# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=192 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 193 --- ## [What are Russia's plans for a post-Putin future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-russias-plans-for-a-post-putin-future/723099)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2015, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-russias-plans-for-a-post-putin-future/723099 "2015-06-28T04:27:52Z")
Face it: Dude’s 62, a classic Type A who ignores the advice of others, including (I assume) doctors, and he thinks he’s in better shape than he is (those photos show him as a bit flabby, and remind me a bit of the Out o… --- ## [Gun control - background checks - how would have stopped SC murders?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-control-background-checks-how-would-have-stopped-sc-murders/723306)
**Author:** [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-control-background-checks-how-would-have-stopped-sc-murders/723306 "2015-06-26T17:23:17Z")
So the usual suspects are trying again. Never let a tragedy go to waste. President Obama noted last week that once again, someone got a gun who shouldn’t have had access to it. … Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D… --- ## [Republicans are working with Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-are-working-with-obama/722922)
**Author:** [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-are-working-with-obama/722922 "2015-06-26T03:43:25Z")
Liberals, you have your wish–the Republicans in Congress are now reaching out to President Obama. How many of you actually like it? I’m referring, of course, to the fast-track authority regarding the Pacific Free Trade… --- ## [How important is it for all well-educated people to know and believe Theory of Evolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-it-for-all-well-educated-people-to-know-and-believe-theory-of-evolution/722816)
**Author:** [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Replies:** 137\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-is-it-for-all-well-educated-people-to-know-and-believe-theory-of-evolution/722816 "2015-06-25T20:15:50Z")
I’ve wondered about this from time to time over they years. Now, this nearby thread inspires me to put the question to The Dope. (Stop me if we’ve done this already.) How essential is it, really, for everyone (meaning… --- ## [So - what happens if these lawsuits succeed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-happens-if-these-lawsuits-succeed/671944)
**Author:** [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Replies:** 188\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-happens-if-these-lawsuits-succeed/671944 "2015-06-25T14:52:47Z")
Two lawsuits currently proceeding in spite of the Obama Administration frantically trying to squash them. Basically, Obamacare law states that taxpayers can only receive Obamacare subsidies (tax credits) if “the taxp… --- ## [Are languages going to trend more logographic in the future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-languages-going-to-trend-more-logographic-in-the-future/723294)
**Author:** [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-languages-going-to-trend-more-logographic-in-the-future/723294 "2015-06-25T02:00:01Z")
At one point, a lot of languages were (partially) logographic, that is they were pictures that roughly looked like what they meant (or had some relation, for abstract concepts). As time went on, these languages tended to… --- ## [Respectable Sex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respectable-sex/374781)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/respectable-sex/374781 "2015-06-24T14:39:41Z")
As I understand it this Foley guy goes does the tubes because he talked dirty with a 16 year old. That’s not pedophilia, but most reports use the term “underaged”. Same with Clinton. Much was made about Lewinski being in… --- ## [What phrases are or will be regarded as dog whistles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-phrases-are-or-will-be-regarded-as-dog-whistles/722593)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 178\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-phrases-are-or-will-be-regarded-as-dog-whistles/722593 "2015-06-24T05:49:02Z")
“States’ rights” and “religious freedom” are already accused of being dog-whistle terms. In upcoming years, I think “free speech,” “academic freedom” and “personal responsibility” will eventually be considered dog whis… --- ## [Likelihood of a Nuclear Holocaust Now.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-a-nuclear-holocaust-now/722642)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/likelihood-of-a-nuclear-holocaust-now/722642 "2015-06-24T03:14:42Z")
I am probably one of the few people on these boards that still remembers the 1980’s. I was just a little kid then. But still. Anyways, if any of the rest of you recall, there was this argument going between the USSR and… --- ## [Are the Mentally Ill an Easy Target Now (Politically)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-mentally-ill-an-easy-target-now-politically/723122)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-mentally-ill-an-easy-target-now-politically/723122 "2015-06-24T00:19:52Z")
First of all, how mental illness has affected my family. Well, both of my parents suffered from some form of depression. My father, specifically, was bipolar. And although we had to involuntarily hospitalize him once (a … --- ## [Logical thinking and Magical Thinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999)
**Author:** [@butterfiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butterfiles)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-thinking-and-magical-thinking/722999 "2015-06-23T18:14:26Z")
Can my fellow dopers provide me with any insights on the following questions: What are main benefits of logical thought? Iow, what makes logic so great? Defend: Logic. What do you consider to be the largest or m… --- ## [Should silencers be illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-silencers-be-illegal/723031)
**Author:** [@ufel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ufel)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-silencers-be-illegal/723031 "2015-06-23T16:15:33Z")
actually, they ARE legal to possess in 30 odd states, IF you pay a $200 fed tax and get fingerprinted, background check run, wait 6 months on this process, etc. Very few people misuse silencers and many hundreds of tho… --- ## [Why do ANY mainstream figures doubt or deny racism is involved in the Charleston shooting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-any-mainstream-figures-doubt-or-deny-racism-is-involved-in-the-charleston-shooting/722956)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 276\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-any-mainstream-figures-doubt-or-deny-racism-is-involved-in-the-charleston-shooting/722956 "2015-06-22T17:54:41Z")
“Why” as in, what’s the motivation? The causal explanation? I’m getting several stories now in my facebook feed wherein it is seen that some public figure or other is openly doubting or denying that racism had anything … --- ## [Partisanship and US presidential elections](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partisanship-and-us-presidential-elections/722769)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partisanship-and-us-presidential-elections/722769 "2015-06-22T14:44:56Z")
(not sure if this belongs here or in the elections forum… it’s about elections, but in general, nothing specific). I’m a reasonably liberal democrat (living in the US). But I think I’m a sane and rational person. I disa… --- ## [Why do the West and Far East culturally interact better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-west-and-far-east-culturally-interact-better/723014)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2015, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-west-and-far-east-culturally-interact-better/723014 "2015-06-22T04:02:51Z")
Women in East Asia wear bikinis, pre marital sex is less of an issue than it is say, in India or the Middle East, Western business practices in law and economics and science and engineering have been either co-opted or c… --- ## [Are Women's Colleges Dead: The Death of Sweet Briar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-colleges-dead-the-death-of-sweet-briar/720170)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-womens-colleges-dead-the-death-of-sweet-briar/720170 "2015-06-21T19:07:57Z")
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/16/us-usa-virginia-sweetbriar-idUSKBN0O10AU20150516 I personally don’t see any need for women’s college; I don’t feel women are prevented from reaching their fullest potential by … --- ## [Texas License Plates and SCOTUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-license-plates-and-scotus/715769)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-license-plates-and-scotus/715769 "2015-06-21T02:28:55Z")
The Supreme Court is going to hear arguments on whether it was a violation of free speech rights to reject the Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate. This is my non-law-talking-guy understanding: The Sons of Confe… --- ## [Solitary Nation or "What to do with rule breakers in jail?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solitary-nation-or-what-to-do-with-rule-breakers-in-jail/722764)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solitary-nation-or-what-to-do-with-rule-breakers-in-jail/722764 "2015-06-20T22:14:17Z")
Frontline had an interesting show on solitary confinement in U.S. prisons last night. The report highlighted the negative consequences of placing inmates in solitary confinement. My question is, assuming solitary confine… --- ## [How late into WWII could Germany have managed a negotiated peace/surrender?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-late-into-wwii-could-germany-have-managed-a-negotiated-peace-surrender/722924)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-late-into-wwii-could-germany-have-managed-a-negotiated-peace-surrender/722924 "2015-06-20T21:26:31Z")
Assuming we start after Germany succeeded in its invasion of Poland and WWII was on was there ever a time that Germany could have sued for a negotiated peace? Or once it was on was it a to-the-death kinda thing? For th… --- ## [Is the 'ultimate' purpose of the sexual urge reproduction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-ultimate-purpose-of-the-sexual-urge-reproduction/722939)
**Author:** [@Ajunta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ajunta)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-ultimate-purpose-of-the-sexual-urge-reproduction/722939 "2015-06-20T20:56:45Z")
So I’m arguing with this evo-psych disciple on the subject of the credibility of the field. In the debate he states that “all life exist to reproduce and make copies of their genes” and that the 'reproductive urge" is ac… --- ## [Why is the California tertiary educational system so high quality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-california-tertiary-educational-system-so-high-quality/722704)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-california-tertiary-educational-system-so-high-quality/722704 "2015-06-20T14:11:48Z")
California is a newer state, so it isn’t like Massachussetts or other northeast states which has had time to build up a reputation. I’d assume MA & CA are the two states with the best higher educational system. I was on… --- ## [Should Charles Manson have been found guilty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-have-been-found-guilty/722691)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-charles-manson-have-been-found-guilty/722691 "2015-06-20T14:08:46Z")
I never would have thought that this was a controversial topic, but over in this thread (which concerns the death of Vincent Bugliosi, who obtained a conviction against Charles Manson and his followers for the brutal mur… --- ## [Fractional Reserve Banking: a myth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fractional-reserve-banking-a-myth/721120)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fractional-reserve-banking-a-myth/721120 "2015-06-20T02:29:02Z")
I’m going to argue that the conventional story\* of how fractional reserve banking works is wrong. Specifically, that it’s inaccurate and unhelpful. The part of it that is right is that it acknowledges that banks create … --- ## [Coal company CEO to sue EPA over global warming lying](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-company-ceo-to-sue-epa-over-global-warming-lying/690515)
**Author:** [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-company-ceo-to-sue-epa-over-global-warming-lying/690515 "2015-06-20T02:15:37Z")
Robert Murray, CEO of Murray Energy Corp., is suing the Environmental Protection Agency because they are knowingly lying about global warming, and they are violating the federal law that government agencies must rely on … --- ## [Why is healthcare in the USA such a clusterfuck?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-healthcare-in-the-usa-such-a-clusterfuck/721805)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 186\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-healthcare-in-the-usa-such-a-clusterfuck/721805 "2015-06-20T00:43:26Z")
Iceland, Canada, UK, Japan, Norway, France all have single-payer healthcare and it works great. Why can’t we do it? Obamacare, IMO was a waste of time. If you’re going to call it the “Affordable care act” than prices n… --- ## [Income Inequality: revolution, taxes, or war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/income-inequality-revolution-taxes-or-war/715573)
**Author:** [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Replies:** 201\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/income-inequality-revolution-taxes-or-war/715573 "2015-06-20T00:26:22Z")
Billionaire Paul Tudor Jones gave an interesting talk at a TED conference this week. He argues that the ever increasing income inequality cannot continue indefinitely. Article I thought that the purpose of profits wa… --- ## [Texas creates a gold depository to rival the Federal Reserve](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-creates-a-gold-depository-to-rival-the-federal-reserve/722692)
**Author:** [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-creates-a-gold-depository-to-rival-the-federal-reserve/722692 "2015-06-19T16:18:04Z")
I’m no economist, so this is going over my head, but does anybody see any pros or cons concerning Texas having created a gold and precious metals depository to rival the Federal Reserve? It looks to me more like the fir… --- ## [Was the 1980s Japan fearmongering ever realistic to begin with?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-1980s-japan-fearmongering-ever-realistic-to-begin-with/722462)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2015, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-1980s-japan-fearmongering-ever-realistic-to-begin-with/722462 "2015-06-19T12:34:26Z")
In hindsight, it seems it should have been obvious that a nation with a real estate bubble, few natural resources, operating near peak efficiency already, near maximum potential already, large national debt, and less tha… --- ## [Education; when is it going to change?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/education-when-is-it-going-to-change/721802)
**Author:** [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/education-when-is-it-going-to-change/721802 "2015-06-19T00:55:27Z")
I am seeing such amazing things happening in the field of education. I was bumming around on Edx the other day, and the geometry course there was terrific! and totally free! My problem is…when are things really going … --- ## [water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water/715245)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water/715245 "2015-06-18T18:27:20Z")
This has really started to bother me recently. Maybe it is just neurosis, anxiety and/or paranoia, but where I live, we have been seeing weeks of unusually dry weather. Our snowpack, that feeds our rivers, is below 10% i… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=191) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=193)