The College Democrats took home the Annihilation Cup by a seven-point margin by defeating the College Republicans in this year's debate in the Wilkinson terrace Tuesday.

The annual event, sponsored by BYU's political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, consisted of a heated debate in front of a panel of three judges concerning the effects of Bush's reduction in taxes and whether the war in Iraq has increased or decreased terrorism in the world today.

"Democrats in general have said Bush's tax cuts have been for the richest one percent of Americans," said Josh Daniels, the president of College Republicans. "That's only half of the story because the wealthiest one percent of America is, more often than not, small to medium businesses that are making a difference in our country. When you tax those individuals, you destroy all incentive to do well in business."

Daniels said tax cuts actually encourage investment and savings.

"Both are key to a growing economy," Daniels said, who is majoring in economics.

Democrats quoted the conservative leaning magazine, the Economist, to support their claims.

"The most brilliant economists in the world have said the Bush's tax cuts did not do what they were advertised to do," said Jared Cook, 23, a senior from Rochester, N.Y., and one of the Democrat debaters.

However, Daniels said Bush's tax cuts are a stimulus package for the economy.

"When you cut taxes on business owners, it allows them to expand their business outward and creates jobs," he said. "The wealthiest in America are not going to pocket the extra money, they are going to use these tax cuts to grow their business and hirer more employees."

Cook said he is a small business owner and tax cuts are a good thing, but they have to go to the right people.

"You have to be careful how tax cuts are administered," Cook said. "The smarter way would be to give tax cuts to companies that create jobs, pay their employees a certain amount of money, and provide health care for them."

The two political sides also debated the impact of the Iraq war. During the debate, College Democrats said the world is less safe due to the war in Iraq.

"The world is more dangerous because we have created a huge recruiting tool for Al-Qaida in Iraq," Cook said. "I'm not going to say the world is better off with Saddam in power. Everyone knows he was a bad guy. We need to be careful about how we go about carrying these things out."

Cook also said the U.S. should collaborate with Europe and other countries because America can't do it alone, adding that Bush has said this statement several times.

On the other side, College Republicans said the threat of terror has decreased cue to the war in Iraq.

"We haven't seen a single attack on our soil since Sept. 11," Daniels said. "We only know about the acts of terror that happen. No one ever hears about the plans which were diverted."

College Republicans also said if the world wants to kill terrorists, people have to go to their breeding ground and stop them from producing more.

"Terrorists are a lot like rats," said Joe Lambson, a debater for the College Republicans. "If you want to get rid of rats, rat poison won't work. You have to take out the trash. Going and getting rid of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein was taking out the trash."
Copyright Brigham Young University 27 Oct 2004