Breaking Down Barriers: Ask Jim about Debate Return to the BDB List of Questions

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When should I run a disadvantage and/or a counterplan?

First, you can run them both. For example, some teams do the following:

Counterplan: Delay enacting the plan until after the Presidential elections.

Disadvantage: Enacting the plan now will hurt Clinton's chance of being elected President; Bob Dole being elected will cause harmful consequences.

Second, you should always run a disadvantage unless your judge hates them (a rare occasion). In many cases, your judges will not like generic disadvantages. When that happens, you should run a more specific disadvantage or try to stay focused on defeating the affirmative advantage.

Third, if you run a counterplan, you should run a disadvantage to the affirmative plan to show that your counterplan is superior to the affirmative plan.

Thanks to Andy for this question.

Jim

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