays,inessence,thecaseissufficientonitsfaceorfirstglancetojustify
adherence.
Byproposinganoverlyvaguepolicythereisnowayfortheafftogainadherence
toplan.Furthermore,theresnowayforajudgetovoteforapolicythatisntlaid
outfullyinthefirstspeech,presentingclarificationsinlaterpositionshasafew
negativeeffects,wewillgettothatnext.
C.Uniquelyhinderstheneg:
1.Movingtarget:statinganoverlyvaguepolicyandclarifyinglaterallowstheaffto
confusenegativesandspikeoutofpositionsaftertheyveclarifiedinthe2AC.
2.Debateandclash:Ifthenegteamhaslittletonounderstandingoftheaffirmativecase,
the1NCand2ACwouldhavesignificantlylimitedclash.
3.Advocacyshift:Notonlywouldthisactionjustifyaffirmativesspikingoutofnegative
positions,butitalsowouldjustifya2acshiftoforiginalplanintent.
4.Reasonablestandardofclarity:Asparticipantsanddecisionmakersinadebateround,
weshouldvaluetheclarityofarguments.Ifanargumentthatanyteampresentsisnot
clear,ajudicatorcouldandwouldrejectthat.Inthiscase,planactionisoverlyunclearand
thereforemustberejectedlikeanyotherargument.Furthermore,weshouldntbeexpected
todebate,andyoushouldntbeexpectedtoevaluate,overlyuncleararguments.
5.Policymaking:Asanactivitythatvaluespolicymakingasaparadigm,affteamsmust
engageinquality,conciseplanwriting.Vagueplanwritingjustifiesambiguityandkills
validpolicymaking.Anarchitectsplanwouldneverseethelightofdayiftheconstruction
crewhadquestionsabouttheplan.
D:VoterVaguenessisavotertopreservetheidealsofdebateasacommunicativeforum.
Ifargumentsareoverlyunclearyouwouldrejectthembecauseoftheunfairburdenit
placesonopposingteams.Furthermore,youshouldvoteheretopreservetheprinciplesof
goodplanwritingandadvocacy.
Vagueargumentsfailtoprovideenoughinformationtomakeadecisionanddistort
effectivecommunication.Youshouldrejectthisbecausepositiveandmeaningful
communicationinthisroundcomesfromprecision.Nothavingthatprecision
underminesthedebateprocess.
ClineNoDate(Austin,FlawsinReasoningandArguments:Vagueness
http://atheism.about.com/od/logicalflawsinreasoning/a/vagueness.htmAustinClineholdsaBachelorofArtsfromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaanda
MasterofArtsfromPrincetonUniversity.HealsostudiedforoneyeareachattheUniversityofZurichandtheLudwigMaximillianUniversityin
Munich,Germany.InAmerica,Germany,andSwitzerland,Austinhasstudiedbothreligionandphilosophy.)
Vaguenessgenerallyoccurswhenananswerorargumentfailstoprovidethe
informationnecessarytomakeadecisionorreachaconclusion.Vaguestatementsmightalsobe
offeredasevidenceforempiricalclaimswhenevidenceisrequested.Vagueevidenceisnorealevidenceatall,however:
thevaguenesspreventsanyonefromseriouslyevaluatingandconsideringthe
informationoffered.Evidenceforaparticularclaimmustbeparticulartothatclaimanditmustbeshowthatitisntevidenceforsome
otherclaimvaguenessisjusttheoppositeofthat. Vaguenesspreventseffectivecommunicationbecause

communicationrequirestheexchangeofinformation.This,ofcourse,isthereasonwhy
vaguenessisaflawinsomeonesreasoningorargument ifinformationisnot
properlycommunicatedorconveyed,theentirepurposeofthereasoningordebate
processisundermined.
Regulardisplaysofopennessaretheonlypoliticallysustainablestrategythat
maintainsthetoolsnecessarytoprotectnationalsecurity.
Goldsmith,Harvardlawprofessor,2015
(Jack,MySpeechatODNILegalConference:TowardGreaterTransparencyof
NationalSecurityLegalWork,512,http://www.lawfareblog.com/2015/05/myspeech
atodnilegalconferencetowardgreatertransparencyofnationalsecuritylegalwork/)
Thethirdandrelatedprincipleistorethink,reallyrethink,thepervasiveresistanceto
publicdisclosureofanyaspectofanyintelligenceoperation,includingthelegalrationale
forsuchoperations.DirectorClapperexplainedthebasisforthisresistancewhenhesaid:Beforetheunauthorized
[Snowden]disclosures,wewerealwaysconservativeaboutdiscussingspecificsofour
collectionprograms,basedonthetruismthatthemoreadversariesknowaboutwhat
weredoing ,themoretheycanavoidoursurveillance. Clapperadded:Butthedisclosures,forbetterorworse,havelowered
thethresholdfordiscussingthesemattersinpublic.Despitethisambiguousstatement,anddespitemanyvoluntaryODNIdisclosuresrelatedtotheSnowdenleaks,the
intelligencecommunityandmanyofitslawyersstillappeartoembraceanabsolute
presumptionofsecrecywhenpossible,andstillseethecostsofdisclosureaboutsecretoperationsinallornothingterms.This
attitudemighthavemadesenseinaworldinwhichyoucouldkeepsecrets.Butina
worldinwhichsecretoperationsoftenbecomepublic,itdoesntmakesense.Itdoesnt
makesensebecauseyouaredamagedmuchmorebyleaksanddisclosuresunderpressurefromleaksthanyou
arebyvoluntaryselfdisclosurepriortoleaks.Leaksanddisclosureunderpressureare
reactiveandinvariablyseemdefensiveandselfimpeaching.Whenyoudisclosebefore
leaks,bycontrast,youcanbettercontrolwhatisdisclosedandthenarrativeaboutwhatisdisclosed.Y ouare
alsomuchmorelikelytogetcreditandgainlegitimacyfromselfdisclosure, especiallycomparedtodisclosure
Themaincounterargumenttothispoint,andthesentimentthatstill
viaorinresponsetoaleak.
dominatesinyourworld,isthat,asCIADirectorAllenDullesonceputit,whata
government,orthepress,tellsthepeopleitalsoautomaticallytellsitsfoes.Thisargumenthasspecial
salienceinthesurveillancecontextbecauseanydisclosureaboutcollectiontechniquesheightenstheenemyscommunicationsoperationalsecurityandcausesittoshifttoother
formsofcommunicationlesssubjecttodetectionbythegovernment.AndIknowithassuperspecialsaliencewhenyouareontheinsidewatchingthebadguysupclose,andare
loathetogivethemanytacticaladvantage.Butthisargumentprovestoomuchasabasisforblanketsecrecy.The
sameargumentappliestofingerprintidentificationandmostotherinvestigativeorsurveillancetoolinyourtoolkit. Secrecyaboutmeansand
methodsisanimportantvalue,butisnottheonlyvalue. Othervaluesincludethemedium
termlegitimacyandsupportforyourprogramsthatIjustdiscussed,andthenotionthatthe
governedshouldknowatleastthebasicoutlinesofwhatitsgovernmentisentitledtodo,
especiallyvisavisitscitizens.Theseandothervaluesmustbeweighedinthebalance. A
relatedpointisthatnotallvoluntaryrevelationsaboutanintelligenceoperationare
equallyharmful.DisclosurethatthegovernmenthasinterpretedSection215toauthorize
bulkmetadatacollectionislessdamagingtotheintelligencecollectionmissionthandisclosureofthefine
graineddetailsabouthowNSAcollectsandanalyzesthatmetadata.Similarly,youcandiscloselargeelementsof
thelegalrationaleandprocessessupportingtargetedkillingwithoutexposingintelligence
orthediplomaticdealsassociatedwiththeprogram.Iknowthatpartialvoluntarydisclosuresoftenleadtolargerinvoluntary
theabsenceofanydisclosure
disclosuresthroughsubsequentunauthorizedleaks,FOIA,andthelike.Butthatriskmustbebalancedbytheriskthat
mightunderminethelegitimacyoftheentireprogramifitleaks. Earlyopennessaboutwhat
theNSAwasdoinginsidetheUnitedStatesmighthavediminishedtheeffectivenessof
thecollectionprogramsatatacticallevel,butalsowouldhavegiventhegovernmenta
betterchanceofsecuringlongertermstrategiclegitimacyfortheprograms.Iamnotdenyingthatsecrecyisvitalto
intelligenceoperationsortoyourlegalworkinsupportofthoseoperations,eveninoperationsinthedomesticsphere.InthepastatthisConferenceyouheardfromaCIAofficial
whodiscussedthelongtermoperationtodiscoverandtakedownthenetworkofRussiansleeperagentslivingintheUnitedStatesundernonofficialcover,andthevitalneedfor
Mypointis
secrecyinthatoperation.Thisshowsclearlythattheoptimalmixofsecrecyandopennessiscontextdependentevenfordomesticoperations.
simplythatthestillpervasiveinclinationtowardabsolutesecrecysometimesmakesno
senseandisoftenselfdefeating.
DetailswillreduceNSAbacklash.
Schindler,USNavalWarCollegenationalsecurityaffairsprofessor,2013
(John,AnOpenLettertotheNSA,1030,http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/10/30/an
openlettertothensa/)
TheNSAdoesforeignintelligence.TelltheAmericanpeopleabitmoreaboutthat.Its
overdue.Bettertotellthestoryyourselvesthantoletyourenemiesdoit.Imnotsayingyouneedto
letMTVfilmarealityshowatagencyheadquartersthoughIveheardworseideasbutyouneedtolevelwiththe
AmericanpeopleaboutwhatitistheNSAdoesandhowitdoesit.Its2013,andbecauseoftheInternet
andthespreadofsmartphones,practicallyallAmericansrelyoninformationtechnologytofunctiononadailybasis. Soyoucantblame
peoplewhountilrecentlyhadneverheardofSIGINTwhentheygetatadfreakedoutby
theleakstheyveheardsomuchaboutinrecentmonths. Butthetruthisfarlessscarythan
theliesbeingtoldabouttheagency .Iftheagencyscurrentleaderscantfindawayto
convincinglytelltheAmericanpeoplewhatitdoesincludingtheindelibleandtruthful
messagethatunlessyoureinbedwithforeignspiesorterroriststheNSAhaslessthan
zerointerestinyouthenitstimefornewleadership.WithNSADirectorKeithAlexanderlikelytostepdown
bynextspring,thatscomingsoonanyway,buttheresnotmuchtimetowaste.Bytheirnature,theagencysleadership
andpublicaffairsunitsarereactiveandunaccustomedtobeinginthepubliceye. Butthat
erahasendedanditsnotcomingback.Dealwithit.Rebrandnowwhileyoustillcanand
regainthepublicstrust.ImconfidentthatoncetheyunderstandwhattheNSAreallydoes
thevastmajorityofAmericanswillbegladtheagencyisonwatch.
WhytheyrenetbencanbeaccessedbyyourplanORturnit.
1. TheentireaffirmativeplanisaDAtotheCP,you,thejudge,hastoweighwhat
worldyouwouldratherlivein.
a. Theworldofthenegative,wheregovernmentalprogramsarehyper
secret,thegovernmentcreatesaworldinwhichthereismuchmorethat
thepublicdoesntknowabout,akamuchmoretoleak,sothatevery
smallleakthatthereis,itsSnowdenalloveragain.
b. OrtheworldoftheAffirmative,wherewekeepsurveillanceprivate,but
doallowgovernmentalopenness,ontheissuesweveoutlined,andtostop
theabusesoftheintelligenceagencies.
2. Also,opennessallowsforgreaterprotectionofnationalsecurityprograms
becausethereislesspublicbacklashsincethereismoretransparency
3. IFYOUDONOTDOTHEPLAN,THENTHATSWORSEBECAUSETHE
IMPACTSWEOUTLINEDINTHE1ACAREGUARUNTEEDBYTHECP.
4. Theycantfiatthatanincorruptiblecongress.Cantfiattheindividualactions
andchoicesofpeople,therenowaytostoptheleaks,dontletthemcomeup
hereandtellyouthat,theywouldonlysaythattotryandspikeoutofanumber
ofanswerswecouldrunagainsttheirCP.
A2NullificationCP
1. Howexactlydotheynullify?Pleasedescribetheprocess
2. Isthestatelegislaturenullifyingsurveillance?
3. Doyouuseyourstatecongressofficialstonullify?
4. Whatifonestatedecidesnotto?
5. WhatifonestatedoesandaftertheCPispassed,theywantsurveillanceagain?
6. Nameonerealpolicythathasbeendiscontinuedbecausethestateswereabletoagree
onsomethinginsuchastrongsensethattheyalldecidedtonullifyit.
Expansivefiattheory
Vaguenessshell
VaguenessShell
A.ViolationPlanisoverlyvague.Byonlyprovidingavagueexplanationofhow
passageofplanandthereislittletonoexplanationoftheactionsofplan,likehowit
affectsfuturepolicies,andcompliancestandards,aswellastheenforcementthat
agenciesseeafterpassageofplanThisisbadforanumberofreasons
B.PrimaFacieBurden:AffirmativesarerequiredtoovercomeaprimafacieBudeu
thatgainsinitialadherencetotheirargument.
Reike98(RiekeandSillars,RichardandMalcom.ArgumentationandCriticalDecision
Making.5thEdition.NewYork!ALSL.)
Acasethatprovidessufficientargumenttojustifyadherencetoitspropositionif
nocounterargumentoccursitiscallaprimafaciecase.ThisLatintermstillusedin
lawthatsays,inessence,thecaseissufficientonitsfaceorfirstglancetojustify
adherence.
Byproposinganoverlyvaguepolicythereisnowayfortheafftogainadherence
toplan.Furthermore,theresnowayforajudgetovoteforapolicythatisntlaid
outfullyinthefirstspeech,presentingclarificationsinlaterpositionshasafew
negativeeffects,wewillgettothatnext.
C.Uniquelyhinderstheneg:
1.Movingtarget:statinganoverlyvaguepolicyandclarifyinglaterallowstheaffto
confusenegativesandspikeoutofpositionsaftertheyveclarifiedinthe2AC.
2.Debateandclash:Ifthenegteamhaslittletonounderstandingoftheaffirmativecase,
the1NCand2ACwouldhavesignificantlylimitedclash.
3.Advocacyshift:Notonlywouldthisactionjustifyaffirmativesspikingoutofnegative
positions,butitalsowouldjustifya2acshiftoforiginalplanintent.
4.Reasonablestandardofclarity:Asparticipantsanddecisionmakersinadebateround,
weshouldvaluetheclarityofarguments.Ifanargumentthatanyteampresentsisnot
clear,ajudicatorcouldandwouldrejectthat.Inthiscase,planactionisoverlyunclearand
thereforemustberejectedlikeanyotherargument.Furthermore,weshouldntbeexpected
todebate,andyoushouldntbeexpectedtoevaluate,overlyuncleararguments.
5.Policymaking:Asanactivitythatvaluespolicymakingasaparadigm,affteamsmust
engageinquality,conciseplanwriting.Vagueplanwritingjustifiesambiguityandkills
validpolicymaking.Anarchitectsplanwouldneverseethelightofdayiftheconstruction
crewhadquestionsabouttheplan.
D:VoterVaguenessisavotertopreservetheidealsofdebateasacommunicativeforum.
Ifargumentsareoverlyunclearyouwouldrejectthembecauseoftheunfairburdenit
placesonopposingteams.Furthermore,youshouldvoteheretopreservetheprinciplesof
goodplanwritingandadvocacy.
Vagueargumentsfailtoprovideenoughinformationtomakeadecisionanddistort
effectivecommunication.Youshouldrejectthisbecausepositiveandmeaningful
communicationinthisroundcomesfromprecision.Nothavingthatprecision
underminesthedebateprocess.
ClineNoDate(Austin,FlawsinReasoningandArguments:Vagueness
http://atheism.about.com/od/logicalflawsinreasoning/a/vagueness.htmAustinClineholdsaBachelorofArtsfromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaanda
MasterofArtsfromPrincetonUniversity.HealsostudiedforoneyeareachattheUniversityofZurichandtheLudwigMaximillianUniversityin
Munich,Germany.InAmerica,Germany,andSwitzerland,Austinhasstudiedbothreligionandphilosophy.)
Vaguenessgenerallyoccurswhenananswerorargumentfailstoprovidethe
informationnecessarytomakeadecisionorreachaconclusion.Vaguestatementsmightalsobe
offeredasevidenceforempiricalclaimswhenevidenceisrequested.Vagueevidenceisnorealevidenceatall,however:
thevaguenesspreventsanyonefromseriouslyevaluatingandconsideringthe
informationoffered.Evidenceforaparticularclaimmustbeparticulartothatclaimanditmustbeshowthatitisntevidenceforsome
otherclaimvaguenessisjusttheoppositeofthat. Vaguenesspreventseffectivecommunicationbecause

communicationrequirestheexchangeofinformation.This,ofcourse,isthereasonwhy
vaguenessisaflawinsomeonesreasoningorargument ifinformationisnot
properlycommunicatedorconveyed,theentirepurposeofthereasoningordebate
processisundermined.
1. Notfederalismifthereisnobalanceofpower.Stateshavesurplusofpowerif
theyliterallywholeheartedlydismantleamajorityofthesecuritystateanddo
notimplementcomprehensivereform,theyjustkeepsurveillancefrom
happening.
2. Impliedpowers
3. Statesdonthavecontroloverfederalprograms
4. Ifthereischangeinstatedecisionafterplan,thentheUSFGwillhavetocome
backinanddoitagain.
a. IfthereisanationalthreatinRhodeIsland,forexample,andtheydont
doanything,thenitistheUSFGsjurisdiction
5. Domesticsurveillanceisntastatesissue,theUSFGsurveysfornationalthreats,
akathecountryasawhole.NoterroristwantstojustbombMichigan.
6. N/UGayMarriageruinedfederalismwhen
Pitney;15
(JackPitney;July8th,2015;
Samesexmarriageandfederalism:Miles'sLawwins,againChristianScienceMonitor)
Anotherexampleisfederalism,whichhasbeenmuchinthenewslately.CriticsoftheSupremeCourts
decisiononsamesexmarriagesaythatthejusticesshouldhaveleftthemattertothe
states.Adecadeago,however,manyofthemfavoredanamendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitutionthatwouldhavetakenthe
matterawayfromthestatesanddefinedmarriageonlyastheunionofamanandawoman.Opponentsofthismeasure
wavedthebannerofstatesrights.Familylaw,indeed,isthepurviewoftheStates.
So,theresnoneedforaconstitutionalamendment,saidSen.DianneFeinstein
(D)ofCalifornia.Thisproposedconstitutionalamendmentstrikesattheheartof
Statesrightsintheareaoffamilylaw,andindoingso,actuallyunderminesour
Constitution.Moreover,IbelievethatAmericansbelievethattheStatesshoulddeal
withsamesexmarriageastheStatesseefit.AndsoIdo.
7. TURNTheCPruinsfederalism;itgivesstatessopowerthattheycontrolthe
fedgovernment.WiththeworldoftheCP,weliterallygobacktothearticlesof
confederationwhereitwasdescribedasmultiplenationsinonegeographic
region,ratherthanaunifiednation.Itllhappentoobecauseifallstatescanuse
theirnullificationpowertonullifystatelaws,thentheywilldoittoanythingand
everythingthattheycan.
EvidenceontheAoC
History.com;2009
)
(History.com;2009;ArticlesofConfederation;A+ENetworks
TheArticlesofConfederationwasthefirstwrittenconstitutionoftheUnitedStates.
Stemmingfromwartimeurgency,itsprogresswasslowedbyfearsofcentralauthority
andextensivelandclaimsbystatesbeforewasitwasratifiedonMarch1,1781.Under
thesearticles,thestatesremainedsovereignandindependent,withCongressserving
asthelastresortonappealofdisputes.Congresswasalsogiventheauthoritytomake
treatiesandalliances,maintainarmedforcesandcoinmoney.However,thecentral
governmentlackedtheabilitytolevytaxesandregulatecommerce,issuesthatledto
theConstitutionalConventionin1787forthecreationofnewfederallaws.
8. Anyissuethatthewholenationisntunifiedon,thefederalgovernment
wouldnthaveanythingtodoaboutit.
A2Advantage1Econ
OurTechIndustryStory
1. Technologyisusedinliterallyeveryindustry
2. Itisk2oureconomy
3. SquowillnotsolveNSApolicies
4. Investmentwilldeclineincreasinglybecauseofourdomesticmasssurveillance
policies
5. Econdecline
6. Industrycollapsedominoeffect
7. Peoplewilllosetheirjobs
8. Povertywillincrease
9. Povertyissystemic,everyday,outweighsnuclearwar.Wehaveanobligationtosolve
10. Becausetheyveconcededsolvencyonthattheyvepresentednootherbillorlawthat
solvesbetter,thereisa100%chancethattheaffteamwillsolvealleconimpacts
A2WealreadylostperceptionwhentheNSArevelationscameout
1. Marketbasedincentiveswillmakeitsothatprivatecompaniesstopbuilding
backdoorsfortheNSA.Thereismotiveforprivatecompaniestostopbuilding
backdoors.UStechcompaniesrecognizethemarketinternationallyandwill
developadvertiseandmarkettheshareback.UStechcompanieshavebetterrep
thangovernment.YoudontbuyBraziliansoftwareyoubuylikecisco
software.TheNSAisnotonlyrestrictedbutwefiatthattheNSAwillnotbuild
backdoors,thenegativecantmaketheargumentthatabunchofCiscosoftware
hadholesinit.
Softwaretestingwouldsolveforthat,peoplewanttobuyfromtechcompanies
becausetheyarethebestandwouldhaveprofitmotivetoadvertisethepassageof
plan.Techcompanieswoulddothepublicityforusbecauseitwouldfirsthandaffect
themfirst.
A2Altcausesonlostperceptionintheinternationalmarket
Wespecificallyidentifybackdoorsasourharm.Wehavepresentedcardsthatprovethat
breacheshappenbecauseofthepresenceofbackdoors,thealternatecausedoesntlinkto
theharmweidentifyinthe1AC.OurharmSPECIFICALLYtalksabouthowthe
INTERNATIONALcompaniesdontwanttobuysoftware,oruseUStechcompanies.
2)Itisntafewpeoplehereandtherethatdontlikegovernmenttobeginwiththatwetry
andgetsupportfromwithourpolicy,itistheinternationalmarket,thepeoplethathave
themeanstoprovideeconomicbenefitsandthereforehavetheabilitytomakethemost
impact.
Honeypotsareinplacenowinmostcorporationsmadetoprotectthemfromzero
days
Winn326(MichaelM.;[Major,U.S.Army,DEPARTMENTOFTHEAIRFORCEAIRUNIVERSITY];CONSTRUCTING
COSTEFFECTIVEANDTARGETABLEICSHONEYPOTSSUITEDFORPRODUCTIONNETWORKS;3/26/2015;pgs.67)
JKS
Therearegenerallytwocategoriesofhoneypots:productionhoneypotsandresearch
honeypots.Productionhoneypotsareprimarilyintendedassensorsordecoysto
supplementexistingsecuritymechanismsonaproductionnetwork[31].Sincetheyare
deployedonaproductionnetwork,thegoalsaredetectionanddeception;keepingtheattacker
engagedwiththehoneypotsothattheywillnotattackotherassetsonthenetwork.The ultimategoalistousethe
productionhoneypotasatooltosupplementsignaturebaseddetectiondevicesinquickly
detectingand\\recoveringfromanattack.Productionhoneypotsfocusonminimizingcostsandrisktothe
existingnetwork.Researchhoneypotsareintendedtoattractanattackerandsustaintheattack
foraslongaspossibleforthepurposeofcollectingdetailedinformationsuchasunforeseen
attackvectors,zerodayexploits,orpostattackactivity(e.g.,searchtermsforsensitivedata,productionofphishingemailmessages,
orcapturingtheattackerskeystrokes).Whilethisinformationisnotdirectlyvaluabletothe
averagebusiness
organization ,ithelpssecurityresearchersdevelopanunderstandingoftheattacker,their
methods,andtheirmotivations[30].Researchhoneypotsmustbehighlyauthentic,sotheyaregenerallymore
complextoconfigureandinvolvemoreefforttodeploy,monitor,andanalyze.2.2.2LevelsofInteraction.Therearegenerallytwo
levelsofinteractiontodescribetheauthenticityofahoneypot.Lowinteractionhoneypotsemulatealimitedbehaviorofasmall
numberofservices.Forexample,alowinteractionhoneypotcouldreturnastaticHTMLfileinresponsetoanHTTPGETrequeston
TCPport80.Lowinteractionhoneypotscanrangefromsimplescriptstoelaborateemulationprogramsthatrequirelittle
configuration,resources,orefforttodeployandmanage,particularlyingreatnumbers.Forthesereasons,lowinteractionhoneypots
areanattractivefoundationforproductionhoneypots[25].Sincelowinteractionhoneypotsonlyexposeasubsetofexploitable
features,theyarelimitedintheamountofinformationtheycancollect.Thereducedauthenticityalsocontributestoreducedrisk.An
attackerinteractswithacontrolledsimulationofpredeterminedresponsesandbehaviors;acarefullydesignedlowinteraction
honeypotislesslikelytobecomeassimilatedintoabotnetorusedasapivotthanarealsystem.Highinteractionhoneypotsexposethe
fullfunctionalityofanoperatingsystemandapplications.Sinceitcanbecompromisedinunexpectedways,additionalmitigation
techniquesarerequiredtoisolatethemaliciousactivityandreducetherisktotheproductionnetwork.Highinteractionhoneypots
oftenrequireextensiveconfigurationanddedicatedequipmenttoensuretheyarebelievabletoanattacker.Commontechniques
includeriggingthemwithspecificvulnerabilities,defaultpasswords,andphonysensitivedatafiles.Covertmonitoringlogsall
activityonthehoneypotwithouttheattackerbeingabletodetectthattheiractivitiesarebeingrecorded[25].Theadvantagesand
disadvantagesofthetwolevelsofinteractionaresummarizedinTable2.1.
A2Perception/TrustinU.S.companiesisgone
CrossapplyourSubpointAofEcon,(CastroMcQuinn2015)
lookat82%citingnationallawsifwechangethewayinwhichournational
governmentoperatewithsurveillanceactivitiesbychangingourlaws,itllbeenoughto
changetheperceptionoftheinternationalmarket
A2Companiesarentforced,theyarepaidforbackdoors
1. Theonlyreasonthecompaniesaredoingitisbecause
a. TheyNEEDtosomehowmakeupforthemoneytheylostbecauseofthe
internationalmarketfindingoutaboutthebackdoors
or
b. Theyarenotgoodatencryptionanddonthaveenoughtechnicalabilityto
keepbackdoorsoutsotheytakethemoneyanyways,andthosecompanies
mostlikelyarentverysuccessfulones(successfulcompanieshave
privacywhichisfavored).
2. YoucancrossapplyourCastro&McQuinn,Kehl,andVillasenorcardsfromthe
1ACtoseethatUScompanieshavebeensubstantivelyaffectedbytheoverreach
oftheNSAontheirproducts.
A2NuclearWaroutweighs/impactcalc
CrossapplyourGillian96cardfromthe1AC.Povertyoutweighsallformsofstructural
andbehavioralviolence.
1. Withanuclearwarorproliferationtheimpactisonetimeandusuallycontained
toonearea.Povertyismuchdifferentfromthatbecauseitcanaffectalllevelsof
societyanditisntaonetimeoccurrence.
2. Itsimpactscanbeseenovermanygenerationsandthoseinpovertyoftendonot
haveaquickfixtogetoutofthesituationtheyarein.Inanuclearfallout,people
thatlivecanstillrelocatetodifferentarea,butthoseaffectedbypovertydonot
oftenhavethemonetaryfundstodoso.
3. Themagnitudeislargerfromthatofpovertyandisalsomorelikelywiththe
warrantedscenariowedescribe.Thenumberofdeathsfrompovertyalso
outnumberstheonesfromtheNaziGenocide,war,andotherformsofarmed
conflict.
VoteforAFFbecauseweoutlinethemostseriousscenario.
A2ThePatriotActiskeytocrimefighting
CX
1. WhatpartsofthePatriotActareleft?Describewhattheydo.
2. Howdotheyuniquelyallowforcounterterrorism?
Answers
1. YourACLUcarddoesntevenaddressHOWthePatriotActandFISAarekeyto
solvingsecurity,itjustsaysthatitisusedforsurveillanceefforts
2. YourDepartmentofJustice08cardisoutdated,itdoesntconsidertheexpiration
ofsection215whichwasthemostwidelyusedpartofthePatriotAct.The
negativeteamneedstoeitherreadanothercardfromaftersection215sexpiration
thatprovesothersectionsusefulness,oracardfromlaterthatdescribeswhat
otherthingsthePatriotActdoesandhowtheyarekeytostoppingterrorismor
enforcingsurveillance.
A2TechLeadershipfine
1. Techinvestment,whichwearequicklylosingoutonspecificallybecausethe
NSAspolicies(CastroandMcQuinn15),isaprerequisitetotechinnovation.We
cantbeatechnologyleaderifwearelosinginvestments
2. Wesolvethat,wemakeinvestorsfeelsafebychangingournationallaws
concerningmasssurveillance,meaningthatUStechcompaniescanprofitmore
3. Alsoliterallyeverythinginoursocietydependsontechnology,theycantname
onesectorwheretechnologyisntimportant.Itisingrainedinoursocietyandif
thetechnologysectorcollapses,thentheothersectors/marketsofoureconomy
willcollapsetoo.
A2Econresilient
ConsideringthefactthattheUStechindustryis7.1%ofourGDP,(thatisjustprofitnot
eventheinnovationthatspillsovertootherindustries)thenifwelosethat,itwill
collapsewhichwillsubstantiallyincreasepoverty,whichisbadbecause
CrossapplyourGillian96cardfromthe1AC.Povertyoutweighsallformsofstructural
andbehavioralviolence.
1. Withanuclearwarorproliferationtheimpactisonetimeandusuallycontained
toonearea.Povertyismuchdifferentfromthatbecauseitcanaffectalllevelsof
societyanditisntaonetimeoccurrence.
2. Itsimpactscanbeseenovermanygenerationsandthoseinpovertyoftendonot
haveaquickfixtogetoutofthesituationtheyarein.Inanuclearfallout,people
thatlivecanstillrelocatetodifferentarea,butthoseaffectedbypovertydonot
oftenhavethemonetaryfundstodoso.
3. Themagnitudeislargerfromthatofpovertyandisalsomorelikelywiththe
warrantedscenariowedescribe.Thenumberofdeathsfrompovertyalso
outnumberstheonesfromtheNaziGenocide,war,andotherformsofarmed
conflict.
VoteforAFFbecauseweoutlinethemostseriousscenario.
A2WevealreadyseentheimpactsonthetechindustryN/U
1. Wegetthattheyaresoapboxingonthis,butitisonthewrongissue,thebiggestissue
isterrorism.
2. Westillbelievethateconisabigdeal,butliterallynothingbadwillhappenifyou
voteaffirmative.Wewillonlymakeourcountrygreat(again)
3. Terrorismistheworstimpactinthisround,aslongaswewinthattheterrorimpact
willhappenthenyoushouldvoteaff.
4. Cyberterrorleadstonuclearexchangestraditionaldefensedoesntapply
Fritz9(Jason,MasterinInternationalRelationsfromBond,BSfromSt.Cloud),
HackingNuclearCommandandControl,InternationalCommissiononNuclearNon
proliferationandDisarmament,2009,pnnd.org)//duncan
Thispaperwillanalysethethreatofcyberterrorisminregardtonuclearweapons.
Specifically,thisresearchwilluseopensourceknowledgetoidentifythestructureof
nuclearcommandandcontrolcentres,howthosestructuresmightbecompromised
throughcomputernetworkoperations,andhowdoingsowouldfitwithinestablished
cyberterroristscapabilities,strategies,andtactics.Ifaccesstocommandandcontrol
centresisobtained,terroristscouldfakeoractuallycauseonenuclear armedstatetoattack
another ,thusprovokinganuclearresponsefromanothernuclearpower. Thismaybean
easieralternativeforterroristgroupsthanbuildingoracquiringanuclearweaponordirty
bombthemselves.Thiswouldalsoactasaforceequaliser,andprovideterroristswiththe
asymmetricbenefitsofhighspeed,removalofgeographicaldistance,andarelativelylow
cost.Continuingdifficultiesindevelopingcomputertrackingtechnologieswhichcould
tracetheidentityofintruders,anddifficultiesinestablishinganinternationallyagreed
uponlegalframeworktoguideresponsestocomputernetworkoperations,pointtowards
aninherentweaknessinusingcomputernetworkstomanagenuclearweaponry.Thisis
particularlyrelevanttoreducingthehairtriggerposture ofexistingnucleararsenals.All
computerswhichare
connectedtotheinternetaresusceptible
toinfiltrationandremote
control.Computerswhichoperateonaclosednetworkmayalsobecompromisedby
varioushackermethods,suchasprivilegeescalation,roamingnotebooks,wirelessaccess
points,embeddedexploitsinsoftwareandhardware,andmaintenanceentrypoints.For
example,emailspoofingtargetedatindividualswhohaveaccesstoaclosednetwork,
couldleadtotheinstallationofavirusonanopennetwork.Thisviruscouldthenbe
carelesslytransportedonremovabledatastoragebetweentheopenandclosednetwork.
Informationfoundontheinternetmayalsorevealhowtoaccesstheseclosednetworks
directly.Effortsbymilitariestoplaceincreasingrelianceoncomputernetworks
,
includingexperimentaltechnologysuchasautonomoussystems,andtheirdesiretohave
multiplelaunchoptions,suchasnucleartriadcapability,enablesmultipleentrypointsfor
terrorists.Forexample,ifaterrestrialcommandcentreisimpenetrable,perhapsisolating
onenucleararmedsubmarinewouldproveaneasiertask.Thereisevidencetosuggest
multipleattemptshavebeenmadebyhackerstocompromisetheextremelylowradio
frequencyonceusedbytheUSNavytosendnuclearlaunchapprovaltosubmerged
submarines.Additionally,theallegedSovietsystemknownasPerimetrwasdesignedto
automaticallylaunchnuclearweaponsifitwasunabletoestablishcommunicationswith
Sovietleadership.Thiswasintendedasaretaliatoryresponseintheeventthatnuclear
weaponshaddecapitatedSovietleadership;howeveritdidnotaccountforthepossibility
ofcyberterroristsblockingcommunicationsthroughcomputernetworkoperationsinan
attempttoengagethesystem.Shouldawarheadbelaunched,damagecouldbefurther
enhancedthroughadditionalcomputernetworkoperations.Byusingproxies,multi
layeredattackscouldbeengineered.Terroristscouldremotelycommandeercomputersin
ChinaandusethemtolaunchaUSnuclearattackagainstRussia.ThusRussiawould
believeitwasunderattackfromtheUSandtheUSwouldbelieveChinawasresponsible.
Further,emergencyresponse
communications
couldbedisrupted,transportation
couldbe
shutdown
,and
disinformation
,suchasmisdirection,
couldbeplanted
,thereby
hindering
thedisasterrelief
effortandmaximizingdestruction.Disruptions incommunicationand
theuseofdisinformation couldalso
beusedtoprovokeuninformedresponses
. Forexample,
anuclearstrikebetweenIndiaandPakistancouldbecoordinatedwithDistributedDenial
ofServiceattacksagainstkeynetworks,sotheywouldhavefurtherdifficultyin
identifyingwhathappenedandbeforcedtorespondquickly.Terroristscouldalsoknock
outcommunicationsbetweenthesestatessotheycannotdiscussthesituation.
Alternatively,amidsttheconfusionofatraditionallargescaleterroristattack,claimsof
responsibilityanddeclarationsofwarcouldbefalsifiedinanattempttoinstigateahasty
militaryresponse.ThesefalseclaimscouldbeposteddirectlyonPresidential,military,
andgovernmentwebsites.Emailscouldalsobesenttothemediaandforeign
governmentsusingtheIPaddressesandemailaccountsofgovernmentofficials.A
sophisticatedandallencompassingcombinationoftraditionalterrorismandcyber
terrorismcouldbeenoughtolaunchnuclearweaponsonitsown,withouttheneedfor
compromisingcommandandcontrolcentresdirectly.
5.
Inherency
AttitudinalbarrierCongresshasproventimeandtimeagaintheydonotwantto
implementmajorsurveillancereform,andonlypassedtheUSAFreedomActbecauseit
enforcesthesmallenoughreformpossibletosatisfytherepublicans(anddemocrats)
callingforreform.SSRAwillnotpassinthestatusquobecauseitcallsfortooextremeof
reformsthatwillneverflybytheprosurveillancepoliticians.
ThepassageoftheUSAFreedomactdoesthebareminimum,doesntcompletelyreform
surveillance
Cole;15
(DavidColeisalegalaffairscorrespondentforTheNationandaprofessoratGeorgetownUniversityLawCenter;May6th2015;
HeresWhatsWrongWiththeUSAFreedomActTheNation)
TheUSAFreedomAct,whichhasbeenendorsedbySiliconValleycorporations,humanrightsgroups,privacydefenders
likeSenatorsRonWydenandPatLeahyandRepresentativeJohnConyers,aswellasstaunchconservativessuchasRepresentative
JamesSensenbrennerandSenatorMikeLee,hasmuchtocommendit.ItwouldendtheNSAsbulkcollectionofvirtuallyevery
Americansphonerecords,andinsteadauthorizetheNSAtoaccessphonedataandotherpersonalrecordsonlywhenacourtfindsthat
thereisreasonablesuspicionthatrecordsrelatetospecificnames,accounts,oraddresseslinkedtointernationalterrorism.Itwould
imposereportingrequirementsontheagenciesusingsuchauthorities,andpermitcompaniesservedwithofficialdemandsfortheir
customersrecordstoreportpublicly,inlimitedfashion,onthevolumeofsuchrequests.Anditwouldimproveproceedingsbeforethe
ForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceCourt,thejudicialbodythatreviewsintelligencesurveillancerequests.Thatcourtcurrentlyoperates
entirelyinthedark,whereithearsonlyfromthegovernment.Thenewlawwouldmandatetheappointmentofapanelofspecial
lawyerswhowouldbedirectedtodefendprivacyandcivilrightswithrespecttoanysurveillancerequestthatpresentsanovelor
significantinterpretationofthelaw,andrequirepublicationofdeclassifiedsummariesofthecourtsopinionswherefeasible.
Buttherealreasonthelawisbeingsowidelysupported,includingbytheexecutivebranch,is
becauseitsreformsareinfactquitemodest,andunlesssomereformsareadopted,the
NSAsauthoritytosearchourphonerecordswilldisappearentirely .TheNSAcurrentlycollectsall
ourphonerecords,butonlysearchesthroughthemwhenithasshownajudgethatithasreasonablesuspicionthataparticularphone
numberislinkedtoterrorism.Underthenewlaw,itwouldstillbeabletodothat;theprincipal
differencewouldbethatthephonecompanies,nottheNSA,wouldstorethedata.Thats
notaninsignificantchange,butitshardlyaradicalreform.
StructuralbarrierSubstantivesurveillancepolicyreformbillshaventpassedin
Congress.TheUSAFreedomActonlypassedbecauseitjustdealswithphonerecords,
thereisnorealreformationofthesurveillancestate.PassingtheFreedomActgivesthe
illusionthattheconversationonsurveillanceisdone.
TheFreedomActislimitedtophonecollectionandnototherbulkcollection
programs.
Kopstein15
JoshuaKopsteinisajournalistandresearcher.HisworkfocusesonInternetlawanddisorder,surveillanceand
governmentsecrecy.HehaswrittenpiecesforSlateMagazineandTheNewYorker.USAFreedomActgivesNSA
everythingitwantsandlessAlJazeeraAmericasTheScrutineerJune2nd
http://america.aljazeera.com/blogs/scrutineer/2015/6/2/usafreedomactgivesnsaeverythingitwantsandless.html
ObamasignedtheFreedomAct
TheSenateadoptedtheHouseversionofthebill,whichhadbeenwatereddownatthebehestofintelligenceagencies,andPresident
intolawlaterthisevening.Whilefarfromwhatmostwouldrecognizeasreform,attheendoftheday,thebillisprobablymoreofavictoryfortransparencythanitisforprivacy.That'sbecause the
Freedom
ActhasfocusedalmostexclusivelyonendingonesingleNationalSecurityAgencyprogramunder
onesingleauthority:ThesecretbulkcollectionofAmericans'phonerecordsunderSection215of
thePatriotAct,revealedalmostexactlytwoyearsagobyEdwardSnowden.Section215andtwootheremergencypost9/11surveillanceprovisionsbrieflylapsedSundaynightaftertheSenatefailedtoreauthorize
ThenewlawreplacestheNSAsbulkdatacollectionwithaprogramthatrequires
them.
telecomcompaniestoretainthedataandgrantaccesstointelligenceagenciesthrough
moretargetedcourtorders.Theothersurveillancepowersrovingwiretapsandthesocalledlonewolfprovisionremainedunusedevenassurveillancehawksraised
apocalypticwarningsaboutlettingthemexpire.TwoindependentWhiteHousepanelshavefoundthatthemetadatacollectionprogramhasneverhelpedtofoilaterroristplot.Amajorappellatecourtdecisionalso
ruledtheprogramwasillegal,andthatitmerelyservedtocreateavastdatabankofextremelysensitiveinformationspecifically,phonenumbersandwhenandhowoftentheywerecalledaboutmillionsof
thebulkphonerecordsprogramwasonitswayoutnomatterwhat.The
innocentAmericans.Inotherwords,
courtruling couldhavebeenabigopportunitytopushforanendtoalldomestic bulk

collectionunderthePatriotAct, notjustphonerecords. Butadditionalprivacyprotectionshadbeen
negotiatedawayintheHouse,andSenateadvocateswerenotgivenachancetoaddthem
back.TheresultrenderstheFreedomActamissedopportunitytoaddresscountlessotherNSA
authorities,suchasExecutiveOrder12333andSection702ofthe F ISA A mendments A ct,onesweknow(again,
thankstoSnowden)continuetocollectmanyothertypesofdata.
Solvency
A2Levy14NSAdoesntabusetheirpowers
1. TheircardindicatesonesingleinstancewheretheNSAdidntabusetheirpower,
great,thecoupleofficialsonthatassignmentdidtheirjob.
2. However,theircardseemstoforgetaboutthesubstantiveabusesthatPRISMpresents
accordingtoourKaminski13card,wherethePRISMsystemoftenpicksupdomestic
(akaillegal)informationsinceitisonly51%accurate,thatleavesalargeareaof
privacyviolationstooccur
3. Also,thefactthatEdwardSnowdenhadreleasedamultitudeofinformationonthe
NSAsillegalcollectionhasprovedotherwise
4. TheonlyanswertheyhaveonsolvencyisthatthesquosolvesbecausetheNSA
doesntabusetheirpower,ifweshouldwinthattheydo,thensolvencyflowsonthe
affirmativeside
A2:Circumvention
EvenifyoubelievethattheNSAwillliterallynever
abidebyanypolicyreform,then
1.
Noncomplianceisntareasonnottodotheplantherealproblemsarethe
lawsthatauthorizethesurveillance.
Jaffer13JameelJaffer,ACLUDeputyLegalDirectorandDirectorofACLUCenterforDemocracy,2013("ThereHave
BeenSomeComplianceIncidents":NSAViolatesSurveillanceRulesMultipleTimesaDay,ACLUBlog,August16 th,Available
Onlineathttps://www.aclu.org/blog/therehavebeensomecomplianceincidentsnsaviolatessurveillancerulesmultipletimesday?
redirect=blog/nationalsecurity/nsaprivacyviolationsevenmorefrequentweimagined,Accessed06052015)
Onefinalnote:TheNSA'snoncomplianceincidentsareabigdeal,butwe
shouldn'tlet
thembecomeadistraction .Thefarbiggerproblem iswiththelawitself,whichgivesthe
NSAalmostuncheckedauthoritytomonitorAmericans'internationalcallsandemails.
Theproblemarises,inotherwords,notjustfromtheNSA'snoncompliancewiththe
law, butfromitscompliancewithit.
2. Weareabletofitgovernmentalactionastheaffirmativeteamandthatmeanswe
havecontrolovertheinactionofpolicies.Congressionaloversightsolves.Regular
checkswouldbeonthecommitteestomakesurethattheagenciesareabidingby
thereformsonsurveillance.
3. Reformationofthelawitself(akapassingplan)willsolvethebiggerissue,
congressionaloversightthereaftersolvesmakingsurethatindividualsinthe
committeeitselfareabidingbythenewlaw.
4. LiterallynoaffirmativecasecanbesuccessfulunderthisbecausetheNSAwould
circumventanynewpolicythattriestoreformtheiractions,whichgivesthe
negativeteamasubstantialadvantage.
5. Doesntallowforanindeptheducationaboutthesubstanceofapolicy,instead
weareforcedtodebateinaroundaboutwhetherornotthepolicywillbe
followed.
6. Fiatsolves.
A2N/SAffdoesntreformFISACourts
1. WerestricttheprogramsinwhichtheNSAorotherintelligenceagenciesareable
touse.Sowetakeawaythepoliciesthathavepowerthatisbeingabusedbythe
governmentmeaninglessthingsaregoingthroughtheFISACourt.
2. Byremovingpoliciesthatwarrantunconstitutionalsurveillance,weincreasethe
standardsofprivacythatwillbeupheldbygovernmentalofficials.
3. GOTOFISAAFFANDCUTHOWJUDGESAPPROVEALLWARRANTS
JUDGESARECOMMUNICATINGWITHATTORNIESANDARE
LIMITINGWHATTHEYPUTOUT
A2Congressionaloversightfails
1.
1.
Buttar15extension
1. 9/11wouldnthavebeensolvedbytheuseofthePatriotActbecausethatallows
forinefficientsurveillance,butitWOULDVEbeensolvedbyouruseofSSRA
becauseweallowfortargetedsurveillancewhichis
a. morecostefficient
b. morelikelytofindactualterroristsorchancesofterrorism.
2. 9/11happenednotbecausewewerenotabletocollectintelligence,butbecause
agencieshadnotbeensharingtheirmethodsandcollectionwithotheragencies.
DontlettheNegativetellyouthatwewilleithercause9/11orthatwehavent
had9/11againbecauseofthePatriotAct.
3. WerenotsayingthePatriotActiscompletelybad,wesupporttheauthors
originalintent(CrossApplyourPatriotActauthorbelievesitsbeentwistedinto
somethingitsnotcard),whichwasincreasedtransparencyandtargeted
investigations.
4. SOEVENIFYOUBELIEVETHEPATRIOTACTSINTENTIONSWERE
GOOD,YOUGETALLOFTHATANDMOREWITHSSRSA
5. Expansionofcollectioncapacitybyintelligenceagencies,particularlyofmass
surveillance,createsanumberofthreatstonationalsecurity.
6. Ourplanalsodecreasesgovernmentalduplicity.
7. Ourplanalsostillallowsforsurveillanceofforeigners,wejustdontallowfor
programsthatareabusedakaarestillusedtospyonAmericansalso.
8. Withplan,intelligencecommunitieswouldneedtoactuallyjustifytheexpansion
oftheirpowersforonceandfromaconstitutionalbaseline.
AuthorofthePatriotsupportsitsrepealandofincreasedcongressionaloversight
Peterson;2013
(AndreaPeterson;October112013;PatriotActauthor:Therehasbeenafailureofoversight.TheWashingtonPost;.**Notethis
articlewasintheformofaninterviewoftheauthorofitandtheauthorofthePatriotAct,JimSensenbrenner)
SinceyouweretheauthorofthePatriotAct,youwereatleastatonepointsupportiveofgreaterpowersgoingtotheintelligence
community.WeretheprogramsithasnowbeenrevealedthePatriotActwasusedtojustify
particularlysurprisingtoyou?Howelsedidyouexpectittobeimplemented?Clearly,theywerevery
surprisingtome.IcansaythatifCongressknewwhattheNSAhadinmindinthefuture
immediatelyafter9/11,thePatriotActneverwouldhavepassed,andIneverwouldhave
supportedit.Wehavetohaveabalanceofsecurityandcivilliberties.WhattheNSAhasdone,withthe
concurrenceofboththeBushandObamaadministrations,iscompletelyforgottenabouttheguaranteesofcivil
libertiesthatthoseofuswhohelpedwritethePatriotActin2001andthereauthorizationin
2005and2006hadwrittenthelawtopreventfromhappening.WhatIcansayisduringmysixyearsas
chairoftheJudiciaryCommittee,bothMr.ConyersandIwereveryvigorousinsendingpointedletterstotheattorneygeneral,who
undertheFISAlawistheofficialthatsendspetitionstothecourtforapproval,tofindoutexactlywhattheyweredoing,andacouple
timeswehadtoactlikecrabbyprofessorswhenstudentssendincompleteanswersandtellthemtoredoit.Ithinkthatthingswere
relativelyundercontrolandalongthespiritofthePatriotActuntilIleftinJanuaryof2007aschairoftheJudiciaryCommittee.Aand
lookingatthetimelineofwhenIthinktheyrapidlyexpandedtheirpowerswaswhentheyknewIwouldnotbesendingoversight
letters.DoyouagreewithRep.Amash'sassertionthatcongressionaloversightoftheNSAisbroken?AbsolutelyIdo.Theoversight
thatwascontainedintheChurchCommissionReportsnotjustbytheCongressbutbytheFISACourtwasdesignedtoputbrakeson
potentialabusesbytheNSAthatcametolightinthe'60sand'70sIamspecificallyreferringtothewarinVietnamaswellasthe
COINTELPROinvestigationsthatweregoingonatthattime.Now,insteadofputtingthebrakesonNSAexcesses,boththeFISA
Courtsandthetwointelligencecommitteeshavesteppedonthegasandtherehasbeenafailureofoversight.I
thinkthereneedstobemuchmorerigorousoversight,whichissomethingItriedtodowhenIwaschairof
theJudiciaryCommittee.

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averagebetween5and6percent .Thatislowerthanthe7.4percentachievedin2014but,ashepointsout,itis far

Backdoors have been used in cyberattacks

courtruling couldhavebeenabigopportunitytopushforanendtoalldomestic bulk

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averagebetween5and6percent .Thatislowerthanthe7.4percentachievedin2014but,ashepointsout,itis far

Backdoors have been used in cyberattacks

courtruling couldhavebeenabigopportunitytopushforanendtoalldomestic bulk

Вам также может понравиться

How Bout' You Watch Your AFF (Split Up)

How Bout' You Watch Your AFF (Split Up)