Negative Arguments
Topicality
 One of the stock issues
 Attack on the Affirmative Plan, not advantages
 Does the plan fall within the topic (resolution) that we
are here to debate?
 Voting Issue
Structure of Topicality
Arguments
 A. Interpretation
 B. Violation(s)
 C. Standards (reasons to prefer)
 D. Voting Issue
2008-09 Resolution and
Topicality
 Resolved: The United States federal
government should substantially
increase alternative energy incentives
in the United States.
 Alternative Energy
 Incentives
Topicality:
Alternative Energy?
What is Alternative Energy?
Anything not used in the status quo?
most technologies have at least some use in the SQ
lack of solvency evidence would destroy these cases
Depends on the sector
Alternative to Fossil Fuels = Anything that is not coal,
petroleum, or natural gas
Alternative = Anything that is renewable, such as solar, wind,
hydro, etc.
Topicality: Alternative
Energy and Nuclear Power
 Should nuclear power be included in alternative energy?
 Clash within the energy and government literature
 Contextual definitions will be crucial
 YES: Not a fossil fuel, does not generate greenhouse gases
 NO: Not renewable, creates dangerous nuclear waste
Topicality – Incentives
 Definition: Something, such as the fear of punishment or the
expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort
(American Heritage Dictionary)
 Positive – expectation of reward
 Or Negative – fear of punishment
 Is a Prohibition a type of Negative Incentive?
 Is a Mandate also a type of Negative Incentive?
 Or Both Positive and Negative Incentive
Topicality - Incentives
 Who is the target of the incentive?
 Example: Government Procurement programs
 Example: Mandate that vehicles be Flex Fuel capable.
 It is a requirement on the automobile companies and
dealerships. What happens if they do not meet the
requirement?
 The target might be consumers and gas stations. They need to
shift their behavior.
 Who is the ultimate consumer of the alternative energy?
Topicality - Increase

Increase = Create.
 Cannot be pre-existing in Federal Law, must be entirely new
 Negative would be guaranteed uniqueness for their arguments
 Affirmative would have much fewer case
 Increase = Expand
 Must be pre-existing, Cannot be new
 Negative would be guaranteed more links and a literature base
 Affirmative would have many cases but limited by solvency advocates
Harms Answers
 Major Advantage Areas: Climate Change, Economy,
Foreign Wars, Environment & Pollution
 Neg teams need basic general answers to all of these
Negative Solvency
 1. Incentives will not solve. People will ignore or manipulate
 2. Incentives will not solve. Too weak to influence behavior &
change the entire energy system of the U.S. Market forces rule
 3. Status Quo is Solving. Market, corporations, and consumer
choice will solve all
 4. Status Quo is Solving. State policies
 5. Overshoot. Plan comes too late. We are speed towards a brick
wall and the brake are too weak. (contradicts #3 & #4 above)
Negative Solvency
Plan only affects the United States – Global problems will require
global solutions. Ex: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Peak Oil,
etc.
Multinational Shift – restrictions here cause corporations and
manufacturing to leave the U.S. for other countries to avoid
negative incentives
Backstopping – decrease in U.S. demand for oil will result in a
huge drop in prices. Oil consumption then goes back up. Can
be intentional (action by OPEC) or automatic (market forces)
Disadvantages
 Bad results from the plan action. It causes
something bad or prevents something that
is good.
 Connected to the plan (or sometimes to the
advantage)
 Needs to have a large overall risk
(probability X magnitude)
Disads – Typical Structure
 Uniqueness or Brink
 Link
 Internal Link
 Impact
Disadvantages – Main
Categories
Economic Disadvantages
Political Disadvantages
Supplier Disadvantages
Economic Disads
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General Economic Growth
Specific Sector (ex: trucking, steel)
Specific States or Regions (ex: WVA, Northwest)
Core Economic Actor (ex: electricity grid)
Federal Spending & Deficits
Financial Sector - Stock Market, Biz Con, Investor
Confidence, Hedge Funds
 Delayed or Diverted Transition (shift to green econ, etc.)
Political Disads - Domestic

Politics. Example: Political Capital and the India Nuclear Deal
 Crucial population
 Crucial congressional leader or coalition

Presidential Election. Ex: Plan helps Bush & McCain
 Crucial demographic (women, Latinos, Native Americans, etc.)
 Crucial state or region (West Virginia & coal, Michigan & autos)

Congressional Election

State Elections, especially California

Federalism
Political Disads International
 Soft Power. Action would boost U.S. image abroad
 Isolationism and Retreat, especially in Middle East.
This is functionally “oil dependence good” argument
Supplier Disads
 Oil
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Saudi Arabia: 8.6 million barrels per day (mbpd) in 2006
Russia: 6.57
Norway: 2.54
Iran: 2.52
Venezuela: 2.20
Nigeria: 2.15
Iraq: 1.43
 Algeria, Mexico, Libya, Angola, Caspian Sea Region
Supplier Disads
 Coal & Global Coal Prices
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Australia
South Africa
Indonesia
Ukraine
West Virginia
Supplier Disads
 Natural Gas & Global Natural Gas Prices
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Russia. 182 billion cubic meters
Canada. 102
Norway. 78
Algeria. 63
Iran