Put your money where your BRAIN is: how money could be used to help weigh the validity of a belief

This function will add points to conclusions that have money invested in them or their supporting arguments, and subtract points from conclusions that tend to have money invested against them.

Why do this? Because Vegas understands the relative strength of football team. Wall Street understands the relative strength of each company, and Intrade will tell you which president will win. Why don't we use “markets” to tell us the relative strength of each argument, before we make life or death decision in the Middle East?  Why do we have more processing power dedicated to analyzing football games than we do life or death problems?

Below is an explanation of the terms in my equation. I would love input!

My equation in words:

My equation in math:

• M_an/n: When n is 1, this equation will add all the money invested in a belief. When n is equal to 2 it will take the money invested in arguments that support the belief, divides it by 2, adds that to the conclusion score. Money invested in a belief, +1/2 the money invested in beliefs that agree with this belief, etc – Money invested against this belief, -1/2 the money invested in beliefs that disagree with this belief, etc
• M_dn/n: This equation does the same as above but subtracts the total amount of money invested in arguments that disagree with it.
• TM = Total Money invested in the forum
• #B = number of beliefs
• The average amount of money invested in an idea = TM / #B. The goal of this idea is to assign 1 point for the average belief, and 2 points for a belief that has twice the average amount of money invested.
• The assumption is that people would be able to purchase “stock” in a belief at its idea score. They would purchase it assuming that the idea score was going to go up. We would have to set the transaction fee high enough, to ensure that we don’t lose money, and only smart people are making money. We would also only sell stock in relatively stable ideas. 

The code for an application of my equation in SQL: 

Coming soon! As soon as I learn SQL... Please help by contributing to my open source google project: http://code.google.com/p/ideastockexchange/

Your equation in math:

Do you have a better equation that would use people's aversion to part with their money, that would promote good arguments, and beliefs? Leave a comment, or a link, and I will link to your project. I don't need the credit, I just don't want to live in a world of non-structured beliefs, and conclusions that people don't even try to support in an intelligent manor. Is money the answer? No, but it could help people try to really evaluate the true strength of a conclusion, if they felt that that conclusion would go up in value based on its truth strength... Do you disagree? Leave a comment. 

Put your money where your BRAIN is: how money could be used to help weigh the validity of a belief

This function will add points to conclusions that have money invested in them or their supporting arguments, and subtract points from conclusions that tend to have money invested against them.

Why do this? Because Vegas understands the relative strength of football team. Wall Street understands the relative strength of each company, and Intrade will tell you which president will win. Why don't we use “markets” to tell us the relative strength of each argument, before we make life or death decision in the Middle East?  Why do we have more processing power dedicated to analyzing football games than we do life or death problems?

Below is an explanation of the terms in my equation. I would love input!

My equation in words:

My equation in math:

• M_an/n: When n is 1, this equation will add all the money invested in a belief. When n is equal to 2 it will take the money invested in arguments that support the belief, divides it by 2, adds that to the conclusion score. Money invested in a belief, +1/2 the money invested in beliefs that agree with this belief, etc – Money invested against this belief, -1/2 the money invested in beliefs that disagree with this belief, etc
• M_dn/n: This equation does the same as above but subtracts the total amount of money invested in arguments that disagree with it.
• TM = Total Money invested in the forum
• #B = number of beliefs
• The average amount of money invested in an idea = TM / #B. The goal of this idea is to assign 1 point for the average belief, and 2 points for a belief that has twice the average amount of money invested.
• The assumption is that people would be able to purchase “stock” in a belief at its idea score. They would purchase it assuming that the idea score was going to go up. We would have to set the transaction fee high enough, to ensure that we don’t lose money, and only smart people are making money. We would also only sell stock in relatively stable ideas. 

The code for an application of my equation in SQL: 

Coming soon! As soon as I learn SQL... Please help by contributing to my open source google project: http://code.google.com/p/ideastockexchange/

Your equation in math:

Do you have a better equation that would use people's aversion to part with their money, that would promote good arguments, and beliefs? Leave a comment, or a link, and I will link to your project. I don't need the credit, I just don't want to live in a world of non-structured beliefs, and conclusions that people don't even try to support in an intelligent manor. Is money the answer? No, but it could help people try to really evaluate the true strength of a conclusion, if they felt that that conclusion would go up in value based on its truth strength... Do you disagree? Leave a comment. 

"My life story": Alta Lealette, Anderson Laub.

This is my dad's mom's mom's life history. Also check out the ongoing projects for my dad, and mom, and mom's mom.

(I (Michael Laub) typed the below from a photocopy of the original, which was typed from my Grandmother. I did it pretty fast, and know there are lots of spelling mistakes... )

My Parents were Mormon pioneers, my father, James Peter Anderson, was born 28th of August 1862, Ephraim, Sandpete County Utah, was the son of Neil's Anderson, who came from Lond Sweden, and his mother Ingaborg Paulsen who came from Dyver Norway for the Gospel. My mother's father was Peter Thomander, son of one of Sweden’s Great Theology professors, John Henric Thomander who was head of the theological department at Lund University when the first Mormon Missionaries went to Sweden. Peter Thomander met Ingaborg Pearson, his wife to be, on the ship which brought them to America, where they were to join the Saints in Ephraim, Sanpete County, Utah. Shortly after arriving, they were called to go to Circle Valley to help build up that area. And that is where my mother, Martha Caroline Thomander was born 12th of June 1866.

Because of the Indian troubles the Saint of Circle Valley, Piute County were recalled to Ephraim and it was there eight of the 10 children of my parents were born:

• · 14th of April 1887, James IRA. 
• · 1st of November 1888, James (still born); 
• · 9th of February 1890. Lucretia; 
• · 8th of July 1892, Drusilla Naomi; 
• · 13th of September 1894, Ada Beulah, 
• · 2nd of September 1896, Hugh Preston, 
• · 2nd of May 1899 Onedia May 
• · 26 Nov 1902, Luella Theora; 

My family moved to spring to Spring Glen in 1904. Spring Glen is a small picturesque town situated on the bench land east of the Rail Road and Highway that connect Helper and Price, in Carbon County Utah. It was given its name because of the lovely green and inviting appearance in the spring of the year. To this community my parents made their way a few months before my birth 21 July 1905. I was given the name of Alta Lealette, the second name being that of my oldest sister’s music teacher. I was never called Alta or Lealette by my family, but called Lea or Leah, have been known as Alta on most of my Church records. I was named or Christened by Thomas Rhodes, presiding Elder of the Spring Glen Branch of the Latter-day Saints Church, when I was 12 days old 3 August 1905.

For many Americans, it's more lucrative to stay unemployed and collect welfare entitlements than to work.

Welfare / Incentives

Reasons to Agree:

🔗 Reasons Database

1. Welfare Pays More Than Low-Wage Jobs – Some studies suggest that government assistance provides more disposable income than minimum-wage employment.
2. Welfare Cliff Effect – Many welfare programs reduce benefits as income increases, sometimes at a rate that discourages full-time work.
3. Labor Market Participation Decline – Expanded welfare benefits post-pandemic have correlated with a decrease in workforce participation in some sectors.

---

Reasons to Disagree:

🔗 Reasons Database

1. Many Welfare Recipients Already Work – Most able-bodied adults on welfare already have jobs but remain eligible due to low wages and high living costs.
2. Work Requirements Exist in Most Programs – Programs like TANF and SNAP require work participation, limiting long-term dependency.
3. Flawed Comparisons – Some studies compare gross wages to total welfare benefits, without factoring in taxes, childcare, and transportation costs.

---

Evidence That Agrees:

🔗 Evidence Scores

1. Gary Alexander’s Chart (Pennsylvania Welfare Secretary) – Suggests that in some cases, welfare recipients have more disposable income than full-time workers.
2. Cato Institute Study (2013) – Found that in 35 states, welfare benefits exceeded full-time minimum wage earnings.

---

Evidence That Disagrees:

🔗 Evidence Scores

1. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) Report – Welfare recipients rarely receive all possible benefits simultaneously.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Data – Most able-bodied welfare recipients do work but have jobs with low wages and inconsistent hours.

---

Most Likely Benefits of Accepting This Belief:

🔗 Most Likely Benefits

1. Encourages Workforce Participation – If welfare is reduced or restructured, more individuals may seek employment over dependency.
2. Economic Growth – A larger workforce contributes to higher GDP and lower government spending on social programs.
3. Lower Tax Burden – A reduction in welfare programs may allow for tax cuts or reallocating funds to other areas like infrastructure or education.

---

Most Likely Costs of Accepting This Belief:

🔗 Most Likely Costs

1. Increased Poverty and Hardship – Cutting welfare without raising wages or creating better jobs may push more families into poverty.
2. Strain on Local Governments and Charities – If federal aid decreases, nonprofits and state-level programs may struggle to fill the gap.
3. Higher Turnover in Low-Wage Jobs – Pushing people off welfare without sustainable job opportunities may increase job instability.

---

Books That Agree:

🔗 Books

• "Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980" – Charles Murray
• "The Tragedy of American Compassion" – Marvin Olasky

---

Books That Disagree:

🔗 Books

• "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" – Matthew Desmond
• "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" – Barbara Ehrenreich

---

Laws That Agree:

🔗 Local, Federal, and International Laws

• 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act – Enforced work requirements and time limits on welfare.
• Right-to-Work Laws – Promote employment and limit government dependency.

---

Laws That Disagree:

🔗 Local, Federal, and International Laws

• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – Ensures a minimum wage, but critics argue it's not enough to replace welfare benefits.
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) – Expanded Medicaid eligibility, reducing incentives to leave welfare for low-wage jobs without benefits.

---

Songs That Agree:

🔗 Songs That Agree

• "Take This Job and Shove It" – Johnny Paycheck
• "Welfare Cadillac" – Guy Drake

---

Songs That Disagree:

🔗 Songs That Agree

• "9 to 5" – Dolly Parton
• "Working Class Hero" – John Lennon

---

Web Pages That Agree:

🔗 Web Pages

• Cato Institute Reports on Welfare Reform
• Heritage Foundation Research on Welfare Incentives

---

Web Pages That Disagree:

🔗 Web Pages

• CBPP Reports Debunking Welfare Myths
• Brookings Institution Research on Work and Welfare

---

Images That Agree:

🔗 Images That Agree

• Charts comparing welfare benefits to wages.
• Infographics from conservative think tanks on welfare disincentives.

---

Images That Disagree:

🔗 Images That Agree

• Graphs showing workforce participation among welfare recipients.
• Cost-of-living comparisons explaining welfare necessity.

---

Supporting Media (Movies, Videos, Podcasts):

🔗 Media

Videos That Agree:

• "Welfare Reform: The Case for Work" – Heritage Foundation
• "The Welfare Trap Explained" – PragerU

Videos That Disagree:

• "The Myth of the Welfare Queen" – Vox
• "Why People Stay on Welfare" – PBS Frontline

---

Best Objective Criteria for Assessing This Belief:

🔗 Objective Criteria Scores

1. Disposable income comparisons between welfare recipients and workers.
2. Studies on workforce participation rates among welfare recipients.
3. Longitudinal analysis of welfare recipients transitioning into employment.

James is tall and growing fast (+0, unresolved)

Background 
Megan took James to his yearly doctors appointment. James was cute, and asked many time: "what are you doing to me". He didn't try to stop the nurse when she gave him the nasal inhaler flu shot.

James is tall and growing fast (+1, unresolved)

Best reasons to agree: +3

1. He is in the 95.72 percentile. This means of 100 kids, 4.28 of them would be taller. 
2. He gained 7 lbs, and 3" this year. 
3. We could say that we are using the McDonald's systems of measurement: small, medium, and large. Using these categories we could sort of "grade on a curve" and decide 33% of people are small, 33% of people are average, and 33% of people are tall. James, at 95.72 percentile, would be in the "tall" category as long as the sample population is limited to people born in O4. 
4. James has doubled his size in just a few years. The universe will take billions of years to double its size. Therefore, James is growing fast. 

Best reasons to agree: -2

1. Some pumpkins can grow 40 lbs a day. All things being relative, James is not growing fast.
2. Robert Pershing Wadlow was 8'-11". All things being relative, James is not tall. 

Best Images that agree: -1

1. 

Opposing Values between those who agree and disagree:

1. 
   

Interest of those who agree:

1. 
   

Interest of those who agree:

1. 
   

Score:

# of reasons to agree: +4

# of reasons to disagree: -3

# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0

Total Idea Score: +1

Explanation: 

I'm looking for items from everyday life that I can turn into conclusions, with evidence to support them. 

I hate it when people state opinion as facts, and don't have evidence to support their beliefs. And so at the risk of sounding weird, I'll give my evidence to believe the above conclusion. 

See here for an explanation of my plan. 

Feds

Governments are inefficient

Reasons to agree:

1. Governments are monopolistic, and monopolies (lack of competition) lead to inefficiency. People are less strongly motivated to improve when they have a monopoly.
2. Big organizations are difficult to change, and change is needed to continually ensure that they maximize efficiency. Very few organizations can stay efficient over time. Only one Fortunee 100 company from 1900 is still on the list.
3. Governments tend to have inefficient policies. 
4. Governments don't have to be efficient to get money, and Organizations that don't have to be efficient will not choose to be efficient.t 
5. Very few organizationcanto stay efficient over time. 
6. Governments don't reward efficiency, and neither do the private sector. 
7. Governments don't punish inefficiencies, and neither does the private sector. Businesses that aren't efficient go out of business.

Images that agree

Web-pages that agree:

1. https://docs.google.com/drawings/pub?id=1uDYJdsIZK8CD-4VzrlwAH2KbvtX7-x8f9MJyK3o33Zc&w=2090&h=1428

The federal government should return power to the states and the people

Reasons to agree:

1. The federal government does many things that the states can do better. 
2. The federal government should not duplicate things the states do better. 
3. It is wrong for one state to get free stuff, and make another state pay for it. 
4. Money should be used as closely to the place that it was raised as possible.
5. The federal government should mostly only do things that the individual states all agree are OK.

The Republican party has taken a fairly radical position on things like freedom of and from religion

Reasons to agree: +

1. 
   

Reasons to disagree: -

1. It was radical of Democrats to remove any reference to God from their platform. Radical means outside of the majority. Most Americans think it is OK to reference God periodically and are right. After World War, we had to prosecute war criminals. It is hard to prosecute people in a war, because they take an oath to do what their leaders tell them. We felt that when we pledged allegiance to our country that it was wrong to pledge absolute allegiance, and it is. We shouldn't hand our brain and soul to our government. We should promise to do what our country tells us to do, as long our our country is acting within a moral code. The most efficient way of accomplishing this is to ask each person to promise to support the country, as long as the country is doing what they think someone they want to worship is OK with that support. 
2. You can disagree with official school prayers, but still think the Democrats went to far by removing any reference to God from their platform. 
3. Sure, Mike Huckabee and Rich Santorum mixed religion and politics too much, but so did Reverend Wright.

Score:

# of reasons to agree: +3

# of reasons to disagree: -0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0

Total Idea Score: +3

Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change.

===============================================================

Images

Images that agree: +

1. 
   

Images that disagree: -

1. Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it. 

===============================================================

Websites

Website that agree: +

1. http://www.nationalreview.com/
2. http://townhall.com/
3. http://www.newsmax.com/
4. http://www.gop.com/
5. http://www.nrcc.org/
6. http://www.texasgop.org/

Websites that disagree: -

1. http://www.democrats.org/

===============================================================

Videos

Videos That agree: +

1. Religulous by Bill Maher

Videos That disagree: -

1. The South Park episode about Richard Dawkins

===============================================================

Interest

Valid Interest of those who agree: + (help me put the more valid interest towards the top of the lists)

1. An honest support of the Separation of Church and State
2. Emotional validating their decision to not be religious. (I can reject your beliefs and still be a good person). 
3. Group solidarity. (I am going to signal solidarity with my friends and family, who have also chosen similar paths by publicly criticizing those who have made other decisions.)
4. The desire to disagree with tradition. The desire to say that you are smarter than people that went before. The desire to make something new. 

Valid Interest of those who disagree: - (help me put the more valid interest towards the top of the lists)

1. Not throwing out the baby with the bath water. Our country was pretty good for a long time, why do we have to change everything all of a sudden? 
2. If you can't afford to send your kids to elite private schools, or get them a good start on life, perhaps the best way to ensure they don't mess things up too bad is to try to raise them up in a faith that keeps them from making bad mistakes. The belief that public confessions of faith will help guide your kids, and keep them out of trouble. 
3. Emotionally validating their decision to be religious (my decision to be religious proves that I am a good person. I am going to signal solidarity with my friends and family, who have also chosen similar paths by publicly criticizing those who have made other decisions). 
4. The desire to stick with tradition.
5. The desire to stick with a decision made early in life. Emotional investment. I have being saying these things so long, that I believe them, and it is too hard to change now. This is part of who I am. This is what I have told people I believe. I can't just go changing all the time. 

Common Valid Interest:

1. 
   

Opposing Valid Interest:

1. The desire to do the math required to figure out that we are headed towards a fiscal cliff. 
2. The desire to face our problems, or pretend they don't exist. 

===============================================================

Podcast

Podcast that agree: +

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Conservative-Politics

Podcast that disagree: -

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Liberal-Politics

===============================================================

Experts

Unbiased Experts who agree: +

1. 
   

Unbiased Experts who disagree: -

1. 
   

===============================================================

Books

Books that agree: +

1. 
   

Books that  disagree: -

1. 
   

===============================================================

Miscellaneous

Related arguments:

Big governments are inefficient +3

Reasons

Reasons to agree: +

1. Most government agencies have no competition and are monopolies. Monopolies and lack of competition lead to inefficiency.
2. Governments often base this years budget on last years budget. 
3. It is inefficient to base this years budget on last years budget. 

Reasons to disagree: -

1. Leave a comment so I can add a reason.

Score:

# of reasons to agree: +3

# of reasons to disagree: -0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0

Total Idea Score: +3

Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change.

===============================================================

Images

Images that agree: +

1. https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/19MpWsq5Olm3pOYlEdv2S8s58xeEh5FqcV-VDpp-O3cI/edit
2. 
   

Images that disagree: -

1. Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it. 

===============================================================

Websites

Website that agree: +

1. http://www.nationalreview.com/
2. http://townhall.com/
3. http://www.newsmax.com/
4. http://www.gop.com/
5. http://www.nrcc.org/
6. http://www.texasgop.org/

Websites that disagree: -

1. http://www.democrats.org/

===============================================================

Videos

Videos That agree: +

Videos That disagree: -

1. Leave a comment so I can add a reason.

===============================================================

Interest

Valid Interest of those who agree: +

1. 
   

Valid Interest of those who disagree: -

1. 
   

Common Valid Interest:

1. 
   

Opposing Valid Interest:

1. The desire to do the math required to figure out that we are headed towards a fiscal cliff. 
2. The desire to face our problems, or pretend they don't exist. 

===============================================================

Podcast

Podcast that agree: +

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Conservative-Politics

Podcast that disagree: -

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Liberal-Politics

===============================================================

Experts

Unbiased Experts who agree: +

1. 
   

Unbiased Experts who disagree: -

1. 
   

===============================================================

Books

Books that agree: +

1. After America: Get Ready for Armageddon by Mark Steyn
2. Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America by Mark R Levin
3. Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama by Ann Coulter

Books that  disagree: -

1. 
   

===============================================================

Miscellaneous

Related arguments:

The federal government should be as small as possible +10

Reasons

Reasons to agree: +

1. Big governments are inefficient. +3
2. Governments that promise the most often end up giving the least. 
3. Forced tax collections are bad 
4. Large governments require forced tax collection Power is bad. 
5. Large governments are powerful 
6. New presidents should be able to take the federal government in a new direction.
7. If the federal government is too big and complex no one can change it, and it takes on a life of its own.

Reasons to disagree: -

1. Leave a comment so I can add a reason.

Score:

# of reasons to agree: +7

# of reasons to disagree: -0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +3

# of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0

Total Idea Score: +10

Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change.

===============================================================

Images

Images that agree: +

1. https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/19MpWsq5Olm3pOYlEdv2S8s58xeEh5FqcV-VDpp-O3cI/edit
2. 
   

Images that disagree: -

1. Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it. 

===============================================================

Websites

Website that agree: +

1. http://www.nationalreview.com/
2. http://townhall.com/
3. http://www.newsmax.com/
4. http://www.gop.com/
5. http://www.nrcc.org/
6. http://www.texasgop.org/

Websites that disagree: -

1. http://www.democrats.org/

===============================================================

Videos

Videos That agree: +

Videos That disagree: -

1. Leave a comment so I can add a reason.

===============================================================

Interest

Valid Interest of those who agree: +

1. 
   

Valid Interest of those who disagree: -

1. 
   

Common Valid Interest:

1. 
   

Opposing Valid Interest:

1. The desire to do the math required to figure out that we are headed towards a fiscal cliff. 
2. The desire to face our problems, or pretend they don't exist. 

===============================================================

Podcast

Podcast that agree: +

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Conservative-Politics

Podcast that disagree: -

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Liberal-Politics

===============================================================

Experts

Unbiased Experts who agree: +

1. 
   

Unbiased Experts who disagree: -

1. 
   

===============================================================

Books

Books that agree: +

1. After America: Get Ready for Armageddon by Mark Steyn
2. Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America by Mark R Levin
3. Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama by Ann Coulter

Books that  disagree: -

1. 
   

===============================================================

Miscellaneous

Related arguments:

Belief: The US Federal Government is Too Big

Reasons to Agree:

1. The Federal Government Should Be as Small as Possible – A smaller government reduces bureaucracy, limits overreach, and encourages efficiency.

   • Reduced Bureaucracy: Less government involvement streamlines processes and reduces red tape.

   • Limited Overreach: A smaller federal government is less likely to intrude on individual liberties and state autonomy.

   • Increased Efficiency: Reduced scope can lead to more focused and efficient government operations.

   • Lower Taxes: Potentially lower taxes due to reduced government spending.

   • Economic Growth: Less regulation and lower taxes can stimulate economic growth.

2. The Federal Government Should Return Power to the States and the People – Decentralization allows states to create policies more tailored to their unique populations and needs.

   • Tailored Policies: States can create policies more specifically suited to their diverse populations and local needs.

   • Increased Responsiveness: State and local governments may be more responsive to their citizens.

   • Policy Innovation: States can experiment with different policies that could be adopted nationally if successful.

   • Reduced Federal Control: Shifting power away from the federal government empowers states and communities to make their own decisions.

---

Reasons to Disagree:

1. The Federal Government Plays a Necessary Role in Addressing National Issues:

   • National Standards: The federal government ensures nationwide protections for civil rights, workplace safety, and environmental regulations.

   • Interstate Issues: Many issues like climate change, national security, and interstate commerce require federal coordination.

   • Economic Stability: The federal government plays a role in managing the national economy, stabilizing markets, and implementing fiscal policies.

   • Social Safety Nets: Federal programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid protect vulnerable populations.

   • Infrastructure and Research: Large-scale infrastructure projects and scientific research benefit from federal funding and coordination.

2. A Larger Federal Government Can Be More Effective and Equitable:

   • Economies of Scale: Government functions like defense and Social Security can be more efficiently managed at a federal level.

   • Redistribution and Equity: The federal government can address economic inequality across states.

   • Preventing a "Race to the Bottom": Without federal oversight, states may lower regulations to attract businesses, harming citizens.

   • Protecting Minority Rights: The federal government plays a crucial role in ensuring equal treatment under the law.

---

Score:

• # of reasons to agree: +2

• # of reasons to disagree: -2

• # of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0

• # of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: +0

• Total Idea Score: 0

Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons, and the score will change.

---

Images

Images That Agree: +

1. Link to image

Images That Disagree: -

1. Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it.

---

Websites

Websites That Agree: +

1. National Review

2. Town Hall

3. Newsmax

4. GOP

5. NRCC

6. Texas GOP

Websites That Disagree: -

1. Democratic National Committee

---

Videos

Videos That Agree: +

1. Milton Friedman - Why Government Is the Problem - Free To Choose Network

2. The Danger of Big Government - PragerU

Videos That Disagree: -

1. The Case for Big Government - The Young Turks

2. Why We Need Big Government - Second Thought

---

Books

Books That Agree: +

• After America: Get Ready for Armageddon by Mark Steyn

• Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America by Mark R. Levin

• Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama by Ann Coulter

• The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek

• Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell

Books That Disagree: -

• The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard G. Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

• Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

---

Interest / Motivation

Valid Interest of Those Who Agree: +

1. Efficiency

2. Individual Liberty

3. Limited Government

4. Fiscal Responsibility

5. Free Markets

Valid Interest of Those Who Disagree: -

1. Government Safety Nets

2. Social Justice and Equality

3. Public Services

4. Regulation and Oversight

5. Collective Action

Common Valid Interest:

1. American Strength

Opposing Valid Interest:

1. Fiscal Responsibility vs. Social Needs

2. Individualism vs. Collectivism

3. Trust in Government

---

Miscellaneous

Related Arguments:

• Federalism and States' Rights

• Economic Regulation vs. Free Markets

• The Role of Government in History

We should cut federal government spending.

Reasons

Reasons to agree: +

1. The USA federal government is too big. +10
   
2. Spending is out of control.

Reasons to disagree: -

1. Leave a comment so I can add a reason.

Score:

# of reasons to agree: +2

# of reasons to disagree: -0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +10

# of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0

Total Idea Score: +12

Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change.

===============================================================

Images

Images that agree: +

1. 

Images that disagree: -

1. Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it. 

===============================================================

Websites

Website that agree: +

1. http://www.nationalreview.com/
2. http://townhall.com/
3. http://www.newsmax.com/
4. http://www.gop.com/
5. http://www.nrcc.org/
6. http://www.texasgop.org/

Websites that disagree: -

1. http://www.democrats.org/

===============================================================

Videos

Videos That agree: +

Videos That disagree: -

1. Leave a comment so I can add a reason.

===============================================================

Interest

Valid Interest of those who agree: +

1. Balancing the budget
2. Avoiding financial meltdown
3. Avoiding leaving debt for our kids

Valid Interest of those who disagree: -

1. Getting free stuff
2. Getting "mine"
3. Getting "my fair share"

Common Valid Interest:

1. 
   

Opposing Valid Interest:

1. The desire to do the math required to figure out that we are headed towards a fiscal cliff. 
2. The desire to face our problems, or pretend they don't exist. 

===============================================================

Podcast

Podcast that agree: +

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Conservative-Politics

Podcast that disagree: -

1. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics/Liberal-Politics

===============================================================

Experts

Unbiased Experts who agree: +

1. 
   

Unbiased Experts who disagree: -

===============================================================

Books

Books that agree: +

1. After America: Get Ready for Armageddon by Mark Steyn
2. Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America by Mark R Levin
3. Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama by Ann Coulter

Books that  disagree: -

1. 
   

===============================================================

Miscellaneous

Related arguments:

Belief: The US Federal Government is Too Big

Reasons to Agree:

1. The Federal Government Should Be as Small as Possible – A smaller government reduces bureaucracy, limits overreach, and encourages efficiency.

   • Reduced Bureaucracy: Less government involvement streamlines processes and reduces red tape.

   • Limited Overreach: A smaller federal government is less likely to intrude on individual liberties and state autonomy.

   • Increased Efficiency: Reduced scope can lead to more focused and efficient government operations.

   • Lower Taxes: Potentially lower taxes due to reduced government spending.

   • Economic Growth: Less regulation and lower taxes can stimulate economic growth.

2. The Federal Government Should Return Power to the States and the People – Decentralization allows states to create policies more tailored to their unique populations and needs.

   • Tailored Policies: States can create policies more specifically suited to their diverse populations and local needs.

   • Increased Responsiveness: State and local governments may be more responsive to their citizens.

   • Policy Innovation: States can experiment with different policies that could be adopted nationally if successful.

   • Reduced Federal Control: Shifting power away from the federal government empowers states and communities to make their own decisions.

---

Reasons to Disagree:

1. The Federal Government Plays a Necessary Role in Addressing National Issues:

   • National Standards: The federal government ensures nationwide protections for civil rights, workplace safety, and environmental regulations.

   • Interstate Issues: Many issues like climate change, national security, and interstate commerce require federal coordination.

   • Economic Stability: The federal government plays a role in managing the national economy, stabilizing markets, and implementing fiscal policies.

   • Social Safety Nets: Federal programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid protect vulnerable populations.

   • Infrastructure and Research: Large-scale infrastructure projects and scientific research benefit from federal funding and coordination.

2. A Larger Federal Government Can Be More Effective and Equitable:

   • Economies of Scale: Government functions like defense and Social Security can be more efficiently managed at a federal level.

   • Redistribution and Equity: The federal government can address economic inequality across states.

   • Preventing a "Race to the Bottom": Without federal oversight, states may lower regulations to attract businesses, harming citizens.

   • Protecting Minority Rights: The federal government plays a crucial role in ensuring equal treatment under the law.

---

Score:

• # of reasons to agree: +2

• # of reasons to disagree: -2

• # of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0

• # of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: +0

• Total Idea Score: 0

Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons, and the score will change.

---

Images

Images That Agree: +

1. Link to image

Images That Disagree: -

1. Leave a comment with a link to a photo, and I'll add it.

---

Websites

Websites That Agree: +

1. National Review

2. Town Hall

3. Newsmax

4. GOP

5. NRCC

6. Texas GOP

Websites That Disagree: -

1. Democratic National Committee

---

Videos

Videos That Agree: +

1. Milton Friedman - Why Government Is the Problem - Free To Choose Network

2. The Danger of Big Government - PragerU

Videos That Disagree: -

1. The Case for Big Government - The Young Turks

2. Why We Need Big Government - Second Thought

---

Books

Books That Agree: +

• After America: Get Ready for Armageddon by Mark Steyn

• Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America by Mark R. Levin

• Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama by Ann Coulter

• The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek

• Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell

Books That Disagree: -

• The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard G. Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

• Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

---

Interest / Motivation

Valid Interest of Those Who Agree: +

1. Efficiency

2. Individual Liberty

3. Limited Government

4. Fiscal Responsibility

5. Free Markets

Valid Interest of Those Who Disagree: -

1. Government Safety Nets

2. Social Justice and Equality

3. Public Services

4. Regulation and Oversight

5. Collective Action

Common Valid Interest:

1. American Strength

Opposing Valid Interest:

1. Fiscal Responsibility vs. Social Needs

2. Individualism vs. Collectivism

3. Trust in Government

---

Miscellaneous

Related Arguments:

• Federalism and States' Rights

• Economic Regulation vs. Free Markets

• The Role of Government in History

You should try to convince your kids to not use drugs

Best reasons to agree: +5

1. Drugs addiction will often kill you.
2. Drugs addiction often causes people to live on the street. 
3. Drugs will often cause you to steel from and lie to your family.
4. Drugs will addict you. Addiction takes control of your life. It is bad to loose control of your life.
5. In general most parents should tell their kids not to use drugs. Obviously there is a right and a wrong way to do it. You should wait until they are the right age, but not too long. If you are struggling with your kids, and they have no respect for you, perhaps you should find someone that they respect more. 

Best reasons to disagree: -5

1. All kids will rebel to some degree against their parents. This is a natural process of finding yourself, and creating your own separate identity. By telling your kids not to use drugs this creates a situation when they will have a physiological or emotional reason to do the opposite.  
2. Telling kids not to use drugs only peaks their interest. 
3. Most kids are smart enough to figure out not to use drugs themselves.
4. The schools will teach your kids what they need to know about drugs. They have training about these subjects. 
5. You shouldn't just "try and convince them". You should do random drug tests if you have any suspicions. You need to ensure they have good friends. You need to do specific things to ensure they are not using drugs, especially the important long term things of developing long term relationships with them... 
6. Kids use drugs for specific reasons: to fit in, and because they have psychological problems. If you keep them from having psychological problems or needing to be accepted by stupid people, they will naturally avoid drugs. 

Score:

# of reasons to agree: +4

# of reasons to disagree: -5

# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: +0

# of reasons to agree with reasons to disagree: -0

Total Idea Score: -1

Don't like the score? It is easy to change the score. Just post a reason to agree or disagree with the overall idea, or any of the reasons and the score will change.

                                                                                      
Best books that agree: +

1.  

                                                                                      

Best podcast that agree: +

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00w949w

                                                                                      

Best songs that agree: +

1. Might as well be walking on the sun by Smash Mouth
1. 
   
2. The Needle and the Damage Done by Neil Young
1. 
   
3. Keep on Rocking in the Free World by Neil Young
4. Hurt By Johny Cash

                                                                                      
Best webpages that agree: +

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_dependence
2. http://www.asam.org/
3. http://www.dpri.com/
4. http://www.theantidrug.com/

                                                                                      
Interest of those who agree: +

1. Saving their kids from trauma. 

Interest of those who disagree: -

1. Being counter-intuitive. 

                                                                                      

Best Videos that agree: +

Best videos that disagree: -

1.  

                                                                                      

Poems that agree: +

1.