# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=144 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 145 --- ## [Rolling Stone article, and at what point writers should be fired](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stone-article-and-at-what-point-writers-should-be-fired/716981)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-stone-article-and-at-what-point-writers-should-be-fired/716981 "2016-11-08T21:41:13Z")
This thread isn’t advocating for or against firing people, but rather, asking in which situations journalistic staff should be fired. Does an incident like the recent Rolling Stone article cross the “Yes, this calls for… --- ## [California vs Kansas economy... why can't we put bad ideas to rest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vs-kansas-economy-why-cant-we-put-bad-ideas-to-rest/770583)
**Author:** [@Salvor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salvor)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-vs-kansas-economy-why-cant-we-put-bad-ideas-to-rest/770583 "2016-11-08T21:40:10Z")
What bad idea? That higher taxes ipso facto reduce growth and cause increased stagnation and poverty. I don’t presume it all ends rosy no matter what, I’m sure California has some natural boosts being a large coastal… --- ## [Why has tipping % gone up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-tipping-gone-up/428291)
**Author:** [@Zerc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zerc)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-tipping-gone-up/428291 "2016-11-08T20:43:37Z")
This is not another thread to debate the pros and cons of tipping. What I want to know is why has the % of the meal that you are supposed to leave as a tip gone up over the years. I am not American so I may be incorrect… --- ## [Do I ever NOT have the right to self-defense](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-ever-not-have-the-right-to-self-defense/770948)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-ever-not-have-the-right-to-self-defense/770948 "2016-11-08T19:15:55Z")
Let’s say I’m a convicted murderer with a scheduled execution date. The night before my death date, a guard comes into my cell and explains that I’m not going to survive long enough to be executed, and attacks me with a… --- ## [Why has male domination worked so well?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-male-domination-worked-so-well/770424)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2016, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-male-domination-worked-so-well/770424 "2016-11-08T17:04:26Z")
Since the dawn of recorded history, society has been dominated by men. Sure there have been many powerful women - Elizabeth, Mathilda, Cleopatra, Hatsheput, Catharine the Great, etc - and it’s a foolish man who does not … --- ## [Time from sentence to execution cruel & unusual punishment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-from-sentence-to-execution-cruel-unusual-punishment/770580)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2016, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-from-sentence-to-execution-cruel-unusual-punishment/770580 "2016-11-08T06:49:52Z")
In 1890 SCOTUS noted that long delays between sentencing and execution, compounded by a prisoner’s uncertainty over time of execution, could be agonizing, resulting in “horrible feelings” and “immense mental anxiety amou… --- ## [Is American society increasingly "post truth"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-american-society-increasingly-post-truth/769674)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-american-society-increasingly-post-truth/769674 "2016-11-07T12:33:07Z")
I’m not the only person who has the impression that recent incidences where facts have been blatantly disregarded has been pretty extreme - even by Washington standards. Last week This American Life was discussing wheth… --- ## [How Did the American Soldier Stack Up Against the Enemy in WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-american-soldier-stack-up-against-the-enemy-in-wwii/93677)
**Author:** [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Replies:** 182\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2016, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-american-soldier-stack-up-against-the-enemy-in-wwii/93677 "2016-11-07T07:07:34Z")
Perhaps 15 years ago, I was watching a documentary on the battle of Stalingrad. During this gruesome broadcast, former German and Soviet soldiers provided running commentary on the savagery of that campaign and also conf… --- ## [Is working a normal job unnatural?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-working-a-normal-job-unnatural/770427)
**Author:** [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-working-a-normal-job-unnatural/770427 "2016-11-07T06:33:58Z")
I was thinking about how 1000 years ago most people were farmers, which seems like a fairly simple stress free life where you only work about twice a year, planting and harvest (if you are not a dairy farmer). People tod… --- ## [Why do Christians celebrate Christmas\*?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-celebrate-christmas/769864)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 136\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2016, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-celebrate-christmas/769864 "2016-11-06T06:37:56Z")
\*- By Christmas, for this discussion, I mean the secular Santa & Reindeer show the majority of America celebrates. I’m a firm Dawkins-esque Atheist and my two young children believe in Santa Claus. Childhood wonder and… --- ## ["Dicks Out For Harambe" :: "Black Lives Matter"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dicks-out-for-harambe-black-lives-matter/770788)
**Author:** [@quimper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quimper)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dicks-out-for-harambe-black-lives-matter/770788 "2016-11-06T03:19:00Z")
“Dicks Out For Harambe” :: “Black Lives Matter” Is this the American 2016 equiv of bananas on football pitches and ape grunts? Convince me it’s not as simple as (and utterly fucked) it looks. :frowning: --- ## [How has same sex marriage affected the five countries who have legalized it for a decade or more?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-same-sex-marriage-affected-the-five-countries-who-have-legalized-it-for-a-decade-or-more/768309)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-same-sex-marriage-affected-the-five-countries-who-have-legalized-it-for-a-decade-or-more/768309 "2016-11-04T14:48:08Z")
I always hear American preachers and politicians talk about how same sex marriage will lead to horrific outcomes. There are five countries who have had legalized same-sex marriage for a decade or more: \[ul\] \[li\]The Ne… --- ## [If women ruled the world, in what ways would men be oppressed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-women-ruled-the-world-in-what-ways-would-men-be-oppressed/770393)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2016, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-women-ruled-the-world-in-what-ways-would-men-be-oppressed/770393 "2016-11-03T14:33:09Z")
The oppression of women by men needs no comment- we have almost all of history as an example. But what if the shoe was on the other foot? Suppose for some reason (magic?) women collectively held the power to dictate the … --- ## ["The Polar Express" sends a bad message to children (spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polar-express-sends-a-bad-message-to-children-spoilers/275894)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polar-express-sends-a-bad-message-to-children-spoilers/275894 "2016-11-03T07:29:14Z")
I wasn’t quite sure where to put this. It’s not really so much a movie review as a critique of a Hollywood cliche and it’s not really vitriolic enough to be a rant so I’ll pose it as a philosophical position and invite r… --- ## [ACA (Obama Care) is great, but it is time to fix it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-obama-care-is-great-but-it-is-time-to-fix-it/769841)
**Author:** [@DagNation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DagNation)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2016, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-obama-care-is-great-but-it-is-time-to-fix-it/769841 "2016-11-03T01:14:10Z")
“ACA-I: The Obama Care Hope”, subtitled: “Just enough to get America hooked” has been the law for about 6 years now. Nearly all of the provisions are in place, and now we are seeing results! About 2/3 of the people who w… --- ## [Is Geographical Determinism the reason for Europe's Success?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-geographical-determinism-the-reason-for-europes-success/770212)
**Author:** [@Soft\_Denial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soft_Denial)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-geographical-determinism-the-reason-for-europes-success/770212 "2016-11-03T00:33:39Z")
So a popular theory among many theorists is that “Geographical Determinism” the idea that it was the geographical location and its proximity to certain resources which allowed it to Develop compared to say Sub-Saharian A… --- ## [Will the idea of non-MAD nuclear war be a "thing" in the coming decades](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-idea-of-non-mad-nuclear-war-be-a-thing-in-the-coming-decades/770363)
**Author:** [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-idea-of-non-mad-nuclear-war-be-a-thing-in-the-coming-decades/770363 "2016-11-02T19:40:18Z")
If you grew up when I did, then the USSR and the USA both had many, many nukes, and it was a given that if one was deployed against the other, then civilization as we knew it would end because both sides would lob everyt… --- ## [What would be the fallout if Russia invades Finland](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-fallout-if-russia-invades-finland/769089)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2016, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-fallout-if-russia-invades-finland/769089 "2016-11-01T06:46:10Z")
Assume Putin, for whatever reason, decided to invade Finland. Finland is not a part of NATO. They are also a developed nation with no history of being part of the USSR. How would the world respond? Would western europe… --- ## [Should we end polling?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-end-polling/769801)
**Author:** [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-end-polling/769801 "2016-10-31T18:00:31Z")
Are polling results causing more harm than good? Would we be better off if people lied to pollsters, that way politicians might actually say what they believe, instead of reading polls to decide on their public positio… --- ## [Are there too many 'useless' people in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-too-many-useless-people-in-the-us/596274)
**Author:** [@HumanBear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumanBear)\ **Replies:** 142\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-too-many-useless-people-in-the-us/596274 "2016-10-31T00:01:07Z")
I’ve read many discussions about who should vote, who does or doesn’t pay taxes, how there are too many taking out and not putting in, etc. So I’d like a few facts and am hoping if someone has them to hand. I’m from the… --- ## [Two types of government programs, and their performance record](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-types-of-government-programs-and-their-performance-record/770099)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-types-of-government-programs-and-their-performance-record/770099 "2016-10-30T15:41:13Z")
I was watching an old David Letterman with Bill Clinton, from 2010, and Clinton was talking about rather obvious policy measures that he claimed would have huge benefits. A lot of this has been talked about before in oth… --- ## [Should the US be sharing criminal records with other countries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-be-sharing-criminal-records-with-other-countries/711840)
**Author:** [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2016, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-be-sharing-criminal-records-with-other-countries/711840 "2016-10-29T09:36:12Z")
I know the US has an information sharing agreement with Canada where the Canadian authorities get to look up the criminal records of Americans in exchange for our authorities being able to do the same for Canadians. It’… --- ## [Are dreams better than reality?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dreams-better-than-reality/768169)
**Author:** [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2016, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-dreams-better-than-reality/768169 "2016-10-29T07:20:21Z")
I don’t want to get bogged down in a discussion about what is “real”. The point here is that in your dreams anything is possible and you can create your reality (especially in the case of lucid dreaming). But in the wak… --- ## [If it works in the Phillipins should Mexico try the same?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-it-works-in-the-phillipins-should-mexico-try-the-same/763748)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 355\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-it-works-in-the-phillipins-should-mexico-try-the-same/763748 "2016-10-29T02:29:06Z")
So the New President of the Phillipines (Dutarte) is getting tough on crime. He is largely responsible for 700 killings by police in the last couple of months. He has identified 300 “dirty cops” He has The Phillipi… --- ## [Health insurance suggestion from a lay-person to cut down on unnecessary care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance-suggestion-from-a-lay-person-to-cut-down-on-unnecessary-care/769844)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance-suggestion-from-a-lay-person-to-cut-down-on-unnecessary-care/769844 "2016-10-28T20:15:53Z")
An idea to reduce the incentives for unnecessary medical tests/scans when it’s not medically warranted: There would be two payment structures for scans and tests like MRIs – an expensive payment when the test/scan finds… --- ## [ACA (Obamacare) premiums going up by 25%](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-obamacare-premiums-going-up-by-25/769688)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aca-obamacare-premiums-going-up-by-25/769688 "2016-10-28T16:42:27Z")
No one can argue that Obamacare succeeded in getting more people insured. The debate is how successful it has been in controlling cost. Despite the ACA, health care cost have continued to rise\* and now with such few pr… --- ## [Do very rich companies have an obligation to pay their lowest workers above market rate wages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-very-rich-companies-have-an-obligation-to-pay-their-lowest-workers-above-market-rate-wages/769669)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-very-rich-companies-have-an-obligation-to-pay-their-lowest-workers-above-market-rate-wages/769669 "2016-10-28T15:05:26Z")
A recent op-ed in the NYT is by a cafeteria worker at Harvard University, sharing how difficult it is to live on the $31k salary in the Boston area. Even though she admits that Harvard pays more than other cafeterias in … --- ## [NPR Story about Oregon and Medicaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-story-about-oregon-and-medicaid/769095)
**Author:** [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/npr-story-about-oregon-and-medicaid/769095 "2016-10-28T01:27:18Z")
I heard on NPR today about a study in Oregon about Medicaid expansion. Here is the link The study says that “Medicaid enrollees increased their emergency room visits by 40 percent over the first 15 months.” and that t… --- ## [Sci-Fi: Fetuses in incubators/artificial wombs: Who gets to make the abortion decision?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-fetuses-in-incubators-artificial-wombs-who-gets-to-make-the-abortion-decision/769687)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-fetuses-in-incubators-artificial-wombs-who-gets-to-make-the-abortion-decision/769687 "2016-10-27T21:07:40Z")
(Mods, if this is more suited for IMHO, then please relocate it as you see fit. I couldn’t figure which forum it better belonged in): It doesn’t seem too far-fetched that someday there might be incubators that are techn… --- ## [Bridging the great divide (partisan politics)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridging-the-great-divide-partisan-politics/768347)
**Author:** [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridging-the-great-divide-partisan-politics/768347 "2016-10-27T08:45:46Z")
How would you go about bridging this seemingly insurmountable gap we have dividing our country? Everything, in my view, has gotten so divisive and the media just seems to promote it. It’s working, at an alarming rate. W… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=143) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=145)