# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=209 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 210 --- ## [Should Manuel Noriega be freed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-manuel-noriega-be-freed/707798)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-manuel-noriega-be-freed/707798 "2014-12-24T16:26:13Z")
A Recent AP story got me thinking once again about Manuel Noriega. He’s 80 years old now. He’s served prison time in the US (17 years) and France (1.5 years) and is now incarcerated in Panama, currently in year 4 of a … --- ## ["I'll Ride With You" in Aftermath of Aussie Terror Attack: Touching or Misguided?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-ride-with-you-in-aftermath-of-aussie-terror-attack-touching-or-misguided/707406)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-ride-with-you-in-aftermath-of-aussie-terror-attack-touching-or-misguided/707406 "2014-12-23T16:46:21Z")
Almost as soon as the terror attack at the cafe in Sydney place, a movement arose in Australia called “I’ll Ride WIth You.” You can read all about it here: The idea is, ordinary white Australians are going out of thei… --- ## [Need urgent assistance--pre-Christmas issues](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-urgent-assistance-pre-christmas-issues/708024)
**Author:** [@WonderdingMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WonderdingMom)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-urgent-assistance-pre-christmas-issues/708024 "2014-12-23T16:42:31Z")
Hello everyone and happy holidays. My older sister is happily married with two teenage sons living two hundred miles away, so we do not see each other that often. Here comes the part where I need any of your advice. Las… --- ## [At what point in suspect action should police be justified in ceasing to care about his life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-in-suspect-action-should-police-be-justified-in-ceasing-to-care-about-his-life/706349)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-in-suspect-action-should-police-be-justified-in-ceasing-to-care-about-his-life/706349 "2014-12-23T15:24:08Z")
This seems to be a key question in many ongoing police action debates, so I thought I would introduce it here. I asked this in a Pit thread of only one particular person; the reply I got was “resisting arrest.” What sa… --- ## [Would an infallible lie detector be a boon or a curse for humanity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-an-infallible-lie-detector-be-a-boon-or-a-curse-for-humanity/707801)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-an-infallible-lie-detector-be-a-boon-or-a-curse-for-humanity/707801 "2014-12-23T15:07:17Z")
I was listening to Serial and how it would be so easy to know if someone is guilty or innocent if we had a real lie detector. I’m wondering if this, and other benefits outweigh the drawbacks, especially if it fell in the… --- ## [Salary cap for healthcare administrators](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salary-cap-for-healthcare-administrators/707616)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salary-cap-for-healthcare-administrators/707616 "2014-12-23T04:02:48Z")
A large part of the excessive price of healthcare is from high administrative salaries. Why don’t we set a cap? IIRC another major issue is people running away without paying their bills, maybe if costs were lower it w… --- ## [It seems inevitable that US schools will soon need to teach about Islam.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-inevitable-that-us-schools-will-soon-need-to-teach-about-islam/704050)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-seems-inevitable-that-us-schools-will-soon-need-to-teach-about-islam/704050 "2014-12-22T20:21:28Z")
If for no other reason than teach the difference between Sunni and Shia. In order to produce kids able to understand the modern world and compete in it, the American School System will very soon need to say\* something\*. … --- ## [The US healthcare debate reimagined](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-healthcare-debate-reimagined/707658)
**Author:** [@BOOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BOOM)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-healthcare-debate-reimagined/707658 "2014-12-22T00:56:46Z")
If you exclude the generally healthy period of life and think about just the retirement years– say the last 15-20 years of life - then increase that period by 20% … it feels like a pretty significant deal. You might, for… --- ## [What is the difference between Clintons 1993 health plan and Obama's PPACA of 2010?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-clintons-1993-health-plan-and-obamas-ppaca-of-2010/707333)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-clintons-1993-health-plan-and-obamas-ppaca-of-2010/707333 "2014-12-21T06:06:03Z")
They seem like the same plan pretty much. Mandates, exchanges, subsidies, etc. I am under the impression the Clinton plan would’ve (maybe) done more to control costs by using government influence. The PPACA had all thos… --- ## [Torture? Fuhgedaboudit. Easier to just kill 'em](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torture-fuhgedaboudit-easier-to-just-kill-em/707244)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torture-fuhgedaboudit-easier-to-just-kill-em/707244 "2014-12-20T22:04:52Z")
OK, we’ve had our week of public, self flagellation about torture in the aftermath of hte 9/11/01 attacks. Not to worry, though-- we found a better method. We just kill the folks we suspect of being terrorists. We’re … --- ## [Does the Christian Trinity violate the Law Of Identity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-christian-trinity-violate-the-law-of-identity/707200)
**Author:** [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-christian-trinity-violate-the-law-of-identity/707200 "2014-12-20T13:33:54Z")
Law Of Identity: In logic, the law of identity is the first of the three classical laws of thought. It states that “each thing is the same with itself and different from another”. Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Ghost But… --- ## [Help me understand this variation of the recent protests.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-this-variation-of-the-recent-protests/706513)
**Author:** [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-this-variation-of-the-recent-protests/706513 "2014-12-20T12:56:33Z")
I see the news reports of the protests around the county sparked by grand juries not charging police officers. The protesters in Madison Wi. are asking that a new jail NOT be built and those committing “crimes of poverty… --- ## [Penalty for false accusations while not preventing false accusers from recanting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penalty-for-false-accusations-while-not-preventing-false-accusers-from-recanting/707622)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penalty-for-false-accusations-while-not-preventing-false-accusers-from-recanting/707622 "2014-12-19T22:01:50Z")
There seems to be agreement that false accusations (as far as accusations of a crime are concerned) need to be dealt with harshly, as a deterrent. But this could easily backfire by making a false accuser even more reluct… --- ## [Essential elements for a successful (US) state-based single-payer HC movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/essential-elements-for-a-successful-us-state-based-single-payer-hc-movement/706672)
**Author:** [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/essential-elements-for-a-successful-us-state-based-single-payer-hc-movement/706672 "2014-12-19T17:41:48Z")
This is a topic that I’ve been stewing on for quite some time. Now, I’ve been outspoken on the SDMB about this idea for a while: over the next few decades, single-payer health care systems will materialize in the US; ho… --- ## [Sydney Hostage Crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sydney-hostage-crisis/707249)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sydney-hostage-crisis/707249 "2014-12-18T23:23:04Z")
http://www.news.com.au/national/a-man-is-holding-several-people-hostage-at-martin-place-cafe/story-fncynjr2-1227156241649 Again, seems to be someone who was inspired by IS. How are we to prevent this from occurring reg… --- ## [Obama's Executive Order on Immigration is Unconstitutional, Says Court](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-executive-order-on-immigration-is-unconstitutional-says-court/707495)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-executive-order-on-immigration-is-unconstitutional-says-court/707495 "2014-12-18T22:24:36Z")
In United States v. Elionardo Juarez-Escobar, the federal district court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has ruled that the President’s unilateral order is unconstitutional. Since I don’t agree with the merits … --- ## [Do people have souls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-have-souls/707344)
**Author:** [@Othello1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othello1)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-have-souls/707344 "2014-12-18T16:10:46Z")
Some people believe that humans have souls and some believe that they don’t. I think they do. Does this make any sense? Given the idea that spirits did exist, they are conceived of as things not made of matter, but the… --- ## [Are Spritual Concepts Harmful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spritual-concepts-harmful/707424)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-spritual-concepts-harmful/707424 "2014-12-18T12:08:40Z")
I am going to use a very broad definition of God, anything from simply a higher form of intelligence as we know intelligence all the way to a God who takes an active roll in our lives. I feel many of us need this belief… --- ## [Is President Obama's proposed executive action on illegal immigrants an abuse of power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-obamas-proposed-executive-action-on-illegal-immigrants-an-abuse-of-power/705155)
**Author:** [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Replies:** 222\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-obamas-proposed-executive-action-on-illegal-immigrants-an-abuse-of-power/705155 "2014-12-18T11:50:54Z")
Putting aside whether one agrees with the underlying policy goal of Obama’s executive action on illegal immigrants (to be announced tonight), is this as flagrant an abuse of power as critics on the right argue? --- ## [Great proposed bill -- require police departments to report data on shootings to Justice Department-](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-proposed-bill-require-police-departments-to-report-data-on-shootings-to-justice-department/707324)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-proposed-bill-require-police-departments-to-report-data-on-shootings-to-justice-department/707324 "2014-12-18T01:41:39Z")
Details here. Any downside? Any Constitutional issues? There’s not much data on this nation-wide, much less to compare locality to locality – this would give the country a great opportunity to determine which departme… --- ## [Ferguson Grand Jury Evidence Discussion Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-grand-jury-evidence-discussion-thread/705596)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 401\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ferguson-grand-jury-evidence-discussion-thread/705596 "2014-12-17T22:09:57Z")
Starting a new thread in the hopes that we can keep discussions of the other issues surrounding the Ferguson case elsewhere. I’d like to limit this discussion to the evidence released by St. Louis County about the incid… --- ## [Okay, fine, what'll happen if the Supreme Court destroys the ACA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-fine-whatll-happen-if-the-supreme-court-destroys-the-aca/707102)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-fine-whatll-happen-if-the-supreme-court-destroys-the-aca/707102 "2014-12-17T15:09:28Z")
Assume, as these guys at the New England Journal of Medicine do, that a ruling against the government in the upcoming case basically dooms the entire ACA. Who gets blamed at this point? Who is most likely to get blamed?… --- ## [The media frenzy over Ebola is just a distraction from the election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-frenzy-over-ebola-is-just-a-distraction-from-the-election/702079)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-media-frenzy-over-ebola-is-just-a-distraction-from-the-election/702079 "2014-12-17T01:37:28Z")
Over the entire course of this outbreak, 4800 people have died. Cigarettes alone kill 1300 Americans every day. It’s awfully convenient that the upcoming election has had almost no press because OMG THERE’S EBOLA IN TH… --- ## [Are Men Generally More Rational than Women?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-men-generally-more-rational-than-women/706623)
**Author:** [@Contemporary\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contemporary_Logic)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-men-generally-more-rational-than-women/706623 "2014-12-17T01:10:12Z")
According to MBTI type indicator, based on Socionics, men are almost 3 times more likely to have a rational personality type than women. Also, if you look at the data, you’ll see that women dominate men in the feeling ca… --- ## [What if political candidates ran as themselves instead of having political parties?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-political-candidates-ran-as-themselves-instead-of-having-political-parties/707227)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-political-candidates-ran-as-themselves-instead-of-having-political-parties/707227 "2014-12-16T22:10:16Z")
It seems like partisanship is ruining our government, especially congress. Everyone just follows party lines, and does whatever it takes to make the other side look bad. What if we got rid of political parties and had … --- ## [If abortion is outlawed, what should the penalty be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-abortion-is-outlawed-what-should-the-penalty-be/702117)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-abortion-is-outlawed-what-should-the-penalty-be/702117 "2014-12-16T20:25:04Z")
If it’s against the law, there has to be a penalty attached. So what should it be? Women have been executed for killing their children. Shouldn’t the penalty for a woman who successfully aborts her fetus be the exact … --- ## [Fact or Fiction: The Extra Leg Muscle in African Americans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-or-fiction-the-extra-leg-muscle-in-african-americans/202244)
**Author:** [@Akuma\_Kage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akuma_Kage)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-or-fiction-the-extra-leg-muscle-in-african-americans/202244 "2014-12-16T16:50:06Z")
For the past few years, I’ve been hearing rumors about black people having an extra muscle in their leg. Of course, I am having a really hard time believing this, but in my disbelief and search for evidence to disprove t… --- ## [Socialist banks and the spending bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socialist-banks-and-the-spending-bill/707090)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socialist-banks-and-the-spending-bill/707090 "2014-12-16T16:05:55Z")
Here is an article about the spending bill tying up Congress these days. There is more than one controversy with it, but the biggest one seems to be about what looks to me like institutionalizing socialism for gigantic b… --- ## [Jesus saves](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-saves/706922)
**Author:** [@Jim\_Bow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Bow)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2014, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-saves/706922 "2014-12-16T06:05:56Z")
I see signs on churches all over the place letting me know that Jesus saves, or God sent his son to save us, etc etc. I don’t mean to sound glib, but what is he saving us from? What have I done that requires saving? --- ## [Should EPA decrease the limit for ground-level ozone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-epa-decrease-the-limit-for-ground-level-ozone/707293)
**Author:** [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-epa-decrease-the-limit-for-ground-level-ozone/707293 "2014-12-15T15:45:57Z")
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed reducing the limit for tropospheric ozone from 75 ppb to 65-70 ppb. They’re also mulling a drop to 60 ppb. Is this change a good idea? The following background … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=208) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=210)