# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=502 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 503 --- ## [How to raise religiously skeptical, yet sensitive children](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-raise-religiously-skeptical-yet-sensitive-children/513834)
**Author:** [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-raise-religiously-skeptical-yet-sensitive-children/513834 "2009-10-19T04:56:25Z")
Since both of us are atheists, we are attempting to raise our children to inquire, question, and figure things out, rather than teaching them a religion. But we don’t want to simply indoctrinate them to accept the concl… --- ## [Hacking Reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hacking-reality/513275)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hacking-reality/513275 "2009-10-19T01:05:24Z")
Start with the premise that computing power is increasing and getting cheaper to the point where in the future we will be able to create simulations of the past indistinguishable from actual reality “a Matrix.” Add the… --- ## [Was Afghanistan Better Off as a Monarchy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-afghanistan-better-off-as-a-monarchy/514240)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-afghanistan-better-off-as-a-monarchy/514240 "2009-10-18T23:11:39Z")
In today’s Sunday NY Times, there is an article talking about Afghanistan, fron 1930-1970. They point out that under the king, Afghanistan was relatively liberal-woman could wear what hey wanted, and the country was pret… --- ## [Wall Street reforms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wall-street-reforms/513136)
**Author:** [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wall-street-reforms/513136 "2009-10-18T19:24:10Z")
I will say right at the outset that I am not the most financially astute person in the world; so I might be completely wrong in how I read these stories. Most of the stuff that I can follow on the issue are opinion piec… --- ## [Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License in Louisiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interracial-couple-denied-marriage-license-in-louisiana/513961 "2009-10-18T18:46:28Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap\_on\_re\_us/us\_interracial\_rebuff Wow. I hope that this guy will be removed from office forthwith… --- ## [What exactly is a life of purpose and meaning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-life-of-purpose-and-meaning/513269)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-life-of-purpose-and-meaning/513269 "2009-10-18T16:28:36Z")
Most of my understanding of human behavior is lifted from evolutionary psychology. So I figure in that field there must be an exploration of this aspect of human behavior, but I am not sure what it is. So what is a life… --- ## [obama wins nobel peace prize....what is the sound of a right-wing head exploding?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172)
**Author:** [@strqwert44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/strqwert44)\ **Replies:** 522\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-what-is-the-sound-of-a-right-wing-head-exploding/513172 "2009-10-18T03:54:46Z")
lol…let the arguing begin. Obama deserves this/sucks because… --- ## [Why were humans quiet for so long?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-humans-quiet-for-so-long/513526)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-humans-quiet-for-so-long/513526 "2009-10-18T02:06:57Z")
H.Sapiens goes back to about 160,000 years ago. Presumably, if you could clone one and raise it as a modern kid you’d have a modern adult human, unremarkable from anyone else you bump into on the subway. But we didn’t … --- ## [Universal Basic Income: An argument for wealth redistribution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-basic-income-an-argument-for-wealth-redistribution/513704)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-basic-income-an-argument-for-wealth-redistribution/513704 "2009-10-17T21:25:33Z")
What is it a basic income? If the United States implemented a basic income, we could abolish or drastically mitigate poverty in this country. The most immediate objections to this are: The financial cost, and the mora… --- ## [Fighting Creationism from Theism.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-creationism-from-theism/513784)
**Author:** [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-creationism-from-theism/513784 "2009-10-17T21:07:23Z")
No visit to my (softcore catholic / agnostic) in-laws is complete without the apparition of some fundie walking in and preaching some creationism. Since I cannot avoid visiting my in-laws and they won’t fence in their pr… --- ## [Can we accurately predict the future, and what are the effects of this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-accurately-predict-the-future-and-what-are-the-effects-of-this/513841)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-accurately-predict-the-future-and-what-are-the-effects-of-this/513841 "2009-10-17T20:04:28Z")
By predicting the future I’m not talking about psychics, I’m taking about understanding mathematics, physics, computer modeling, the social humanities, etc. well enough to make predictions about major events before they … --- ## [So why did we give up on Democracy...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-did-we-give-up-on-democracy/513678)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-did-we-give-up-on-democracy/513678 "2009-10-17T18:02:18Z")
So the Romans managed to conquer the Mediterranean and build the one of the most formidable (and influential) empires the world has ever seen, with the help of a Democratic government. OK the Roman republic wouldn’t be … --- ## [How would you prosecute the wars differently?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-prosecute-the-wars-differently/513843)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-prosecute-the-wars-differently/513843 "2009-10-17T17:36:44Z")
How would you prosecute the war in Afghanistan, the War on Terror or the War in Iraq differently from how they are being handled now? Let’s pretend that we are not allowed to go back in time. If you were advising Presi… --- ## [What to do about massive health insurance profits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-massive-health-insurance-profits/512572)
**Author:** [@\_x2661](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_x2661)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-massive-health-insurance-profits/512572 "2009-10-17T14:21:16Z")
The health insurance industry makes a massive 3.3-3.4% profit margin. No industry should make this much. What should we do about this outrage beyond a government option? What is the best we can hope the government option… --- ## [What One Government Model could work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-government-model-could-work/514069)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-government-model-could-work/514069 "2009-10-17T12:27:47Z")
A follow up to this thread. If there is to be something akin to one world government, keeping the present political climate model is one that could actually work? The only one that I see working is one is where somethin… --- ## [Youth Rights - Suffrage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youth-rights-suffrage/511053)
**Author:** [@Cesario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cesario)\ **Replies:** 141\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youth-rights-suffrage/511053 "2009-10-17T07:37:14Z")
The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution reads: While this amendment represented, at the time, an important recognition that citizens should not be subject to being drafted into a war by a government which was unaccou… --- ## [Should US Supreme Court justices have lifetime tenure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-us-supreme-court-justices-have-lifetime-tenure/513554)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-us-supreme-court-justices-have-lifetime-tenure/513554 "2009-10-16T15:42:42Z")
For that matter, should any of Supremes have a lifetime appointment? When John Roberts was appointed Chief Justice a few years back, one of my brothers voiced an objection. It seemed inappropriate to him that Roberts i… --- ## [Extremists Have Utterly Ruined the GOP: Time for a Multi-Party System](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremists-have-utterly-ruined-the-gop-time-for-a-multi-party-system/512525)
**Author:** [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extremists-have-utterly-ruined-the-gop-time-for-a-multi-party-system/512525 "2009-10-16T02:50:00Z")
I have always been in favor of a true multi-party system of governance for the USA. By “true” I mean a system where members of 3rd, 4th and 5th parties can potentially get elected to a meaningful number of seats of Cong… --- ## [Aurora spyplane: Does it exist? Did it ever?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aurora-spyplane-does-it-exist-did-it-ever/493793)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aurora-spyplane-does-it-exist-did-it-ever/493793 "2009-10-16T02:00:42Z")
Aurora (aircraft) - Wikipedia) Hard to believe the U.S. Air Force would’ve retired the SR-71 without another similar, high-speed aircraft to replace it. There’s been some superficial evidence to suggest that it exists,… --- ## [Are Republicans shooting themselves in the foot on health care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-republicans-shooting-themselves-in-the-foot-on-health-care/513707)
**Author:** [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-republicans-shooting-themselves-in-the-foot-on-health-care/513707 "2009-10-16T01:49:59Z")
Even assuming their anti-reform arguments are correct (which is certainly possible), are Republicans shooting themselves in the collective foot by opposing reform so staunchly? I ask this because, by most objective acco… --- ## [Once everyone is smarter/more educated...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-everyone-is-smarter-more-educated/513703)
**Author:** [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-everyone-is-smarter-more-educated/513703 "2009-10-16T01:16:20Z")
Hi all. One common theme in future/sci fi fiction is that everybody is significantly smarter and or more educated than todays typical bear and that fact is part of what makes the future so much better. So, if we took t… --- ## [What if Canada had always been part of the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-canada-had-always-been-part-of-the-u-s/513527)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-canada-had-always-been-part-of-the-u-s/513527 "2009-10-15T17:05:41Z")
Suppose the Americans had won the Battle of Quebec (1775), with the result that Upper and Lower Canada had entered the Revolutionary War on the American side and become independent with the other colonies. How would tha… --- ## [Will the use of "drones" work in Afghanistan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-use-of-drones-work-in-afghanistan/513110)
**Author:** [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-use-of-drones-work-in-afghanistan/513110 "2009-10-15T16:58:35Z")
The U.S. military has suggested that the use of drones will work in Afghanistan in dealing with insurgents. I have my doubts. To me it is little different than Germans bombing England during WWII, or the U.S. using B52s … --- ## [Shifting away from the dollar...why should I care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shifting-away-from-the-dollar-why-should-i-care/513517)
**Author:** [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shifting-away-from-the-dollar-why-should-i-care/513517 "2009-10-15T13:09:59Z")
I have been reading reports about countries preparing to ditch the dollar as the reserve currency, especially for oil trades. As an American what will this mean to me? Why should I care? I am not being flippant, just … --- ## [Should Employers Be Legally Obliged To Advertise Positions They've Already Filled?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-employers-be-legally-obliged-to-advertise-positions-theyve-already-filled/513383)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-employers-be-legally-obliged-to-advertise-positions-theyve-already-filled/513383 "2009-10-15T04:23:17Z")
Anyone who has applied for jobs (particularly with Governments, it seems) will be familiar with the hoop-jumping and insane amount of paperwork to apply for a position that- it will often invariably turn out- has already… --- ## [What Is This Website Exactly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-website-exactly/513848)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-website-exactly/513848 "2009-10-15T00:36:12Z")
http://www.atruechurch.info This website seems to be run by Christian Fundamentalists who think Pat Robertson is a universalist and too liberal? So how is this church like anyways? Has anyone heard of it and is it infam… --- ## [cashless society](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629)
**Author:** [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629 "2009-10-14T22:08:15Z")
I’ve heard about this; is it possible? Would it really stop all crime? Would it be a good thing? --- ## ["Strategic Hamlets" Didn't Work in Vietnam; Why Do It in Afghanistan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-hamlets-didnt-work-in-vietnam-why-do-it-in-afghanistan/512820)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-hamlets-didnt-work-in-vietnam-why-do-it-in-afghanistan/512820 "2009-10-14T18:01:25Z")
Our strategic geniuses have somehow decided that setting up little bases in remote Afghan villages is the way to win the war. However, the firefight last weekend (that claimed 8 American lives) seems to be refuting this.… --- ## [Senator Kirk and the Constitutionality of Expedient Law Switching](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-kirk-and-the-constitutionality-of-expedient-law-switching/512967)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-kirk-and-the-constitutionality-of-expedient-law-switching/512967 "2009-10-14T17:27:01Z")
The title of this OP is shamelessly stolen from the blog of Professor Michael Dorf of Cornell University’s School of Law. As is the subject. Basically, Prof. Dorf lays out the sequence of events in Massachusetts from 2… --- ## [In what ways are countries with UHC less free than the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-ways-are-countries-with-uhc-less-free-than-the-u-s/507977)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2009, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-ways-are-countries-with-uhc-less-free-than-the-u-s/507977 "2009-10-14T12:57:54Z")
The argument I’ve seen quite a bit against UHC is that a public option would make us less free in some ways. Since there exists countries with UHC, I was curious about specifics - the ways in which they’re less free tha… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=501) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=503)