What we’re about
The SFDebate Meetup is an open forum for discussion on the events of our time. We have three goals:
(1) UNDERSTAND OTHER POINTS OF VIEW. With so much news available to us, it is easy to fall into the trap of relying on sources that simply support and reinforce our own limited beliefs. The SFDebate Meetup is a chance for you to expand your perspectives and understanding. We believe that when opinions are discussed in public, our critical faculties are sharpened as we are exposed to diverse viewpoints that we may not have considered before.
(2) DEVELOP YOUR PERSUASIVE SKILLS. If you want to be able to convince others of your ideas, if you want to change the world we live in, SFDebate is the forum for you. Consider SFDebate to be a 'dojo' for persuasive speaking. It is a place where you will not only be exposed to opposing points of view, but a safe place where you will be encouraged to find and speak up for yours. We work hard to keep things civil and will not tolerate physical intimidation or threats of any kind.
(3) The point is to HAVE FUN and MAKE FRIENDS. It is a meeting of minds, and we follow every meeting with drinks , a bite to eat, and some drunken debate at a nearby bar/restaurant.
Upcoming events
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•OnlineIs Trump a Fascist?
OnlineEver since Donald Trump's presidential candidacy announcement in June 2015 in which he singled out Mexican immigrants as criminals and decried the United States' lack of national pride, the prospect that he might bring an era of US fascism was kindled in the minds of some political observers. The question now is whether he has risen to merit the label of fascist.
For the purposes of this debate we will use the definition found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
Fascism**: a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.**
In a country where free elections and free speech still exist, some see Trump as a loud in-your-face guy who plays by democratic rules; whose main goal is to rile up his base, garnering support for his policies of border security and tax cuts. Others feel that his actions indicate attempts to eliminate these freedoms and ascend to a position of near-total control of the country’s policies and accepted ideology.
So how do you see Trump: as a blustery guy supporting policies that benefit the citizens of the US or a threat to the freedoms that underlie the democratic tradition of the country?
Join us at SFDebate to voice your opinion, and hear those of others. Two Speakers, one for the Motion, one Against the Motion will speak initially, followed by a floor debate. A tally of participants’ position on the motion will be taken, at the beginning, and at the end of the debate. The side who changed the most positions wins. Although encourage to, no-one is required to speak. Enabling video cameras is recommended, as those who do so are viewed as more persuasive. This event is free.
‘I am not a dictator,’ Trump says. Here’s what 21st century dictators do | CNN Politics
Fact Check: is Donald trump a dictator?r
Trump’s Petty-Tyrant Brand of Fascism | The Nation
Opinion: Donald Trump is not a fascist. Why that label is inaccurate.14 attendees
Past events
396
![[ONLINE] California Proposition 50 on Congressional Redistricting](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/7/6/e/highres_530105998.jpeg)
