# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=76 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 77 --- ## [How does socialism contravene freedom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-socialism-contravene-freedom/829175)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2019, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-socialism-contravene-freedom/829175 "2019-02-26T01:59:21Z")
It has long been a conservative talking point that capitalism promotes freedom, while socialism kills it. I don’t get it. It seems to me that the complete opposite is true. Publicly owned roads promote geographic mobi… --- ## [Gender identity and incarceration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-identity-and-incarceration/829989)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-identity-and-incarceration/829989 "2019-02-25T21:02:26Z")
Now that society is becoming more sensitive to those who identify as something other than the gender they were assigned at birth (with many states allowing people to choose which public restrooms they are most comfortabl… --- ## [Women In the Military](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-in-the-military/745064)
**Author:** [@UberArchetype](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UberArchetype)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-in-the-military/745064 "2019-02-25T21:02:15Z")
The military establishment (with the exception of the Marines) has acknowledged and established the path to full integration including combat and special ops billets. With recent Pentagon announcements this topic has be… --- ## [What Does Sweden Know That We Don't? \[The Swedish Welfare State\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sweden-know-that-we-dont-the-swedish-welfare-state/829954)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-sweden-know-that-we-dont-the-swedish-welfare-state/829954 "2019-02-25T19:42:36Z")
After just reading this article (and yes, I am still a little excited about it, so bear with me), I have to wonder. What does Sweden know that we don’t? My question is not a rhetorical one. I am serious. What do they kn… --- ## [The Atheist and the Pastor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atheist-and-the-pastor/829762)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atheist-and-the-pastor/829762 "2019-02-25T18:52:09Z")
Let’s talk about two people, an atheist named Adam and a Lutheran pastor named Pete. Adam lacks any belief in the supernatural, God or gods, or any sort of afterlife. This is a provisional position, and like any null h… --- ## [Is 'basic' physics just philosophy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-basic-physics-just-philosophy/829977)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-basic-physics-just-philosophy/829977 "2019-02-25T11:36:19Z")
Is ‘basic’ physics just philosophy? Or at least just mathematics? If it is, then surely all of physics is. I read an interesting article the other day (HERE) from The New Yorker about the many levels of explanation or t… --- ## ["Never speak ill of the dead" doesn't apply to...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-speak-ill-of-the-dead-doesnt-apply-to/829421)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-speak-ill-of-the-dead-doesnt-apply-to/829421 "2019-02-25T11:25:54Z")
It’s a common Wise Saying (by which I mean a saying people you must accept as Wise on pains of social ostracism, if not actual pain, are fond of) that you must never speak ill of the dead. Forgiveness making you the bigg… --- ## [U.S. violence 2017-2018. Right wing, left wing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-violence-2017-2018-right-wing-left-wing/830089)
**Author:** [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-violence-2017-2018-right-wing-left-wing/830089 "2019-02-24T21:48:19Z")
SDMB has been saturated with talk of domestic unrest in the U.S. lately and who is responsible for the more heinous aspects. Claims get brought up with little to no evidence and I’d like to open an inquiry to delve deepe… --- ## [Why should commercial and investment banks be separate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-commercial-and-investment-banks-be-separate/830103)
**Author:** [@Kamaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamaski)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-commercial-and-investment-banks-be-separate/830103 "2019-02-24T13:46:19Z")
First, what is the difference between investment and commercial banking? Second, why should they be separate or not be separate? Why was the Glass-Steagal act of 1934 regulating banks repealed? Third, without financia… --- ## [Should discrimination of atheists and agnostics be made illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-discrimination-of-atheists-and-agnostics-be-made-illegal/829471)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2019, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-discrimination-of-atheists-and-agnostics-be-made-illegal/829471 "2019-02-24T09:15:22Z")
I bring this up because of a proposed ordinance here in Portland, Oregon., which reads in part I think this is definitely a step in the right direction-what say you? --- ## [Why is the eastern front of WW2 not covered more?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-front-of-ww2-not-covered-more/826747)
**Author:** [@Kamaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamaski)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-eastern-front-of-ww2-not-covered-more/826747 "2019-02-24T01:15:04Z")
I know this has been talked about many, but there simply aren’t enough movies/video games/books in the west which cover the enormous human scale of the Eastern Front of WW2. A bout a year or two ago a video game came ou… --- ## [Should businesses be allowed to be cashless?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-businesses-be-allowed-to-be-cashless/829796)
**Author:** [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2019, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-businesses-be-allowed-to-be-cashless/829796 "2019-02-23T11:04:04Z")
Sparked off by a Guardian story: New York to consider banning shops from going cashless | Business | The Guardian New York is considering banning the practise of having “cashless” businesses - where you can only pay for… --- ## [Why did the MSM fall for the Jussi Smollett hoax?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-msm-fall-for-the-jussi-smollett-hoax/829832 "2019-02-23T02:14:56Z")
HERE is the story. A prominent black Chicago actor claimed 2 men (wearing MAGA hats) assaulted him and shouted racial and homophobic phrases. Also putting a noose around his neck. The MSM of course jumped all over it a… --- ## [What did conservatives get for two years in control of the government? (Aside from a big tax cut)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-conservatives-get-for-two-years-in-control-of-the-government-aside-from-a-big-tax-cut/828348)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-conservatives-get-for-two-years-in-control-of-the-government-aside-from-a-big-tax-cut/828348 "2019-02-22T21:45:16Z")
I was thinking about the current government shutdown and it occurred to me, “Why now?” The republicans have been in complete control of the government for two years. If they wanted a wall then it was trivial for them t… --- ## [Why no US border wall in 2017 or 2018?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-us-border-wall-in-2017-or-2018/829850)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-us-border-wall-in-2017-or-2018/829850 "2019-02-22T20:40:59Z")
This is in GQ because I’m looking for a GQ answer. Why didn’t the president propose a bill for the border wall during his first 2 years in office, when he had a Republican House & Senate? Or did he? Or did it take 2 yea… --- ## [Is the United States government hiding the existence of ET visitations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-united-states-government-hiding-the-existence-of-et-visitations/829178)
**Author:** [@Kamaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamaski)\ **Replies:** 158\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2019, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-united-states-government-hiding-the-existence-of-et-visitations/829178 "2019-02-22T07:35:00Z")
Have we been visited by extraterrestrials and the government/military-industrial complex is hiding this knowledge because they don’t want free energy technology/the cure for cancer getting out to the public. --- ## [How does this SCOTUS ruling affect civil forfeiture?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-scotus-ruling-affect-civil-forfeiture/829927)
**Author:** [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-scotus-ruling-affect-civil-forfeiture/829927 "2019-02-22T03:09:30Z")
Supreme Court clamps down on ‘excessive fines’ by states Certainly, it won’t end the practice. But hopefully, it’ll make it a lot less profitable. --- ## [Constitutionality of the Emergencies Act](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitutionality-of-the-emergencies-act/829723)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitutionality-of-the-emergencies-act/829723 "2019-02-21T23:15:33Z")
It’s still early, but it seems quite possible that all the court challenges to Trump’s wall declaration will run up against the argument that the 1976 Emergencies Act gives the President broad power to define an emergenc… --- ## [Claims about the Trump presidency that are or aren't hyperbole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claims-about-the-trump-presidency-that-are-or-arent-hyperbole/829857)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claims-about-the-trump-presidency-that-are-or-arent-hyperbole/829857 "2019-02-21T22:58:54Z")
Before Trump took office, there were people who said that he would turn America into The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s safe to say that women aren’t being required to wear red dresses and white bonnets (and probably won’t ever b… --- ## [Jussie Smollett.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett/829953)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett/829953 "2019-02-21T16:51:32Z")
I just want to make clear, I am not drawing conclusions, just throwing in my two cents worth. But could the Chicago police who say Jussie Smollett is faking his attack just be homophobic? Because police and the LGBT comm… --- ## [CRISPR and Gene Drive technology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crispr-and-gene-drive-technology/821849)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crispr-and-gene-drive-technology/821849 "2019-02-21T00:20:49Z")
From NPR article here: I am not a scientist, but this scares the bejeezus out of me for the future of this planet. Everything I have ever read or heard about CRISPR is that it is relatively easy to use, especially c… --- ## [If declaring national emergencies becomes a thing, what kinds of NEs could the democrats do](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-declaring-national-emergencies-becomes-a-thing-what-kinds-of-nes-could-the-democrats-do/829664)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-declaring-national-emergencies-becomes-a-thing-what-kinds-of-nes-could-the-democrats-do/829664 "2019-02-20T20:28:44Z")
A health care national emergency would be nice, but I don’t think the funding is there to do it. A climate change national emergency would be nice also. But again who knows what it would entail. What about a democracy … --- ## [Sen. Rubio introduces Freedom to Compete Act](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-rubio-introduces-freedom-to-compete-act/829732)
**Author:** [@Bassman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bassman)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-rubio-introduces-freedom-to-compete-act/829732 "2019-02-20T03:44:54Z")
Senator Marco Rubio introduced the Freedom to Compete Act, which would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to forbid the enforcement of or entering into of non-compete agreements for employees who are not exempt from the … --- ## [Is it just me or is the job matching mechanism in the USA absurdly inefficient?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-the-job-matching-mechanism-in-the-usa-absurdly-inefficient/829306)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-the-job-matching-mechanism-in-the-usa-absurdly-inefficient/829306 "2019-02-20T03:27:46Z")
So I presently have a job, and a ‘hot commodity’ skillset. I’ve \*got \*the college degree in engineering, the medium number of years of experience at a name brand firm, and so on. So I’m not presently hurting per say. B… --- ## [Why is the market reluctant to raise wages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-market-reluctant-to-raise-wages/829404)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-market-reluctant-to-raise-wages/829404 "2019-02-19T15:53:13Z")
All of these career shortages are in the news. Teacher shortage: Educators facing low wages, lack of support Pilot shortage is real and getting worse America has a massive trucker shortage. Here’s why few want an $80… --- ## [Ought blackmail be illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-blackmail-be-illegal/829535)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-blackmail-be-illegal/829535 "2019-02-19T15:17:45Z")
This occurred to me WRT the recent Bezos/Enquirer news. I’m no expert in criminal law, but I understand that there are many instances in which blackmail is illegal. Ought it be? If the information is gained legally? … --- ## [The Housing Market and predatory investors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-housing-market-and-predatory-investors/829546)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-housing-market-and-predatory-investors/829546 "2019-02-19T13:41:29Z")
So I recently read an excellent article in the Atlantic: “When Wall Street Is Your Landlord”. And a few things stuck in my craw. For one, the shift from small landlords to massive investment firms further shifts the … --- ## [What does non-toxic masculinity look like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-non-toxic-masculinity-look-like/827935)
**Author:** [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Replies:** 253\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-non-toxic-masculinity-look-like/827935 "2019-02-18T23:58:56Z")
I’m a straight female. As such, I appreciate masculinity as a quality. It isn’t just sexy, it is vital. A feminine-inspired human culture has many wonderful (and very under-explored) aspects, but also lacks something ess… --- ## [How did the universe and consciousness create themselves from nothing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-universe-and-consciousness-create-themselves-from-nothing/829286)
**Author:** [@scarface54345](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scarface54345)\ **Replies:** 179\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-universe-and-consciousness-create-themselves-from-nothing/829286 "2019-02-18T20:04:47Z")
Just post your theories down below, and I’ll get back to you ASAP --- ## [Hearts and Minds: Troops or Drones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearts-and-minds-troops-or-drones/829329)
**Author:** [@Weird\_With\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_With_Words)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearts-and-minds-troops-or-drones/829329 "2019-02-18T11:29:29Z")
I have a question I’ve not been able to find any attempt to answer, much less an adequate attempt: Do drone strikes engender more, or less antipathy than soldiers; whether it be from citizens, allies or possible enemies? … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=75) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=77)