Debate #1 Paper for Perspective #1:
Balancing act: Curb pollution through sensible regulations

Many people think that environmental protection laws are either sufficient already or else completely ineffectual. Everyone else says that the former are bureaucratic sloths and the latter are radicals. These people would like to have an intelligent opinion on this issue, but neither choice appeals to them. Well, I'm here to tell you that there is another choice, a third choice: to curb pollution through sensible regulations.
Well, before we discuss why this is such a good idea, we should talk about why the other two ideas aren't. Ignoring the issue will not make it go away, as it will allow big businesses to continue indiscriminately destroying the environment so as to maximize profits. Business interests will not regulate themselves. On the other hand, putting the environment at the VERY forefront of attention stands a decent chance of severely wounding the economy, which would obviously be a bad thing.
But to go down to the root of the question, why should we protect the environment at all? Well, there are four main points. The environment is the basis for everything we do, for one; next, money cannot buy the beauty of Nature. Also, we must be careful of how we affect the environment, as any poisons that escape into it will come back to us through the food chain. Finally, biodiversity is an important aspect of life, and so it must not be destroyed.
Sensible regulations will allow the environment and other interests to coexist in relative harmony. Gradual implementation of increasingly conscientious environmental laws, as well as stronger enforcement, would minimize the effect on the economy. Plus, this would help lead to greater decentralization, as the invincible power of big business would be brought into check, and power taken away from the corporate dictators.
Now, many people seem to be afraid that environmental laws could have an adverse effect on the economy. But in reality, this would not be the case. It would be mainly big businesses that would be affected by this legislation, and, as they have a great deal of money and resources, they would not have much trouble cleaning up their acts. On a smaller scale, most people and small businesses would not have to change their behavior much and then in simple, uncostly ways.
Thus, from this, we can see how wise laws and increased enforcement would be greatly beneficial to all of America. I'm not asking you to jump on the environmental bandwagon; I'm encouraging you to make the right choice.