Instigator / Pro
0
1500
rating
1
debates
50.0%
won
Topic
#6476
Conservatism is the greatest threat to the future of the United States
Status
Voting
The participant that receives the most points from the voters is declared a winner.
Voting will end in:
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Parameters
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Standard
- Number of rounds
- 4
- Time for argument
- One week
- Max argument characters
- 10,000
- Voting period
- One week
- Point system
- Winner selection
- Voting system
- Open
Contender / Con
0
1500
rating
0
debates
0.0%
won
Description
This debate addresses the resolution: “Conservatism is the greatest threat to the future of the United States.”
The Pro position will argue that modern American conservatism, as it is currently practiced and promoted, undermines the nation’s stability, democratic institutions, and long-term wellbeing. Points may include how conservative ideology resists evidence-based policy, promotes culture wars over practical governance, and enables radicalization that threatens unity and progress.
The Con position will argue that conservatism is not the greatest threat to the country, either because it provides necessary balance to liberal policies, because its critics misunderstand it, or because larger threats — such as economic decline, foreign adversaries, or extremism on the left — outweigh its risks.
The purpose of this debate is not to rely on slogans, tribal loyalty, or partisan caricatures. Instead, it is to test the strength of arguments and evidence behind the claim. Participants are expected to engage with the resolution directly, present logical reasoning supported by facts, and avoid personal attacks or emotional diversions.
At the conclusion of the debate, voters or judges will evaluate which side made the stronger case, regardless of their own political leanings.
Round 1
I first want to thank my opponent for giving me the time to discuss something I believe to be incredibly important. I always seek the chance to learn something new and perhaps be able to teach someone else, especially when it comes to such a sensitive topic as the one we will be debating. With that being said I will begin my opening argument.
Modern American conservatism has become the greatest threat to the future of the United States because it undermines democracy, blurs the line between church and state, and fuels distrust in truth itself. First, our democracy is under siege. Conservatives have embraced election denialism and restrictive voting laws that make it harder for people, especially young people and minorities , to have their voices heard. At the same time, Christian nationalism is creeping into policy and rhetoric, breaking down the separation of church and state. Instead of protecting freedom of religion for all, conservatism increasingly pushes for government to enforce one narrow religious worldview. That is fundamentally un-American.
Second, conservatives are attacking science and evidence. From climate change denial to anti-vaccine propaganda, the movement has built a culture of suspicion toward scientists, educators, and institutions that exist to serve the public with facts. Peer-reviewed science isn’t partisan as it’s the process we rely on to make medicine, technology, and policy decisions. By discrediting it whenever it doesn’t fit the ideology, conservatism doesn’t just slow progress, it puts lives at risk.
Lastly, modern conservatism thrives on fear and division. It scapegoats immigrants, minorities, educators and anyone who challenges its narrative. It pushes the idea that government, institutions and even truth itself are enemies of the people. That constan erosion of trust leaves America weaker, more divided, and more vulnerable to extremism and manipulation from abroad. That’s why this isn’t just another political disagreement.
Conservatism today is the greatest threat to our future because it dismantles democracy, replaces facts with fear, and erodes the very principles that make a free society possible.
I look forward to any resemblance of sense trying to defend something so blatantly negative. Best of luck to my opponent!
I look forward to any resemblance of sense trying to defend something so blatantly negative. Best of luck to my opponent!
SOURCES
Democracy under siege: election denialism, restrictive voting laws, etc.:
Attacks on science and institutions:
Christian nationalism, blurring church/state, fear & division:
OPPOSITION TO “CONSERVATISM IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES”
Firstly, thank you for introducing this very interesting topic. I am honored to participate in this debate, and I truly hope that both of us can benefit from a constructive exchange of ideas. A debate, after all, is not only about defending our own convictions but also about better understanding the strengths and weaknesses of opposing views. With that spirit, I present my first argument in opposition to the claim that conservatism is the greatest threat to the future of the United States.
First Argument – Safeguarding Freedom and Democratic Order: Conservatism as Guardian, not Threat
Many commentators insist that present-day conservatism has become a danger to America — more dangerous than any foreign power or internal division. Yet that framing is misleading. Conservatism is not a threat. In truth, it is a safeguard. At its philosophical core, conservatism seeks to preserve the very conditions that allow democracy and liberty to flourish: the integrity of elections, limited and accountable government, respect for tradition and civic institutions, and gradual, responsible progress rather than reckless experiments. Without such a stabilizing force, America would face not progress but instability, confusion, and eventually the erosion of trust in its democratic order.
1. Conservatism Protects the Integrity of Democracy
Critics often accuse conservatives of restricting voting rights or undermining elections. But this interpretation overlooks a critical distinction: protecting elections is not suppressing democracy — it is reinforcing it. Safeguards like voter identification, periodic audits, and clear verification procedures are common sense. In fact, most Americans, across party lines, support reasonable identification requirements. The Heritage Foundation (2024) has demonstrated that public confidence in elections directly correlates with visible transparency and accountability. If citizens doubt the integrity of the vote, democracy itself collapses, because participation without trust is meaningless.
History underscores this point. In the Federalist Papers, James Madison warned that factions and corruption could erode the republic if institutions lacked checks and balances. Conservatism embodies this warning by insisting that even democratic processes must be secured against fraud, confusion, or abuse. This is not a retreat from democracy; it is a defense of it. A democracy without rules is not freer — it is weaker, more easily manipulated by those who disregard the law.
2. Conservatism Protects Religious Liberty and Foundational Principles
Another charge against conservatism is that it blurs the line between church and state. Yet this too is misrepresented. Protecting religious expression in public life does not mean establishing a theocracy. The First Amendment guarantees both freedom from government-imposed religion and freedom for individuals and communities to live out their faith. Both halves are essential.
Conservatives argue that excluding religious voices from public debate is itself a violation of liberty. A devout Christian, a practicing Muslim, a Jewish rabbi, or even a secular citizen should all have equal rights to bring their moral convictions into the public square. That is pluralism, not domination. According to Pew Research (2024), religion continues to shape civic identity and values for the majority of Americans. To erase those voices in the name of “neutrality” would not protect liberty; it would silence millions.
It is worth recalling that America’s Founders — from Washington to Jefferson — regularly invoked religious and moral reasoning in shaping the republic. That heritage does not mean forcing one faith on all citizens; it means recognizing that freedom flourishes when individuals are permitted to live out their convictions without government censorship. Conservatism ensures that this legacy of liberty is not rewritten as intolerance.
3. Conservatism Resists the Politicization of Science
Opponents also accuse conservatism of being “anti-science.” But the reality is more nuanced: conservatism resists the politicization of science. True science is a process of questioning, testing, and debate. It thrives when subjected to rigorous skepticism. To demand unquestioning obedience to political interpretations of science is to reduce science to ideology.
Take climate change policies, for example. It is not “anti-science” to question whether specific policies will hurt jobs, increase inequality, or damage industries before alternatives are fully tested. Likewise, questioning government mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic was not a rejection of medicine itself, but an insistence on individual liberty in medical decision-making. These are debates about policy outcomes, not about the scientific method.
By emphasizing debate and accountability, conservatism actually protects science from becoming dogma. As history shows — from the misuse of eugenics in the early 20th century to the politicized science of totalitarian regimes — unchallenged authority in the name of “science” can be deeply dangerous. Conservatism ensures that scientific findings remain subject to open scrutiny, as true science requires.
4. Conservatism Provides Unity through Continuity and Tradition
Perhaps the most important defense of conservatism is its role in providing unity. Critics claim it thrives on fear and division. In truth, it thrives on continuity — on shared values like family, community, and national identity.
Polarization in America does not stem from conservatism alone; it emerges when both extremes demonize one another. Conservatism, at its best, reminds Americans of their shared heritage, their Constitution, and the principles that transcend party or ideology. When President Lincoln spoke of “the mystic chords of memory” binding Americans together, he was appealing to the conservative impulse: to look back to common roots as a way of healing division.
Tradition is not the enemy of progress; it is its foundation. Families, schools, communities, and civic institutions provide the stability on which innovation can flourish. Without that foundation, change becomes chaotic and destabilizing. Conservatism does not say “never change”; it says “change wisely, preserve what works, and reform what must be improved.” That is not fear — it is prudence.
Conclusion: Conservatism as Stabilizer, not Threat
To conclude, conservatism is not America’s greatest threat. It is, instead, its stabilizer and protector. It defends democracy by ensuring elections are trusted, it safeguards liberty by limiting government overreach, it protects pluralism by keeping religious voices free, it resists the politicization of science, and it fosters unity through continuity and tradition.
The true danger to America lies not in conservatism, but in the loss of balance — in unchecked radicalism, in the erosion of institutions, and in the silencing of dissenting voices. Conservatism provides the ballast that keeps the ship of state steady when storms of change arise. Without it, America would risk losing the very safeguards that preserve its freedom and democratic order.
Sources to Cite
Heritage Foundation. (2024). Election Integrity. https://www.heritage.org/election-integrity
Pew Research Center. (2023). Public Trust in Government: 1958–2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/public-trust-in-government-1958-2023/
Pew Research Center. (2024). Christianity’s Place in Politics and Christian Nationalism. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2024/03/15/christianitys-place-in-politics-and-christian-nationalism/
Round 2
I appreciate my opponent’s thoughtful presentation, but I have to point out something important. Most of what they said describes an idealized version of conservatism that doesn’t really exist in American politics today. On paper, conservatism might sound like a safeguard, but in practice it looks very different. And it’s that gap between the philosophy and the reality that makes it such a serious threat to the future of this country.
First, democracy. My opponent claims conservatism protects election integrity. But what we’ve actually seen is the exact opposite: election denial, baseless fraud claims, and restrictive voting laws that deliberately make it harder for young people and minorities to vote. That’s not about protecting democracy , that’s about controlling it. And let’s not forget January 6th. That wasn’t some fringe outlier; it was a direct product of election denialism, and it showed us that parts of the conservative movement were willing to use violence to try to overturn the peaceful transfer of power. That’s not safeguarding democracy , that’s actively undermining it.
Second, religion and pluralism. My opponent says conservatism just protects religious liberty. In reality, what’s happening is the rise of Christian nationalism. That doesn’t mean protecting everyone’s freedom of faith , it means privileging one religion above the rest, often through policy. Look at the bills being introduced in state legislatures or the court decisions chipping away at church–state separation. That’s not pluralism; that’s exclusion. And it runs completely against America’s promise of religious freedom for all.
Third, science. We heard the claim that conservatism resists “politicized” science. But what’s actually happening is conservatives politicizing science themselves. Climate change denial, anti-vaccine rhetoric, even attacks on public health officials , that’s not skepticism, that’s rejection of evidence whenever it doesn’t fit the ideology. Real science is about questioning, yes, but also about following the evidence where it leads. When ideology gets to decide which facts are valid, science isn’t free anymore. It’s censored, and that puts lives at risk.
Finally, unity and tradition. Tradition can unify , but it can also entrench injustice. Too often, appeals to “continuity” mean clinging to a version of the past where women, minorities, immigrants, and others were excluded from full equality. True unity doesn’t come from exclusion; it comes from building a future where everyone has a place. So yes, my opponent’s vision of conservatism might look like a stabilizer in theory. But in the real world, conservatism as it’s actually practiced today is destabilizing. It erodes democracy, undermines science, and imposes one narrow religious worldview on a diverse society. And that’s why, in practice, it’s become the greatest threat to America’s future.
Sources
Restrictive voting laws, election denial, disenfranchisement of minorities and young people
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/impact-voter-suppression-communities-color
Restrictive voting laws, election denial, disenfranchisement of minorities and young people
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/impact-voter-suppression-communities-color
Christian nationalism & blurring church-state separation
Science denial / anti-science / evidence being rejected
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-50591-6
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-50591-6
Forfeited
Round 3
Forfeited
Forfeited
Round 4
Forfeited
Forfeited
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