# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=254 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 255 --- ## [Does this change anyone's mind? Posner: we were wrong to allow Indiana's voter ID law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-change-anyones-mind-posner-we-were-wrong-to-allow-indianas-voter-id-law/671080)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-change-anyones-mind-posner-we-were-wrong-to-allow-indianas-voter-id-law/671080 "2013-10-30T19:19:06Z")
From Politico: Just curious if this makes anyone who supported this decision think again. I think having the judge who wrote it say they weren’t imaginative enough to think of the ways it could be used is a big deal f… --- ## [Do Conservatives consider potential for long-term stability ("final state") in advocating policy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-conservatives-consider-potential-for-long-term-stability-final-state-in-advocating-policy/672380)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-conservatives-consider-potential-for-long-term-stability-final-state-in-advocating-policy/672380 "2013-10-30T17:18:41Z")
One thing I find frustratingly absent in policy debates in the US is this question: Is this really going to work, be stable, etc., in the long run? Liberals like me don’t bring up the point, and Conservatives don’t seem … --- ## [The Education Numbers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-education-numbers/672320)
**Author:** [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-education-numbers/672320 "2013-10-30T02:48:30Z")
Check out this chart: Isn’t it clear that spending more money is not going to fix education? or perhaps better, isn’t it clear that spending more money has not fixed education? --- ## [Was there a police shooting in retaliation to the David Brame killing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-police-shooting-in-retaliation-to-the-david-brame-killing/672616)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-police-shooting-in-retaliation-to-the-david-brame-killing/672616 "2013-10-30T02:28:29Z")
So in 2003 Tacoma police chief David Brame murdered his wife and then himself. I was recently reading up online, and read that his wife had made numerous attempts to get help and been turned away at each turn, and that o… --- ## [Scott Adams: Men's Rights Activists are Pussies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-mens-rights-activists-are-pussies/672081)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-adams-mens-rights-activists-are-pussies/672081 "2013-10-30T01:53:51Z")
This is a blog post/essay supposed posted on Scott Adam’s on website, but then later taken down (for obvious reasons.) It strikes me as pretty controversial, and therefore perhaps a great place for Great Debate. Link … --- ## [Why do lower taxes bring in more revenue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-lower-taxes-bring-in-more-revenue/671894)
**Author:** [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-lower-taxes-bring-in-more-revenue/671894 "2013-10-29T21:02:29Z")
Check out this video: The Great State Migration Continues | Fox Business Video The speaker of the house from OK says that every time they lower taxes, they end up collecting more tax revenue? Has he got his facts wron… --- ## [Whats the go with NLP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-go-with-nlp/669205)
**Author:** [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-go-with-nlp/669205 "2013-10-29T05:10:43Z")
A close friend of mine is completing her master practitioner course in Neuro-linguistic programming, I think it is a bunch of pop psychology but have no idea. So whats the straight dope on Neuro-linguistic programming? … --- ## [Can You Make Money in a Casino?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-money-in-a-casino/17962)
**Author:** [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-money-in-a-casino/17962 "2013-10-29T04:16:27Z")
Can you make a living in a casino? I remember many years ago, reading about a smart young fellow who financed his college education at Las Vegas. He had reasoned that the roulette wheels in the casinos, would wear over t… --- ## [Memorials to Victims of Communism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorials-to-victims-of-communism/672115)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memorials-to-victims-of-communism/672115 "2013-10-28T21:53:30Z")
In a recent thread about a Holocaust Memorial in Ohio, several posters expressed the opinion that there’s no reason to build more Holocaust memorials. Personally, I feel that it’s entirely appropriate to have public pla… --- ## [Could this lawsuit succeed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-lawsuit-succeed/671954)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-lawsuit-succeed/671954 "2013-10-28T20:47:29Z")
ACA (aka Obamacare) specifically excludes illegal aliens from the law. However, residents are entitled to equal protection under the law and I believe that illegal aliens are considered as residents as per SCOTUS for th… --- ## [What do you think about recording sex sessions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 206\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-recording-sex-sessions/567602 "2013-10-28T20:39:39Z")
Imagine you have a bachelor friend who has security cameras dotted around his house, including in his bedroom. These cameras normally record images only at a low frame rate but have motion detectors and switch to full-sp… --- ## [How Self Aware Are People?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-self-aware-are-people/546945)
**Author:** [@freemal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freemal2)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-self-aware-are-people/546945 "2013-10-28T18:51:33Z")
My observation in a nut shell is that people are capable of an almost unbelievable level of denial and self and other rationalizations. I have very often seen people who seem to consider themselves to be fine and decent… --- ## [$50M to rebuild Newtown? Seriously?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50m-to-rebuild-newtown-seriously/671338)
**Author:** [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50m-to-rebuild-newtown-seriously/671338 "2013-10-28T16:02:44Z")
This article raises several questions: Doesn’t $50M seem a tad high? Is a new school really necessary? We’ve never needed to do this for past tragedies (think Columbine). Pulverize the remains? The conspiracy theorists… --- ## [Can Big Pharma kill the death penalty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-big-pharma-kill-the-death-penalty/672150)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-big-pharma-kill-the-death-penalty/672150 "2013-10-28T13:41:39Z")
From here: The piece goes on to note Apparently, Ohio and Texas are trying to do an end-around by going to compounding pharmacies So, a few questions: Has anything like this ever been a real catalyst for social ch… --- ## [America, no longer the land of the free?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-no-longer-the-land-of-the-free/672295)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2013, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-no-longer-the-land-of-the-free/672295 "2013-10-28T07:10:38Z")
Reporter investigating the TSA gets her notes siezed So, what happened to your First Amendment? Has America taken another step towards being a police state? --- ## [Lesbian Civil Unions Breaking Up at Nearly Twice the Gay Rate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbian-civil-unions-breaking-up-at-nearly-twice-the-gay-rate/670904)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbian-civil-unions-breaking-up-at-nearly-twice-the-gay-rate/670904 "2013-10-27T20:28:20Z")
Lesbian couples twice as likely as gay men to end civil partnership as ‘divorces’ up by 20% The possible significance of this is not just about lesbians and gays, IMO. Because it’s well known that the vast majority of … --- ## [What would be the lowest-wage job in the US if there were no minimum wage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-lowest-wage-job-in-the-us-if-there-were-no-minimum-wage/671612)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-lowest-wage-job-in-the-us-if-there-were-no-minimum-wage/671612 "2013-10-27T16:40:29Z")
There is of course all sorts of menial self-employment (collecting soda cans, etc.) that pays anywhere down to almost nothing; and I imagine there would be scams where the pay rate looked ok in theory but then there’d be… --- ## [Financial crash of 2007](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/financial-crash-of-2007/672054)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/financial-crash-of-2007/672054 "2013-10-27T07:27:54Z")
Something that has always nagged at me about the crash was it was so painfully obvious that it was inevitable at least 2 years before it started happening. Everywhere I went a discussion would come up about how things we… --- ## [Do abortion rights imply "heroin rights"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-abortion-rights-imply-heroin-rights/672038)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-abortion-rights-imply-heroin-rights/672038 "2013-10-26T21:04:49Z")
Many proponents of abortion rights believe sentiments to the effect that a woman’s body is her own and thus she, and only she, has the right to choose, or not to choose, to have an abortion. FWIW, I stand solidly behind … --- ## [Reliability,accuracy, implications and repercussions of this new global warming study?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reliability-accuracy-implications-and-repercussions-of-this-new-global-warming-study/671190)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reliability-accuracy-implications-and-repercussions-of-this-new-global-warming-study/671190 "2013-10-26T20:50:43Z")
\[ \](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_SCI\_CLIMATE\_CHANGE\_TIMING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-09-17-33-16) By following the link at the AP story to the University of Hawaii’s Mora Labs s… --- ## [Allan Savory on desertification: This must be far, far too good to be true - or?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-savory-on-desertification-this-must-be-far-far-too-good-to-be-true-or/652294)
**Author:** [@yelimS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yelimS)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allan-savory-on-desertification-this-must-be-far-far-too-good-to-be-true-or/652294 "2013-10-26T02:08:25Z")
TED talk here Can we, uhm, all go home and relax now? Because if half of what he’s saying is right, I don’t see how things won’t get much, much better as soon as this gets rolling. A solution for the climate with immedi… --- ## [The Affordable Care Act’s Lower-Than-Projected Premiums Will Save $190 Billion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affordable-care-act-s-lower-than-projected-premiums-will-save-190-billion/672108)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affordable-care-act-s-lower-than-projected-premiums-will-save-190-billion/672108 "2013-10-26T01:47:47Z")
So says a report from the Center for American Progress: Now, I do wonder about how impartial this is. Actually, I don’t because the Center for American Progress is a I’m also not thrilled with the group because acco… --- ## [Moscow Kremlin an the Russian Orthodox Church.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moscow-kremlin-an-the-russian-orthodox-church/671873)
**Author:** [@pdunderhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdunderhill)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moscow-kremlin-an-the-russian-orthodox-church/671873 "2013-10-25T19:26:43Z")
I’m watching a BBC documentary about the arrest and trial of Pussy Riot in Moscow. There seems to be a very ‘un-holy’ co-incidence of interest between Putin and the Russian Church. Are they both feeling that threatened… --- ## [Can gerrymandering be ended in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-gerrymandering-be-ended-in-the-us/671439)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-gerrymandering-be-ended-in-the-us/671439 "2013-10-24T19:37:27Z")
And if so, how? I know some states have non-partisan redistricting committees. What types of representatives do districts so drawn send to the House? If gerrymandering were to end, what effect would it have extremism … --- ## [Does Obama care to explain the fear of ACA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Replies:** 163\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-care-to-explain-the-fear-of-aca/671445 "2013-10-24T12:59:04Z")
“Obamacare” and ACA are the same, right? I even heard President Obama calling it “obamacare” … What if the Republican party is right on this one that it will cost two trillion dollars and many jobs in the process? That … --- ## [Reverse Darwinism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-darwinism/671207)
**Author:** [@jsutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsutter)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-darwinism/671207 "2013-10-24T00:48:51Z")
A recent New Yorker cartoon depicts a woman talking to a man at a cocktail party saying, “I read somewhere that people are stupid.” \*\*\*\*\* Read about it? Just look around. :slight\_smile: " … Poor women generally have mo… --- ## [ObamaCare: The Worst That Can Happen vs. Shutdown & Debt Ceiling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamacare-the-worst-that-can-happen-vs-shutdown-debt-ceiling/670702)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 145\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamacare-the-worst-that-can-happen-vs-shutdown-debt-ceiling/670702 "2013-10-23T23:40:32Z")
For the sake of debate, I’m going to assume that Republicans who are against ObamaCare are doing so out of a genuine concern that it will hurt this country. But who will it hurt? And how much? If the law doesn’t work … --- ## [Could means-testing of SSI and Medicare be pushed through?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-means-testing-of-ssi-and-medicare-be-pushed-through/671583)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-means-testing-of-ssi-and-medicare-be-pushed-through/671583 "2013-10-23T20:28:38Z")
I was listening to Tom Ashbrook’s NPR program “On Point” this morning while running around and his guests posited that two things could be offered to help deal with the budget impasse. Means-testing of Medicare and SSI … --- ## [The Singularity: is it total bull?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-singularity-is-it-total-bull/671308)
**Author:** [@Wanderer124](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wanderer124)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-singularity-is-it-total-bull/671308 "2013-10-23T16:54:25Z")
So this is my first post here, basically just testing the waters, so to speak. A year and a half ago I read Kurzweil’s “Singularity is Near” and pretty much bought into all of his claims hook line and sinker. I still ag… --- ## [Republican Haters: Do you want a one-party state, or what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-haters-do-you-want-a-one-party-state-or-what/671958)
**Author:** [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-haters-do-you-want-a-one-party-state-or-what/671958 "2013-10-23T01:27:19Z")
Disclaimer: I am not a Republican. I am curious, though. So many of my friends and fellow Dopers seem to really loathe the Republican party, not without reason. Let’s say that following the Shutdown, Americans come to t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=253) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=255)