# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=80 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 81 --- ## [Do you have to operate criminally to be a property developer in New York?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-operate-criminally-to-be-a-property-developer-in-new-york/826916)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-to-operate-criminally-to-be-a-property-developer-in-new-york/826916 "2018-12-30T21:07:47Z")
I have been told that it is basically impossible to accomplish anything in New York, in terms of buying land, developing land, managing your property, etc. unless you get in bed with the mafia and corrupt politicians. I… --- ## [are Asians more adept at science and technology than Americans, and if so why](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-asians-more-adept-at-science-and-technology-than-americans-and-if-so-why/826693)
**Author:** [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-asians-more-adept-at-science-and-technology-than-americans-and-if-so-why/826693 "2018-12-30T20:30:24Z")
Silicon Valley utilizes most of B1 (temporary green cards) than other industries; I note that I see more Indian doctors than in past. --- ## [Water vs Twater (Externalism, Internalism)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-vs-twater-externalism-internalism/826888)
**Author:** [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-vs-twater-externalism-internalism/826888 "2018-12-29T22:06:20Z")
I’ve been reading some pages in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy about externalism vs internalism and I’m struggling a bit to grasp the real issue. Note: I’m not an academic or trained in philosophy so please be pati… --- ## [How did early Christians reconcile divinity of the bible with it's human authors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-early-christians-reconcile-divinity-of-the-bible-with-its-human-authors/826751 "2018-12-29T18:28:46Z")
Several of the books of the bible are named for the people (e.g. John, Paul, etc.) on whose writings that book is based, or even written by that person. Also, we know that the books of the bible were decided upon at a me… --- ## [To pay for Medicare For All (MFA) the average worker would pay $23,000 in annual Medicare taxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-pay-for-medicare-for-all-mfa-the-average-worker-would-pay-23-000-in-annual-medicare-taxes/826707)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-pay-for-medicare-for-all-mfa-the-average-worker-would-pay-23-000-in-annual-medicare-taxes/826707 "2018-12-29T16:51:16Z")
MFA proponents never get specific on how to pay for such a program so I did a little cost analysis myself. First some basics: So this worker now sees a $769 Medicare deduction on their paycheck (the employer matche… --- ## [Medicare for all -the Mercatus report](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-for-all-the-mercatus-report/826785)
**Author:** [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-for-all-the-mercatus-report/826785 "2018-12-29T16:12:46Z")
So there have been a few threads where the Mercatus report on the costs of Medicare for all have been brought up. Sometimes with the assumption that this can be used as a real-world estimate. Now, I’ve read the report, … --- ## [Why do libertarians always want to abolish the FEDERAL RESERVE](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-libertarians-always-want-to-abolish-the-federal-reserve/826124)
**Author:** [@Kamaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamaski)\ **Replies:** 320\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-libertarians-always-want-to-abolish-the-federal-reserve/826124 "2018-12-29T02:41:06Z")
What is the federal reserve? I’m not the smartest person in the world, nor am an economics expert. Why is it so important? I did learn some stuff about monetary policy in high school, but didn’t understand a lot of it. I… --- ## [Trump does something right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-does-something-right/826374)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-does-something-right/826374 "2018-12-28T21:44:23Z")
Well, two things if you count his support for the Criminal Justice Bill. Trump orders rapid withdrawal from Syria in apparent reversal Would you agree? ISIS is a mere shadow of what it was and Russia can mop up the re… --- ## [How do you combat the "Deep State" alt-narrative from the right on Trump & Russia?...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-combat-the-deep-state-alt-narrative-from-the-right-on-trump-russia/826568)
**Author:** [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-combat-the-deep-state-alt-narrative-from-the-right-on-trump-russia/826568 "2018-12-27T19:24:42Z")
I think that anytime Mueller or Trump/Russia is discussed, the rebuttal is this supposed deep state conspiracy. And I’m not sure how to move someone off that narrative, because Fox is pushing it as a way to shield Trump… --- ## [Why has no other country put a man on the moon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-other-country-put-a-man-on-the-moon/826327)
**Author:** [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2018, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-no-other-country-put-a-man-on-the-moon/826327 "2018-12-27T12:36:53Z")
Yeah, it’s expensive. And being the second to do anything doesn’t have as much prestige. But I still don’t understand how every single other country in the world would allow the US to retain sole bragging rights on th… --- ## [The Santa Clause myth - good or bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-santa-clause-myth-good-or-bad/825554)
**Author:** [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-santa-clause-myth-good-or-bad/825554 "2018-12-26T23:53:59Z")
Inspired by the thread about the teacher who told 1st graders that there is no Santa. I would like to have a debate about the Santa myth in general and leave the discussion about what the teacher did out of it. My exper… --- ## [Is Russia capable of conquering Ukraine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-russia-capable-of-conquering-ukraine/825466)
**Author:** [@Kamaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamaski)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-russia-capable-of-conquering-ukraine/825466 "2018-12-26T15:59:37Z")
I saw a military ananlyst on Fox the other day saying that a war between Russia and Ukraine would be unlike any other in the 21st century because unlike Iraq in 2003, the Ukrainians have modern weapons and training, and … --- ## [What are the REAL problems facing the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-real-problems-facing-the-us/825470)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2018, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-real-problems-facing-the-us/825470 "2018-12-26T03:24:11Z")
The current administration has done an impressive job of casting trivial (IMHO) problems as big ones - Transgenders in the military, Illegal voting, immigration, unfair international trade, etc. Or course, the Democrats … --- ## [Newspapers downsizing/eliminating editorial pages.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspapers-downsizing-eliminating-editorial-pages/826675)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2018, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspapers-downsizing-eliminating-editorial-pages/826675 "2018-12-26T02:43:12Z")
Over the last few years I’ve noticed newspapers eliminating or greatly reducing their editorial and opinion pages. For example, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel used to have a readers letter page every day, and one double … --- ## [Teacher tells children Santa Claus isn't real, is reprimanded](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-tells-children-santa-claus-isnt-real-is-reprimanded/825411)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2018, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-tells-children-santa-claus-isnt-real-is-reprimanded/825411 "2018-12-25T06:49:00Z")
(hope the thread stays on topic and doesn’t get religious/anti-religious) So a teacher has been reprimanded in New Jersey for telling students that Santa Claus isn’t real. IMHO, this is a case of political correctness r… --- ## [Why does the DOJ get to decide whether indicting a sitting president is constitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-doj-get-to-decide-whether-indicting-a-sitting-president-is-constitutional/826027)
**Author:** [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-doj-get-to-decide-whether-indicting-a-sitting-president-is-constitutional/826027 "2018-12-24T01:05:42Z")
I’m more asking a question here rather than making an argument but I’ll frame it as an argument anyway because I’m annoyed. Why is it that the question of whether a sitting president can be indicted is being answered mo… --- ## [How can the US justify a 20% long-term capital gains tax rate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-the-us-justify-a-20-long-term-capital-gains-tax-rate/825950)
**Author:** [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-the-us-justify-a-20-long-term-capital-gains-tax-rate/825950 "2018-12-23T00:58:24Z")
The explanation for why the capital gains tax rate should be lower than that for standard incomes basically (AFAIK) boils down to two arguments: \[ol\] \[li\]Income from investments has already been taxed once, so taxing c… --- ## [How big of a problem is our Federal Debt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-of-a-problem-is-our-federal-debt/825873)
**Author:** [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Replies:** 156\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-of-a-problem-is-our-federal-debt/825873 "2018-12-22T19:07:03Z")
See this from the CBO: I would say it’s something we should be concerned with. But it’s not a crisis. Currently, the net federal debt held by the public is 78% of GDP, and it’s projected to be 96% of GDP in a decade.… --- ## [Not enough votes to override a veto?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-enough-votes-to-override-a-veto/826492)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-enough-votes-to-override-a-veto/826492 "2018-12-21T21:32:15Z")
Trump says he will veto a spending bill without $5 billion for a border wall. Doesn’t congress have enough votes to override such a veto? The House passed a bill along party lines that includes the money but it will almo… --- ## [Can Trump use the military to build The Wall?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-use-the-military-to-build-the-wall/826381)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-use-the-military-to-build-the-wall/826381 "2018-12-20T23:46:48Z")
Trump just tweeted Can Trump order the military to build The Wall? Should he? --- ## [Lower taxes on capital gains less necessary than in the past?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lower-taxes-on-capital-gains-less-necessary-than-in-the-past/826360)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lower-taxes-on-capital-gains-less-necessary-than-in-the-past/826360 "2018-12-20T16:17:11Z")
This thread questions whether the lower long-term 20% capital gains rate is justifiable. One of the arguments I’ve always heard for the lower rate is that stocks are riskier than fixed-income investments like bonds and … --- ## [The ACA Ruled Unconstitutional: What now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-aca-ruled-unconstitutional-what-now/826189)
**Author:** [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-aca-ruled-unconstitutional-what-now/826189 "2018-12-20T04:54:48Z")
Yesterday, a federal district court judge ruled the ACA (“Obamacare”) was completely unconstitutional. His rationale was as follows: The ACA individual mandate was considered unconstitutional as a mandate on action by … --- ## [What happened in the 1950s? (change in mortality rates)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-the-1950s-change-in-mortality-rates/825759)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2018, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-in-the-1950s-change-in-mortality-rates/825759 "2018-12-20T03:16:29Z")
So I was looking on Flowingdata.com, which is a fascinating data visualization website/blog, and they had a link to a mortality explorer site that shows the death rate by age and year. For example, if you look at Englis… --- ## [Concentration of genius - in place and time - and fundamental developments in modern physics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concentration-of-genius-in-place-and-time-and-fundamental-developments-in-modern-physics/825865)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2018, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concentration-of-genius-in-place-and-time-and-fundamental-developments-in-modern-physics/825865 "2018-12-19T03:49:43Z")
I have wondered for some time about the apparent concentrations of genius in certain geographic areas during certain eras that seem to produce an awful lot of important knowledge. Is that because the key actors were unus… --- ## [should we intervene with the Sentinelese under any circumstances?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-intervene-with-the-sentinelese-under-any-circumstances/746685)
**Author:** [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Replies:** 365\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2018, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-intervene-with-the-sentinelese-under-any-circumstances/746685 "2018-12-18T10:41:53Z")
Sentinel Island is part of the Andamans owned by India, and famous for having a tribe living there that have successfully and violently resisted all attempts to make contact with them. The Indian government now has the … --- ## [Lawfare Article and Podcast Debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawfare-article-and-podcast-debates/826150)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawfare-article-and-podcast-debates/826150 "2018-12-18T04:53:02Z")
I believe that we have a few people who regularly read/listen to the content over at Lawfare. Their website has no place for one to comment, debate, nor offer any feedback so instead I would like to do so here. Seeing a… --- ## [Can you petition the Lord with prayer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-petition-the-lord-with-prayer/825542)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-petition-the-lord-with-prayer/825542 "2018-12-18T01:48:40Z")
"When I was back there in seminary school, there was a person there who put forth the proposition that you can petition the Lord with prayer. Petition the Lord with prayer. Petition the Lord with prayer. YOU CANNOT PE… --- ## [Mob Voodoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mob-voodoo/826262)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mob-voodoo/826262 "2018-12-17T23:21:14Z")
So, I had pretty much worked and tasked myself silly all week like a good American, and then I finally got a day off and got some quality rest. I got up before my snoozy gf and started drinking coffee and reading the hea… --- ## [How is someone like Christine Ford supposed to prove her case?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-like-christine-ford-supposed-to-prove-her-case/824383)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 573\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2018, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-like-christine-ford-supposed-to-prove-her-case/824383 "2018-12-15T21:33:30Z")
(Without making this about Ford specifically - rather, about victims in general): It is essentially impossible for a plaintiff to provide evidence for many sex crimes (a perpetrator would obviously take measures to ensu… --- ## [Will we ever build "generational" projects for scientific instead of religious reasons?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-build-generational-projects-for-scientific-instead-of-religious-reasons/825272)
**Author:** [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2018, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-build-generational-projects-for-scientific-instead-of-religious-reasons/825272 "2018-12-15T11:17:14Z")
I was in Barcelona last year, and one of the places I visited was this enormous Basilica called the Sangrada Familia. It’s basically a massive church with some fairly impressive architecture that’s still under constructi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=79) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=81)