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Initial Positions
N. L. Witt
Being poor and or homeless in the US is treated as a public nuisance whereas it should be handled more as a disease that needs proper treatment. Social programs like Welfare, Medicare, etc. offer the bare minimum or what our society as a whole deems basic human rights. Many state and local governments have policies enacted that atttempt to ignore the problem by fining the homeless for sleeping on a sidewalk, living under a bridge, etc. The most indigent of society are being sold out.
Options Anarchist
Being poor and or homeless should be temporary. All humans behave based on incentive and there is diminishing incentive in the US to move out of poverty. Social programs like Welfare, Medicare, etc. disincentiviese the poor, which in effect keeps them poor. We should encourage the private enterprise to assist the poor in getting out of poverty.
Ill Logic
10:30 a.m. oct 26, 2009

This debate is between Options Anarchist and N. L. Witt. Options Anarchist is an anarcho-capitalist, and N. L. Witt is a self-described "gun-toting socialist". I, the Mediator, will disclose that I am a libertarian, so I would personally tend to side with Options Anarchist, however I hope I have your trust that I will do my best to remain objective. And if either of you believe I'm showing any bias, please say so here. Regardless, my job is to get you to agree to terms, and ask questions, so hopefully this won't be an issue.

I will quote the positions posted by the debaters, starting with N. L. Witt:

"Being poor and or homeless in the US is treated as a public nuisance whereas it should be handled more as a disease that needs proper treatment. Social programs like Welfare, Medicare, etc. offer the bare minimum or what our society as a whole deems basic human rights. Many state and local governments have policies enacted that atttempt to ignore the problem by fining the homeless for sleeping on a sidewalk, living under a bridge, etc. The most indigent of society are being sold out."

And Options Anarchist:

"Being poor and or homeless should be temporary. All humans behave based on incentive and there is diminishing incentive in the US to move out of poverty. Social programs like Welfare, Medicare, etc. disincentiviese the poor, which in effect keeps them poor. We should encourage the private enterprise to assist the poor in getting out of poverty."

We should have a lively debate, and let disagreements form naturally, even if it may seem a little off-topic. As long as you let me do the "organization" aspects, which is my job.

N. L. Witt, given this opposing position, I'll leave it to you to make the opening post. (Feel free to use your above positions as your initial posts, if you have nothing more to add yet)