Billary versus Georjeb

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Why do you think people in America (and elsewhere) have a tendency to vote for people from established families?   Does the fact that so many politicians come from these families show that social mobility is on the decline?  How does this "dynasty" trend compare to the situation in Slovakia?

This is your brain on teenage hormones

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What do you think of this author’s explanations for teenage behaviour?  Does looking for the causes of behaviour in the brain provide too easy an excuse and an escape from individual responsibility?  Does she give good advice to parents?  What do the parents’ questions reveal?

I don’t see “Indo-European” on your list of languages…

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How can studying the history of language(s) be enriching?  Can studying our own language’s history, for example Slovak, help us feel more rooted–whatever that means?  How can we protect other, smaller languages/dialects and cultures from the pervasive influence of English, if such protection is necessary?

Preventing Prevaricating in Politics

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Do you agree with this author’s definition of lying?  How can politicians best be held accountable for their lies?  Would a law against lying in Parliament work?

Let’s get physical, physical (instead of digital)

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Are you attracted to non-digital film, books and music?  What do you think of the author’s explanation for why old technologies like these are making a comeback?  Will the comeback continue?  Why or why not?

Wisdom 101

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Here’s a text from an English teacher like me.  Should schools prepare students for careers, future studies, or life in general?  Should schools try to teach wisdom to students, or only skills?  Can students find it in their literature classes?  How?  What are the negative and positive effects of having government standards for curriculum on a student’s experience? 

Leaving no stone unturned

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This is the last entry you can comment on for February.

Is it acceptable for the government to gather information on its citizens and/or resident foreigners?  What is the motivation for gathering more than is necessary, as governments often seem to do?  Does the context (terrorism instead of the cold war) change anything?

Offending officers

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This post is still part of the December/January batch.

Is it ever legitimate to resist a police officer who is trying to arrest you?  Is putting more policemen in areas which are said to have more crime a good way of cutting crime rates, or is it discriminating against minorities and the poor?  Do governments or individuals in the US or Slovakia have a tendency to condemn the poor when they commit crimes like shoplifting or loitering or public drunkeness, and to turn a blind eye to white collar crime like embezzlement and tax fraud?  What can we do to help policemen do a better job and to prevent them from harrassing people and overreacting when putting someone under arrest?

Nazis made noble in the name of nationalism

Unfortunately, the link to this article now only leads to a stub unless you pay a subscription.  I have replaced it with the post above instead.   Sorry about that...

Get your mansion off our nature

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Is growth ruining towns like Johannesburg and Bratislava?  Should anything be done to keep new housing developments in check?  Do people who live in a country have the right to access its land and natural beauties, or does economic growth demand that we often give this privilege to the rich?

Killing to show that killing is wrong?

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Please do not add another comment to this article, unless you are responding to another person's comment.

Is it possible (or even desirable) to forgive those who commit horrible crimes against us and those we love?  What do you think of this writer’s arguments against the death penalty?  Are you glad there is no death penalty in Slovakia, or would you like to see it reinstated?

Some vermin in your vermicelli?

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Are you aware of the environmental costs of eating meat?  Is eating insects a good alternative (rather than, say, becoming a vegetarian)?  How easy is it to change people’s eating habits and what techniques do you think would work?  Would you like to try eating insects?  Will eating insects eventually catch on?

Does inequality start with the family?

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Is one of the functions of families to raise children to become good citizens?  What do you think of trying to give children equal chances?  Are families a hindrance in helping disadvantaged children have a chance?  If so, what should be done about it? 

The groans of the godless

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Do you think that atheists are a group which often face unfair discrimination in the US (and in Slovakia)? Should religious people be more tolerant of atheists and vice-versa?  Is the more outspoken atheism promoted by people like Dawkins a good or bad trend?  How can  we create healthy dialogues between religious and non-religious people?

Does greed make the world go round?

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Is capitalism based on greed as some people say?  Are people naturally selfish and competitive?  If so, what about the studies mentioned in this article?  Do you notice any flaws?  If the system that we have now is making some people very rich while others starve, what can be done about it, if anything?