# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=23 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 24 --- ## [Would the student debt forgiveness deal been more palatable to those against it if reframed as student loan "interest" forgiveness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-student-debt-forgiveness-deal-been-more-palatable-to-those-against-it-if-reframed-as-student-loan-interest-forgiveness/970672)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-student-debt-forgiveness-deal-been-more-palatable-to-those-against-it-if-reframed-as-student-loan-interest-forgiveness/970672 "2022-12-05T15:44:22Z")
The idea of forgiving student debt really seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way. That someone is not paying back the principal amount of what they borrowed is “unfair” to them. However, a lot of these people I have… --- ## [Social Media Moderation needs Humans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-moderation-needs-humans/975817)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-moderation-needs-humans/975817 "2022-12-03T21:27:31Z")
Rather than derail this thread, where I said that the big issue on the internet isn’t “woke moderation” it’s “inhuman, automated, black box moderation”, I thought that I would answer @TroutMan’s request for a cite or fur… --- ## [Lets Do Another "What If the USA Stayed Neutral in WW2"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-another-what-if-the-usa-stayed-neutral-in-ww2/969000)
**Author:** [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2022, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-do-another-what-if-the-usa-stayed-neutral-in-ww2/969000 "2022-12-03T03:48:24Z")
Cause you all are smart and Im looking for a couple of answers that you don’t normally see in this scenario The setup: For the US to stay neutral we need an altogether different mindset from the Govt. at that point in h… --- ## [Democracy vs. authoritarianism. How useful is this paradigm for the current state of the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-vs-authoritarianism-how-useful-is-this-paradigm-for-the-current-state-of-the-world/975441)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-vs-authoritarianism-how-useful-is-this-paradigm-for-the-current-state-of-the-world/975441 "2022-11-30T18:11:49Z")
I now think of governments and leaders around the world as falling into either the authoritarian or democratic way of ruling. There are, of course, many ways one can break down various nations and cultures, whether by r… --- ## [What, exactly, is socialism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-socialism/975350)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-socialism/975350 "2022-11-28T17:34:16Z")
I am in a debate with a person that seems to be making the argument that any interference by a government into a market economy is socialism by definition. I think they have really taken the whole market driven economy … --- ## [The Fundamental Rules of Economics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fundamental-rules-of-economics/971357)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 202\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fundamental-rules-of-economics/971357 "2022-11-22T23:02:42Z")
In the Russia invades Ukraine thread, @Wincerind said the following: This struck me as an excellent topic for discussion. Do you believe that there are fundamental rules or laws in economics? If so, what do you th… --- ## [Does the SCOTUS make law even if it's against the Constitution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-scotus-make-law-even-if-its-against-the-constitution/975053)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-scotus-make-law-even-if-its-against-the-constitution/975053 "2022-11-21T19:56:43Z")
When a member of the U.S Supreme Court follows his religious conscience to deny what one considers an indivudual right, is that unconstitutional or is whatever the majority of the SCOTUS agree on the correct interpretati… --- ## [Are Unions controlled by organized crime? Does that hamper their ability to affect politics in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-unions-controlled-by-organized-crime-does-that-hamper-their-ability-to-affect-politics-in-the-us/974832)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2022, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-unions-controlled-by-organized-crime-does-that-hamper-their-ability-to-affect-politics-in-the-us/974832 "2022-11-20T04:01:19Z")
I posted this in another thread: @What\_Exit modded (correctly IMHO) that this question needed its own thread. So, here it is. In the thread that prompted this was a question of what the liberal version of the conserv… --- ## [Resolved: We need a constitutional amendment guaranteeing marriage/reproductive rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-need-a-constitutional-amendment-guaranteeing-marriage-reproductive-rights/974014)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-need-a-constitutional-amendment-guaranteeing-marriage-reproductive-rights/974014 "2022-11-09T17:56:38Z")
Not just because of Dobbs. The fact that it was ever illegal for a couple (married or unmarried) to use contraception (Griswold and Eisenstadt) is ridiculous. And the fact that an adult could not marry who they wanted … --- ## [Can we stick a fork in the idea that Gold and Crypto are a hedge against inflation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-stick-a-fork-in-the-idea-that-gold-and-crypto-are-a-hedge-against-inflation/973720)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2022, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-stick-a-fork-in-the-idea-that-gold-and-crypto-are-a-hedge-against-inflation/973720 "2022-11-08T09:52:05Z")
So one of the big selling points of gold and crypto currency was that it was a way to get away from the danger of inflation of fiat currency since they are backed by actual real world stuff or in the case of crypto proof… --- ## [Does the Ninth Amendment carry any weight with textualists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-ninth-amendment-carry-any-weight-with-textualists/970850)
**Author:** [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-ninth-amendment-carry-any-weight-with-textualists/970850 "2022-11-01T19:05:42Z")
Textualism and originalism had great appeal to me, but I’m currently questioning it as a logically sound system, unto itself. Certainly any powers granted or right enumerated are what they are, and I do take offense whe… --- ## [Does the government arming the population and giving them a few weeks training really help in an invasion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-government-arming-the-population-and-giving-them-a-few-weeks-training-really-help-in-an-invasion/959849)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-government-arming-the-population-and-giving-them-a-few-weeks-training-really-help-in-an-invasion/959849 "2022-11-08T00:20:37Z")
With Ukraine’s tensions going on I’m wondering if the following tactic actually works. Give automatic rifles, ammunition and a few weeks training to pretty much every adult in the country. That way if an invasion force … --- ## [The reader sets the tone, not the writer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reader-sets-the-tone-not-the-writer/974225)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reader-sets-the-tone-not-the-writer/974225 "2022-11-03T23:41:45Z")
Shooting this off from somewhere else. Here is an exchange between myself and @Grrr. Anything truncated is for the sake of editorial brevity, not an attempt to remove context. ETA: I see it doesn’t add speakers. Grrr is… --- ## [Proposed: Dobbs will NOT overturn same sex marriage, contraception, et al](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-dobbs-will-not-overturn-same-sex-marriage-contraception-et-al/974007)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-dobbs-will-not-overturn-same-sex-marriage-contraception-et-al/974007 "2022-11-03T20:11:38Z")
I’ve been away from the board, but have heard the hysteria. Dobbs will supposedly overrule Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. Some commentators have even said that Brown or Loving (interracial marriage) is in danger. … --- ## [Movie discussion boards for "Thank You for Smoking" and "Hot Coffee" perfectly show how ridiculous neoconservative ideology is](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-discussion-boards-for-thank-you-for-smoking-and-hot-coffee-perfectly-show-how-ridiculous-neoconservative-ideology-is/971465)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-discussion-boards-for-thank-you-for-smoking-and-hot-coffee-perfectly-show-how-ridiculous-neoconservative-ideology-is/971465 "2022-11-02T23:07:23Z")
Some of these replies seriously make me roll my eyes. And cringe. --- ## [Best way to handle natural disaster preparedness? (stupid people & poor/medically challenged)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-handle-natural-disaster-preparedness-stupid-people-poor-medically-challenged/972650)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-handle-natural-disaster-preparedness-stupid-people-poor-medically-challenged/972650 "2022-11-01T16:52:33Z")
So in this thread about “stupid people” dying due to the consequences of their own decisions, a large part of the discussion is about people who stay during hurricanes. There’s also been a fairly clear bifurcation of th… --- ## [Resolved: Bruen (Scotus Gun Case) rests on poor legal reasoning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-bruen-scotus-gun-case-rests-on-poor-legal-reasoning/974064)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2022, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-bruen-scotus-gun-case-rests-on-poor-legal-reasoning/974064 "2022-10-31T07:43:49Z")
Many of you know that I fully support the result of Bruen. I think that every law abiding citizen should be able to own guns and to carry a pistol for self protection in the public sphere. However, the Court did not ju… --- ## [Is Bodybuilding a sport?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bodybuilding-a-sport/970845)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bodybuilding-a-sport/970845 "2022-10-29T16:32:59Z")
An acquaintance of mine is very invested in it and wants to start a college bodybuilding club, arguing it’s a great sport for everyone? Putting aside the “for everyone” part (isn’t it pretty expensive and time intensive?… --- ## [Importance of early pioneers in a field](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-early-pioneers-in-a-field/970119)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2022, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importance-of-early-pioneers-in-a-field/970119 "2022-10-25T11:21:17Z")
You often hear about early pioneers in different fields that without them we wouldn’t have the later inventions or the field would look very different, but for which fields is this actually the case? It seems to me that… --- ## [Planned Parenthood sues anti-abortion group behind secret videos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planned-parenthood-sues-anti-abortion-group-behind-secret-videos/743167)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planned-parenthood-sues-anti-abortion-group-behind-secret-videos/743167 "2022-10-23T13:26:57Z")
Does PP have a case? Did the Center for Medical Progress break the law? I’d love to see CMP have to pay through the nose for this. I’d also love to see some of the individuals face criminal charges if appropriate. --- ## [Bullshit history that turned out to be true](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-history-that-turned-out-to-be-true/945541)
**Author:** [@ALOHA\_HATER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ALOHA_HATER)\ **Replies:** 436\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullshit-history-that-turned-out-to-be-true/945541 "2022-10-21T01:22:00Z")
Have there been times when old sources make claims about history that everybody knew were totally made up nonsense, until they weren’t? --- ## [Should North Korea be kicked out of the United Nations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-north-korea-be-kicked-out-of-the-united-nations/973222)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-north-korea-be-kicked-out-of-the-united-nations/973222 "2022-10-20T19:43:03Z")
Mods, I couldn’t find a similar thread. Please merge this if there is one. According to Wikipedia, The Republic of Korea (commonly known as South Korea) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (commonly known as N… --- ## [If you believe in a bleak, unavoidable future, what is the rational way to live your life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-believe-in-a-bleak-unavoidable-future-what-is-the-rational-way-to-live-your-life/973221)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-believe-in-a-bleak-unavoidable-future-what-is-the-rational-way-to-live-your-life/973221 "2022-10-20T14:40:42Z")
The end of the world, or of human civilization as we know it, or at least of a long period of darkness and fear, has been a topic for pretty much all of human existence. I acknowledge that none of it started with the Ukr… --- ## [How strong does something have to be to count as "persecution?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-does-something-have-to-be-to-count-as-persecution/973388)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-does-something-have-to-be-to-count-as-persecution/973388 "2022-10-19T14:35:49Z")
There are some Christians in the United States who are convinced that persecution of Christians is a thing in America. There’s a spectrum, of course. If someone is being beheaded for their religious beliefs, then they a… --- ## [How were southern whites oppressed during Reconstruction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-southern-whites-oppressed-during-reconstruction/972722)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-southern-whites-oppressed-during-reconstruction/972722 "2022-10-17T16:40:09Z")
Second only to the Lost Cause in the traditional narrative of southern whites is the tyranny of Reconstruction. According to this meme a conquered, prostrate South was under the iron heel of utterly corrupt and venal mil… --- ## [What ought the government do/pay for AFTER a disaster (hurricane?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ought-the-government-do-pay-for-after-a-disaster-hurricane/972825)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-ought-the-government-do-pay-for-after-a-disaster-hurricane/972825 "2022-10-17T06:25:51Z")
Kinda related to the thread about disaster preparedness, what do you believe the government ought to do AFTER the disaster. Yes, of course, you want to rescue and care for anyone who was stranded/injured. But what shou… --- ## [What can Russia accomplish with more soldiers w/o heavy military equipment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-russia-accomplish-with-more-soldiers-w-o-heavy-military-equipment/972104)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 169\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2022, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-russia-accomplish-with-more-soldiers-w-o-heavy-military-equipment/972104 "2022-10-15T02:58:13Z")
So Russia is doing a draft, but aren’t they running out of military hardware since so much has been destroyed? I don’t know a ton about militaries but wouldn’t artillery make short work of infantry with no real equipment… --- ## [Would a conviction of Trump result in an economic boom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-conviction-of-trump-result-in-an-economic-boom/972346)
**Author:** [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-conviction-of-trump-result-in-an-economic-boom/972346 "2022-10-10T17:07:23Z")
From here: When questioned on how that would happen, answers talked about the pandemic, to NATO/Putin/Ukraine/fuel, and inflation. But a conviction cannot change past events, like the invasion, obviously. Nor can I … --- ## [Switching to electric vehicles (EV) - has the ability to supply the required power been addressed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-to-electric-vehicles-ev-has-the-ability-to-supply-the-required-power-been-addressed/972915)
**Author:** [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-to-electric-vehicles-ev-has-the-ability-to-supply-the-required-power-been-addressed/972915 "2022-10-09T23:45:47Z")
I could have put this in Factual Questions but there is going to be debate. Has the demand on the power grid been addressed if governments force a switch to EV’s ? How much, and how to supply the increase. States like … --- ## [Are Some People Above The Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-people-above-the-law/969574)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2022, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-people-above-the-law/969574 "2022-10-07T10:29:17Z")
If all men in American society are equal, and “no one is above the law,” why does it appear that Donald J. Trump continues to get away with breaking the laws, something most folks would easily go to prison or at the mini… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=24)