2019 EVENTS


December 8, 2019

While a pregnant woman should be legally required to help the fetus survive outside of her body whenever that is possible, she should retain the legal right to evict the fetus at any time during her pregnancy.

Walter Block, Economics Professor at Loyola University vs. Kerry Baldwin, independent writer and researcher.

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November 5, 2019

Socialism is preferable to capitalism as an economic system that promotes freedom, equality, and prosperity.

Richard Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst vs. Gene Epstein who has recently stepped down from a 26-year stint as Economics and Books Editor of Barron's, and the Director of The Soho Forum.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: November 5, 2019

October 7, 2019

Except for laws prohibiting the sale of drugs to minors and driving while impaired, all laws that penalize drug production, distribution, possession, and use should be abolished, along with special "sin" taxes on drugs.

Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason magazine and a nationally syndicated columnist vs. Alex Berenson who is a former reporter for the New York Times.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: October 7, 2019

September 10, 2019

The Libertarian Party should never again put up national candidates whose views are similar to those of Gary Johnson and Bill Weld.

Dave Smith is a stand up comedian, and host of the podcast "Part of the Problem," vs. Nicholas Sarwark of the Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee since 2014.

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Robbie Bernstein Opening Monologue: September 10, 2019

August 12, 2019

Bitcoin is poorly suited to the purpose of becoming any nation’s main medium of exchange.

George Selgin of the Cato Institute and Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Georgia vs. Saifedean Ammous who is the author of The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking, the first book on the economics of Bitcoin.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: August 12, 2019

July 15, 2019

Postmodernism is necessary for a politics of individual liberty.

Thaddeus Russell heads Renegade University, runs the podcast, "Unregistered with Thaddeus Russell," vs. Stephen Hicks who is a Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: July 15, 2019

June 17, 2019

Given Social Security's nearly $3 trillion trust fund, the system cannot add to the federal deficit.

Teresa Ghilarducci, Economics Professor at the New School vs. Gene Epstein, the Director of the Soho Forum and former Editor of Economics and Books at Barron's.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: June 17, 2019

May 13, 2019

There is little or no rigorous evidence that vegetarian/vegan diets are healthier than diets that include meat, eggs, and dairy.

Nina Teicholz is an investigative science journalist and author of The Big Fat Surprise vs. Dr. David Katz who is the founding director of Yale University’s Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: May 13, 2019

April 15, 2019

There is little or no rigorous evidence that rising concentrations of carbon dioxide are causing dangerous global warming and threatening life on the planet.

Craig Idso of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change vs. Jeff Bennett who is an astrophysicist and educator.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: April 15, 2019

March 18, 2019

To resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel must first achieve defeat of the Palestinian movement.

Elan Journo Director of Policy Research at the Ayn Rand Institute vs. Major Danny Sjursen who is a U.S. Army strategist and former history instructor at West Point.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: March 18, 2019

February 20, 2019

The financial crisis of 2008 was caused mainly by government-induced distortion of markets rather than caused mainly by intrinsic market failure.

John Allison, former CEO of Branch Banking and Trust Corporation, vs. Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi.

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Dave Smith's Opening Monologue: February 20, 2019

January 14, 2019

Since the federal government fostered housing segregation in the 20th century, the government should foster housing integration in the 21st.

Richard Rothstein of the Economic Policy Institute, vs. Howard Husock of the Manhattan Institute.

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The Soho Forum Debate Series Archive

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