# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=468 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 469 --- ## [GOP tactics after healthcare reform passage.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tactics-after-healthcare-reform-passage/533735)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-tactics-after-healthcare-reform-passage/533735 "2010-03-26T13:51:01Z")
There is no question to me that the GOP has benefited from how they’ve been able to spin the healthcare reform package and the process of making that sausage, and that the process to date has energized their core - some … --- ## [Do people really want IRS-Care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-want-irs-care/533731)
**Author:** [@Poptech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poptech)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2010, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-really-want-irs-care/533731 "2010-03-26T09:42:00Z")
We already know this healthcare bill will make healthcare more expensive, cause premiums to skyrocket, increase wait times and deliver worse service. Absolutely everything the government “regulates” or runs is worse beca… --- ## [So how does the Healthcare Insurance Industry feel this fine Monday morning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-the-healthcare-insurance-industry-feel-this-fine-monday-morning/533330)
**Author:** [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-the-healthcare-insurance-industry-feel-this-fine-monday-morning/533330 "2010-03-26T02:30:33Z")
Over the last few weeks as the anti-reform hysteria reached new, breathless heights, one of the standard arguments against the bill has been that it’s a blank check for the Insurance industry. Since everyone will be for… --- ## [How are Germany and Japan so rich?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-germany-and-japan-so-rich/532919)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-germany-and-japan-so-rich/532919 "2010-03-25T19:20:10Z")
So less than a single lifetime ago, Germany and Japan and just lost the largest war in human history, and had been bombed into tiny little bits, had a huge percentage of their population killed, and were generally in ver… --- ## [Are there a long term consequences to employer based health care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-a-long-term-consequences-to-employer-based-health-care/533478)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-a-long-term-consequences-to-employer-based-health-care/533478 "2010-03-25T17:42:01Z")
Right now on Fox News they are talking about the costs of the health care bill to small businesses, and you’ll be shocked to hear the commentator was describing how it will cause their demise. Try to set aside your ideo… --- ## [Solution to Failing Schools Problem.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solution-to-failing-schools-problem/533243)
**Author:** [@deanc2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deanc2000)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solution-to-failing-schools-problem/533243 "2010-03-25T16:55:07Z")
I just thought of something that could be an answer to the failing schools problem in poor/ghetto neighborhoods: Instead of throwing money at the teachers, make money an incentive for the students to attain/maintain goo… --- ## [No Breast Implants, Please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-breast-implants-please/533634)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-breast-implants-please/533634 "2010-03-25T16:31:24Z")
I note that the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie will feature Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. But of course the pretty girl from the last movie is now too old. (Let that roll around in your brain box for a few min… --- ## [What Happens to the Democrats That Voted Against The Health Care Bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-democrats-that-voted-against-the-health-care-bill/533637)
**Author:** [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-democrats-that-voted-against-the-health-care-bill/533637 "2010-03-25T13:20:18Z")
A Huffington Post Article lists the 34 Democrats in the House that voted against the health care bill. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/22/democrats-who-voted-again\_n\_508484.html I wonder what the consequences wil… --- ## [Are there many liberals NOT celebrating tonight's HC vote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-many-liberals-not-celebrating-tonights-hc-vote/533315)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-many-liberals-not-celebrating-tonights-hc-vote/533315 "2010-03-25T13:07:24Z")
Thinking about a post I made in GD, asserting that Democrats would generally like what happened tonight, it reminded me of something: there seem to be liberals who don’t like this whole result - namely, who didn’t want a… --- ## [Are there any proven hereditary psychological differences (intelligence or other) between "races"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-proven-hereditary-psychological-differences-intelligence-or-other-between-races/532771)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-proven-hereditary-psychological-differences-intelligence-or-other-between-races/532771 "2010-03-25T08:57:43Z")
I ran a thread on this once, but that was back in 2004. Lately Chen019, in particular, has been raising again in GD the issue of race and intelligence, in connection with debates about immigration and “white nationalis… --- ## [Did this health insurance reform bill save the insurance industry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-health-insurance-reform-bill-save-the-insurance-industry/533714)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-health-insurance-reform-bill-save-the-insurance-industry/533714 "2010-03-25T05:20:01Z")
There was a really good diary on Daily Kos about a month ago about the health insurance industry death spiral. According to that diary, large companies with 1000 or more employees are preferring to self insure and ad… --- ## [So is the concept of HRC that the Christian Right has a problem with or just the current plan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-the-concept-of-hrc-that-the-christian-right-has-a-problem-with-or-just-the-current-plan/533423)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-the-concept-of-hrc-that-the-christian-right-has-a-problem-with-or-just-the-current-plan/533423 "2010-03-25T03:35:13Z")
This may sound like a rhetorical question but it’s not- I truly don’t get it: Why are so many churches and rightwing Christians so opposed to Healthcare Reform? Some qualifications: I’m not talking about conservatives… --- ## [Was Richard Nixon That Bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-richard-nixon-that-bad/531508)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 167\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-richard-nixon-that-bad/531508 "2010-03-25T02:58:24Z")
In light of similar threads relating to George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson I will ask: was Richard M. Nixon that bad a President as some people claim. If you look at Richard Nixon’s presidency objectively (without the … --- ## [Why did so many things start going wrong economically in the US starting around 1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-so-many-things-start-going-wrong-economically-in-the-us-starting-around-1980/532120)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-so-many-things-start-going-wrong-economically-in-the-us-starting-around-1980/532120 "2010-03-25T01:25:30Z")
I’m sure Reaganomics and movement conservatism (which both started coming to power in the late 70s and early 80s) played a role. But there has to be more than that. The congress wasn’t, as far as I know, overtaken by mo… --- ## [The Republican Obstructionist Tactic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-obstructionist-tactic/530577)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-obstructionist-tactic/530577 "2010-03-25T00:03:58Z")
Recently I’ve been reading about how the Republicans in the houses are using obstructionist tactics and basically shooting down everything whether they even think it is warranted or not. The assumption is that this is do… --- ## [Another Try At Understanding Definitions: "Hypocrite"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-try-at-understanding-definitions-hypocrite/533048)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-try-at-understanding-definitions-hypocrite/533048 "2010-03-24T23:44:59Z")
Inspired by various exchanges, of which the following is a good example. My response in that thread: My further comment for this thread: This is an issue that’s been batted around here before. And for whatever reaso… --- ## [Health care reform is actually quite popular](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-reform-is-actually-quite-popular/533591)
**Author:** [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-care-reform-is-actually-quite-popular/533591 "2010-03-24T21:45:35Z")
There is a USA Today/Gallup pollwhich asks whether the passage of the health care bill was a good or bad thing. 49% say good and 40% say bad. It’s clear that now that this thing has actually been passed it’s quite popula… --- ## [This Should Be An Interesting First Amendment Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-should-be-an-interesting-first-amendment-case/533647)
**Author:** [@NotreDame05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotreDame05)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-should-be-an-interesting-first-amendment-case/533647 "2010-03-24T21:18:44Z")
I found this over at a legal website I frequent, volokh.com \*Challenge to High School Policy That Excludes from Extracurricular Activities Students Whose Out-of-School Speech “Reflects Discredit Upon \[the\] High School” … --- ## [ACORN to shut down...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-to-shut-down/533590)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acorn-to-shut-down/533590 "2010-03-24T21:13:55Z")
According to CNN. It’s pretty clear that how you feel about this will probably depend on your political beliefs. Is this a good or bad thing? What will be the consequences (politically and otherwise)? Who or what had… --- ## [HCR: where do we go from here, both politically and with the issue in general?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hcr-where-do-we-go-from-here-both-politically-and-with-the-issue-in-general/533300)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hcr-where-do-we-go-from-here-both-politically-and-with-the-issue-in-general/533300 "2010-03-24T20:08:18Z")
OK, the health care reform bill is now pretty much a done deal. Now we can look at what happens next. Politically: Certainly, the Republican argument that the nation didn’t want this bill will be put to the test in a f… --- ## [Can a citizen contest a state AG's contest of a Federal law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-citizen-contest-a-state-ags-contest-of-a-federal-law/533573)
**Author:** [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-citizen-contest-a-state-ags-contest-of-a-federal-law/533573 "2010-03-24T18:58:07Z")
Let’s say I’m a resident and taxpayer of X-lyvania, the 51st state of the United States, and I want to contest the new Federal Meat Support Act (FMSA), which requires every citizen to purchase a pound of red meat at leas… --- ## [Politically unbiased budget projections for this final Health Care Bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-unbiased-budget-projections-for-this-final-health-care-bill/533559)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-unbiased-budget-projections-for-this-final-health-care-bill/533559 "2010-03-24T17:56:37Z")
Are there any? --- ## [The Cognitive Dissonance of North Dakota (yet another health care thread)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cognitive-dissonance-of-north-dakota-yet-another-health-care-thread/533465)
**Author:** [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cognitive-dissonance-of-north-dakota-yet-another-health-care-thread/533465 "2010-03-24T16:47:05Z")
N. Dakota is peculiar in its politics. According to Wikipedia, the Republican party has held the Governor’s office since 1992 and they traditionally vote Republican in the presidential election, including 2008. However, … --- ## [Any defensible value to "racial consciousness," "racial loyalty," etc?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-defensible-value-to-racial-consciousness-racial-loyalty-etc/533022)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-defensible-value-to-racial-consciousness-racial-loyalty-etc/533022 "2010-03-24T15:07:24Z")
Sort of a followup to this thread (see second issue post for debate in the OP, to which no one, yet, has commented in that thread). In this thread on American “white nationalism” and immigration, LonesomePolecat posted: … --- ## [Non-US dopers: what's it feel like in times of political upheaval?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-us-dopers-whats-it-feel-like-in-times-of-political-upheaval/533439)
**Author:** [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-us-dopers-whats-it-feel-like-in-times-of-political-upheaval/533439 "2010-03-24T14:07:53Z")
This maybe borders IMHO as I’m interested in any stories you might have to share, but putting in GD since it’s inspired by developments in US politics in the past 10 years and asked in hope of getting some perspective. S… --- ## [Thousands of Scientists are Skeptical of Global Warming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thousands-of-scientists-are-skeptical-of-global-warming/533118)
**Author:** [@Poptech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poptech)\ **Replies:** 201\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thousands-of-scientists-are-skeptical-of-global-warming/533118 "2010-03-24T13:02:45Z")
31,478 Scientists Reject ‘Global Warming’ Agenda (Petition Project) 4000 Scientists sign ‘The Heidelberg Appeal’ (Science & Environmental Policy Project) 1500 Scholars, Policy Experts and Theologians sign the ‘Cornwall… --- ## [How can we eliminate eliminiationism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-we-eliminate-eliminiationism/511553)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-we-eliminate-eliminiationism/511553 "2010-03-24T12:59:58Z")
Eliminationism: This is a vice that crops up among extremists of all stripes at various times and places. Within living memory, the American countercultural-radical left of the 1960s and '70s was prone to it. (“If yo… --- ## [What is the relationship between Jesus / modern Christianity and Judaism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-relationship-between-jesus-modern-christianity-and-judaism/531309)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-relationship-between-jesus-modern-christianity-and-judaism/531309 "2010-03-24T11:24:20Z")
I’ve never quite had a handle on this. I understand Jesus was a Jew (King of them, no?), but modern Christianity seems to have nothing at all to do with modern Judaism. Wha happened? Did Jesus split off to form his own … --- ## [What are theories on the perfectibility/development of individuals & societies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-theories-on-the-perfectibility-development-of-individuals-societies/533451)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-theories-on-the-perfectibility-development-of-individuals-societies/533451 "2010-03-24T04:20:59Z")
I’m not sure if this is a debate or question. Either way, it is probably something covered in a freshman level college class I never took. So some concepts like transhumanism feel we are marching towards a more perfect … --- ## [What (if any) health care/insurance reform can we all agree on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-any-health-care-insurance-reform-can-we-all-agree-on/533120)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-any-health-care-insurance-reform-can-we-all-agree-on/533120 "2010-03-24T03:09:49Z")
OK, with all the rancor and sneering going on, that leaves me wondering: are there any changes, any at all, that can be made to the health care or insurance system that everyone can agree on? Sure, I realize many pundit… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=467) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=469)