# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=212 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 213 --- ## [What would have happened if the IDF didn't stop their offensive in Yom Kippur War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-if-the-idf-didnt-stop-their-offensive-in-yom-kippur-war/705297)
**Author:** [@Knowledgable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowledgable)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-happened-if-the-idf-didnt-stop-their-offensive-in-yom-kippur-war/705297 "2014-11-22T07:21:11Z")
The title explains it all. How would the progress of the war change and what would the impacts of the war be on today. If they didn’t stop, I am certain that US would decrease their arms supply to Israel if not stop it … --- ## [Keystone Pipeline vote in the Senate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keystone-pipeline-vote-in-the-senate/705067)
**Author:** [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keystone-pipeline-vote-in-the-senate/705067 "2014-11-21T22:17:18Z")
The vote was 59 (for) to 41 (against). Why didn’t it carry? Why was a 3/5 vote required for passage? What were they voting on? Were they voting to pay for the pipeline? Or just to allow the pipeline? Why does Congre… --- ## [So why aren't the US and its allies fully supportive of Rojava?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-arent-the-us-and-its-allies-fully-supportive-of-rojava/705254)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-arent-the-us-and-its-allies-fully-supportive-of-rojava/705254 "2014-11-21T22:10:11Z")
Last year, I watched a Vice episode that focused on Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan) and then I watched a more in-depth series about it last night on BBC America. The territory, its leaders and its inhabitants promote all of t… --- ## ["Some marriages between consenting adults should be recognized, but not others"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-marriages-between-consenting-adults-should-be-recognized-but-not-others/704988)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 156\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-marriages-between-consenting-adults-should-be-recognized-but-not-others/704988 "2014-11-21T20:26:45Z")
As long as we are referring only to consenting adults, is there any logical argument that could be used in favor of gay marriage that does not apply also to incestuous or polygamous marriage? “Incestuous or polygamous… --- ## [Why is Boehner even trying this lawsuit thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boehner-even-trying-this-lawsuit-thing/692651)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boehner-even-trying-this-lawsuit-thing/692651 "2014-11-21T19:46:49Z")
In his op-ed, Boenher says: If it’s legislation, it can’t pass without the Senate’s approval, and the President can veto it, and no way is there a 2/3 majority in both houses for such a thing, nor will there be after t… --- ## [Long-term prospects for Israel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-prospects-for-israel/705062)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-prospects-for-israel/705062 "2014-11-21T15:03:39Z")
Why not another Israel thread? My feelings are that Israel’s prospects are very poor in the long term if a two-state solution doesn’t happen. Without a two-state solution, Israel will either cease to be a Jewish state … --- ## [Graphology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751 "2014-11-21T14:27:50Z")
I believe that graphology has the capacity to be of scientific value, similar in many ways to how we study body language. I also believe that the large majority of those who practice this are ill informed and unqualified… --- ## [What are the chances that prostitution will be legalized within the next 20 to 30 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-that-prostitution-will-be-legalized-within-the-next-20-to-30-years/703885)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chances-that-prostitution-will-be-legalized-within-the-next-20-to-30-years/703885 "2014-11-21T08:57:10Z")
I don’t really have much interest in today’s current social hot button issues like marijuana and gay marriage. But from memorable experiences during my travels abroad, I will admit that having legalized prostitution back… --- ## [Equal Justice for all](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equal-justice-for-all/705144)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equal-justice-for-all/705144 "2014-11-21T04:46:54Z")
Israel has destroyed the apartment of the person who killed pedestrians by driving a vehicle into them: Should they do the same with these killers: --- ## [Homosexuality is 'unnatural'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-is-unnatural/664031)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 520\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-is-unnatural/664031 "2014-11-21T00:08:49Z")
If you ask most people who are opposed to gay marriage, or simply homosexuality in general, why they oppose it they with inevitably say that homosexuality is somehow ‘not natural’. This has always baffled me as it seems… --- ## [Resolved: Violent Media Does Not Cause Increases in Actual Violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-violent-media-does-not-cause-increases-in-actual-violence/704990)
**Author:** [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-violent-media-does-not-cause-increases-in-actual-violence/704990 "2014-11-20T23:19:07Z")
This is an interesting study, just released a few days ago: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcom.12129/full \[Emphasis added\] \[Please excuse me if there is another thread on this - if so, I missed it\] This… --- ## [Air Power vs ISIS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-power-vs-isis/704972)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-power-vs-isis/704972 "2014-11-20T19:33:53Z")
A quote from an article on Foreign Policy’s page: “Air power advocates say the Air Force could deliver a knockout blow to the Islamic State if allowed to, but instead, it’s relegated to a supporting role to the forces o… --- ## [What's the conservative/liberal/etc. position on the executive/legislative division of power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-conservative-liberal-etc-position-on-the-executive-legislative-division-of-power/705025)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-conservative-liberal-etc-position-on-the-executive-legislative-division-of-power/705025 "2014-11-20T15:01:33Z")
Now the Republicans are calling Obama’s plan to halt deportations by executive action unconstitutional, overstepping his constitutional authority, invading Congress’ turf. In the W years they were defending the “unitary… --- ## [What If Russia Invaded a NATO Country](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-russia-invaded-a-nato-country/703074)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2014, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-russia-invaded-a-nato-country/703074 "2014-11-20T05:36:13Z")
Let’s suppose Russia invaded a NATO country. Say, Estonia. Completely without warning. How precisely would the rest of Nato respond? Do you think they would immediately mobilize and try to liberate? Would we have a ph… --- ## [Without AHCA, where would we (the US) be today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-ahca-where-would-we-the-us-be-today/705012)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/without-ahca-where-would-we-the-us-be-today/705012 "2014-11-20T03:53:44Z")
kind of a GQ/IMHO subject, but there is too much potential for intense debate: Assume that “Obamacare” never passed, or was successfully completely repealed before any of its provisions could have any effect. What would… --- ## [Treat distracted driving the same as DUI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treat-distracted-driving-the-same-as-dui/704923)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treat-distracted-driving-the-same-as-dui/704923 "2014-11-20T03:03:44Z")
There have been many scientific studies showing that talking on a cell phone while driving is more dangerous than driving drunk. Hell, even Mythbusters proved it. The NHSTA says texting and driving is 6 times more dan… --- ## [Is it okay for government to decieve the public to get laws passed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-for-government-to-decieve-the-public-to-get-laws-passed/704548)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 225\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-for-government-to-decieve-the-public-to-get-laws-passed/704548 "2014-11-20T02:45:41Z")
Sure that many of you have seen the Jonathan Gruber (architect of the Affordable Care Act) video where he states that the law was purposefully written in a non-transparent way to better insure that it was not clearly und… --- ## [Is "Negro" a racist term?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-a-racist-term/120072)
**Author:** [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-negro-a-racist-term/120072 "2014-11-19T18:03:53Z")
I’ve noticed that on old shows like Dragnet that blacks are refered to as “Negros”. If someone were to use that term today, would it be considered a racist term? --- ## [Does "you have to work to make a living" = "some people just deserve to die"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-you-have-to-work-to-make-a-living-some-people-just-deserve-to-die/704919)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-you-have-to-work-to-make-a-living-some-people-just-deserve-to-die/704919 "2014-11-19T16:39:08Z")
This is a sentiment I found online that is, of course, popular (especially since it’s used to argue for free basic necessities like food, water, shelter, and more), but I thought it would be worthy of good debate. Of po… --- ## [Where do you stand on the Bill Maher/Ben Affleck argument?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-stand-on-the-bill-maher-ben-affleck-argument/700589)
**Author:** [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Replies:** 562\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-you-stand-on-the-bill-maher-ben-affleck-argument/700589 "2014-11-19T02:20:07Z")
If you haven’t seen it, last Friday on Bill Maher’s HBO show Affleck and Maher got into a very heated debate about whether Islam is a different sort of religion in practice and that liberals are failing in refusing to de… --- ## [If you knowingly get drunk, should you be held accountable for what you do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-knowingly-get-drunk-should-you-be-held-accountable-for-what-you-do/127919)
**Author:** [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-knowingly-get-drunk-should-you-be-held-accountable-for-what-you-do/127919 "2014-11-19T01:37:03Z")
I was wondering about this. One of the reasons that I will never knowingly touch any drugs is that while I know how easy it is to not notice how much one has consumed while one is consuming, and that after one drink, I … --- ## [Well, well, It looks like the government CAN pick winners and losers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-it-looks-like-the-government-can-pick-winners-and-losers/704765)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-well-it-looks-like-the-government-can-pick-winners-and-losers/704765 "2014-11-18T19:59:56Z")
And they pick more winners than losers, with a better track record than most venture capital investors: Solyndra loan program vilified by Republicans turns a profit Federal investing in a clean energy future is entire… --- ## [Will other recreational drugs be medicalized anytime soon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-other-recreational-drugs-be-medicalized-anytime-soon/704930)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-other-recreational-drugs-be-medicalized-anytime-soon/704930 "2014-11-18T17:28:28Z")
LSD, mushrooms, MDMA, DMT, ibogaine, etc. all have benefits for a variety of addictions and psychological problems. LSD could treat cluster headaches. etc. With the war on drugs losing popularity, one would hope, are an… --- ## [Halbig v. Burwell ruling against Obamacare subsides](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halbig-v-burwell-ruling-against-obamacare-subsides/693740)
**Author:** [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Replies:** 461\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halbig-v-burwell-ruling-against-obamacare-subsides/693740 "2014-11-18T15:17:20Z")
The Halbig v. Burwell decision of the three judge panel of the DC Appeals court is in and the administration has taken a loss. By a 2-1 ruling the panel ruled that persons receiving an insurance premium subsidy in one o… --- ## [The death of General Aviation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-death-of-general-aviation/703327)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-death-of-general-aviation/703327 "2014-11-18T04:43:25Z")
On page 9 of The Great Ongoing General Aviation Thread, I posted this: It is a graph of the cost of the Cessna 172 from 1956 to the present, and a graph of the U.S. median income from 1967 to 2013. For much of the pro… --- ## [Total number of deaths from religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-number-of-deaths-from-religion/704834)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-number-of-deaths-from-religion/704834 "2014-11-18T01:12:14Z")
How many people have died because of religion? Including war, genocide, terrorism, witch hunts, botched exorcisms, forgone medical treatment, etc? --- ## [Against Same Sex and Different Sex Marriage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-same-sex-and-different-sex-marriage/678783)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-same-sex-and-different-sex-marriage/678783 "2014-11-17T20:17:36Z")
The problem with the debate about Same SexMarriage is that we are not sure what marriage is really for. Until a century ago, marriage was a relationship between an economically active man and a child rearing women with l… --- ## [Game changing tech in space exploration?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-changing-tech-in-space-exploration/704483)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-changing-tech-in-space-exploration/704483 "2014-11-17T19:57:31Z")
Dopers, what game changing technologies or accomplishments do you think we will see in our lifetimes (we’ll say the next 50 years, though that would be quite an accomplishment for me if I lived that many more years :p)? … --- ## [Have there been studies on the effects on males who have sex with older women (usually teachers)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-studies-on-the-effects-on-males-who-have-sex-with-older-women-usually-teachers/702203)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-studies-on-the-effects-on-males-who-have-sex-with-older-women-usually-teachers/702203 "2014-11-17T19:30:25Z")
For the millionth time, I saw an article about how some female teacher was busted for having sex with her underage student. For the millionth time, the same reactions: “Man, I wish a hot teacher would have fucked me wh… --- ## [Obama: Lame Duck You Say?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-lame-duck-you-say/704553)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-lame-duck-you-say/704553 "2014-11-14T16:18:52Z")
Since the legislative and executive branches of our government will be handcuffed by each other for the next 2 years, will we see more of Obama using his Executive privileges? What else can we expect (in addition to o… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=211) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=213)