Topics
Politics & Policy
This Man Wants to Legalize Drugs
Professor of Social Sciences & Economics
The Justice Department may have decided to no longer pursue medical marijuana users, but Brown University economist Glenn Loury would go a few steps further.
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Obama’s Civil Rights Report Card
ACLU Director Anthony Romero sees plenty of work ahead for President Obama. Watch
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Alec Ross describes how the Obama campaign’s openness to new technology allowed fresh faces to flourish and forever changed politics. Watch
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Can we Innovate our Way out of the Healthcare Crisis?
David Cutler describes the need for new medical technologies and pinpoints the sectors are poised to deliver these changes. Watch
Related Blogs
The Voice of Big Think
November 20, 2009 — 9:45 AM
Are you an eligible prospective immigrant to the United States? Are you feeling lucky? If so, you have 10 more days to apply for the random selection process conducted annually by the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program—in other words, the "green card lottery." The entry window, which opened October 2, closes November 30, and your chances of winning are a sobering 1 in 240: 12 million will enter, 50,000 will win. Read more
The Voice of Big Think
November 19, 2009 — 12:11 AM
Jim McManus visited Big Think today to talk about the poker habits of the men who have inhabited the White House. The stories he told come from his new book "Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker." We'll post our video interview with him in the coming days. In the meantime, if you like poker, take a look at our conversation with female gamester Annie Duke. Read more
Latest Ideas
Are you an eligible prospective immigrant to the United States? Are you feeling lucky? If so, you have 10 more days to apply for the random selection process conducted annually by the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program—in other words, the "green card lottery." The entry window, which opened October 2, closes November 30, and your chances of winning are a sobering 1 in 240: 12 million will enter, 50,000 will win. Read More
November 20, 2009
Harvard Psychologist and Education Expert Howard Gardner explains the importance of targeting education outreach to the specific needs of individual communities. Read More
November 20, 2009
The former child soldier decries the violence that many children still face. Read More
November 19, 2009
Immigration Law Expert Lenni Benson explores the fate of children who are brought to the US—either by a family member or a smuggler—and whether they should be forgiven their “illegal” status. Read More
November 19, 2009
Farrow insists it is necessary for people to acknowledge and own up to our capacity to do terrible things to each other. Read More
November 19, 2009
Farrow, who has traveled extensively as an ambassador for child’s rights, confesses that she no longer cares about an acting career. Read More
November 19, 2009
Farrow, adoptive mother of fifteen, discusses how central a role adults can play in the lives of children. Read More
November 19, 2009
Leveling The Playing Field—Through Play
Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver discusses the expansion of children’s rights through athletic competition. Read More
November 19, 2009
Daily Ideafeed
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Gay Day
Wedding Ban -
A law banning gay marriage in Texas has effectively banned all marriage according to the Democratic attorney general candidate.
November 20, 2009
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Afghan Detainees
Torture and Neglect? -
Detainees transferred by Canadians to Afghan prisons are “likely to have been tortured by Afghan officials” a former senior Canadian diplomat has claimed.
November 20, 2009
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Action, Explanation
Obama’s Task -
President Barack Obama needs to take decisive action in Afghanistan and remind the American public why they are fighting the war he inherited from George Bush.
November 19, 2009
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Obama
Guantanamo Delay -
President Obama has admitted that the US government will miss the January 2010 deadline for closing Guantanamo Bay.
November 19, 2009
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Reformed Bill?
Hair Trigger -
Senate leader Harry Reid is planning to include a public option so that states can opt out of his version of the healthcare reform bill. But what else could this volatile debate trigger?
November 18, 2009
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Gaddafi
“500 Attractive Girls” -
Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi tried to convert 500 “attractive girls” to Islam in Rome yesterday.
November 17, 2009
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Climate Change
“Out Of Time” -
President Obama has ruled out the setting of binding targets for tackling climate change at the Copenhagen summit next month.
November 16, 2009
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Super Bee
Sniff This -
A new breed of “super bee” has been bred by government scientists in a bid to tackle the honeybee epidemic.
November 13, 2009
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Lack of Support
Homeless Veterans -
A staggering third of all homeless men in America are veterans of the army – so where is the post commission support?
November 13, 2009
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Reverting
Mad Times -
Following the controversial restrictions on abortion imposed by the healthcare reform bill women are asking if congress has reverted to the Mad Men era?
November 13, 2009
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China’s View
Tibetan Slavery? -
In a bid to win US sympathy, China’s government has argued that the “liberation” of Tibet is comparable to the abolition of slavery by Lincoln.
November 13, 2009
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Japan - USA
Bon Envoyage -
The Washington Post sets out the changing face of the US-Japan relationship ahead of Obama’s visit to Tokyo this week amid some complex politics.
November 12, 2009
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Dave Schultheis
Not So Tweet -
Recently retired senator Dave Schultheis has caused outrage online by comparing Obama to the 9/11 hijackers on Twitter.
November 12, 2009
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Amendment
Abortive Obstacle? -
The passing of Obama’s healthcare bill has dismayed abortion-rights groups due to the anti-abortion amendments that have been made.
November 9, 2009
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20 Years On
Berlin Wall Toppling -
On this day 20 years ago the wall dividing East and West Berlin was toppled heralding an end to the cold war and the division of Germany.
November 9, 2009
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Healthcare
Victory Hurdle -
Another victory for Obama’s healthcare campaign as the House narrowly endorses the reform bill.
November 9, 2009
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Apology
Tribal Justice? -
President Obama tells tribal leaders that he knows what it is to be ignored and forgotten.
November 6, 2009
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Political Words
Screw Up Talk -
Republican Michael Steele warns moderate Republicans that intra-party fighting “is the first way to screw yourself.”
November 6, 2009
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Turbulence
Overseas Stimulus -
Senator Charles Schumer has criticized plans to government fund a Texas wind farm project because it will create jobs overseas.
November 6, 2009
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Healthcare
Fine Coverage -
An estimate from the Congressional Budget Office suggests that the House healthcare bill would garner $167bn in penalties over 10 years.
November 5, 2009
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Censorship?
Legal Debate -
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition has launched a campaign to oppose a government amendment legally preventing political discussion about the legalization of drugs.
November 4, 2009
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Cheney Reaction
“I Can’t Recall” -
Were former Vice President Dick Cheney’s vague responses to the FBI during the Valerie Plame affair clever question dodging or did he really not remember?
November 3, 2009
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Hamid Karzai
Crooked Victory? -
Hamid Karzai’s default election victory in Afghanistan spells difficulties for the supporters of the cancelled run-off, including President Barack Obama.
November 3, 2009
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Debt Default
Going Broke? -
What happens if America and other rich nations like Japan and Britain default on their massive debts and end up bankrupt?
November 2, 2009
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Leaky Inquiry
House Ethics -
The ethics of more than 30 lawmakers and their aides have been under scrutiny, according to a leaked report.
October 30, 2009