# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=338 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 339 --- ## [If you were in charge of the Fed, how would you stimulate the economy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-charge-of-the-fed-how-would-you-stimulate-the-economy/614489)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-charge-of-the-fed-how-would-you-stimulate-the-economy/614489 "2012-03-04T12:39:36Z")
The Fed has engaged in two rounds of quantitative easing and has lowered the discount (?) rate to nearly zero. The economy is growing, but rather reluctantly. Is this as much growth as could be hoped for, or are there … --- ## [Why ARE so many high-level scientists Jewish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-high-level-scientists-jewish/265973)
**Author:** [@NewHeart\_Male](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NewHeart_Male)\ **Replies:** 276\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-high-level-scientists-jewish/265973 "2012-03-03T20:16:41Z")
This thread is NOT about Bankers, Stockbrokers, Accountants, Financeurs etc. For some reason whenever I ask on other boards the answers always revolve around the above professions. So I want to make it clear that I AM … --- ## [Who would you choose as benevolent dictator or philosopher king today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-choose-as-benevolent-dictator-or-philosopher-king-today/607582 "2012-03-03T18:35:21Z")
I would choose Warren Buffett. I know conservatives hate him but he is beyond reproach, honest, brilliantly intellectual, and disinterested in terms of making money from public graft. Our current form of government is … --- ## [No life or short life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-life-or-short-life/614210)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-life-or-short-life/614210 "2012-03-03T17:20:45Z")
Which is preferred: to have never lived or to have lived a short life, fairly content, and to die without too much distress? Consider it from the POV of humans and from the POV of the potential suggested in this article … --- ## [To any Libertarian. Would you authorize a new $1 billion agency to save $10 billion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-any-libertarian-would-you-authorize-a-new-1-billion-agency-to-save-10-billion/614513)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-any-libertarian-would-you-authorize-a-new-1-billion-agency-to-save-10-billion/614513 "2012-03-03T16:52:12Z")
Costs and savings are annual. On an ongoing basis there would be $9 billion in federal savings per year. This is a hypothetical question (so John Mace I have no data to support an opinion since you always insist such d… --- ## [Organ Donation and Ethics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-and-ethics/614529)
**Author:** [@sunflower100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunflower100)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donation-and-ethics/614529 "2012-03-03T13:04:33Z")
I am quite bothered with the idea of making selling of kideneys legal. Companies who are involved in this business will be the ones to actually benefit from it the most.And if you ask me, I’d say it’s unethical. Donating… --- ## [Intelligence of whales and dolphins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligence-of-whales-and-dolphins/613993)
**Author:** [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligence-of-whales-and-dolphins/613993 "2012-03-03T01:09:50Z")
The Nature series on PBS had an amazing doc the other night on whales and dolphins and their strategies for catching fish. These aren’t the result of instincts that every individual is born with, but separate strategies … --- ## [When (if ever) Will Marijuana Become Legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-ever-will-marijuana-become-legal/614369)
**Author:** [@curioushat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curioushat)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-ever-will-marijuana-become-legal/614369 "2012-03-03T00:40:21Z")
I am sure that this question has been raised in the past, however I would like to bring it up again as the 2012 elections approach and there are several marijuana legalization questions on the ballot. It seems very obvi… --- ## ["Ten Ways Obama Could Reduce Gas Prices Now"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-ways-obama-could-reduce-gas-prices-now/614310)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-ways-obama-could-reduce-gas-prices-now/614310 "2012-03-02T22:17:39Z")
The President, and many economists, have claimed that the President can do little to reduce gas prices. One conservative blogger begs to differ, and offers his ideas on how he believes Obama can do it by Election Day. … --- ## [Is committing murder over burned Korans a common Middle-Eastern disposition?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-committing-murder-over-burned-korans-a-common-middle-eastern-disposition/613784)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-committing-murder-over-burned-korans-a-common-middle-eastern-disposition/613784 "2012-03-02T21:37:41Z")
I have followed the story of the Korans that were (apparently accidentally) burned at an air force base in Afghanistan. The result was first protests, and now people are getting killed over it. I know it is especially o… --- ## [U.S. Oil exports](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-oil-exports/614516)
**Author:** [@cutman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cutman74)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-oil-exports/614516 "2012-03-02T21:16:01Z")
First of all I am a long time lurker on this message board. Never posted before. Please excuse me if I’m a little bit awkward. I’m not sure where to put this, seeing that I’m somewhat angry about it, it might belo… --- ## [The case of Zombie Muhammad vs. the Offended Muslim Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-zombie-muhammad-vs-the-offended-muslim-guy/613971)
**Author:** [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-zombie-muhammad-vs-the-offended-muslim-guy/613971 "2012-03-02T20:58:00Z")
Apparently the leader of the Penn branch of American Atheists was in a Halloween parade dressed as “zombie Muhammad”. A Muslim man who was watching the parade took offense and allegedly assaulted the guy as well as calli… --- ## ['Witchcraft' couple face life sentences.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witchcraft-couple-face-life-sentences/614580)
**Author:** [@Galty\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galty_Boy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witchcraft-couple-face-life-sentences/614580 "2012-03-02T20:41:10Z")
‘They believed (Child) had cast spell on another child’, so they Killed him. Something to do with ‘Kindoki’-(Voodoo) . Yet they belonged to a Christian Church. The Jury was told that in the Congo, witchcraft was pratice… --- ## [RCC cardinal says they'll shut down all hospitals if they have to](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rcc-cardinal-says-theyll-shut-down-all-hospitals-if-they-have-to/614218)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rcc-cardinal-says-theyll-shut-down-all-hospitals-if-they-have-to/614218 "2012-03-02T18:27:42Z")
So a Catholic cardinal, Francis Cardinal George, is saying that rather than accede to demands to allow birth control from their insurance companies, that they will shut down hospitals, universities, charities, and other … --- ## [Money and the school system](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-and-the-school-system/614542)
**Author:** [@Ifiknewitalllifewouldbeboring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ifiknewitalllifewouldbeboring)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-and-the-school-system/614542 "2012-03-02T17:12:13Z")
In the United States, I have noticed the decline of the school system. We have state lotteries here in Indiana, a large portion of this money is allocated to the state for the purpose of education. This money however… --- ## [Most work done by computers and robots--good or bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-work-done-by-computers-and-robots-good-or-bad/573776)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-work-done-by-computers-and-robots-good-or-bad/573776 "2012-03-02T05:39:07Z")
The existence of this article (which argues that computerization of intellectual labor is making education less valuable, or so I read in summaries of it anyway) got me to thinking, again, about the question of a world i… --- ## [do rural Haitians care about the capital being wiped out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-rural-haitians-care-about-the-capital-being-wiped-out/575326)
**Author:** [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2011, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-rural-haitians-care-about-the-capital-being-wiped-out/575326 "2011-03-20T06:56:24Z")
the vast majority of their population seem to live in villages and practice subsistence agriculture. So it’s not like they are losing jobs or not getting access to vital government services because there is no more gover… --- ## [Stasis fields and the destruction of the self](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stasis-fields-and-the-destruction-of-the-self/614390)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stasis-fields-and-the-destruction-of-the-self/614390 "2012-03-02T03:00:45Z")
Inspired by assertions (in this thread) that the human ‘self’/identity requires continuity (and that interruption of the process is death, and that even a perfectly-copied restoration of same process would be a counterfe… --- ## [How much has NAFTA harmed US manufacturing jobs or output?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-nafta-harmed-us-manufacturing-jobs-or-output/614078)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-nafta-harmed-us-manufacturing-jobs-or-output/614078 "2012-03-02T02:56:26Z")
Remember Ross Perot and his claims? About the giant sucking noise (of jobs)? But have jobs gone to Mexico? Or China? I am saying Perot was wrong despite popular consensus. Was he right? --- ## [Affirmative action in the Supreme Court again](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affirmative-action-in-the-supreme-court-again/613792)
**Author:** [@Chen019](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chen019)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affirmative-action-in-the-supreme-court-again/613792 "2012-03-01T23:25:19Z")
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Fisher v. Texas, a major case involving affirmative action in higher education. The decision in this case could end racial preferences in admissions — moving up the timetable from the… --- ## [Are long-term sting operations wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-long-term-sting-operations-wrong/613882)
**Author:** [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-long-term-sting-operations-wrong/613882 "2012-03-01T23:04:51Z")
I was about to dive into the pit thread about undercover cops busting high schoolers but I think it would have been starting a whole new angle and it wasn’t bitchy. Here’s the thing. If the cops think you’re a bad guy, … --- ## [How would an anarchist society avoid recreating government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-an-anarchist-society-avoid-recreating-government/613122)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 240\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-an-anarchist-society-avoid-recreating-government/613122 "2012-03-01T22:02:49Z")
Please no links to verbose gobbly gook about self organizing spontaneous communities and such, I’ve had enough such links that explain in 20K words absolutely nothing about anarchist society except that its awesome. So … --- ## [Ethical to refuse treatment to Catholics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-refuse-treatment-to-catholics/614288)
**Author:** [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-to-refuse-treatment-to-catholics/614288 "2012-03-01T21:44:52Z")
I was thinking of stuff like this - could it ever be ethical for mainstream hosptials to deny treatment to catholics, on the basis it would make them either put pressure on their church to start acting reasonably with it… --- ## [Biggest effect on child success is month of birth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-effect-on-child-success-is-month-of-birth/614359)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-effect-on-child-success-is-month-of-birth/614359 "2012-03-01T21:19:46Z")
Scott Adams (Dibert creator) had an interesting topic on his blog today (Feb 29, 2012). He proposes that the single greatest optional thing a parent can do to ensure the happiness and success of a child is to control th… --- ## [What's the real reason behind the Greek rioters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-reason-behind-the-greek-rioters/612730)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 149\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-real-reason-behind-the-greek-rioters/612730 "2012-03-01T17:23:14Z")
Riots happened this weekend as the Greek Parliament passed more austerity measures in order to be allowed to borrow more money in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy. Similar things happened last year as the debate was r… --- ## [Guantanamo is STILL open. Why isn't the left bitching about it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-is-still-open-why-isnt-the-left-bitching-about-it/614046)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-is-still-open-why-isnt-the-left-bitching-about-it/614046 "2012-03-01T12:49:21Z")
Is it because Bush isn’t President any more? All the left did was bitch, and BITCH, and \*\*BITCH \*\*about Gitmo when W. was POTUS. It’s been over 3 years and it’s still open. But, overall, not a peep from the left. Obam… --- ## [Traits of Personhood (and Economics)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-of-personhood-and-economics/614231)
**Author:** [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traits-of-personhood-and-economics/614231 "2012-03-01T05:35:15Z")
In debates over economic liberalism and conservatism I keep seeing remarks that hinge on contestable views on personhood. For example, a conservative commentator will say something like “what if somebody is just more tal… --- ## [Why can't US tourists visit Cuba?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443)
**Author:** [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-us-tourists-visit-cuba/612443 "2012-02-29T23:18:40Z")
The other Cuba thread got me wondering. I understand the events of the 1950s and 1960s, but why is this still an issue in 2012? The only explanation I’ve seen is the powerful Cuban-American lobby, but it just doesn’t mak… --- ## [Is the human brain the most complex object in the universe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-human-brain-the-most-complex-object-in-the-universe/611259)
**Author:** [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Replies:** 352\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-human-brain-the-most-complex-object-in-the-universe/611259 "2012-02-29T16:16:50Z")
Says Gary Greenberg in an Op-Ed in The New York Times. He writes, “The human brain, after all, may be the most complex object in the universe.” He should know. After all, he is a psychotherapist who is writing a book on… --- ## [Mega Cruise Ships: Tragedies Waiting To Happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mega-cruise-ships-tragedies-waiting-to-happen/570937)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 209\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mega-cruise-ships-tragedies-waiting-to-happen/570937 "2012-02-29T14:19:35Z")
I just got back from Miami, and one of the impressive sights is the port-huge, enormous cruise ships departing and returning-a lot of port activity. Yet, I wonder how safe these new giants are? I think there is a huge … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=337) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=339)