# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=53 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 54 --- ## [How money should you can you spend to save your dog's life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-money-should-you-can-you-spend-to-save-your-dogs-life/852059)
**Author:** [@cornflakes2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes2)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-money-should-you-can-you-spend-to-save-your-dogs-life/852059 "2020-05-07T18:11:32Z")
oops, I really messed up the title and couldn’t edit it. The title is supposed to read: How much money should you or can you spend to save your dog’s life? My sister’s dog is a cute and amazing little pomeranian…everyo… --- ## [What's the Difference Between an Exorcism and a Prayer of Exorcism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-an-exorcism-and-a-prayer-of-exorcism/853054)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-an-exorcism-and-a-prayer-of-exorcism/853054 "2020-05-07T13:29:58Z")
First some background on how I came across this question. About 30 years ago, when I was just out of HS, I was interested in religious materials. I guess I can tell you, I was only a semi-practicing R. Catholic, even at … --- ## [California: Refer to "at-risk" students as "at-promise"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-refer-to-at-risk-students-as-at-promise/851224)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-refer-to-at-risk-students-as-at-promise/851224 "2020-05-06T16:45:35Z")
Not long ago, California passed legislation - subsequently signed by the governor - that now replaces the term “at-risk” (used to describe students who are at risk) - with “at-promise.” Educators and law enforcement pers… --- ## [Rent strike in the USA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rent-strike-in-the-usa/852981)
**Author:** [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rent-strike-in-the-usa/852981 "2020-05-05T23:34:39Z")
Debate: I take the position that now is a good time for workers to show how much they have to sacrifice in normal circumstances. Is now a bad time for workers to seek more control? Or should they allow capital to main… --- ## [Equal pay for men and women in sports.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equal-pay-for-men-and-women-in-sports/754176)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equal-pay-for-men-and-women-in-sports/754176 "2020-05-05T02:04:56Z")
I just saw a 15 minute video by\*\* Sargon of Akkad \*\*about female Football/(soccer) players suing to get paid as much as men do, and I couldn’t disagree with him more. …Though I have NO idea how it, (women getting paid a… --- ## [Lindblad Expeditions and Government Bailout](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindblad-expeditions-and-government-bailout/853038)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindblad-expeditions-and-government-bailout/853038 "2020-05-05T01:16:10Z")
A luxury cruiseline associated with National Geographic received 6.6 million under the Paycheck Protection Program. Washington Post and others reported on this cruiseline (market capitalization of $300 million)–and, unde… --- ## [Covid Life:What about the stupid ones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-life-what-about-the-stupid-ones/852937)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-life-what-about-the-stupid-ones/852937 "2020-05-05T01:00:58Z")
I apologize if this sounds arrogant, but my question is serious. There are more and more situations where a small number of people behaving stupidly can do massive damage. I don’t mean ignorant people- they can be taught… --- ## [What if it WAS intentional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-it-was-intentional/852956)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2020, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-it-was-intentional/852956 "2020-05-03T07:15:40Z")
NOTE: THIS IS PURELY HYPOTHETICAL. I AM NOT AT ALL SUGGESTING THAT THIS WAS THE ACTUAL CASE WITH COVID-19. The use of the names of countries here is merely for familiarity and convenience. What if a deadly infectious di… --- ## [Do you think a 4 day work week would be a much better system overall?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-a-4-day-work-week-would-be-a-much-better-system-overall/852825)
**Author:** [@cornflakes2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes2)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2020, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-a-4-day-work-week-would-be-a-much-better-system-overall/852825 "2020-05-02T04:16:03Z")
I have this theory that a 4 day work week would actually be more beneficial and in the long-run be better for this world. This is not meant to be a lazy excuse to work less and get paid more. I’m serious. The traditio… --- ## [Science Fiction Debate: The impact of Beam Piper's 'Veridicators' on Society](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-fiction-debate-the-impact-of-beam-pipers-veridicators-on-society/852994)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-fiction-debate-the-impact-of-beam-pipers-veridicators-on-society/852994 "2020-05-01T22:07:27Z")
OK, I’m stealing this one directly from the ‘Little Fuzzy’ books. If you like space opera and haven’t read them, you really should. They’re great. OK, so. Someone has invented actual, no-shit lie detectors. You sit … --- ## [Cultural factors at play in the coronavirus pandemic (severe in some nations, better in others)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-factors-at-play-in-the-coronavirus-pandemic-severe-in-some-nations-better-in-others/852909)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-factors-at-play-in-the-coronavirus-pandemic-severe-in-some-nations-better-in-others/852909 "2020-05-01T17:43:59Z")
The coronavirus pandemic is apparently shaping up to be a black eye for nations with highly individualistic, don’t-infringe-on-my-rights cultures - the United States most prominently, which is by far the worst-hit nation… --- ## [Would surge pricing help alleviate hoarding, like with TP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-surge-pricing-help-alleviate-hoarding-like-with-tp/852911)
**Author:** [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-surge-pricing-help-alleviate-hoarding-like-with-tp/852911 "2020-05-01T16:51:00Z")
Let’s pretend that we could devise a way to adjust prices in real-time (like Lyft and Uber) for some essential commodities. When people start a run on TP the price starts to increase until (hopefully) it stabilizes. It… --- ## [Are you willing to go broke to maintain the present lockdown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-go-broke-to-maintain-the-present-lockdown/852471)
**Author:** [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Replies:** 399\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2020, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-willing-to-go-broke-to-maintain-the-present-lockdown/852471 "2020-05-01T14:15:47Z")
There was a thread early on asking if people were willing to die for the economy. A bit hyperbolic, completely mischaracterizing many of the arguments in favor of loosening lockdown orders, but most said they thought thi… --- ## [The solution to pandemics: give everyone hazmat suits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-pandemics-give-everyone-hazmat-suits/852903)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-to-pandemics-give-everyone-hazmat-suits/852903 "2020-05-01T14:07:42Z")
Imagine the United States had 328 million hazmat suits (like they use to handle Ebola) stored in warehouses across the country. Enough for every man, woman, and child in the nation. In the event of an outbreak, each citi… --- ## [Has there ever been a non-oppressive Communist government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-non-oppressive-communist-government/852383)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2020, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-non-oppressive-communist-government/852383 "2020-04-30T06:06:31Z")
More of a GQ question, but I suspect it will be moved here to GD anyway: Off the top of my head, I cannot think of any Communist governments that weren’t oppressive in some way, be it the Soviet Union, Cuba, China, etc.… --- ## [If Gerald Ford had won election in 1976, would he have been a good president?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-gerald-ford-had-won-election-in-1976-would-he-have-been-a-good-president/851572)
**Author:** [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-gerald-ford-had-won-election-in-1976-would-he-have-been-a-good-president/851572 "2020-04-29T21:50:23Z")
Imagine if Ford-Dole 1976 won it all. President Ford and Vice President Dole in January 1977, a new term to rebuild America after the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. Would Ford have been a good president? --- ## [Resolved: When Demand for Ventilators \> Supply, It is Best to Allow Medical Professionals to Ration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-when-demand-for-ventilators-supply-it-is-best-to-allow-medical-professionals-to-ration/851932)
**Author:** [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-when-demand-for-ventilators-supply-it-is-best-to-allow-medical-professionals-to-ration/851932 "2020-04-28T18:09:19Z")
People With Disabilities Fear Pandemic Will Worsen Medical Biases. The premise is simple. With a static number of ventilators, the demand for them could exceed the supply. States across the country have different guidel… --- ## [CARES Act: Employees angry because they could earn more from unemployment than their jobs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cares-act-employees-angry-because-they-could-earn-more-from-unemployment-than-their-jobs/852677)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cares-act-employees-angry-because-they-could-earn-more-from-unemployment-than-their-jobs/852677 "2020-04-28T17:55:01Z")
CNBC ran a story recently about a spa owner who obtained Paycheck Protection loans of over $220,000 from the government (as part of the recent Congress-passed coronavirus relief bill) and thought her employees would be o… --- ## [Yet more proof Fox News is a literal danger to the country (as if we needed more examples)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-more-proof-fox-news-is-a-literal-danger-to-the-country-as-if-we-needed-more-examples/852429)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-more-proof-fox-news-is-a-literal-danger-to-the-country-as-if-we-needed-more-examples/852429 "2020-04-28T13:36:41Z")
There have been plenty of “Fox News Sucks” threads and here is one more. They are, literally, making the pandemic worse. And not just in a “feels like it” sort of way but provably so. They should be sued into oblivio… --- ## [Six (Impossible) Conditions Before People in California Are Free](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-impossible-conditions-before-people-in-california-are-free/851856)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 155\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-impossible-conditions-before-people-in-california-are-free/851856 "2020-04-28T06:53:02Z")
See link below. Note that not one law was passed by the CA Legislature concerning these mandatory conditions. They were made by the Governor (Comrade Newsom) through an unconstitutional (both State & Federal) dictatoria… --- ## [What's the Dope's view on the superiority debate re: traditional defined benefit pensions vs. 401ks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dopes-view-on-the-superiority-debate-re-traditional-defined-benefit-pensions-vs-401ks/841613)
**Author:** [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-dopes-view-on-the-superiority-debate-re-traditional-defined-benefit-pensions-vs-401ks/841613 "2020-04-27T19:21:10Z")
This thread is inspired by the news that GE just became the most recent company to freeze its pension benefits. Given that, and in light of the fact that traditional defined benefit pensions are mostly extinct in the pr… --- ## [Why should I care if a company sells my personal data?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-care-if-a-company-sells-my-personal-data/851630)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-care-if-a-company-sells-my-personal-data/851630 "2020-04-26T17:29:08Z")
Don’t companies use personal data to target you in order to sell you something? Isn’t that the main fear people have - that a company will somehow find out so much about you that they can send virtually personally targe… --- ## [Trespassing and Undercover Investigations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trespassing-and-undercover-investigations/851108)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trespassing-and-undercover-investigations/851108 "2020-04-26T06:11:18Z")
After studying for a pending case, I have hit a road block in my argument that would likely thwart undercover investigations if taken to be true, but I cannot in my own mind find a plausible argument against it. It is l… --- ## [Is Easter Heathen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-easter-heathen/851682)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-easter-heathen/851682 "2020-04-25T20:24:57Z")
Christmas certainly is. Jesus’ disciples certainly never celebrated it. For early Christians, saintly personages’ death day was important. Celebrating someone’s birthday was, well, pagan. Sorry but it’s true. But Easter… --- ## [Does/has the US substantially influence the direction of world events ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-has-the-us-substantially-influence-the-direction-of-world-events/852122)
**Author:** [@Themenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themenin)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-has-the-us-substantially-influence-the-direction-of-world-events/852122 "2020-04-25T05:04:34Z")
Inspired by Jonathan Chance’s post in the “beginning of the modern era” thread, where he refers to “The rise of American dominance leading to the 21st century”. My question is, is there really such a thing as “American d… --- ## [Non-hurting ways to make people of China aware of the worldwide suffering caused by the CPC ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-hurting-ways-to-make-people-of-china-aware-of-the-worldwide-suffering-caused-by-the-cpc/852347)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-hurting-ways-to-make-people-of-china-aware-of-the-worldwide-suffering-caused-by-the-cpc/852347 "2020-04-25T01:47:22Z")
This question is based on non-violent (in spirit and in action) protest to the people of China about the Covid-19. This is based on not hurting anyone in physical, financial, or any other way but is based on the Gandhian… --- ## ["It applies to them, but not to us"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-applies-to-them-but-not-to-us/852228)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-applies-to-them-but-not-to-us/852228 "2020-04-24T23:39:28Z")
Not sure if this is better as GD or IMHO; I’ll let the mods decide: On a number of issues, people hold the view that others are fundamentally psychologically different - that whatever the “other side is,” that they will… --- ## [The boundary between fact-telling and bigotry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundary-between-fact-telling-and-bigotry/852438)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundary-between-fact-telling-and-bigotry/852438 "2020-04-24T16:35:43Z")
If one tried hard enough, one could probably assemble an unsavory list of 100% truthful facts about most categories of people, be they Jews, blacks, Muslims, women, Christians, men, Italians, atheists, Southerners, etc. … --- ## [When is it "conservative" to get rid of government agencies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-conservative-to-get-rid-of-government-agencies/851869)
**Author:** [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-it-conservative-to-get-rid-of-government-agencies/851869 "2020-04-24T13:36:05Z")
I’m confused by the term ‘conservative’ as applied to dismantling government agencies. According to conservatives and self-described ‘centrists’ or ‘moderates’, calls to dismantle ICE, an agency that has been around for … --- ## [Pandemic opens the door to the mark of the beast in Revelation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pandemic-opens-the-door-to-the-mark-of-the-beast-in-revelation/851919)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pandemic-opens-the-door-to-the-mark-of-the-beast-in-revelation/851919 "2020-04-23T16:39:48Z")
Just a happy mid-pandemic thought, with antibody testing we can know who is immune and who is not. It may be possible to mark these people to be safe to buy and sell and work. As we don’t know what exactly the mark is … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=54)