# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=125 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 126 --- ## [New Bill: H-1B Salary Minimum $130,000](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-bill-h-1b-salary-minimum-130-000/778662)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-bill-h-1b-salary-minimum-130-000/778662 "2017-04-28T16:33:01Z")
http://www.msn.com/en-in/news/newsindia/h-1b-visa-bill-introduced-in-us-minimum-pay-more-than-doubled/ar-AAmrdMz It is obvious why such a bill would be introduced in the current American political climate, to protect jo… --- ## [Issues which conservatives need to listen more closely to liberals on](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/issues-which-conservatives-need-to-listen-more-closely-to-liberals-on/784989)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 306\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2017, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/issues-which-conservatives-need-to-listen-more-closely-to-liberals-on/784989 "2017-04-28T12:49:13Z")
Much of the recent months (after November’s election) has been a media/social-media lecture about how “Liberals need to listen more closely to (working-class America, conservatives, poor whites, high school graduates, ma… --- ## [Is Male Circumcision Just as Bad as Female Genital Mutilation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-male-circumcision-just-as-bad-as-female-genital-mutilation/785238)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 158\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-male-circumcision-just-as-bad-as-female-genital-mutilation/785238 "2017-04-28T00:12:32Z")
Some people are dying to talk about this. I’m not one of them, but what the hell, I’ll get the ball rolling. I’m certainly curious to hear some intelligent views on this subject. Inspired by this thread. In the U.S., it… --- ## [Do we really need sleep to cleanse the brain of toxins?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-sleep-to-cleanse-the-brain-of-toxins/784433)
**Author:** [@Contemplation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contemplation)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2017, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-sleep-to-cleanse-the-brain-of-toxins/784433 "2017-04-27T21:06:25Z")
Many publications say that sleep cleanses the brain of metabolic by-products that the brain produces while being awake. While you’re asleep, your brain cells shrink and the fluid-space between your brain cells expands,… --- ## [USS Carl Vinson was actually headed away from North Korea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-carl-vinson-was-actually-headed-away-from-north-korea/784796)
**Author:** [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2017, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-carl-vinson-was-actually-headed-away-from-north-korea/784796 "2017-04-27T08:43:24Z")
What was really happening with this in the Trump administration? I think the most generous interpretation of what happened is that “Mad Dog” Mattis doesn’t know his ass from his elbow, and his subordinates were too afr… --- ## [How far can you get in modern America without debt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-you-get-in-modern-america-without-debt/784047)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-you-get-in-modern-america-without-debt/784047 "2017-04-17T23:45:17Z")
I’m not even talking about credit card debt. I’m talking about stuff like mortgages, student loans, and automotive loans. Once upon a time, you could work your way through college to pay for tuition relatively easily. … --- ## [If reality is a simulation, are we players or NPCs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-reality-is-a-simulation-are-we-players-or-npcs/528994)
**Author:** [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-reality-is-a-simulation-are-we-players-or-npcs/528994 "2017-04-24T02:50:55Z")
So a few things have been brewing together in my subconscious: 1-Our world may be a giant hologram. 2- the simulation hypothesis 3- wierd statistical oddities like Roy Sullivan and Tsutomu Yamaguchi 4 World of Warcra… --- ## [9-0 conservative or liberal SCOTUS majority, what would happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-0-conservative-or-liberal-scotus-majority-what-would-happen/784719)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-0-conservative-or-liberal-scotus-majority-what-would-happen/784719 "2017-04-23T18:18:26Z")
Say that - right this moment - SCOTUS was suddenly replaced by 9 ultra-left or ultra-right justices (picture nine Ruth Ginsburgs at age forty, or nine Clarence Thomases at age forty) who were able to serve for 40+ years … --- ## [The winds of change at the Supreme Court](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-winds-of-change-at-the-supreme-court/784012)
**Author:** [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2017, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-winds-of-change-at-the-supreme-court/784012 "2017-04-23T04:27:27Z")
With Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court today via a 55-45 vote. Conservatives now enough a 5-4 majority on most issues. But what happens next? Here are the three most likely judges to exit, hopefully for t… --- ## [Schumer Urges Filibuster to Block Gorsuch Confirmation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schumer-urges-filibuster-to-block-gorsuch-confirmation/782845)
**Author:** [@CosmicManiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CosmicManiac)\ **Replies:** 851\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schumer-urges-filibuster-to-block-gorsuch-confirmation/782845 "2017-04-21T17:52:12Z")
Well, this certainly didn’t take long. I thought eight Democrats might have been willing to support Gorsuch, but I guess I underestimated their frustration. Who wants to bet Senate Republicans will take a page from thei… --- ## [CBS did the outing much more than Jeff Varner did](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-did-the-outing-much-more-than-jeff-varner-did/784621)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cbs-did-the-outing-much-more-than-jeff-varner-did/784621 "2017-04-21T17:09:38Z")
Story. In an nutshell, two contestants on the show Survivor are in the news, because in an apparent effort to avoid being voted off the island, one of them, Jeff Varner, suggested that the other was a better choice for … --- ## [Why do Trump and other "conservatives" want to defund opera and other arts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-trump-and-other-conservatives-want-to-defund-opera-and-other-arts/783963)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 236\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-trump-and-other-conservatives-want-to-defund-opera-and-other-arts/783963 "2017-04-20T17:53:58Z")
The Trump Administration hopes to remove all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. The total amount of money spent by government on all NEA programs is dwarfed by the amounts taxpayers spend building stadiums… --- ## [The traditionalists are in the saddle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traditionalists-are-in-the-saddle/784480)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traditionalists-are-in-the-saddle/784480 "2017-04-20T02:42:55Z")
Such was the phrase used by Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer on Thursday. By traditionalists he meant the Washington establishment as opposed to people like Stephen Bannon. Krauthammer has in the recent pa… --- ## [Should Supreme Court justices be elected by the people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-supreme-court-justices-be-elected-by-the-people/784670)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-supreme-court-justices-be-elected-by-the-people/784670 "2017-04-19T17:00:39Z")
As an Englishman I’m a great admirer of the American system of governance, the separation of powers. But I sometimes wonder if that separation is best served when two of the branches of government can nominate and appoin… --- ## [Are school uniforms a good idea or a bad one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2017, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-school-uniforms-a-good-idea-or-a-bad-one/784110 "2017-04-19T09:38:51Z")
When I was a kid in the UK in the 50s/early 60s I wore a uniform at grammar school: blazer with school badge, cap, regulation trousers, shirt, shoes, etc. We all hated it then and envied the kids at the ordinary schools … --- ## [Illegal immigration down 67 percent under Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-down-67-percent-under-trump/783781)
**Author:** [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-down-67-percent-under-trump/783781 "2017-04-18T16:56:44Z")
The main question is, how can the media spin this to be a bad thing? “Testifying to the committee in a first hearing Tuesday, former Border Patrol Chief David V. Aguilar said the percentage may be even higher than Mr.… --- ## [Quo Vadis, Turkey?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quo-vadis-turkey/784593)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quo-vadis-turkey/784593 "2017-04-18T15:57:54Z")
Now it looks as if the referendum giving huge new powers to Ertogan (if the next election goes as expected) is going to pass. From all the events of the past few months, I have some questions that I think it would be int… --- ## [The Alt-Right is Abandonign Trump, and the Left Will Soon Give Him "Strange New Respect"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-alt-right-is-abandonign-trump-and-the-left-will-soon-give-him-strange-new-respect/784010)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-alt-right-is-abandonign-trump-and-the-left-will-soon-give-him-strange-new-respect/784010 "2017-04-17T21:55:30Z")
Steve Bannon is on the way out. Far from being an evil Svengali whom Trump can’t resist, Bannon was a useful hanger on whom Trump has more or less dumped. So, who IS Trump listening to now? His son-in-law Jared Kushner … --- ## [American missiles fired at Syria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944)
**Author:** [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Replies:** 602\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-missiles-fired-at-syria/783944 "2017-04-17T17:04:25Z")
I guess Trump likes red lines better than Obama. Well, I whatever you think, this will work against “in the pocket of Russia” narative. --- ## [jfk JUNIOR Death Controversy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-junior-death-controversy/784591)
**Author:** [@saturncomet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saturncomet)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-junior-death-controversy/784591 "2017-04-17T00:42:28Z")
Video explains all. http://youtu.be/SAe2PC3Gv\_Y --- ## [The ethics of S.E.R.E. (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-s-e-r-e-survival-evasion-resistance-and-escape/784009)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-s-e-r-e-survival-evasion-resistance-and-escape/784009 "2017-04-17T00:13:28Z")
I have a friend who is a SERE trainer. I’m not even claiming some special inside knowledge because he won’t talk about it. I don’t think even his parents know exactly what he does. But I think he is one of the most extra… --- ## [Job centric social networking, profile photos and bias.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-centric-social-networking-profile-photos-and-bias/783784)
**Author:** [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-centric-social-networking-profile-photos-and-bias/783784 "2017-04-16T15:08:57Z")
\*Mods, I was going to place this in IMHO but realized it may go down in a way that makes it better for GD but please move it if appropriate. \* I am currently looking to move to the next stage in my career and thus have… --- ## [JFK Assassination Controversy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-assassination-controversy/784511)
**Author:** [@saturncomet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saturncomet)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-assassination-controversy/784511 "2017-04-16T00:12:27Z")
JFK Cover up- The whole messy thing JFK- The Medical Cover Up (Douglas Horne) (check it out on utube) The following essay is based on the work of david s lifton and Douglas Horne (Douglas horne was a member of the med… --- ## [Has the U.S. "War on Terror" been a big, pathetic waste of time/resources?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-u-s-war-on-terror-been-a-big-pathetic-waste-of-time-resources/783401)
**Author:** [@Marcus\_Flavius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus_Flavius)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-u-s-war-on-terror-been-a-big-pathetic-waste-of-time-resources/783401 "2017-04-15T23:23:35Z")
The Taliban today is more powerful than they’ve been since 2001, and they control more territory in Afghanistan since that time too. Alqaeda has also made a resurgence. In Syria, an Al-Qaeda affiliated group has managed … --- ## ['Jesus gave up a weekend for our sins" Great thread. Why can't I find it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-gave-up-a-weekend-for-our-sins-great-thread-why-cant-i-find-it/784521)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-gave-up-a-weekend-for-our-sins-great-thread-why-cant-i-find-it/784521 "2017-04-15T20:02:59Z")
Question in title. --- ## [TITANIC Sinking Foretold; Claims Verified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/titanic-sinking-foretold-claims-verified/531168)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/titanic-sinking-foretold-claims-verified/531168 "2017-04-15T20:02:24Z")
In reading accounts of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, I read that several people claimed (long after the sinking), that they had experienced a “bad vibe” about the ship, and hence, decided not to sail on her. My questi… --- ## [Are we on the brink of WW3?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-on-the-brink-of-ww3/784026)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2017, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-on-the-brink-of-ww3/784026 "2017-04-15T07:26:17Z")
Russia and Iran are not happy with Trump’s decision to launch a missile attack against the Syrian airfield. Russian PM Medvedev came out saying we came very close to a Russia-US war. We are now fighting against multipl… --- ## [What tools does the US have to influence a foreign war without ground troops or spending huge sums](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tools-does-the-us-have-to-influence-a-foreign-war-without-ground-troops-or-spending-huge-sums/783978)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tools-does-the-us-have-to-influence-a-foreign-war-without-ground-troops-or-spending-huge-sums/783978 "2017-04-15T05:17:39Z")
In America we do not seem to mind getting involved in foreign wars just so long as they do not cost trillions or involve large scale US ground troops. So what all methods does the US have to influence the direction of a… --- ## [Why do human rights vary so drastically in the middle east-northern africa region](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-human-rights-vary-so-drastically-in-the-middle-east-northern-africa-region/784345)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-human-rights-vary-so-drastically-in-the-middle-east-northern-africa-region/784345 "2017-04-14T22:04:06Z")
I’m not an expert on the subject, but for example Iraq under Saddam or Syria under Assad have arguably the worst human rights. Libya was pretty bad too, about as bad. But then you have some countries that are bad, but n… --- ## [How would religions approach intelligent e.t. life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-religions-approach-intelligent-e-t-life/783445)
**Author:** [@daggaes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daggaes)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-religions-approach-intelligent-e-t-life/783445 "2017-04-14T19:03:57Z")
How would the main religions and faiths handle the discovery of intelligent and/or self-aware extraterrestrial life? In the main, religions seem flexible enough to adapt -after a fashion and plenty of time- to discoveri… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=124) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=126)