# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=278 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 279 --- ## [Bees are still dying: how screwed are we?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bees-are-still-dying-how-screwed-are-we/658377)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bees-are-still-dying-how-screwed-are-we/658377 "2013-05-17T20:00:53Z")
Wired headline: One-Third of U.S. Honeybee Colonies Died Last Winter, Threatening Food Supply. It’s a cause for concern, no matter how you look at it, and it doesn’t seem that there’s a single cause behind it, not even … --- ## [Is psychiatry dishonest? Is it better for everyone if keeps faking diagnostic assurance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psychiatry-dishonest-is-it-better-for-everyone-if-keeps-faking-diagnostic-assurance/657596)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 176\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psychiatry-dishonest-is-it-better-for-everyone-if-keeps-faking-diagnostic-assurance/657596 "2013-05-17T19:27:24Z")
Interesting article in Slate (see link below) re this new book about the DSM and psychiatric diagnostic practice in general. The article addresses the question of what the real limits are of what we know about the human … --- ## [What Happens When Fidel And Raul Die?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-fidel-and-raul-die/658361)
**Author:** [@Jamie\_Gillis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamie_Gillis)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-fidel-and-raul-die/658361 "2013-05-16T22:04:58Z")
Hello everyone. First post. Seriously though, how will the U.S. react when the Castro brothers are dead? Thank you in advance. --- ## [Are there societies where sexual abuse is rare, how do they do that](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-societies-where-sexual-abuse-is-rare-how-do-they-do-that/658030)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2013, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-societies-where-sexual-abuse-is-rare-how-do-they-do-that/658030 "2013-05-16T14:10:20Z")
I was listening to NPR a bit this morning and there was an interview about sexual abuse. One of the risk factors from a sociological perspective is how empowered women are. In societies where women are less empowered, se… --- ## [Infinite universe why are things still happening](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinite-universe-why-are-things-still-happening/657963)
**Author:** [@congoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congoo)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinite-universe-why-are-things-still-happening/657963 "2013-05-16T12:21:55Z")
When i say universe i am mean in the sense that it can go back before big bang and it is still our universe If universe has no beginning wont all events of happened or can i say we are in the middle of it.Not really be… --- ## [Should Political Parties Exist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-political-parties-exist/658104)
**Author:** [@Orcris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orcris)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2013, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-political-parties-exist/658104 "2013-05-16T09:41:23Z")
As the title suggests, the question here is about whether political parties should exist. And by no political parties, I don’t mean a dictatorship. I mean everybody runs as an independent. Pros of having political parti… --- ## [Pain threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-threshold/658471)
**Author:** [@donnie\_darko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donnie_darko)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-threshold/658471 "2013-05-16T04:35:57Z")
Apparently there is no debate now that men tolerate pain better than women, empirically speaking. Women in general simply suffer more physically speaking and are more prone to chronic pain, though both sexes suffer thi… --- ## [Global wealth/income, the division of, etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-wealth-income-the-division-of-etc/658393)
**Author:** [@Toilet\_Bowels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toilet_Bowels)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-wealth-income-the-division-of-etc/658393 "2013-05-15T23:05:43Z")
When people quote stats saying 1% of the world’s pop controls 99% of the wealth (or whatever) where do they get these figures? Who calculated them? How much wealth is there in the world, and how is that wealth defined (e… --- ## [gun grabbers and gun nuts: Would you take this grand bargain on guns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-grabbers-and-gun-nuts-would-you-take-this-grand-bargain-on-guns/657138)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-grabbers-and-gun-nuts-would-you-take-this-grand-bargain-on-guns/657138 "2013-05-15T16:57:05Z")
I think we are at about the most rational moment as can be expected on the gun debate. All gun legislation is dead, the gun nuts are done gloating about it and the gun grabbers are over their disappointment and have res… --- ## [Should a police report be required to obtain emergency contraception?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385)
**Author:** [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-police-report-be-required-to-obtain-emergency-contraception/657385 "2013-05-15T11:21:11Z")
Should a woman be mandated to present a police report (or at least ER paperwork of a rape kit) to be able to acquire emergency contraception? IMO, it should be policy to allow abortions to be limited to the truly necessa… --- ## [What is this "agenda" scientists have against religion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-agenda-scientists-have-against-religion/657246)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-agenda-scientists-have-against-religion/657246 "2013-05-15T06:03:55Z")
Is it for the DIRTY money? Seriously, why is it whenever I hear a scientist dismiss some religious claim, people think they have an agenda? When Stephen Hawking said something like; “The Big Bang Didn’t Need God”, some… --- ## [Gender-based violence : Why not hate Crimes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-based-violence-why-not-hate-crimes/655257)
**Author:** [@SleuFeets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SleuFeets)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-based-violence-why-not-hate-crimes/655257 "2013-05-15T01:26:56Z")
There is a lot of meaning in aptly describing, naming, or acknowledging something. Seventy-four percent of all murder-suicides involved an intimate partner (spouse, common-law spouse, ex-spouse, or boyfriend/girlfriend)… --- ## [HHS to health insurers: "You might want to consider a voluntary contribution ..."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hhs-to-health-insurers-you-might-want-to-consider-a-voluntary-contribution/658232)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hhs-to-health-insurers-you-might-want-to-consider-a-voluntary-contribution/658232 "2013-05-13T17:40:45Z")
From the Wahington Post: You can understand where Sebelius is coming from. She is between a rock and a hard place in that Republicans are simultaneously defunding administration of the program and criticizing it as a … --- ## [Why does this board lean Democrat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-this-board-lean-democrat/656626)
**Author:** [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Replies:** 506\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-this-board-lean-democrat/656626 "2013-05-13T16:57:18Z")
According to this 4-year-old poll (maybe it’s time for a new one), the left outnumber the right about 1.6-to-1 (assuming we count libertarians as right-leaning, and split the independents and “other” down the middle). Wh… --- ## [Illegal Immigration, Amnesty & Citizenship](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-citizenship/657793)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2013, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-citizenship/657793 "2013-05-13T09:25:42Z")
Assuming we can’t just load up all of the illegal immigrants on a plane and drop them off in Botswana, the Federal government is yet again discussing amnesty for illegal aliens. This started with Reagan and comes up fro… --- ## [If Bill Gates Lost $12 Billion...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bill-gates-lost-12-billion/657436)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-bill-gates-lost-12-billion/657436 "2013-05-12T23:35:21Z")
Bill Gates owns about 519 million shares\* of Microsoft, and at today’s price of $33.33 a share is worth about $17.3 billion. MSFT also pays a quarterly dividend of $0.23 cents per share, which would pay him about $477 m… --- ## [The Fiscal Cost of Unlawful Immigrants and Amnesty to the U.S. Taxpayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fiscal-cost-of-unlawful-immigrants-and-amnesty-to-the-u-s-taxpayer/657680)
**Author:** [@Chen019](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chen019)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fiscal-cost-of-unlawful-immigrants-and-amnesty-to-the-u-s-taxpayer/657680 "2013-05-12T21:38:08Z")
A sobering assessment on the total costs and impact. Nonetheless, I don’t think it would really matter what the costs are. The issue is framed as a moral issue not an economic one. --- ## [Is Everything Inevitable if Time is Infinite?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-everything-inevitable-if-time-is-infinite/657492)
**Author:** [@George329](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George329)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-everything-inevitable-if-time-is-infinite/657492 "2013-05-12T17:31:02Z")
Assuming the universe has no end can we assume everything will eventually happen, subject to its inviolable laws? --- ## [Should all schools be private?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-all-schools-be-private/657699)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-all-schools-be-private/657699 "2013-05-12T16:50:31Z")
There are those that say that our government should get out of the education business and let private enterprise take over completely because they would do a much better job. Are there countries out there that operate t… --- ## [Debate the only sound, non-racist argument for immigration control I've ever read](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-the-only-sound-non-racist-argument-for-immigration-control-ive-ever-read/657822)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-the-only-sound-non-racist-argument-for-immigration-control-ive-ever-read/657822 "2013-05-12T06:17:37Z")
The most serious reason to limit immigration to the U.S. that I have yet encountered is the one Michael Lind (emphatically no racist or xenophobe – in fact he looks forward to a blended-race “TransAmerican Nation”) often… --- ## [Guns, Drugs and 3D printers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-drugs-and-3d-printers/645540)
**Author:** [@Rooster\_Cogburn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rooster_Cogburn)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-drugs-and-3d-printers/645540 "2013-05-12T04:52:58Z")
As with any invention the original purpose or intended use does not always translate to how the great unwashed masses may use the item. In the wake of much discussion about gun control, magazine control etc. could the 3D… --- ## [Illegal immigration and capitalism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-and-capitalism/658095)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-and-capitalism/658095 "2013-05-12T03:22:29Z")
So the Heritage report on illegal immigration got me thinking about something. It claims immigrants will cost $6 trillion or something, because immigrants are poor and will collect more in benefits than they’ll pay in t… --- ## [A few thoughts on sexual harassment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-thoughts-on-sexual-harassment/657786)
**Author:** [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-thoughts-on-sexual-harassment/657786 "2013-05-11T20:07:17Z")
As I meowed and stretched this morning, I thought of a few things I wanted to add to the inappropriate sexy stuff thread in ATMB, only to discover it closed. So I grabbed some coffee and decided to post them here. I li… --- ## [Immigration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigration/657956)
**Author:** [@trusttt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trusttt)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigration/657956 "2013-05-10T17:01:50Z")
Human Beings have long immigrated to different parts of earth for a variety of “noble” reasons but today’s modern utopia or joke of human immigration is nothing Noble . Drugs, Money are the most common reasons. In order… --- ## [Why is there something instead of nothing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-something-instead-of-nothing/657072)
**Author:** [@HughTucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HughTucker)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-something-instead-of-nothing/657072 "2013-05-10T15:16:37Z")
I couldn’t sleep tonight and I stumbled upon an interesting thought (since im in the midst of an existential crisis). Why is there something instead of nothing, by that which I mean why was there ever matter that condens… --- ## [Should chaplains, rabbis, etc be kicked out of the US forces?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-chaplains-rabbis-etc-be-kicked-out-of-the-us-forces/657298)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2013, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-chaplains-rabbis-etc-be-kicked-out-of-the-us-forces/657298 "2013-05-10T09:38:46Z")
So says the (presumably atheist) Mikey Weinstein. In fact, failing this, he’d like them prosecuted for treason for ‘sharing their faith’ and that goes for anybody enlisted in the military. Another frothy-mouthed fanatic… --- ## [Era of no tax internet sales coming to a close- Senate planning vote on Internet sales tax bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/era-of-no-tax-internet-sales-coming-to-a-close-senate-planning-vote-on-internet-sales-tax-bill/656342)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2013, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/era-of-no-tax-internet-sales-coming-to-a-close-senate-planning-vote-on-internet-sales-tax-bill/656342 "2013-05-10T09:26:31Z")
Just an FYI. No tax internet sales coming to a close- Senate planning vote on Internet sales tax bill --- ## [Liberal equivalent of idealogy over practicality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-equivalent-of-idealogy-over-practicality/657251)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2013, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-equivalent-of-idealogy-over-practicality/657251 "2013-05-09T05:56:05Z")
A recent study shows people with moderate or conservative leanings will avoid energy efficient products that are labelled as environmentally friendly. Those same products were almost universally favored when the environm… --- ## [What inspires greater creativity, freedom or constraint?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-inspires-greater-creativity-freedom-or-constraint/657537)
**Author:** [@steabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steabo)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-inspires-greater-creativity-freedom-or-constraint/657537 "2013-05-08T17:50:35Z")
Let’s define the terms: Creativity is the ability to create that which was not there before; Freedom is the power to do anything within current material constraints (no time travel); Constraint is the sum total of the… --- ## [Education](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/education/657490)
**Author:** [@esmeralda2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esmeralda2)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2013, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/education/657490 "2013-05-08T12:54:02Z")
http://news.msn.com/us/principal-fires-security-guards-hires-art-teachers-to-save-his-school I am wondering what people make of this. I believe that a lot of schools in America have dropped or cut way back on art, mus… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=277) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=279)