# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=186 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 187 --- ## [Twenty percent of New York students opt out of high stakes testing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-percent-of-new-york-students-opt-out-of-high-stakes-testing/728047)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twenty-percent-of-new-york-students-opt-out-of-high-stakes-testing/728047 "2015-08-24T12:23:41Z")
One of the few good things about the current regime of high stakes tests in public schools is that it’s possible to opt out. Parents are legally given the option of having their children not take the tests, or take th… --- ## [Cannabis Extracts for the Primary Treatment of Cancer, Epilepsy, and More](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannabis-extracts-for-the-primary-treatment-of-cancer-epilepsy-and-more/673684)
**Author:** [@JKander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKander)\ **Replies:** 516\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cannabis-extracts-for-the-primary-treatment-of-cancer-epilepsy-and-more/673684 "2014-04-29T19:56:14Z")
Hello, my name is Justin Kander. First off, I’m extremely excited to have this conversation with many fine individuals, as so far, and surprisingly, I’ve never had the opportunity to fully discuss this with a large grou… --- ## [What if hitler is more pragmatic concerning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-hitler-is-more-pragmatic-concerning/728413)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-hitler-is-more-pragmatic-concerning/728413 "2015-08-23T12:30:17Z")
If the Germans had been more pragmatic (As unlikely as that is just go with it), including Hitler himself, how successful could a native recruitment program have been among the Soviet population including POWs and Red Ar… --- ## [What if the Soviet Union Collapsed 20 years Earlier?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-soviet-union-collapsed-20-years-earlier/728420)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-soviet-union-collapsed-20-years-earlier/728420 "2015-08-22T20:28:12Z")
Let’s say that Brezhnev didn’t interfere with the Prague Spring, Dubceks reforms to implement ‘Socialism with a Human face’ in Czechoslovakia are successful which initiates a wave of reform across the Eastern Bloc, culmi… --- ## [Are you OK with a real life "Eye of Sauron" for mass surveillance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-ok-with-a-real-life-eye-of-sauron-for-mass-surveillance/723739)
**Author:** [@Salvor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salvor)\ **Replies:** 376\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-ok-with-a-real-life-eye-of-sauron-for-mass-surveillance/723739 "2015-08-22T00:19:15Z")
I did not realize this was currently feasible, but apparently it is. I just got done listening to the latest episode of radiolab where they talk about using high resolution cameras on planes to take aerial shots of the … --- ## [Medicare fraud: Why isn't it a high-profile issue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-fraud-why-isnt-it-a-high-profile-issue/728187)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-fraud-why-isnt-it-a-high-profile-issue/728187 "2015-08-21T17:21:27Z")
This seems to be a huge issue that liberals and conservatives ought to be able to both unite on in bipartisan fashion; liberals; because billions of dollars in fraud are adversely affecting Medicare, and conservatives, b… --- ## ["Person with disabilities" vs "Disabled person", etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-with-disabilities-vs-disabled-person-etc/726356)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-with-disabilities-vs-disabled-person-etc/726356 "2015-08-21T02:46:27Z")
Over in this pit thread about political correctness a poster named Jack of Words made some comments about the language used to describe the group that I would previously have referred to as “disabled people” that I found… --- ## [Illegal Immigration: Amnesty or Boot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075)
**Author:** [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075 "2015-08-21T02:21:07Z")
What do you think about illegal immigration? Should we deport all illegals, with their kids (even if their kids are US soil citizens), without their kids, only deport criminals, pathway to citizenship? Wall or no wall? M… --- ## [Could "Opening Up" Cuba have the Opposite Effect?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-opening-up-cuba-have-the-opposite-effect/728270)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-opening-up-cuba-have-the-opposite-effect/728270 "2015-08-20T22:20:30Z")
I generally support opening diplomatic relations with Cuba. I see it as a first step toward getting rid of the corrupt, oppressive Castro regime. However, what if it actually has the opposite effect? See the following: … --- ## [Media Smokescreens in Marijuana Legalization](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-smokescreens-in-marijuana-legalization/728191)
**Author:** [@MegaNazz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaNazz)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/media-smokescreens-in-marijuana-legalization/728191 "2015-08-20T18:52:30Z")
It really feels like the pharmaceutical companies are writing the media’s checks in regards to their marijuana coverage. First, there’s the confusion of spice/K2 with weed because of the somewhat confusing name “syntheti… --- ## [Is Total Openess A Better Philosophy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-total-openess-a-better-philosophy/728261)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-total-openess-a-better-philosophy/728261 "2015-08-20T13:24:51Z")
Suppose we allowed our (potential) enemies a look at very weapon we develop. Would this be better (and cheaper) than the current system of spies, counter espionage, secrecy, etc.? Suppose we develop a new coding system t… --- ## [Proposed Medicare restrictions on artificial legs: should they roll back to 1970s standards of care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-medicare-restrictions-on-artificial-legs-should-they-roll-back-to-1970s-standards-of-care/727940)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2015, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-medicare-restrictions-on-artificial-legs-should-they-roll-back-to-1970s-standards-of-care/727940 "2015-08-20T05:28:26Z")
Medicare has sent out a proposal to restrict prosthetic coverage and reimpose 1970s standards of care, allegedly. Here’s the website opposing the new standards: http://saveprosthetics.org/ Here’s a petition to rescind … --- ## [I think I may be changing to an anti abortion (pro life) stance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-be-changing-to-an-anti-abortion-pro-life-stance/727326)
**Author:** [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Replies:** 593\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2015, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-may-be-changing-to-an-anti-abortion-pro-life-stance/727326 "2015-08-19T10:57:08Z")
I’ve long held the view that I disagree with abortion but that it is a woman’s body/woman’s right. A large part of this thinking was historical, that in the past women were dependent on men financially and otherwise, I a… --- ## [Illegal immigrants - do they commit more crimes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigrants-do-they-commit-more-crimes/728090)
**Author:** [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigrants-do-they-commit-more-crimes/728090 "2015-08-18T21:06:19Z")
In response to this post and others - I wanted to find some data. Do correct me if I calculated something wrong or misinterpreted the data in the following: I found some data here: GAO’s Criminal Alien Statistics report … --- ## [Why shouldn't the U.S. and other first world countries take a hardline stance on illegal immigration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-shouldnt-the-u-s-and-other-first-world-countries-take-a-hardline-stance-on-illegal-immigration/727622)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 168\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-shouldnt-the-u-s-and-other-first-world-countries-take-a-hardline-stance-on-illegal-immigration/727622 "2015-08-18T14:03:48Z")
Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. still has a really generous legal immigration policy compared to most countries in Europe, Australia and even some 3rd world countries yet The Left constantly criticizes that the U.S.… --- ## [Anti-Feminism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-feminism/725390)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 1284\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2015, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-feminism/725390 "2015-08-18T00:17:11Z")
This topic is hard to write about: first, because there’s a certain social opprobrium in being against feminism - especially if you’re a Democrat and a liberal. Second, because feminism is (and I would argue always has b… --- ## [The Case for Reducing the Value of the Dollar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-for-reducing-the-value-of-the-dollar/727593)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-for-reducing-the-value-of-the-dollar/727593 "2015-08-17T14:10:56Z")
Today I heard a story on NPR about China’s recent move to lower the value of the yuan. Apparently, China linked the value of the yuan to the dollar a while back. The dollar, however, has been moving up against other cur… --- ## [Why aren't pro-lifers more extreme?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-pro-lifers-more-extreme/727456)
**Author:** [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-pro-lifers-more-extreme/727456 "2015-08-17T12:28:03Z")
Reading the other anti-abortion threads here and on other message boards, it occurs to me that, given what pro-lifers say they believe, they don’t ever seem to do much. They shout at women in front of clinics and lobby … --- ## [Would Iraq have been better off staying with Saddam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-iraq-have-been-better-off-staying-with-saddam/727727)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2015, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-iraq-have-been-better-off-staying-with-saddam/727727 "2015-08-17T10:15:38Z")
Another massive truck bomb killing at least 60 in Sadr City, Islamic State claiming responsibility. About a third of the country in the hands of terrorists now. Sure, Saddam was an old brute but maybe it takes a brute to… --- ## [So, has the ISS achieved anything new?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-the-iss-achieved-anything-new/727384)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-has-the-iss-achieved-anything-new/727384 "2015-08-17T04:37:49Z")
The ISS is now nearly two decades old, it will become a legal adult next year. Its not the UN in space, despite the name. Its not a waypoint for missions to the moon or outside the Earth-Moon system. Has actually done … --- ## [If the United States just ignored ISIS, what's the worst that could happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-united-states-just-ignored-isis-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen/716028)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-united-states-just-ignored-isis-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen/716028 "2015-08-15T23:48:43Z")
If the United States hadn’t been droning and striking ISIS and simply ignored it, what’s the worst that could happen? It is a headache for the Arab nations in the vicinity and even if the US left ISIS alone, surely they… --- ## [Let's say that the UK simply let Argentina have the Falklands that it seized in 1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-that-the-uk-simply-let-argentina-have-the-falklands-that-it-seized-in-1982/726843)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2015, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-that-the-uk-simply-let-argentina-have-the-falklands-that-it-seized-in-1982/726843 "2015-08-15T07:25:49Z")
Suppose that the UK simply gave up in 1982 and said, “Whatever Argentina, you can keep the Falklands, it’s yours now.” Would it have been political doom for the Thatcher administration? Did Thatcher go to war mainly be… --- ## [Are California's problems really the fault of socialism and welfare abuse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-californias-problems-really-the-fault-of-socialism-and-welfare-abuse/726664)
**Author:** [@protoboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/protoboard)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-californias-problems-really-the-fault-of-socialism-and-welfare-abuse/726664 "2015-08-14T23:00:21Z")
I hear people often complain that the reason California is expensive is because “illegals” and “free-loaders” are jamming the system and cheating the taxpayers out of their honest money, and driving up prices of everythi… --- ## [Coontown on Reddit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coontown-on-reddit/725264)
**Author:** [@Cardboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardboard)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coontown-on-reddit/725264 "2015-08-14T14:46:51Z")
One of the most controversial subreddits out there is known as Coontown (r/coontown), which is – according to them – a ‘race realist’ group that details why black people are bad. To just about everyone else, it’s a racis… --- ## [Guns: Newsweek proposes a compromise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-newsweek-proposes-a-compromise/725345)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 411\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-newsweek-proposes-a-compromise/725345 "2015-08-14T03:17:44Z")
A leftist author at a leftist media outlet proposes a compromise on the great gun debate: http://www.newsweek.com/2015/07/24/bullet-initiative-354203.html To summarize, he wants to give gun control advocates the follow… --- ## [What would it take for Bolivia to declare war on Chile](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-bolivia-to-declare-war-on-chile/727712)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-bolivia-to-declare-war-on-chile/727712 "2015-08-14T01:51:42Z")
Yes Bolivia has a navy. Of course they became landlocked as a result of the War of the Pacific in 1883 so I always thought that the Bolivian Navy was a holdover - more symbolic than anything. I was wrong. Bolivia is v… --- ## [Intellectually, What Does Islam Offer The West?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectually-what-does-islam-offer-the-west/724949)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 201\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intellectually-what-does-islam-offer-the-west/724949 "2015-08-14T01:16:30Z")
Obama has made several speeches, to the effect tha Islam is a force for peace in the world. Angela Merkel has made similar speeches, claiming that Islam is part of Germany now. My question: if you look at the situation… --- ## [Should private businesses be allowed to discriminate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-private-businesses-be-allowed-to-discriminate/724529)
**Author:** [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Replies:** 666\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-private-businesses-be-allowed-to-discriminate/724529 "2015-08-13T22:05:27Z")
I have always felt that if a business owner wanted to discriminate, that should be their right. I think that people should be able to choose who they want to do business with, and if I have a particular talent that I se… --- ## [What's wrong with saying "All lives matter"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-saying-all-lives-matter/727366)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 269\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-saying-all-lives-matter/727366 "2015-08-13T16:05:20Z")
This question arose in my mind again upon hearing the news that two ‘Black Lives Matter’ activists disrupted a Bernie Sanders speech, shoved Sanders, and accused the crowd of being “white supremacist liberals”. This is,… --- ## [Does all this video recording really help society](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-all-this-video-recording-really-help-society/726907)
**Author:** [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-all-this-video-recording-really-help-society/726907 "2015-08-13T15:24:20Z")
Look at the following thread I already see this constant video recording in place almost everywhere and we are probably not far from having this occur where everything that everyone does is recorded. The supermarkets… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=185) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=187)