Tournament: Sequoyah | Round: 1 | Opponent: Wheeler JK | Judge: Maria Zapata
1AC — Plan
As part of the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue, the United States federal government should offer to facilitate improved efficiency and reduced congestion at ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border.
1AC — U.S. Global Leadership Advantage
Advantage One: U.S. Global Leadership
First, inefficiency and congestion at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry costs1 are decimating regional competitiveness — the status quo hamstrings trade.
Wilson 9/13 — Christopher E. Wilson, Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, previously served as a Mexico Analyst for the U.S. Military and as a researcher at American University’s Center for North American Studies, holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University, 2013 (“Ad-Hoc Hearing: Redefining Border Security: Border Communities Demand to be Heard in the Comprehensive Immigration Debate,” Congressional Testimony, September 13th, Available Online at http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Border20Trade20Testimony_0.pdf, Accessed 09-23-2013)
Creating a Secure and Competitive Border
The infrastructure and capacity of the ports of entry to process goods and individuals entering the United States has not kept pace with the expansion of bilateral trade …a continued focus on the areas between the ports of entry and inattention to the security and efficiency needs of the official ports of entry could exacerbate this issue.
Second, an efficient border is vital to sustain millions of jobs — each minute of added wait time costs $166 million.
O’Rourke 9/18 — Beto O’Rourke, Member of the United States House of Representatives (D-TX), 2013 (“Interview: Rep. Beto O'Rourke on How to Build Jobs at the U.S.-Mexico Border,” Americas Society / Council of the Americas, September 18th, Available Online at http://www.as-coa.org/articles/interview-rep-beto-orourke-how-build-jobs-us-mexico-border, Accessed 09-23-2013)
AS/COA: At our conference last month, you expressed concern with perceptions that identify the U.S.-Mexico border … to ensure that we facilitate the secure flow of people, goods, and commerce through our ports of entry with Mexico.
Third, shortfalls disincentivize production sharing — devastating overall regional competitiveness.
Wilson 11 — Christopher E. Wilson, Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, previously served as a Mexico Analyst for the U.S. Military and as a researcher at American University’s Center for North American Studies, holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University, 2011 (“Introduction,” Working Together: Economic Ties Between The United States and Mexico, Published by the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, ISBN 1933549742, Available Online at http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Working20Together20Full20Document.pdf, Accessed 09-01-2013, p. 5-8)
U.S.-Mexico economic integration boomed in the 1980s and 1990s … The solution begins with a vision of the United States and Mexico as partners rather than competitors.
Fourth, the plan solves by improving efficiency and reducing congestion.
Lee and Wilson 12 — Erik Lee, Associate Director at the North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University, former assistant director at the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California-San Diego, holds an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California-San Diego, and Christopher E. Wilson, Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, previously served as a Mexico Analyst for the U.S. Military and as a researcher at American University’s Center for North American Studies, holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University, 2012 (“The State of Trade, Competitiveness and Economic Wellbeing in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region,” Working Paper of the Border Research Partnership—comprised of Arizona State University’s North American Center for Transborder Studies, the Colegio de la Frontera Norte, and the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute, June, Available Online at http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/State_of_Border_Trade_Economy_0.pdf, Accessed 05-14-2013, p. 2-3)
Commerce between the United States and Mexico is one of the great—yet underappreciated… officials more time to focus on unknown and potentially dangerous individuals and shipments.
Fifth, U.S.-Mexico trade is the lynchpin of American manufacturing — it’s key to prevent outsourcing of production and jobs.
Wilson 11 — Christopher E. Wilson, Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, previously served as a Mexico Analyst for the U.S. Military and as a researcher at American University’s Center for North American Studies, holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University, 2011 (“Working Together: An Overview of Economic Integration,” Working Together: Economic Ties Between The United States and Mexico, Published by the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, ISBN 1933549742, Available Online at http://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/Working20Together20Full20Document.pdf, Accessed 09-01-2013, p. 21-24)
Trade with Mexico is vitally important to the U.S. economy and the livelihood of millions of Americans. A full 6 million jobs are supported by U.S.-Mexico trade… free trade agreements signed by both nations to gain preferential access to world markets.
Sixth, strong American manufacturing is vital to economic growth, competitiveness, and innovation.
Ezell 12 — Stephen Ezell, Senior Analyst with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation—a non-partisan research and educational institute and think tank whose mission is to formulate and promote public policies to advance technological innovation and productivity, former head of the Global Service Innovation Consortium at Peer Insight—an innovation research and consulting firm, holds a B.S. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University with an Honors Certificate from Georgetown’s Landegger International Business Diplomacy program, 2012 (“Why the United States Needs a National Manufacturing Strategy,” Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, Volume 7, Number 3, Available Online to Subscribing Institutions via Project MUSE, p. 179-183)
Why Manufacturing Matters to the U.S. Economy
A robust manufacturing sector is indispensable to the health of the U.S. economy for at least four critical reasons… higher living standards, national and collective security, a healthier environment, and more liberal and open economies and societies.
Eighth, innovation is vital to maintain the defense industrial base and U.S. technological leadership.
Yudken 10 — Joel S. Yudken, Principal and Founder of High Road Strategies, LLC—a nationally known expert on industrial, energy, economic development, and technology policy issues, Sectoral Economist and Technology Policy Analyst in the Public Policy Department of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, former member of the National Research Council’s Board on Manufacturing and Engineering Design, holds an M.S. in Engineering-Economic Systems and a Ph.D. in Technology and Society from Stanford University, 2010 (“Conclusion,” Manufacturing Insecurity: America's Manufacturing Crisis and the Erosion of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base, Report Prepared for the Industrial Union Council of the AFL-CIO, September, Available Online at http://www.aflcio.org/content/download/3665/38375/manuffull_092010.pdf, Accessed 09-01-2013)
The erosion and overseas migration of domestic manufacturing is also weakening America’s RandD and innovation … and embodied in those displaced workers, is being lost as well.
Ninth, a strong defense industrial base is necessary to deter global conflict and maintains US global leadership.
Eaglen and Sayers 9 — Mackenzie Eaglen and Eric Sayers, 2009 (“Maintaining the Superiority of America's Defense Industrial Base,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder #2276, May 22nd, Available Online at http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/05/maintaining-the-superiority-of-americas-defense-industrial-base, Accessed 09-01-2013)
America's military strength remains vital to preserving the nation's interests and sustaining international stability…and Marine to remain adequately prepared for a full spectrum of potential operations.
Tenth, technological leadership is key to sustain overall U.S. leadership—theoretical models and 500 years of history.
Drezner 1 — Daniel Drezner, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, International Economist in the Office of International Banking and Securities at the Department of the Treasury, International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Stanford University, 2001 (“State Structure, Technological Leadership and The Maintenance Of Hegemony,” Review of International Studies, Volume 27, Issue 1, Available Online to Subscribing Institutions via Cambridge Journals Online, p. 3-5)
The importance of economic growth to state power is undisputed by international relations scholars.1 The importance of technological innovation to economic growth is similarly undisputed by economists…. While this literature has done an excellent job at describing the link between end page 4 innovation, economic growth, and global stability, it cannot explain why technological hegemons lose their lead over time.
Finally, U.S. leadership structurally decreases the risk of every proximate cause of conflict — best data.
Owen 11 — John Owen, Associate Professor in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia, Faculty Fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, holds a Ph.D. in international relations from Harvard University, 2011 (“Don’t Discount Hegemony,” Cato Unbound, February 11th, Available Online at http://www.cato-unbound.org/2011/02/11/john-owen/dont-discount-hegemony/, Accessed 04-14-2013)
Andrew Mack and his colleagues at the Human Security Report Project are to be congratulated. Not only do they present a study with a striking conclusion,…the overall downward trend in wars and political deaths—then the decline in American hegemony many analysts are now seeing is about much more than the humbling of a superpower.
1AC — Energy Reforms
Advantage Two: Energy Reforms
First, the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue has established a framework for economic engagement, but further investment in border infrastructure is needed. President Nieto’s reform agenda hangs in the balance.
Wood and Wilson 13 — Duncan Wood, Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, former Professor and Director of the International Relations Program at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, former Senior Associate with the Simon Chair and the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, holds a Ph.D. in Political Studies from Queen’s University (Canada), and Christopher E. Wilson, Associate at the Mexico Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, previously served as a Mexico Analyst for the U.S. Military and as a researcher at American University’s Center for North American Studies, holds an M.A. in International Affairs from American University, 2013 (“For Biden, Mexico’s endless allure,” The Great Debate—a Reuters blog, September 20th, Available Online at http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2013/09/20/for-biden-mexicos-endless-allure/, Accessed 09-23-2013)
Vice President Joe Biden recently canceled the Panama leg of his trip to Latin America, citing the need to be in Washington, focusing on Syria. He did not, however, … A job of this magnitude requires a champion — preferably from the White House — and U.S.-Mexico relations may have just found one.
Second, U.S. economic policy is key to the success of Nieto’s reform agenda — the plan gives Nieto a crucial policy victory to build momentum.
Farnsworth and Werz 12 — Eric Farnsworth, Vice President of the Council of the Americas and Americas Society, formerly served in the White House Office of the Special Envoy for the Americas and the U.S. Department of State, holds an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and Michael Werz, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Adjunct Professor at the BMW Center for German and European Studies at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, former Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, holds a Ph. D. in Philosophy from Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main and an M. A. in Philosophy, Political Science, and Latin American Studies from Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, 2012 (“The United States and Mexico: The Path Forward,” Center for American Progress, November 30th, Available Online at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/news/2012/11/30/46430/the-united-states-and-mexico-the-path-forward/, Accessed 09-23-2013)
With labor reform out of the way, attention turns to the three policy fields that Peña Nieto has promised to address…is largely focused on economic policy and immigration reform.
Third, successful reforms are key to Mexico’s economy and North American energy security — reforming PEMEX is vital.
Hill 9/12 — Patrice Hill, Chief Economic Correspondent for The Washington Times, 2013 (“Mexico could make North America the world leader in oil production,” The Washington Times, September 12th, Available Online at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/12/mexico-could-make-north-america-the-world-leader-i/print/, Accessed 09-23-2013)
Mexico is poised to join the North American oil revolution as a new government is moving to significantly … rich natural resources. Opinion polls show that 65 percent of Mexicans prefer to keep foreign developers out of their country.
Fourth, Mexican stability is key to the success of global democracy promotion — Mexico is the crucial test case.
O’Neil 13 — Shannon K. O’Neil, Senior Fellow for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, holds a B.A. from Yale University, an M.A. in International Relations from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University, 2013 (“Mexico at the Crossroad,” Two Nations Indivisible: Mexico, the United States, and the Road Ahead, Published by Oxford University Press, ISBN 0199898332, p. Kindle 7-11)
Working with Mexico—for the good of both countries—will require not just a new set of policies (though these too are needed), but a larger conceptual shift toward forging a true partnership. … and reinforcing economic opening NAFTA transformed Mexico and helped secure the economic underpinnings of today’s broadening middle class. It also encouraged (albeit unintentionally) Mexico’s democratization.
Fifth, effective democracy promotion is crucial to global stability — it solves the root cause of major impacts.
Miller 12 — Paul D. Miller, Assistant Professor in the Department of Regional and Analytical Studies at the College of International Security Affairs at the National Defense University, serves as an Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, served as Director for Afghanistan on the National Security Council from 2007 to 2009, served as a political analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency specializing in South Asia, holds a Masters in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Ph.D. in International Relations from Georgetown University, 2012 (“American Grand Strategy and the Democratic Peace,” Survival: Global Politics and Strategy, Volume 54, Issue 2, Available Online to Subscribing Institutions via Taylor and Francis Online)
A grand strategy that includes promoting the democratic peace has much to recommend it. The historical evidence seems convincing: established democracies rarely, if ever, fight one another…mmediate, short-term actions to stave off threats with longer-term efforts to address the underlying challenges to stability and democracy.