# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=334 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 335 --- ## [Do other dictatorships lack the ability or stomach to be as evil as North Korea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-dictatorships-lack-the-ability-or-stomach-to-be-as-evil-as-north-korea/617398)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-dictatorships-lack-the-ability-or-stomach-to-be-as-evil-as-north-korea/617398 "2012-04-03T22:08:32Z")
Freedom house lists North Korea as among the worst of the worst nations for human and civil rights, and lists China as nearly as bad. But from what I’ve read of defectors once they get into China (even the rural parts, a… --- ## ["Teach the controversy" The amazing simplicity of the human brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-the-controversy-the-amazing-simplicity-of-the-human-brain/617226)
**Author:** [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teach-the-controversy-the-amazing-simplicity-of-the-human-brain/617226 "2012-04-03T22:05:34Z")
Often theists claim that science can not understand the “human mind”, “love” for the “soul” although current studies are learning things at an amazing pace. One of the more difficult issues is that the brain was assume… --- ## [What's so great about the Christian heaven?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-great-about-the-christian-heaven/610544)
**Author:** [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-great-about-the-christian-heaven/610544 "2012-04-03T21:49:19Z")
as above. /\\ --- ## [Why do doctors over prescribe drugs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-over-prescribe-drugs/616575)
**Author:** [@jmiller15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmiller15)\ **Replies:** 239\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-over-prescribe-drugs/616575 "2012-04-03T20:00:55Z")
What is your opinion on this topic? It just seems like so many people these days are on antidepressants and seems like they make up disorders just so the drug companies can make money. I think they are brain washing Amer… --- ## [Is modern sleep unnatural?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-modern-sleep-unnatural/617030)
**Author:** [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-modern-sleep-unnatural/617030 "2012-04-03T15:56:00Z")
I recently heard about, and was able to find online references to work done by historian Roger Ekirch regarding pre-industrial sleep patterns. According to him, prior to the industrial age, with little artificial lighti… --- ## [Corn-based ethanol: Boon or boondoggle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-based-ethanol-boon-or-boondoggle/617457)
**Author:** [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-based-ethanol-boon-or-boondoggle/617457 "2012-04-03T15:52:24Z")
Ethanol, as a fuel itself or more commonly as an additive to conventional gasoline, is often touted as a source of “green energy” (including reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions) and also as a means of reducing U.S.… --- ## [Tax Takers vs Tax Payers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-takers-vs-tax-payers/614530)
**Author:** [@unsub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unsub)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-takers-vs-tax-payers/614530 "2012-04-03T15:12:19Z")
Is it fair that tax payers bear the burden of tax takers? Obama keeps talking about fairness, but how is it fair that 50 percent of American citizens don’t pay federal income taxes. while the top 1 percent bear the bu… --- ## [AviationDopers: Was Pierre-Cedric Bonin (Air France 447) a jerk?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviationdopers-was-pierre-cedric-bonin-air-france-447-a-jerk/605550)
**Author:** [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviationdopers-was-pierre-cedric-bonin-air-france-447-a-jerk/605550 "2012-04-03T12:43:14Z")
Popular Mechanics is running a story on the AF 447 crash, based upon the transcript recovered from the flight recorder: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/crashes/what-really-happened-aboard-air-france-4… --- ## [How do you explain poor whites who fought for the Confederacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-explain-poor-whites-who-fought-for-the-confederacy/617526)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-explain-poor-whites-who-fought-for-the-confederacy/617526 "2012-04-03T11:23:41Z")
In this sesquicentennial of the American Civil War (Sept 22 will mark the 150th anniversary of the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation) I have been hearing lots of debates from neo-Confederate revisionists who … --- ## [War with Iran and sneaky Senate Bills](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-with-iran-and-sneaky-senate-bills/617084)
**Author:** [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Replies:** 214\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-with-iran-and-sneaky-senate-bills/617084 "2012-04-03T08:07:06Z")
Apparently, Rand Paul blocked quick bi-partisan bill on Iran in Senate and added just one sentence amendment: http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/03/rand-paul-blocks-iran-sanctions-bill-118887.html http://w… --- ## [Should we have a legal obligation to treat animals ethically at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-have-a-legal-obligation-to-treat-animals-ethically-at-all/617468)
**Author:** [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-have-a-legal-obligation-to-treat-animals-ethically-at-all/617468 "2012-04-03T01:56:42Z")
One aspect of the discussion in another thread on the topic in the GD fascinated me, namely whether animals are entitled to be treated ethically. Personally, despite being a vegetarian, I think that no human should be h… --- ## [Is this 56 day sentence for racist remarks considered sane in the UK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-56-day-sentence-for-racist-remarks-considered-sane-in-the-uk/616964)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-56-day-sentence-for-racist-remarks-considered-sane-in-the-uk/616964 "2012-04-02T20:56:32Z")
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100147319/top-banter-liam-stacey-is-an-idiot-thats-punishment-enough-for-his-fabrice-muamba-tweets/ Here’s what this kid said on Twitter: • you are a silly ct… Your m… --- ## [Who is Jimmy, and why does he crack corn?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-jimmy-and-why-does-he-crack-corn/617477)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-jimmy-and-why-does-he-crack-corn/617477 "2012-04-02T17:49:07Z")
Seemed appropriate for discussion today, somehow, Who is Jimmy, and why does he crack corn? - The Straight Dope --- ## [Why do I owe Native Americans anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-owe-native-americans-anything/43277)
**Author:** [@jeel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeel)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-owe-native-americans-anything/43277 "2012-04-02T16:59:04Z")
I live in close proximity to many Native American reservations. And I am sick and tired of all the handouts that the federal government hands to these tribes! I have to see my tax dollars build casinos, houses, and pay f… --- ## [From YouTube to The New York Times: KONY 2012 and The Changing Direction of the Media](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-youtube-to-the-new-york-times-kony-2012-and-the-changing-direction-of-the-media/615577)
**Author:** [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-youtube-to-the-new-york-times-kony-2012-and-the-changing-direction-of-the-media/615577 "2012-04-02T00:26:32Z")
\*\*One week ago today, in a video posted on YouTube, filmmaker and narrator, Jason Russell, at the end of the video, said: “It’s always been that the decisions made by the few, with the money and power, dictated the prio… --- ## [A way around making people buy health insurance.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-around-making-people-buy-health-insurance/617040)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-around-making-people-buy-health-insurance/617040 "2012-04-01T19:18:09Z")
If the Supreme Court decides it’s illegal to force people to buy health coverage could the government just side step this completely by taxing everyone the same amount then make health insurance premiums tax deuctable/re… --- ## [US nearing epic financial collapse. What happens then?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-nearing-epic-financial-collapse-what-happens-then/617025)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-nearing-epic-financial-collapse-what-happens-then/617025 "2012-03-31T03:07:32Z")
As a country, the US is speeding to the economic event horizon… we don’t know exactly where it is (at least that’s what they tell us sheople), or when we will reach it, but sooner than later, countries like China and Ru… --- ## [How much would VAT have to be to provide Medicare to all US citizens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-vat-have-to-be-to-provide-medicare-to-all-us-citizens/617193)
**Author:** [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-vat-have-to-be-to-provide-medicare-to-all-us-citizens/617193 "2012-03-31T01:19:03Z")
I’m not sure this has a strict factual answer, so I’m putting it here. Mods, please move this if it would be better suited somewhere else. If the United States were to decide to provide Medicare to all citizens as a way… --- ## [Should the US tax repatriated foreign corporate profits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-tax-repatriated-foreign-corporate-profits/617304)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-tax-repatriated-foreign-corporate-profits/617304 "2012-03-31T00:33:41Z")
Currently we do so companies are reluctant to repatriate. Its reported that up to $1 trillion sits overseas waiting for another repatriation holiday. It was last done in 2004 and this was the result: http://www.bost… --- ## [If "there's no such thing as race," is there such a thing as gender?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-theres-no-such-thing-as-race-is-there-such-a-thing-as-gender/614779)
**Author:** [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Replies:** 511\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-theres-no-such-thing-as-race-is-there-such-a-thing-as-gender/614779 "2012-03-30T20:20:02Z")
We’ve all heard the latest fashion for proclaiming that “there’s no such thing as race,” “there’s no scientific definition of race,” “race is a myth,” and the like. This thread isn’t about any of those claims or about r… --- ## [It's a travesty to end someone's career over "chink in the armor"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 363\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-travesty-to-end-someones-career-over-chink-in-the-armor/613474 "2012-03-30T19:02:50Z")
I really believe this was an innocent oversight, that the writer was not trying to allude to Lin’s ethnicity but just using a common phrase. Even Lin himself doesn’t believe it was intentional. Now the poor guy has a c… --- ## [Was Martin on Zimmerman's property when he was killed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-martin-on-zimmermans-property-when-he-was-killed/616635)
**Author:** [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-martin-on-zimmermans-property-when-he-was-killed/616635 "2012-03-30T16:26:54Z")
Where was Martin when he was killed? I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere? --- ## [How Do Dictators Get So Powerful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dictators-get-so-powerful/617245)
**Author:** [@Yakuza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yakuza)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-dictators-get-so-powerful/617245 "2012-03-30T15:50:36Z")
I mean seriously, how does 1 man get to rule and oppress an entire nation? Are the people so brainwashed and lazy 2 do anything about it? This is something I always wondered --- ## [Do you want China to prosper or fail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-china-to-prosper-or-fail/610830)
**Author:** [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2012, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-china-to-prosper-or-fail/610830 "2012-03-30T03:54:23Z")
I’ve been thinking a lot about the People’s Republic of China recently. I’ve tried to educate myself on their revolution, and how the government has come a long way from Mau Zedong’s original vision, and I believe, for t… --- ## [Are the Hutaree Militia guilty of sedition?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-hutaree-militia-guilty-of-sedition/612681)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-hutaree-militia-guilty-of-sedition/612681 "2012-03-30T03:28:40Z")
7 people go on trial this week for sedition and weapons charges; all are members of a group that call themselves the Hutaree Militia. They say their talk of killing police officers and overthrowing the government was in… --- ## [How much population loss to not have a significant impact?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-population-loss-to-not-have-a-significant-impact/616986)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-population-loss-to-not-have-a-significant-impact/616986 "2012-03-30T00:10:10Z")
We’ve had a few apocalypse threads recently, so let me ask a related question: how much population loss could we suffer without a significant impact? Assume that the population loss is rapid and evenly spread. I think t… --- ## [Is 'Song of the South' racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-song-of-the-south-racist/617006)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-song-of-the-south-racist/617006 "2012-03-29T23:32:29Z")
I admit I don’t know. I’ve only seen a clip or two on YouTube. Apparently Disney thinks it is. I suspect another company would quickly take on the distribution rights for it. I have seen ‘Gone With the Wind’ and see … --- ## [Suspect detained for London Bombing: What next?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-detained-for-london-bombing-what-next/312687)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspect-detained-for-london-bombing-what-next/312687 "2012-03-29T16:35:53Z")
Magdy el-Nashar has been detained in Egypt as a suspect in the London bombing. All the current evidence seems to point to this man as being either the master mind or at least someone who assisted the suicide bombers in … --- ## [Paternal Responsibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paternal-responsibility/616708)
**Author:** [@Borzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borzo)\ **Replies:** 310\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paternal-responsibility/616708 "2012-03-29T03:08:17Z")
Let’s say we have 3 people: Peter, Paul, and Mary. Both Peter and Paul are having sex with Mary. Not at the same time, mind you, but let’s say she’s having 2 independent sexual relationship with the 2 of them. Mary get… --- ## [Everything we are is absurd and arbitrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-we-are-is-absurd-and-arbitrary/616927)
**Author:** [@Three\_Packs\_a\_Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Three_Packs_a_Day)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everything-we-are-is-absurd-and-arbitrary/616927 "2012-03-28T20:56:15Z")
Warning: if you read this OP, it may ruin your happiness forever. Here’s my biggest existential problem: everything I (we) am (are) is absurd and arbitrary, and there’s nothing else it could ever be. For example, the on… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=333) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=335)