casino.yml

# Parlimentary debate for building of Integrate Resort (Casino)
#
# Summary:
# The main debate is on the weight of building an IR so as to stimulate the economy
# or to prevent additional social harm from the building of IR
# During the debate for economic benefits, the impending recession and increase competitiveness in the tourism sector (which accounts for a large part of the GDP) is main focus
# The arguments for damage to the society was deemed iffy due to the
# already available gambling options in nearby countries, and ease of gambling from remote gambling.
# Also, it is largely believed that the additional measures for locals will be
# effective to reduce the additional ill-effects from gambling, if any.
#
# However, now, on hindsight that the social discontent (largely due to huge
# increase in population and constraint in infrastructure) from
# hiring of foreign labours for the IRs, it is obvious that the social harm
# will outweight the economic benefit.
# This is modelled in the argument "Support will be provided for to prevent
# additional social harm due to IR" where if "foreign workers impact" is
# considered in the exception, then the decision to "build" the IRs will be unacceptable
#
# Nevertheless, this is an effect that was unforseeable during the parlimentary debate (hence not taken into consideration).

PROPOSITION:
  build: IR (casino) should be built

  impending recession: impending technical recession
  slumbering tourism: Slumbering Singapore tourism sector due to competition from neighbouring countries
  economic stimulus needed: ecnonomic stimulus needed
  economic benefit: IR will boost tourism, construction and employment
  tourism: stimulus for tourism sector
  employment: more locals will be employed
  construction: stimulus for construction sector

  social harm: aggregate social ill-effects from IR
  ill-effect of gambling: IR will cost human, family and social well-being
  convenience: Having an IR in Singapore will provide convenient solution for gamblers
  already convenient: There exists means for Singaporeans to gamble conveniently: casino in neighbouring countries and on cruise ships; remote gambling (such as online) and Singapore pools lottery.
  social harm mitigated: social harm can and will be mitigated
  workforce constraint: Insufficient labour for construction sector due to hiring constraints for foreign labour
  foreign workers impact: it is possible that the sudden surge in Singapore population will put constraint on housing and transportation
  control for Singaporeans: Levy for Singaporeans to reduce participation in IR
  help groups: Social help groups to support family and individuals in distress
  bar bankrupts: Singaporean who had declared bankrupt will be barred

ASSUMPTION: [impending recession, slumbering tourism, tourism, employment, construction, bar bankrupts, help groups, control for Singaporeans, already convenient, ill-effect of gambling, workforce constraint] # if add assumption on

ARGUMENT:
  should singapore build the IR (casino)?: # the topic on debate
    premise: [economic benefit]
    exception: [social harm]
    conclusion:  build
    weight: 1

  economic stimulus argument:
    premise: [slumbering tourism, impending recession]
    exception: []
    conclusion: economic stimulus needed
    weight: 0.8

  economic benefit outweights:
    premise: [economic stimulus needed, tourism, employment, construction]
    exception: []
    conclusion: economic benefit
    weight: 0.6

  social harm argument: # unless the social harm is mitigated, the effects of gambling and workforce constraint cause more harm
    premise: [ill-effect of gambling, workforce constraint]
    exception: [social harm mitigated]
    conclusion: social harm
    weight: 0.9

  convenience argument: # Argument is invalid because there are already other means to for gamblers
    premise: [convenience]
    exception: [already convenient]
    conclusion: -social harm mitigated
    weight: 0.3 # little weight as the coclusion is iffy

  Support will be provided to prevent additional social harm due to IR:
    premise: [bar bankrupts, help groups, control for Singaporeans]
    exception: [] # if "foreign workers impact" is an exception, then social harm from foreign workers do more harm than the social measures such that the mitigation fails
    conclusion: social harm mitigated
    weight: 0.6 # these will work

  additional forseeable effect from building: # chained argument
    premise: [workforce constraint]
    exception: []
    conclusion: foreign workers impact
    weight: 0.5

  additional social harm from building that is not mitigated:
    premise: [foreign workers impact]
    exception: []
    conclusion: -social harm mitigated
    weight: 0.5

PROOFSTANDARD:
  social harm: beyond reasonable doubt
  economic benefit: beyond reasonable doubt

ISSUE: [build, -build]

PARAMETER:
  alpha: .5
  beta: .3
  gamma: .3