The Art of Argumentation

The simulation was a very interesting window to the realm of political decision-making. Somehow while preparing for the simulation, I found myself unexpectedly passionate about our stance on domestic content requirements. As we were going through our argument, I began to genuinely believe that removing these tariffs would only benefit the American economy. I appreciate this political process so much more, especially due to the fact that the most important factor is who made the best argument.

This process stands in opposition to other political situations where the most powerful, the most influential, and the richest special interest groups are the ones that generally prevail. Granted, being all these adjectives would undoubtedly help one’s argument because of access to resources, but it does not guarantee a win. It’s very comforting to know that all these decisions come down to the facts. Now, of course facts can be manipulated for almost any perspective so it is obviously not a flawless system. However, this simulation allowed me to appreciate the art of argumentation.

Even though the majority of the groups supported the domestic content requirements, the President voted in favor of removing them. I like to look at this as the triumph of the underdog. Although some could say this is a tad melodramatic. I'm glad we had this simulation experience because it provided an incredible amount of insight into the world that we will be entering after college. A world of arguments.