Part 7/10:
Debating the Effectiveness of Existing Policies
As the debate progressed, Rubin brought forth statistics reflecting improvements in societal metrics, such as declining child poverty and increased life expectancy. He argued that people today are financially better off than ever before, even as Stevenson rebutted these points by focusing on the stark reality that, while some indicators have improved, wealth concentration continues to spiral.
Both speakers agreed fundamentally on the problematic trend of the rich getting richer while the poor become poorer, yet the solutions proposed diverged drastically. Rubin's solution involved reducing government size and spending, while Stevenson called for increased taxation on the wealthiest to redistribute resources more equitably.