# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=173 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 174 --- ## [End origination fees on student loans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-origination-fees-on-student-loans/740523)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-origination-fees-on-student-loans/740523 "2015-12-21T21:28:31Z")
All it does is push students further into debt. The government and banks are already making a killing on the interest. There is no need for an extra fee at the beginning. --- ## [Chicago Teachers Union threatening a strike](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-teachers-union-threatening-a-strike/739425)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 180\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-teachers-union-threatening-a-strike/739425 "2015-12-21T19:14:11Z")
I’ve posted several times that I utterly despise Karen Lewis, the head of the Chicago Teachers Union. Next week , the union will vote on a possible strike. I hope the union comes to their senses and votes against this ve… --- ## [Anthony Cumia of "Opie and Anthony" fired for "racist tweets"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthony-cumia-of-opie-and-anthony-fired-for-racist-tweets/692381)
**Author:** [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Replies:** 320\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthony-cumia-of-opie-and-anthony-fired-for-racist-tweets/692381 "2015-12-21T17:05:21Z")
All of the reports are saying that he was fired for a “racist Twitter rant”, etc. I didn’t read anything racist, but he was certainly pissed and called her everything except the n-word. I’m not sure whether to put this… --- ## [Should schools just ignore bomb threats?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-schools-just-ignore-bomb-threats/740685)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-schools-just-ignore-bomb-threats/740685 "2015-12-21T12:52:41Z")
They are always hoaxes, and always done by idiots trying to either get attention or have the day off. Evacuating the school is exactly what the hoaxers want. They want to cause disruption without really doing anything.… --- ## [Eco minded 'dopers...Dam-Nation (debate about dams in the US)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eco-minded-dopers-dam-nation-debate-about-dams-in-the-us/740394)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eco-minded-dopers-dam-nation-debate-about-dams-in-the-us/740394 "2015-12-21T05:28:06Z")
So, mild spoiler alert…I’ll be making references to a show on NatGeo tonight called Dam-Nation. The show was about dams in the US. It was pretty interesting. My main issue with it is that it was pretty one sided, so t… --- ## [Should Western Jihadists Be Microchipped?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-western-jihadists-be-microchipped/740770)
**Author:** [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-western-jihadists-be-microchipped/740770 "2015-12-21T00:40:10Z")
The phenomenon of western muslims who travel to Syria (to participate in “Jihad”) is quite disturbing. Their subsequent behavior (upon returning) is concerning; should they be forced to have a microchip implanted in the… --- ## [Right to bear arms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-to-bear-arms/739396)
**Author:** [@llyn.glas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/llyn.glas)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-to-bear-arms/739396 "2015-12-20T21:39:34Z")
Why is the right to bear arms interpreted as the right to carry firearms? Why not a sword, or a flintlock if you have to have a gun. Obviously we have restrictions on what we mean by arms. For example, as a private c… --- ## [Will the UN / Russian peace plan for Syria work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-un-russian-peace-plan-for-syria-work/740851)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-un-russian-peace-plan-for-syria-work/740851 "2015-12-20T00:39:50Z")
The UN has passed a resolution for a plan to begin ending the Syrian conflict. It looks to me as if this is mostly a Russian plan which does not have a specific timetable for the removal of Assad. The plan calls for e… --- ## [Why exactly did Germany implode during World War I but not during World War II?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-exactly-did-germany-implode-during-world-war-i-but-not-during-world-war-ii/740739)
**Author:** [@Futurist110](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futurist110)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-exactly-did-germany-implode-during-world-war-i-but-not-during-world-war-ii/740739 "2015-12-19T19:07:14Z")
Why exactly did Germany implode during World War I but not during World War II? After all, in World War I, Germany capitulated before it was fully defeated while Germany only capitulated in World War II after the Allies … --- ## [WTF.the No Planes theory re; 9/11](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-no-planes-theory-re-9-11/740848)
**Author:** [@geological](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geological)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-no-planes-theory-re-9-11/740848 "2015-12-19T14:25:47Z")
Could it be? the “planes” of 9/11 were CGI. I started to wonder when a “plane” went thru a steel building like a hot knife thru butter. How soon will this be censored? --- ## [The "Empire"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire/740816)
**Author:** [@geological](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geological)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-empire/740816 "2015-12-19T00:38:55Z")
http://www.prisonplanet.com/10-reasons-america-will-be-judged-as-the-most-brutal-empire-in-history.html --- ## [How does the church determine what is to be considered a miracle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-church-determine-what-is-to-be-considered-a-miracle/219432)
**Author:** [@UnclePoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UnclePoo)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-church-determine-what-is-to-be-considered-a-miracle/219432 "2015-12-19T00:10:23Z")
How does the church determine what is considered to be a miracle? I never really thought that anyone actually kept track of miracles but I recently learned that Mother Teresa needs to have a certain amount of them accred… --- ## [Why does tort reform keep getting mentioned in healthcare debates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-tort-reform-keep-getting-mentioned-in-healthcare-debates/737248)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-tort-reform-keep-getting-mentioned-in-healthcare-debates/737248 "2015-12-18T23:44:45Z")
In two separate threads recently discussing single-payer health care systems, comments have been made that tort reform is essential for single-payment to be adopted in the US. First, in the Ben Carson thread in the Pit,… --- ## [Are Ivy League and other top universities hotbeds of racism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ivy-league-and-other-top-universities-hotbeds-of-racism/740033)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 170\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ivy-league-and-other-top-universities-hotbeds-of-racism/740033 "2015-12-18T11:38:54Z")
From this article about protests at Brown University: “We begged this university to hear our stories about how racism, sexism, and a whole host of other problems prevail … and prevent us from being safe, from being at … --- ## [Open marriage, death, and child support question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-marriage-death-and-child-support-question/739050)
**Author:** [@Futurist110](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futurist110)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-marriage-death-and-child-support-question/739050 "2015-12-18T05:31:47Z")
If a woman who is in an open marriage has sex with a man other than her husband, gets pregnant as a result of this sex, chooses to carry this pregnancy to term, and dies as a result of this pregnancy or as a result of co… --- ## [What can the SDMB agree on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-the-sdmb-agree-on/739459 "2015-12-18T02:59:55Z")
Are there ANY issues that the whole SDMB (or at least those active in GD) can actually agree on? I suspect there are, and I would like to find out which they are, but I have no idea where to start. So in order to get a … --- ## [Why do Non-Americans care about our gun laws?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-non-americans-care-about-our-gun-laws/740417)
**Author:** [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-non-americans-care-about-our-gun-laws/740417 "2015-12-18T02:24:08Z")
Why do Non-Americans (not residing in the US) care about our gun laws? I doubt that it really affects them. --- ## [Dutch museum renaming art for cultural sensitivity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-museum-renaming-art-for-cultural-sensitivity/740620)
**Author:** [@teflon\_grut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teflon_grut)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-museum-renaming-art-for-cultural-sensitivity/740620 "2015-12-17T23:33:53Z")
Dutch museum renaming art for cultural sensitivity I don’t know how I feel about this. Actually, I think I do know how I feel about this, but I don’t have an extremely strong stance. If we sterilize history to meet ou… --- ## [The Future of the Eurasian Economic Union?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-the-eurasian-economic-union/740726)
**Author:** [@Futurist110](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futurist110)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-future-of-the-eurasian-economic-union/740726 "2015-12-17T23:11:31Z")
What exactly do you think that the future of the Eurasian Economic Union would look like? Any thoughts on this? --- ## [Did Something Change? \[Public attitudes following the San Bernardino shootings\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-something-change-public-attitudes-following-the-san-bernardino-shootings/739358)
**Author:** [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-something-change-public-attitudes-following-the-san-bernardino-shootings/739358 "2015-12-17T22:20:40Z")
The day after the San Bernadino shooting, things seem different, at least to me. The usual suspects who are so prominent after a shooting seem to be absent, here and on Facebook. I haven’t fully thought it through, but… --- ## [Can/should anything be done about US shootings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-anything-be-done-about-us-shootings/739263)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 450\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-anything-be-done-about-us-shootings/739263 "2015-12-17T17:25:27Z")
I’m sure this has been done before. Hell, I may have even started a thread on it. I’m not trying to advance any political/social agenda - I’m just trying to get my mind around how to think about the shootings that seem… --- ## [The only way to stop global warming is a unified earth government, with an "Earth President".](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-stop-global-warming-is-a-unified-earth-government-with-an-earth-president/739504)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-stop-global-warming-is-a-unified-earth-government-with-an-earth-president/739504 "2015-12-17T01:40:24Z")
Individual countries have become so powerful that they can singlehandedly destroy the entire ecosphere through emissions (or nukes). There is nothing wrong with that, technology is awesome and fossil fuels makes human li… --- ## [Owning pets. Modern day slavery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-pets-modern-day-slavery/646709)
**Author:** [@pocho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pocho)\ **Replies:** 281\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-pets-modern-day-slavery/646709 "2015-12-16T21:51:29Z")
Ok, don’t get me wrong. I love animals for what they are…animals. And not for what they represent but the lives they live and how they live those lives. Now I find it really odd that we humans as a specie would capture a… --- ## [Look, Islam is not going away](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-islam-is-not-going-away/737695)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 420\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-islam-is-not-going-away/737695 "2015-12-16T12:35:20Z")
Don’t get me wrong, I heartily wish it would go away. I have no defenses to offer of Islamic doctrines or traditions, I have no time for any Yahvist faith – this world would be a better place if Abraham had been the vil… --- ## [China hack AU bureau of meteorology supercomputer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-hack-au-bureau-of-meteorology-supercomputer/739185)
**Author:** [@iLemming](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iLemming)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-hack-au-bureau-of-meteorology-supercomputer/739185 "2015-12-14T22:29:33Z")
Business Insider ABC (AU) How long can the West go on doing unfettered business with China with one hand, while waving their finger at the communist nation with other each time they commit espionage? How much can be … --- ## [How would a ground war against ISIS be paid for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-ground-war-against-isis-be-paid-for/740160)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-ground-war-against-isis-be-paid-for/740160 "2015-12-14T18:31:15Z")
Many of the Republican candidates for president are calling for all out war against ISIS, including sending a force of overwhelming size to rub them out. Given our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, such an operation r… --- ## [Most people want "equal treatment," but disagree on what that means.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-people-want-equal-treatment-but-disagree-on-what-that-means/740202)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-people-want-equal-treatment-but-disagree-on-what-that-means/740202 "2015-12-14T15:30:35Z")
Much of the political quarreling over “equality” today stems from a disagreement over just what exactly that means. Almost everyone claims they support ‘equality’ - but they’re envisioning different things. The best way… --- ## [Reversed proxy war ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversed-proxy-war/739726)
**Author:** [@Scandic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scandic)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversed-proxy-war/739726 "2015-12-14T01:29:24Z")
It looks to me that IS-IL is trying to provoke USA to send in ground troops in Syrie and Irak to fight them. Are they trying to create and play some kind of reversed proxy war ? --- ## [Should the U.S. allow export of crude oil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-allow-export-of-crude-oil/730242)
**Author:** [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-allow-export-of-crude-oil/730242 "2015-12-13T17:06:56Z")
Export of unrefined oil has been restricted (not quite banned, since there are exceptions, especially recently) since the mid-70s. Oil companies have been lobbying to have these restrictions lifted, and some politicians … --- ## [The Megalith: a Model of Political Change](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-megalith-a-model-of-political-change/740210)
**Author:** [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-megalith-a-model-of-political-change/740210 "2015-12-13T15:46:11Z")
A large crowd of people are standing in an open field. A huge stone is also there. Each person has a preference for the location of the stone. Each person’s preference is different, although the distribution clusters ar… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=172) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=174)