# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=232 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 233 --- ## [Is man a part of nature?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-man-a-part-of-nature/49227)
**Author:** [@High\_Plains\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Plains_Drifter)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-man-a-part-of-nature/49227 "2014-05-17T16:16:14Z")
I’m currently discussing the question, ‘Is man a part of Nature?’ in a class. It’s a forum, so i thought i would include the Dopers. So, is man part of nature? Is heshe higher than nature, as some religions might imply? --- ## [Income inequality: does this graph say what I think?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/income-inequality-does-this-graph-say-what-i-think/688528)
**Author:** [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2014, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/income-inequality-does-this-graph-say-what-i-think/688528 "2014-05-17T13:03:09Z")
Looking for one thing, I stumbled on another. The graph below shows the percentage of families in three income groups over time: http://cdn.theatlantic.com/newsroom/img/posts/Screen%20Shot%202013-09-06%20at%2011.04.05%… --- ## [Serious question for those of a libertarian-ish bent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-for-those-of-a-libertarian-ish-bent/688549)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-for-those-of-a-libertarian-ish-bent/688549 "2014-05-16T19:11:17Z")
I was listening to a radio show about some of the problems in the California judicial system because of a huge lack of funds. They have courthouses completely closed, cases are taking years to get to court, etc. The est… --- ## [Why has crime declined so much over the past 20 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-crime-declined-so-much-over-the-past-20-years/688492)
**Author:** [@protoboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/protoboard)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-crime-declined-so-much-over-the-past-20-years/688492 "2014-05-16T19:08:05Z")
Do you think it’s due to more indoor entertainment? Is it simply a correction back to normal from the unrest the social changes of the 60s created? Do you think it’s one of the controversial theories like lead removal or… --- ## [How can the economic crisis be used as a leninist strategy to promote progressive policies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-the-economic-crisis-be-used-as-a-leninist-strategy-to-promote-progressive-policies/688484)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-the-economic-crisis-be-used-as-a-leninist-strategy-to-promote-progressive-policies/688484 "2014-05-16T04:27:51Z")
In the shock doctrine Naomi Klein talks about how crises are used to promote Friedman economic policies, something of a leninist strategy of using a crisis to achieve an end. Which makes me think about how the current e… --- ## [How long before "race" is antiquated in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-race-is-antiquated-in-the-us/688236)
**Author:** [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-race-is-antiquated-in-the-us/688236 "2014-05-16T01:20:15Z")
My experience with race in America is conflicted. On the one hand, it seems like Americans are obsessed with it, and also reify it to a degree by insisting that everyone know what race they belong to and be prepared to p… --- ## [Thought experiment on a grand tax bargain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-on-a-grand-tax-bargain/688544)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-on-a-grand-tax-bargain/688544 "2014-05-16T00:12:03Z")
What would be the implications of a “grand compromise” as follows: Accept the flat tax (“Fair Tax”), whatever you want to call it, as defined by its most enthusiastic proponents Crank up the inheritance tax and gif… --- ## [Fact: SSM is out, SS Civil Unions are in.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ssm-is-out-ss-civil-unions-are-in/688034)
**Author:** [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Replies:** 262\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-ssm-is-out-ss-civil-unions-are-in/688034 "2014-05-15T23:58:24Z")
…Accepting that, how can we craft the best, fairest society for all? At the suggestion of magellan01, I invite debate on a hypothetical situation in which an unnamed country has for whatever reason firmly and permanentl… --- ## [Free Will.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-will/687677)
**Author:** [@Roooster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roooster)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2014, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-will/687677 "2014-05-15T06:19:58Z")
I suspect that this will not be the first thread on this topic, but I could not find a historical thread on the message board. I recently posed the following question to Cecil: “I get twisted up in the logic regarding t… --- ## [Is Edward Snowden just a Russian spy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-edward-snowden-just-a-russian-spy/688133)
**Author:** [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-edward-snowden-just-a-russian-spy/688133 "2014-05-14T21:30:48Z")
Edward Epstein of the Wall Street Journal has put together a compelling opinion piece suggesting Edward Snowden was most likely a spy working for either China or Russia (or both), and that whistleblowing is just a public… --- ## [I Laughed At The Swedish Chef.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-at-the-swedish-chef/687132)
**Author:** [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-at-the-swedish-chef/687132 "2014-05-14T16:37:24Z")
I’m watching tv today, and a car commercial featuring a bunch of Muppets comes on. They’re all singing a song, and on comes The Swedish Chef, and he sings something like: Derp-de-derp-de-derp-de-durrr! And I laughed, an… --- ## [Religious Schools in the UK- Potential Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-schools-in-the-uk-potential-meltdown/687649)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-schools-in-the-uk-potential-meltdown/687649 "2014-05-13T17:00:50Z")
English schools are apparently being targetted by Islamic adherents wishing to mould the schools to fit their view of education. This is possible because of the insistence of Governments of both persuasions allowi… --- ## [Jail him or Free him?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jail-him-or-free-him/686340)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jail-him-or-free-him/686340 "2014-05-13T12:43:28Z")
This link leads to a very interesting story that really makes me want to check the pulse of the SDMB board. To summarize, a man was convicted in 2000 of armed robbery (no one harmed physically) of a Burger King. After h… --- ## [Is the internet making mankind more informed, or more confused?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-internet-making-mankind-more-informed-or-more-confused/688128)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-internet-making-mankind-more-informed-or-more-confused/688128 "2014-05-12T23:38:59Z")
Certainly it’s a boon to thoughtful people who understand how to evaluate information. But it also seems to be driving all kinds of craziness such as conspiracy theories about the Newtown shootings, the Boston Marathon b… --- ## [Child porn conviction overturned on appeal -- Can fiction ever be "illegal"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-porn-conviction-overturned-on-appeal-can-fiction-ever-be-illegal/203279)
**Author:** [@Karellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karellen)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-porn-conviction-overturned-on-appeal-can-fiction-ever-be-illegal/203279 "2014-05-12T21:55:25Z")
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/09/19/obscene.journal.ap/index.html "Dalton, 24, is believed to be the first person in the United States successfully prosecuted for child pornography for writings rather than images. The st… --- ## [Sans WW2/ how quickly are nuclear weapons developed.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sans-ww2-how-quickly-are-nuclear-weapons-developed/685266)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sans-ww2-how-quickly-are-nuclear-weapons-developed/685266 "2014-05-11T19:27:38Z")
If there was no WW2, when would nuclear weapons have been developed? By whom? Would it even have been a line pursued, without the impetus of a global war to drive it? --- ## [Ownership rights and inequality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ownership-rights-and-inequality/687592)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ownership-rights-and-inequality/687592 "2014-05-11T16:12:36Z")
One of the theories of conservative economics is that income inequality drives down unemployment. For example, they argue that eliminating minimum wage laws would increase employment, because owners of businesses could a… --- ## [Should flavored alcoholic beverages be banned?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-flavored-alcoholic-beverages-be-banned/537952 "2014-05-11T14:09:20Z")
Strawberry wine, orange flavored vodka, berry flavored beer. All of these sweet, candy flavored alcoholic beverages can be appealing to minors and coax them into an early habit of drinking. Even though possession and use… --- ## [Operation Moonlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-moonlight/688180)
**Author:** [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2014, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-moonlight/688180 "2014-05-11T12:50:50Z")
A recent news article claims that Secret Service agents were used to protect another employee during a bitter dispute with a neighbor. The article implies that this was an abuse of government resources. A quick glance … --- ## [An advanced simulator shows what the curvature should look like at 400 km, reality shows otherwise.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-advanced-simulator-shows-what-the-curvature-should-look-like-at-400-km-reality-shows-otherwise/688182)
**Author:** [@karol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karol)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-advanced-simulator-shows-what-the-curvature-should-look-like-at-400-km-reality-shows-otherwise/688182 "2014-05-11T11:48:51Z")
The curvature we see in this video is based on mathematical calculations of the ‘angular declination of the horizon’. Reality shows otherwise: http://chamorrobible.org/images/photos/gpw-20061021-NASA-ISS… --- ## [The ISS 'live feed of Earth' hoax.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iss-live-feed-of-earth-hoax/688122)
**Author:** [@karol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karol)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iss-live-feed-of-earth-hoax/688122 "2014-05-10T21:02:57Z")
http://www.iflscience.com/space/eyes-earth-iss-hd-earth-viewing-experiment Lovely, isn’t it ? But wait, where is the Earth ? http://www.spaceflight101.com/hdev.html “The four came… --- ## [American Parasite?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-parasite/679225)
**Author:** [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-parasite/679225 "2014-05-10T14:33:53Z")
As I settled into YouTube the other night, I was hit with an advertisement wanting me to go to a website to learn more about the American Parasite. I am even seeing ads now for the same thing. Apparently it affects 250… --- ## [Is there more free will in Africa?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-more-free-will-in-africa/688103)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-more-free-will-in-africa/688103 "2014-05-10T13:29:06Z")
Recently I met with a number of African counterparts and they laughed at the difficulty one may go through when trying to prove the existence of free will. Then they mentioned a local form a literature, which they calle… --- ## [What if we had nuked Iwo Jima?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-we-had-nuked-iwo-jima/687620)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-we-had-nuked-iwo-jima/687620 "2014-05-10T03:31:55Z")
Let’s say that we had successfully run the Los Alamos test a couple of years prior and now we’re going drop an atomic weapon on Iwo Jima. Would it work, or would all those underground bunkers survive? --- ## [How would you reform the sex offender registry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-reform-the-sex-offender-registry/687863)
**Author:** [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-reform-the-sex-offender-registry/687863 "2014-05-10T02:04:45Z")
The sex offender registry (which is actually multiple lists, typically one per jurisdiction) has gotten a lot of bad press lately. Even on this board, there are a lot of mixed feelings about whether the registry provides… --- ## [Does the punishment of victimless crimes violate the inherent freedom of individuals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-punishment-of-victimless-crimes-violate-the-inherent-freedom-of-individuals/688068)
**Author:** [@shockboom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shockboom)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-punishment-of-victimless-crimes-violate-the-inherent-freedom-of-individuals/688068 "2014-05-09T20:26:52Z")
We live in a country that prides itself on providing freedom and equality for all, yet in most states, victimless crimes (drug use, prostitution, etc) are still being prosecuted. Clearly some states have made strides on… --- ## [Is the Internet really forever, and is that a bad thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-internet-really-forever-and-is-that-a-bad-thing/687941)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-internet-really-forever-and-is-that-a-bad-thing/687941 "2014-05-09T18:12:25Z")
With newspapers, magazines, and printed books being supplanted by the Internet, I find myself wondering whether the maxim “the Internet is forever” is really true (or true often enough, for the right things). We already… --- ## [How Africa would look if it hadn't been colonized](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-africa-would-look-if-it-hadnt-been-colonized/687716)
**Author:** [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-africa-would-look-if-it-hadnt-been-colonized/687716 "2014-05-09T16:46:26Z")
Not sure if this topic has been covered before within the SDMB but (and I admit that I got the idea to ask this from other threads I’ve seen): What do you think a (political) map of Africa would look like now if Africa h… --- ## [Why is fishing socially acceptable but hunting is not (or less so?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-fishing-socially-acceptable-but-hunting-is-not-or-less-so/687554)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-fishing-socially-acceptable-but-hunting-is-not-or-less-so/687554 "2014-05-09T14:59:00Z")
I didn’t want to hijack this thread here about a replacement hobby for fishing, but this got me thinking about how fishing is a stereotypical male hobby and one that’s socially acceptable to pretty much everyone who’s no… --- ## [Climate change: the estimates by the IPCC are too high](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-the-estimates-by-the-ipcc-are-too-high/687946)
**Author:** [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2014, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-the-estimates-by-the-ipcc-are-too-high/687946 "2014-05-09T11:28:16Z")
I recently came across this gem and was challenged to find holes in it. I’m hoping some of you can help me. Here it is: So now we can understand the present so-called controversy over Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW),… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=231) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=233)