Debate over Lunch

Parking: You are welcome to park in any un-covered spot in the parking lot.

Topics: The topic of conversation for next week is:

• The United States should grant every citizen a non-transferable "ownership share" in a Sovereign Wealth Fund that holds a percentage of all corporate equity, with dividends paid out as a universal basic income.

- Sample Arguments For Adoption
Automation: Everyone profits when robots replace human workers.
​Ownership: Citizens become shareholders in national economic success.
​Stability: Provides a reliable floor against extreme poverty.
​Equity: Gradually narrows the gap without aggressive seizures.

- Sample Arguments Against Adoption
Volatility: Market crashes could wipe out essential income.
​Overreach: Government ownership risks political control of corporations.
​Innovation: Massive equity mandates may discourage new startups.
​Complexity: Managing trillions creates a dangerous power center

You're welcome to research the topic beforehand, but it's not necessary. We will form the teams and select the judge/s on the day of the meetings. Light snacks and drinks will be provided, but feel free to bring your own food and drinks.

Meetup Rules:
Strict Rule: Don't interrupt others when it is their time to speak. The only interruptions will be to let them know how much time remains.

Recommended Rules:

1. Treat others with respect.
2. Try to argue for positions you don't agree with to increase your mind's plasticity.
3. Don't tease or make fun of anyone or any groups.
4. During the debate portion only, try to avoid making jokes.

Judge Recommendations:

• Note good points from both teams.
• Make a decision as to who won the argument.

Judging Rules:

1. Selection of the judge is done on the spot, the day of the event - usually someone volunteers to be judge.
2. After forming teams, the judge will pick a side to start the debate.
3. Judge will only enforce the time for each team's cumulative time per turn. The time limit is 3 minutes per person, so a team of 3 will get 9 minutes in total per turn. The team will decide how to use their total time as they best see fit.
4. There will be 3 turns per debate.
   A) Both teams will get 3 minutes to prepare their Opening Statements.
   B) Then each team will deliver their Opening Statements.
   C) After Opening Statements teams, teams will get 2 minutes to re-group.
   D) Then teams will deliver their Middle Arguments.
   E) After Middle Arguments teams, teams will get 2 minutes to re-group.
   F) Lastly, teams will deliver their Final Summary statements.
   G) The judge will decide who won the debate.
5. We need a minimum of 3 people to have a debate. Otherwise, we just hang out and chat.

How Motions/Topics are determined:

1. Opportunity will be provided at the end of each session to select and finalize the debate topic for each session.
2. If the group cannot determine, a topic for the next session, then the Organizer will pick a topic.

Additional Rule-Making Process:
If there is a decision needed about the rules:

1. Make a tentative decision for the current session.
2. Allocate time during the next session for discussing and finalizing the decision.
3. Generally, we want to minimize the number of rules to maintain simplicity.