Unfortunately nearly every graph on that page is intentionally misleading. If you actually adjust the graphs for inflation (where it’s relevant), 1971 looks like just another year.

Lying with statistics!

This shit blows my mind…you try to pull that shit in a policy debate back in the day, it would pretty much be an instant loss.

At best you could try to run something like that as a counterplan, but you better have something more practical than philosophical if you intend to actually win.

Debate judges who judge in favor of these non-relevant arguments and disregard the principals of debate are really doing a disservice to debating in general.