# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=229 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 230 --- ## [LOL - US cloud companies are so fucked](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lol-us-cloud-companies-are-so-fucked/690557)
**Author:** [@JimNightshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimNightshade)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lol-us-cloud-companies-are-so-fucked/690557 "2014-06-12T00:44:34Z")
I personally think that you reap what you sow. --- ## [Should the US be bartering with terrorists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-be-bartering-with-terrorists/689787)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-be-bartering-with-terrorists/689787 "2014-06-11T23:08:12Z")
Here’s the story. It concerns the release of Sgt Berdahl from Taliban captivity in exchange for 5 of their people detained in Gitmo. I’m delighted for Bergdahl and his family but I do have misgivings about this deal. Ap… --- ## [We live in a meritocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-live-in-a-meritocracy/689403)
**Author:** [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-live-in-a-meritocracy/689403 "2014-06-11T20:10:02Z")
That’s not a good thing, incidentally. The term meritocracy was coined by an English socialist, Michael Young, who also wrote the Labour manifesto for the 1945 election. He first popularised it in the 1958 satirical nov… --- ## [How Many states before SC Forced To Rule on SSM?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-states-before-sc-forced-to-rule-on-ssm/688820)
**Author:** [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Replies:** 264\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-states-before-sc-forced-to-rule-on-ssm/688820 "2014-06-11T15:31:20Z")
So, Oregon has had a Federal Judgement overturning the SSM ban - I think that makes 18 + DC. What’s the tipping point for this to definitely go to the Supreme Court? I realise someone is going to have to bring a case a… --- ## [The 12 year old girls who tried to kill someone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-12-year-old-girls-who-tried-to-kill-someone/690398)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2014, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-12-year-old-girls-who-tried-to-kill-someone/690398 "2014-06-11T10:36:58Z")
What do you all think should be done with them? The story. Some say they should be tried as adults and sentenced accordingly which could be up to 20 years. More of the story: " Two 12-year-old girls have been charged… --- ## [An idea regarding House of Lords reform.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idea-regarding-house-of-lords-reform/689200)
**Author:** [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2014, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-idea-regarding-house-of-lords-reform/689200 "2014-06-11T09:27:42Z")
Originally an idea put forward by Ramsay MacDonald, not a great thinker and not a good man or Prime Minister, but everyone can have one good idea. Back then the Soviet Union was very in vogue, and the idea was based on … --- ## [Rape on campus: Democrats exploiting the issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape-on-campus-democrats-exploiting-the-issue/689668)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 171\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape-on-campus-democrats-exploiting-the-issue/689668 "2014-06-10T16:46:51Z")
Both Barack Obama and Joe Biden have recently cited the statistic that one out of five female college students is sexually assaulted while in school. This statistic is bogus. The best response to it that I’ve seen is t… --- ## [Animal testing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-testing/690367)
**Author:** [@protoboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/protoboard)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-testing/690367 "2014-06-10T15:20:56Z")
Is animal testing necessary for medical research or can we do without it/replace it? I dislike the idea of causing animals pain but is it the ONLY way to find cures for human diseases? I really find it a moral dilemma. O… --- ## [One Year After Snowden -- The Tech Fallout](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-year-after-snowden-the-tech-fallout/690451)
**Author:** [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-year-after-snowden-the-tech-fallout/690451 "2014-06-10T14:59:22Z")
The political fallout resulting from discovery of the NSA’s total-panopticon agenda is fairly well known. As usual, the politicians are trying to deliver the minimum amount of “reform” that will keep the torches and pitc… --- ## [Why would a one-world government be bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-one-world-government-be-bad/272877)
**Author:** [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2014, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-one-world-government-be-bad/272877 "2014-06-10T07:26:50Z")
I’ve heard some hosts on talk radio talk about “those one-worlders.” Now, I don’t know if this planet is ready for it now, but why would a one-world government be bad? To me it sounds like a good idea to implement (I’v… --- ## [Studying Firearm Related Violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studying-firearm-related-violence/689994)
**Author:** [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studying-firearm-related-violence/689994 "2014-06-10T02:31:17Z")
After Sandy Hook Obama issued a number of executive orders aimed at studying and curbing gun violence. One of those ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (pdf) to assess the existing research on gun vio… --- ## [Mandatory reporting laws should be re-thought](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-laws-should-be-re-thought/690250)
**Author:** [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-laws-should-be-re-thought/690250 "2014-06-09T21:50:32Z")
I came across an article about a man charged with molesting an underage girl. This part really stood out to me– It sounds as if he was trying to stop, and was seeking professional help to that end. Instead of getti… --- ## [Light bedrooms 'link to obesity'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-bedrooms-link-to-obesity/689676)
**Author:** [@dasilva94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasilva94)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-bedrooms-link-to-obesity/689676 "2014-06-09T21:40:55Z")
There was a report the other the other day on the BBC website, that said ‘A team at the Institute of Cancer Research in London found women had larger waistlines if their bedroom was “light enough to see across” at nigh… --- ## [The use of shame to change income inequality (Through the Wormhole spoiler alert)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-shame-to-change-income-inequality-through-the-wormhole-spoiler-alert/690091)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-shame-to-change-income-inequality-through-the-wormhole-spoiler-alert/690091 "2014-06-09T20:24:51Z")
I was watching Through the Wormhole tonight (spoiler alert…unboxed spoilers ahead, so turn back now if this distresses you), and at the very end they talked about using shame to redress income inequality and fairness. A… --- ## [Is the link between KXL pipeline and the Koch brothers as big as my facebook newsfeed suggests?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-link-between-kxl-pipeline-and-the-koch-brothers-as-big-as-my-facebook-newsfeed-suggests/684448)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-link-between-kxl-pipeline-and-the-koch-brothers-as-big-as-my-facebook-newsfeed-suggests/684448 "2014-06-09T04:41:23Z")
This article indicates that the connection is very indirect while at the same time creating the impression of a direct link in the title. I am generally a supporter of the KXL because the anti-KXL folks seem to be ant… --- ## [What would you do to change capitalism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-to-change-capitalism/689426)
**Author:** [@dofe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dofe)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2014, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-to-change-capitalism/689426 "2014-06-09T04:13:25Z")
The 250 people who control $30 billion, or a full one-third of the total investable wealth in the world, met in London this weekend to discuss “inclusive capitalism.” Let’s say you are fortunate enough to be one of the… --- ## [Why have Democrats and Republicans refused to vote on H.R 40 for 25 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-democrats-and-republicans-refused-to-vote-on-h-r-40-for-25-years/689653)
**Author:** [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Replies:** 336\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-democrats-and-republicans-refused-to-vote-on-h-r-40-for-25-years/689653 "2014-06-08T14:20:22Z")
I was listening to NPR a few days ago with Mr. Coates who wrote a piece in The Atlantic regarding reparations. You can listen and/or read the transcript here. In this segment, Mr. Coates mentioned that John Conyers (D… --- ## [Who is the greatest mathematician of all time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-mathematician-of-all-time/320646)
**Author:** [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-greatest-mathematician-of-all-time/320646 "2014-06-07T20:37:23Z")
I’m not sure if this constitutes a Great Debate, or what. But anyway . . . who do you think is the greatest mathematician of all time? (And why, i.e. what did they do that’s so impressive?) What about the greatest of … --- ## [Trying children as adults](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-children-as-adults/690069)
**Author:** [@protoboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/protoboard)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-children-as-adults/690069 "2014-06-07T04:55:05Z")
More than half of Americans feel that minor children should be tried as adults, starting at an average age of 15. This sentiment is so strong that the United States is the only country that has refused to sign the UN Con… --- ## [Can a bisexual be entirely satisfied in a monogamous relationship?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-bisexual-be-entirely-satisfied-in-a-monogamous-relationship/338121)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-bisexual-be-entirely-satisfied-in-a-monogamous-relationship/338121 "2014-06-06T20:22:26Z")
I hope nobody gets mad over this thread. No moral judgment or homophobic (or whatever) sniping intended here, I am raising this question purely out of intellectual curiosity. OTOH, it’s obviously not suitable for GQ, s… --- ## [Q. about the Boltzmann Brain paradox](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-the-boltzmann-brain-paradox/689592)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-the-boltzmann-brain-paradox/689592 "2014-06-06T16:33:43Z")
To briefly summarize: The B.B.P is the notion that thermodynamically, our universe is so improbable that self-awareness in our organized universe should be vastly outnumbered by hypothetical awarenesses produced by rando… --- ## [Why was North Africa in play in WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-north-africa-in-play-in-wwii/690095)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2014, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-north-africa-in-play-in-wwii/690095 "2014-06-06T08:48:35Z")
I know some of the battles fought in North Africa, and I believe that the Italians were the original Axis power to fight there before Germany sent troops, but why were the world powers fighting over NA itself? As I unde… --- ## [False accusations of rape molestation etc (the few actual cases)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-accusations-of-rape-molestation-etc-the-few-actual-cases/689955)
**Author:** [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-accusations-of-rape-molestation-etc-the-few-actual-cases/689955 "2014-06-06T05:40:27Z")
I can’t find much info on this topic so let’s just assume that 1% of molestation and rape charges are false. False and malicious. What to do. Assume 99% of accusations are not just accusations, they ARE true. It is very … --- ## [The Eurasian Economic Union: Soviet menace reborn, or just plain regional progress?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eurasian-economic-union-soviet-menace-reborn-or-just-plain-regional-progress/689743)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eurasian-economic-union-soviet-menace-reborn-or-just-plain-regional-progress/689743 "2014-06-05T17:22:52Z")
The treaty establishing the Eurasian Economic Union was signed May 29; to go into effect 01/01/15 following ratification. Modeled on the EU, its founding members are former Soviet republics Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhst… --- ## ["Crossing Over w/ John Edward"- for real or clever con?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-over-w-john-edward-for-real-or-clever-con/66151)
**Author:** [@moggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moggy)\ **Replies:** 217\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-over-w-john-edward-for-real-or-clever-con/66151 "2014-06-04T22:05:27Z")
First off, let me say that I don’t want this to be, or become, an arguement about whether or not psychic abilities exist. Personally, I do believe that some people have psychic abilities, or they’re just more “in tune” … --- ## [Obama calls for urgent action on climate change](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-calls-for-urgent-action-on-climate-change/687806)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 191\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-calls-for-urgent-action-on-climate-change/687806 "2014-06-04T18:15:14Z")
According to this CNN article, it’s a call to arms from the White House regarding climate change (there is a video embedded in the story, but you can shut that down and read the article if that annoys you). Sounds like … --- ## [When populism is a good thing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-populism-is-a-good-thing/635095)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2014, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-populism-is-a-good-thing/635095 "2014-06-04T10:36:27Z")
I generally don’t like populist messages or at least have been unsettled by them. They are often ignorant of the facts, or at their best will seek to destroy something awful, say a dictatorship, without a clear replacem… --- ## [Islam and Empathy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/islam-and-empathy/689489)
**Author:** [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Replies:** 143\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2014, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/islam-and-empathy/689489 "2014-06-04T06:50:58Z")
Here’s something that I never really understood and it bugs be quite a bit. I’ve spent the last thirteen years or so watching Muslims in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan express their rage and hatred of all things A… --- ## [Murder for attention](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murder-for-attention/689210)
**Author:** [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murder-for-attention/689210 "2014-06-04T00:03:22Z")
I just found out about this drive by shooting that happened in Southern California. Originally I thought it was about a gang-related shooting and was surprised that it made it past the local news but then it turned out i… --- ## [In God We Trust (all others pay cash) - Second Circuit upholds phrase on money](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-god-we-trust-all-others-pay-cash-second-circuit-upholds-phrase-on-money/689557)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 238\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-god-we-trust-all-others-pay-cash-second-circuit-upholds-phrase-on-money/689557 "2014-06-03T23:29:38Z")
Newdow et al v. Peterson et al, just out from the folks on the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals: Yup. Entirely consistent with prior law. Correct decision. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=228) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=230)