neptunechimney found this awesome TV program of Oxford-style debates with the latest being on the repealing the healthcare bill. I looked up their website and found past debates that you can watch or listen to for free and they span the gamut of topics. It looks like a great way to listen to both sides of a topic and maybe make an informed decision. Some of their past topics:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010 - U.S. AIRPORTS SHOULD USE RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS PROFILING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2010 - AFGHANISTAN IS A LOST CAUSE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010 - BIG GOVERNMENT IS STIFLING THE AMERICAN SPIRIT
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2010 - ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 - TREAT TERRORISTS LIKE ENEMY COMBATANTS, NOT CRIMINALS
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2010 - OBAMA’S FOREIGN POLICY SPELLS AMERICA’S DECLINE
TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010 - ORGANIC FOOD IS MARKETING HYPE
TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010 - DON’T BLAME TEACHERS UNIONS FOR OUR FAILING SCHOOLS
TUESDAY, JAN 19, 2010 - CALIFORNIA IS THE FIRST FAILED STATE
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009 - OBAMA’S ECONOMIC POLICIES ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009 - GOOD RIDDANCE TO MAINSTREAM MEDIA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2009 - AMERICA CANNOT AND WILL NOT SUCCEED IN AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 - BUY AMERICAN/HIRE AMERICAN POLICIES WILL BACKFIRE
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2009 - BLAME WASHINGTON MORE THAN WALL STREET FOR THE FINANCIAL CRISIS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009 - MAJOR REDUCTIONS IN CARBON EMISSIONS ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008 - BUSH 43 IS THE WORST PRESIDENT OF THE LAST 50 YEARS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008 - GUNS REDUCE CRIME
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 - UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE SHOULD BE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008 - AMERICA SHOULD BE THE WORLD’S POLICEMAN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008 - WE SHOULD ACCEPT PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS IN COMPETITIVE SPORTS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 - SPREADING DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS A BAD IDEA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007 - GLOBAL WARMING IS NOT A CRISIS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007 - AMERICA IS TOO DAMN RELIGIOUS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2006 - FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION MUST INCLUDE THE LICENSE TO OFFEND
About Intelligence Squared:
http://intelligencesquaredus.org/index.php/about-us
Since its inception in 2006, the goals have been to provide a new forum for intelligent discussion, grounded in facts and informed by reasoned analysis; to transcend the toxically emotional and the reflexively ideological; and to encourage recognition that the opposing side has intellectually respectable views.
The Rosenkranz Foundation initiated the Intelligence Squared U.S. Debate Series and continues to provide major support.
THE APPROACH
The series is based on the traditional Oxford-style debate format, with one side proposing and the other side opposing a sharply-framed motion. Before the debate begins, the audience registers their pre-debate opinion using an electronic voting system. These results are announced later in the program. Alternating between panels, each debater gives a 7-minute opening statement. After this segment concludes, the moderator opens the floor for questions from the audience and inter-panel challenges. This adversarial context is electric, adding drama and excitement. The debaters have one final opportunity to sway audience opinion through their 2-minute closing arguments. The audience delivers the final verdict by voting again whether they are for, against, or undecided on the proposition. The two sets of results are compared and the winner is determined by which team has swayed more audience members between the two votes.
