CBA

I want to remind all of to remember the importance of the Cost/Benefit Analysis... and how to use it more effectively.

I've witnessed many debates where CBA is the criteria, and that is announced in the first speech... yet it is never remembered or used again AFTER that. The purpose of the criteria is to make it simple for the judge to determine the winner. However, if the criteria is mentioned once and forgotten... this doesn't help the judge.

So, how can you use CBA more effectively in the future?
Remember the Cost/Benefit Analysis is basically weighing the costs against the benefits of a proposal in order to determine whether it is WORTH enacting the plan. In other words, you're making the same decision people make at the store, "Is it worth this amount of money to buy that item?" It is the same decision you make when choosing hobbies, "Is it worth the time I'll spend in order to gain the benefit of the activity?"

Essentially you're deciding whether the consequences or costs to time, safety, money, etc., are worth the benefits of the plan. The Opposition team should convince the judge that it is not worth it. The Gov't should say it is worth it.

In your rebuttals, in particular, you need to clearly explain this to the judge... state, "It is worth it because..." or "It is not worth it because..."

For instance, if the Gov't team proposed a plan to no longer put seat belts in cars in order to save money, the Opposition team should state in the rebuttal, "It is not worth the risk to lives and safety to save a little money on seat belts. The amount of money you gain- the only benefit- is not worth the cost in danger. Because the criteria was the Cost/Benefit analysis, you can clearly see how the costs outweigh the benefits."

If the Gov't team proposed teaching phonics to improve literacy, they might state, "Under the Cost/Benefit Analysis, our plan IS worth it. The Opposition said we'll spend money on new books, but we told you that we'll save in the long-run because literacy will be increased and everyone will have a better education, thus they won't need to constantly be re-educated. The benefit of better readers, and literate graduates, far outweigh the cost of new books."

Be certain that you CLEARLY explain to the judge, ESPECIALLY IN REBUTTALS, exactly why it is or is not WORTH enacting the plan.

And remember, costs are not just monetary-- time, safety, convenience, happiness, etc., can all be considered. Remember to always plug the value in as you "weigh" the costs and benefits... how do the pro's and con's line up with the value?

I hope this helps!
-Kristina