Debate (1st speaker affermative team): Laws restrict our freedom and happiness Essay

Picture this scene, L&G. There’s a family gathering on the Cairns esplanade – there are steaks sizzling on the BBQ and delicious looking salads and breads ready on the table. Everyone’s in quite good cheer but agree that they’d be happier with a beer or a glass of red or white wine in their hand. However, they’re responsible people and not prepared to breach the law that bans the consumption of alcohol in public places. They know and accept that laws grant us rights and protect us, and in return know it is their responsibility to conform to the expectations of our democratic, ordered, and peaceful society.

L&G and chairperson, laws grant us rights, but responsibilities reduce our freedom and therefore our happiness. We, the affirmative team believe that the topic tonight is a truism, a statement of fact: laws do reduce our freedom and happiness.

Laws are the rules adopted by formal governmental action that govern our lives in various respects.
Restriction is confining or keeping within limits.
‘Our’ refers to individual Australians.
Freedom is doing what you want, when you want and happiness is fulfilling these desires. Thus, freedom and happiness go together: one flows from the other.

We of the affirmative team have connected freedom to happiness: one flows from the other.

Our case line tonight is that rights and responsibilities are two sides of the one coin.

A right is an entitlement assured by law, and
Responsibilities are the equal partner of rights, which can be defined as an obligation or duty. Responsibilities force us to conform, actively reducing our freedom and happiness.

As 1st speaker, I will be illustrating how the freedom of the individual has been restricted by recent P-plate laws, drinking in public places laws, and also censorship. Our 2nd speaker, Michael, will take our argument to a broader perspective, and look at how our freedom as a community has been restricted through our obligations to the economy and the...