Health Care, Alternative Energy Final Choices for 2008-09 Debate Topic

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) recently tabulated debate ballots from 33 states, the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL), National Debate Coaches Association and the National Forensic League (NFL). The returned ballots narrowed the five proposed topics to two for placement on the final ballot to select the 2008-09 national high school debate topic. The five topic areas were ranked 1-5 with the two topic areas receiving the lowest totals - Health Care and Alternative Energy - placed on the final ballot. On January 8, 2008, the NFHS will announce the preferred topic area and resolution.

In addition to the NFL and NCFL, the following states returned ballots:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Within each of the five topic areas appears one resolution. The resolutions within the two final topic areas are:

Health Care
Resolved: The United States federal government should establish a universal health care system in the United States.

Alternative Energy
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.

The following chart summarizes the balloting on the topic areas and their respective resolutions.
** Areas ranked 1-2-3-4-5 with low combined total indicative of top ranking.
** National CX Debate Topic Area Balloting:


87 Health Care - Topic I
138 Agricultural Subsidies - Topic 2
58 Alternative Energy - Topic 3
141 Central Asia - Topic 4
114 Immigration - Topic 5