# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=35 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 36 --- ## [Someone please help me refute what this doctor is saying about covid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-refute-what-this-doctor-is-saying-about-covid/948347)
**Author:** [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-please-help-me-refute-what-this-doctor-is-saying-about-covid/948347 "2021-08-27T22:14:34Z")
This video is from a local town hall that is close by to where I live. He claims that the recommendations made by the CDC and others are completely false as it applies to how to effectively deal with the corona virus. Th… --- ## [Confederate Flag: offensive or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-flag-offensive-or-not/949450)
**Author:** [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confederate-flag-offensive-or-not/949450 "2021-08-27T21:14:23Z")
I’m a high school teacher in a south Texas town (though I’m not from around here). We regularly write up students with inappropriate clothing: crop-top shirts, too-mini-skirts, sleeveless shirts for boys, transparent c… --- ## [Would selecting the personnel of the Afghan national Army from people who had the most to lose from a taliban takeover have helped](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-selecting-the-personnel-of-the-afghan-national-army-from-people-who-had-the-most-to-lose-from-a-taliban-takeover-have-helped/949539)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-selecting-the-personnel-of-the-afghan-national-army-from-people-who-had-the-most-to-lose-from-a-taliban-takeover-have-helped/949539 "2021-08-27T17:38:39Z")
I know we’re all playing armchair general here, but I think it was Panache45 who mentioned how the ANA should’ve been staffed with women, implying because women have more to lose from a taliban takeover than men do. Whi… --- ## [How can we fix medical pricing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-we-fix-medical-pricing/949475)
**Author:** [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-we-fix-medical-pricing/949475 "2021-08-26T22:45:06Z")
The Times ran a fascinating piece analyzing how much various insurance companies paid for medical procedures. Bottom line is that their costs are all over the place, sometimes a lot higher than what an uninsured perso… --- ## [To honor and respect 20 yrs of sacrifice by our troops, we must stay in Afghanistan forever!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-honor-and-respect-20-yrs-of-sacrifice-by-our-troops-we-must-stay-in-afghanistan-forever/949308)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-honor-and-respect-20-yrs-of-sacrifice-by-our-troops-we-must-stay-in-afghanistan-forever/949308 "2021-08-26T22:20:43Z")
With the withdrawal from Afghanistan, I see a lot of statements by conservatives, military veterans, armchair generals, etc., basically stating that the withdrawal dishonors the servicepeople who fought there for the pas… --- ## [Is there a non-bigoted reason to be anti-same-sex-marriage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-non-bigoted-reason-to-be-anti-same-sex-marriage/947222)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 430\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-non-bigoted-reason-to-be-anti-same-sex-marriage/947222 "2021-08-25T20:44:22Z")
I have spent my couple decades reading this board as a way to improve myself, and fight my own ignorance. So in the interest of doing that, I refer to this post from kevlaw. I admit, I can’t. But I’m willing to learn… --- ## [Best handled war loss for those who collaborated with the losers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handled-war-loss-for-those-who-collaborated-with-the-losers/948991)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-handled-war-loss-for-those-who-collaborated-with-the-losers/948991 "2021-08-22T14:31:36Z")
America has not done right by the Afghans who collaborated with the US army and it did not do right by those in Saigon either after the fall. But are there examples of countries who did do it right and could have provide… --- ## [Global Warming: No Future, Get Off the Babysitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-no-future-get-off-the-babysitter/432718)
**Author:** [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2021, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-no-future-get-off-the-babysitter/432718 "2021-08-20T22:11:04Z")
Somebody tell me I’m wrong in my thinking, but if humans didn’t begin dumping serious amounts of CO\[sub\]2\[/sub\] into the atmosphere until 1750, then are we not going to have to drop the levels back to that amount (if not… --- ## [Make the Conservative Case for Overriding Various COVID restrictions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-the-conservative-case-for-overriding-various-covid-restrictions/948289)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2021, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-the-conservative-case-for-overriding-various-covid-restrictions/948289 "2021-08-20T11:54:06Z")
I know we don’t have too many conservatives here, but we have a few. And, feel free to comment even if you’re not conservative, but I would appreciate it if you do, to make a good faith argument, not some conservative h… --- ## [Showing preferred pronouns in bios, e-mail signatures, etc](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-preferred-pronouns-in-bios-e-mail-signatures-etc/947651)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 188\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/showing-preferred-pronouns-in-bios-e-mail-signatures-etc/947651 "2021-08-19T19:45:56Z")
There’s a discussion over in the BBQ Pit about whether people should put their preferred pronouns in their e-mail signatures, their bios, etc. As I said over there, I think it should become common practice. I was think… --- ## [Assisted suicide/euthanasia for mental illness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assisted-suicide-euthanasia-for-mental-illness/947711)
**Author:** [@vancrusbi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vancrusbi)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2021, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assisted-suicide-euthanasia-for-mental-illness/947711 "2021-08-18T12:17:08Z")
Will it ever become a reality? I believe that a few European nations (Belgium, The Netherlands) practice it though in extenuating circumstances. 24 yr old woman euthanised Most nations that allow it only do it for thos… --- ## [The Limits of Human Worth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limits-of-human-worth/948330)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limits-of-human-worth/948330 "2021-08-13T14:22:26Z")
A thread inspired by a discussion in the Most prophetic piece of Science fiction - #143 by Turble? thread about “SJW” and equality of education vs. gifted kids. It occurs to me that there are two equally unsupportable po… --- ## [The United States Air Force is unconstitutional](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-air-force-is-unconstitutional/947441)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 274\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2021, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-air-force-is-unconstitutional/947441 "2021-08-12T09:07:21Z")
Continuing the discussion from Is the Internet a Post Road?: background of this discussion (click to show/hide)The Department of Homeland Security is in the Constitution? Or has an amendment added it to the Constitution… --- ## [How shall we define Fascism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-shall-we-define-fascism/947511)
**Author:** [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-shall-we-define-fascism/947511 "2021-08-11T20:59:31Z")
I know there have been similar threads in the past, but in light of the current pit thread about not needing conservative voices, with counter-complaints about accusations of fascism being too freely handed out, I though… --- ## [What's Going on with \[Aspiring\] Teachers Failing their Certification Tests?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-going-on-with-aspiring-teachers-failing-their-certification-tests/947238)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-going-on-with-aspiring-teachers-failing-their-certification-tests/947238 "2021-08-11T16:53:36Z")
This is a very interesting report: The report goes on to say that large percentages of education graduates are failing basic certification tests. The parts of the test they do worst on are the domain knowledge tes… --- ## [Modified Mosquitos - Yea or Nay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modified-mosquitos-yea-or-nay/918526)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2021, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modified-mosquitos-yea-or-nay/918526 "2021-08-05T19:52:46Z")
So Florida is planning on releasing 750m mosquitos in the wild to stop the Egyptian female variety from reaching maturity. The goal is to reduce bites and the spread of diseases like dengue and zika. Critics call it an… --- ## [What are some ways for small to medium towns to make money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-for-small-to-medium-towns-to-make-money/947139)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-for-small-to-medium-towns-to-make-money/947139 "2021-08-04T22:25:28Z")
Let’s assume you’re a mayor and leader of the majority local party, so you can implement almost any decision. You have an average small/medium town in a relatively rural area that’s not a tourist hotspot and your town/ci… --- ## [Hubble Telescope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hubble-telescope/235055)
**Author:** [@empfsu1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/empfsu1)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hubble-telescope/235055 "2021-08-02T15:06:25Z")
It is said that the Hubble Telescope can see farther into space than any telescope on earth. And that seeing deep into space is actually seeing the past, because the light hitting the telescope is not happening "now’ bu… --- ## [The U.S. Govt has the power to regulate the internet and cryptocurrency](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-s-govt-has-the-power-to-regulate-the-internet-and-cryptocurrency/946861)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2021, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-s-govt-has-the-power-to-regulate-the-internet-and-cryptocurrency/946861 "2021-07-31T01:17:56Z")
Continuing the discussion from Is the Internet a Post Road?: I’m not sure what your point was here. The U.S. has clear authority to “keep people from using the form of money known as cryptocurrency”, because of the com… --- ## [Japan vs China in 1937](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-vs-china-in-1937/947015)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2021, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-vs-china-in-1937/947015 "2021-07-30T10:58:33Z")
Was there any reason for the “West” not to get involved in the Japanese invasion of China in 1937? Surely they had interests in Shanghai (and elsewhere in China), and Hong Kong would have been under threat. (the Japanese… --- ## [Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brnovich-v-democratic-national-committee/946517)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brnovich-v-democratic-national-committee/946517 "2021-07-28T14:06:06Z")
Continuing the discussion from The Republican War on Voting Thread: My vision for this topic is general discussion on the merits of the case, purely political commentary can stay over in P&E. In a nutshell, in 2016 the… --- ## [Is the War On Addiction Becoming a War On Pain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-war-on-addiction-becoming-a-war-on-pain/946989)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2021, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-war-on-addiction-becoming-a-war-on-pain/946989 "2021-07-28T04:55:58Z")
I’ll provide cites, if requested. But bear with me, much of my data comes from TV reports and my own personal experiences (I have never taken an illegal drug). I think most people would agree Opioid addiction is a major… --- ## [Should statues of Washington, Jefferson, and Grant be removed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-statues-of-washington-jefferson-and-grant-be-removed/912321)
**Author:** [@Telemachus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemachus)\ **Replies:** 307\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-statues-of-washington-jefferson-and-grant-be-removed/912321 "2021-07-27T17:56:56Z")
In recent days, statues of Washington, Jefferson, and Grant have been defaced and torn down (Example, Example, , Example) Is it morally right to get rid of these monuments because they owned slaves? --- ## [Is the Internet a Post Road?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-internet-a-post-road/946714)
**Author:** [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-internet-a-post-road/946714 "2021-07-27T02:26:04Z")
Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution requires the government to define, create, maintain and control the primary route of public communication within the nation. Does that now pertain to the internet? Should the inter… --- ## [Could viruses have evolved as a means of horizontal gene transfer among bacteria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-viruses-have-evolved-as-a-means-of-horizontal-gene-transfer-among-bacteria/947256)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2021, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-viruses-have-evolved-as-a-means-of-horizontal-gene-transfer-among-bacteria/947256 "2021-07-26T11:47:33Z")
A list of hypothesis about viral evolution are listed here. There are five hypothesis about how viruses evolved. However I vaguely recall hearing on a scientifically oriented ratio show that viruses could have evolved… --- ## [Why is punishment not applied more freely in the professions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-punishment-not-applied-more-freely-in-the-professions/945242)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2021, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-punishment-not-applied-more-freely-in-the-professions/945242 "2021-07-26T05:16:50Z")
Not just Giuliani, but I’ve long wondered why all the professions, much more generally, don’t apply sanctions to their members who’ve crossed ethical lines? Without going into the broader question of whether punishment i… --- ## [Let's debate the wisdom of allowing Amazon and others to access your home while you are not present](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-the-wisdom-of-allowing-amazon-and-others-to-access-your-home-while-you-are-not-present/947064)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-the-wisdom-of-allowing-amazon-and-others-to-access-your-home-while-you-are-not-present/947064 "2021-07-25T22:57:13Z")
This doesn’t seem like a good idea to me: I suppose if I had a full surveillance setup inside my house so that I could review the footage every time I received a package in order to ensure that nothing was stolen, it m… --- ## [Should there be a lower age limit/minimum age for participation in the Olympics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-lower-age-limit-minimum-age-for-participation-in-the-olympics/947204)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-lower-age-limit-minimum-age-for-participation-in-the-olympics/947204 "2021-07-25T14:06:21Z")
I’m not watching the Olympics (I think it should have been called off), but this headline grabbed my attention: This seems nuts to me. Why not an 8-year old? Or a 5-year old? I would like to see the Olympics limited t… --- ## [American High Speed Rail is a Terrible Idea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-high-speed-rail-is-a-terrible-idea/939404)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 458\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-high-speed-rail-is-a-terrible-idea/939404 "2021-07-24T22:28:22Z")
Let’s talk about this new push for high speed rail. Let me state this straight out: If you care about global warming, you should oppose plans to criss-cross the country with high speed rail. There is a myth out there … --- ## [Student tells teacher why she is wrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-tells-teacher-why-she-is-wrong/947188)
**Author:** [@shh1313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shh1313)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-tells-teacher-why-she-is-wrong/947188 "2021-07-24T13:39:31Z")
This student tells his teacher why her method of teaching is wrong. I agree with him. What do you think? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=36)