Will Malson NC against thatguy (HSD) Page 1 of 2

Intro and Philosophy

Our economy gives us many things – opportunity, freedom of choice, quality of life, etc. – but it
doesn’t give us the most important thing of all: morality. Ethics and morality are vitally important in our
world. The differences are evident in wars, disputes, laws, and newspapers.

To start off, I’ll give a counter-value: Morality. Clarification in Contention 1.

My criterion is a cohesive establishment. Clarification in Contention 2.
Finally, my stance regarding the resolution is that cooperation is superior to competition as a means of
achieving excellence. Clarification in Contention 3.

Contention 1: Morality is more important than prosperity.

Take a look back at the era before the Civil War. There was significant controversy in
government concerning the economy versus human rights. It was the South’s stance that the slaves
benefited them economically (as they of course did) and that eliminating the slave trade would hurt them
to a very significant degree. Thus, when the North tried to eliminate slavery, Southern states seceded.
The South was valuing the economy above human rights.

This of course is the opposite of the North: by attempting to eliminate the slave trade, and
eliminating slavery in the Northern states, they were valuing human rights above the economy. If the
North had kept slavery, or even if we still had slavery today, we would be better off economically. But
from a moral standpoint, we would be, as Heidegger would say, in a state of “ontological damnation” –
having neither proper morals nor values, trivializing humanity itself, and merely, as Foucault would say,
“in a state of bare life.”

In sum, morality trumps prosperity; my value trumps the affirmative’s value.

Contention 2: Morality is best upheld through a cohesive establishment

First, a “cohesive establishment” is pretty much what it sounds like – a government body that
isn’t fraught with dissertations of secession etc. To go back to the pre-Civil war example again, our
government then was not a cohesive establishment. However, it is now – our government follows the
democratic process and passes bills under law (even if they are done slyly).

Second, we only receive protection of our morals from the government – we can try to do so
ourselves, but if you hear about a burglary down the street, who’s going to punish the burglar? You
can’t, that would be overstepping your legal bounds. It’s the government’s job to do so – without a
cohesive establishment, morality cannot be effectively enforced or protected.

Third, if we didn’t have a cohesive establishment, morality would not be upheld. I love
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this example, so let’s look at the Civil War again: when the South seceded, we no longer had a cohesive
establishment. In this way, morality was not upheld – you have the South applying their ethics and the
North applying their ethics, and morality wasn’t upheld well on either end.

In sum, morality is best upheld and protected by a cohesive establishment.

Contention 3: A cohesive establishment comes only through cooperation

First, consider the alternative – can a cohesive establishment come from competition? Look at Iran’s
elections over the past year: a cohesive establishment was the attempted outcome, but competition
caused widespread riots and violence.

Second, consider the establishment itself – it only exists through cooperation! If we don’t cooperate in
this process, nothing will be achieved. It is only through cooperation that we actually have a cohesive
establishment. Again, look at the Civil War government – if we had just cooperated and resolved our
conflicts, we would’ve prevented a war that killed more people than any other war in our nation’s
history. Instead, we decided not to cooperate.

In sum, a cohesive establishment comes about through cooperation, not competition.

Summation

As I’ve shown, Morality is more important than prosperity. Morality is best upheld by a cohesive
establishment. A cohesive establishment only comes about through cooperation. Thus, Morality is best
upheld through cooperation. Thus, you should vote negative and affirm the opposite of the affirmative
resolution. You should stand resolved: that cooperation is superior to competition as a means of
achieving excellence.