Sat, Feb 21 · 5:00 PM MST
This month, the group is being asked: What is the purpose of government? Why do we need government? What should it do and what should be left to the private sector?
Based on recent feedback, one-on-one debates are currently being de-emphasized. We are focusing on repairing communication across divides. For this event, more time will be allotted to those who accept the question and are prepared to make an argument about what government is for. Some time will also be allotted for those who wish to respond to the arguments made. Time will not be allotted for challenging the question, although such a challenge may help form the question of a future discussion.
To prepare an argument, you might consider to what extent, if at all, you believe that the government should ensure safety, secure liberties, standardize systems, maintain infrastructure, promote public health, reduce suffering, manage the economy, enable participation, shape civic character, protect culture, maintain a social order, project power, and coordinate long-term survival. To what extent should the government be limited from pursuing these (and other) objectives?
If there is interest in discussing recent controversial government actions, we may use the second half of the discussion to consider the very different reactions we've had to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. After viewing videos of these killings, some see dangerous and incompetent aggression on the part of ICE and Border Patrol. Others see out of control protesters tragically dying as a result of not following orders. Others still see agents carrying out targeted assassinations and premeditated murders of protesters and observers. And yet others see domestic terrorists brought to justice by law enforcement. Why do we see things so differently?
