# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=223 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 224 --- ## [Should an election be cancelled if the candidate is running unopposed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-election-be-cancelled-if-the-candidate-is-running-unopposed/695091)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-an-election-be-cancelled-if-the-candidate-is-running-unopposed/695091 "2014-08-13T23:26:56Z")
It seems like an enormous waste of taxpayer money to run an election where there is only one candidate. If no challengers join the election before the deadline, then it should simply be cancelled and the candidate wins … --- ## [Why does the U.S still have the death penalty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-u-s-still-have-the-death-penalty/694102)
**Author:** [@EndlessEntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EndlessEntropy)\ **Replies:** 178\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-u-s-still-have-the-death-penalty/694102 "2014-08-13T21:36:38Z")
Except for Belarus, the number of European countries with the death penalty is 0. Aside from Japan, the U.S is now in the same club as China, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. Isn’t that a worrying fact and a si… --- ## [How true is the Dictator's quote "US media is free but controlled by one person and his family"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-true-is-the-dictators-quote-us-media-is-free-but-controlled-by-one-person-and-his-family/694768)
**Author:** [@guesswhoiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guesswhoiam)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2014, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-true-is-the-dictators-quote-us-media-is-free-but-controlled-by-one-person-and-his-family/694768 "2014-08-13T12:07:45Z")
One of the memorable quote from the movie The Dictator is when the General sarcastically try to convince Americans about the supposed benefits of dictatorships: How true is the bolded accusation? At least about the maj… --- ## [Is civil war in Egypt averted? 90% yes for new Constitution.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-civil-war-in-egypt-averted-90-yes-for-new-constitution/679071)
**Author:** [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Replies:** 1043\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-civil-war-in-egypt-averted-90-yes-for-new-constitution/679071 "2014-08-12T19:32:30Z")
All the predictions of bloody civil war in Egypt appear to be quite wrong with this weeks news from that country. Is civil war likelihood vanished before our very eyes? Is fundamentalist Islam ceasing to be a threat in E… --- ## [U.S.A.F. Academy Integrity, or Coverup?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-f-academy-integrity-or-coverup/695241)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-f-academy-integrity-or-coverup/695241 "2014-08-12T18:38:27Z")
In this latest of NY Times articles on problems at the U.S. Air Force Academy they talk about an informant put in place by the OSI because of complaints of sexual harassment. Quite a bit seems to have been uncovered in m… --- ## [Will Clayton Locketts Torture be the Rosa Parks moment of the Campaign against judicial killing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-clayton-locketts-torture-be-the-rosa-parks-moment-of-the-campaign-against-judicial-killing/687339)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 672\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-clayton-locketts-torture-be-the-rosa-parks-moment-of-the-campaign-against-judicial-killing/687339 "2014-08-12T16:33:57Z")
Possibly just the result that any Judicial Killing opponent needed. Amateur hour at the Death Chamber. The Drugs did not work, just as the lawyers had suggested in the lawsuit turned down by the Courts. Certainly Cr… --- ## [What would North Vietnam accepted as terms for peace in 1968.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-north-vietnam-accepted-as-terms-for-peace-in-1968/695234)
**Author:** [@TheZenPaperboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheZenPaperboy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-north-vietnam-accepted-as-terms-for-peace-in-1968/695234 "2014-08-12T00:32:57Z")
Mentioned in the Nixon thread about how he sabotaged the 1968 peace talks. What plan did LBJ have that would have got all parties to sign a peace treaty. I thought that the North Vietnamese were fighting a civil war, the… --- ## [Why the lack of controversy over mutagenic organisms?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lack-of-controversy-over-mutagenic-organisms/694997)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lack-of-controversy-over-mutagenic-organisms/694997 "2014-08-11T18:25:52Z")
I may not agree with it but I totally get the controversy over GMO foods. However, I’m curious why there’s not a similar outrage over mutation breeding. It seems to perfectly tap into many of the same complaints and fea… --- ## [Crash Victims in Ukraine: Why Isn't Europe Doing Anything](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-victims-in-ukraine-why-isnt-europe-doing-anything/694444)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-victims-in-ukraine-why-isnt-europe-doing-anything/694444 "2014-08-11T11:54:40Z")
It seems to me that the Dutch in particular have a legitimate axe to grind over the situation in Ukraine. As I understand it, there are still a number of bodies rotting in the field there, and due to security concern the… --- ## [James Brady's death ruled homicide - from bullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-bradys-death-ruled-homicide-from-bullet/695128)
**Author:** [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-bradys-death-ruled-homicide-from-bullet/695128 "2014-08-11T07:45:38Z")
Article. How can a bullet fired in 1981 kill someone in 2014? Has this kind of latency in the cause of death from a gunshot happened before? --- ## [Isn't It Time to Quit Hunting World War II Nazis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-time-to-quit-hunting-world-war-ii-nazis/693909)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-time-to-quit-hunting-world-war-ii-nazis/693909 "2014-08-10T09:31:26Z")
"German efforts to prosecute aging war criminals suffered a setback this week with the death of a retired Philadelphia toolmaker who had long been in the crosshairs of Nazi hunters. Bavarian prosecutors had hoped to ext… --- ## [Has Putin shot himself in the foot by blocking food imports?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-putin-shot-himself-in-the-foot-by-blocking-food-imports/695085)
**Author:** [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-putin-shot-himself-in-the-foot-by-blocking-food-imports/695085 "2014-08-10T04:45:12Z")
According to this NPR Piece (audio only) it was reported that Russia will suffer the most from Putin’s America and European food import ban. It says that America will be hurt the least, as food imports to Russia account… --- ## [Does "Forrest Gump" make fun of dumb people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-forrest-gump-make-fun-of-dumb-people/695022)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-forrest-gump-make-fun-of-dumb-people/695022 "2014-08-09T04:09:11Z")
After reading this opinion piece in which the father of a Down-Syndrome child objects to a comedian’s DS joke, the movie “Forrest Gump” popped into my mind. Gump is never explicitly declared to be mentally retarded, bu… --- ## [Jesus and the woman taken in adultry: Where was the guy???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-and-the-woman-taken-in-adultry-where-was-the-guy/695033)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-and-the-woman-taken-in-adultry-where-was-the-guy/695033 "2014-08-08T23:21:25Z")
This has always bugged the hell out of me. How in God’s green grasses did this woman commit adultery all by herself? Why was the guy not brought before Jesus? Was he just allowed to skip la-de-da back to his three wives… --- ## [Which early Christian heresy are you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-early-christian-heresy-are-you/694314)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-early-christian-heresy-are-you/694314 "2014-08-08T19:27:27Z")
This isn’t a debate, but it’s sort of related to witnessing? Anyhow, I had to share this, it’s silliest quiz ever (with some education at the end to top it off): Which Early Christian Heresy Are You? --- ## [Gun-carrying doctor stops killer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-carrying-doctor-stops-killer/693995)
**Author:** [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-carrying-doctor-stops-killer/693995 "2014-08-08T13:54:13Z")
http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/doctor-patient-killed-case-worker-before-gunfight The doctor was defying a policy “barring anyone except on-duty law enforcement officers from carrying weapons anywhere on its campus.”… --- ## [Economic solution to the Gaza conflict?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-solution-to-the-gaza-conflict/693778)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 167\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-solution-to-the-gaza-conflict/693778 "2014-08-08T04:19:12Z")
The US currently spends about $3 billion per year in direct military aid to Israel. In addition, there’s another one billion that’s gone to special projects like Iron Dome, and an indeterminate amount of indirect aid, li… --- ## [Voting. Taxation without representation. Rights or privileges?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-taxation-without-representation-rights-or-privileges/694920)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-taxation-without-representation-rights-or-privileges/694920 "2014-08-08T03:03:31Z")
A felon isn’t allowed to vote while on probation. At least in most states. Or all. Not sure but this still applies if it’s only one county in any jurisdiction. Does that make voting a right or a privilege? Rights accord… --- ## [If Britain had stayed out of WW1?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-britain-had-stayed-out-of-ww1/508336)
**Author:** [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-britain-had-stayed-out-of-ww1/508336 "2014-08-07T16:43:31Z")
Bertrand Russell and others have argued that Britain should have stayed out of WW1 which would probably have led to a German victory but would have avoided the horrendous bloodshed of the war as well as the rise of Commu… --- ## [Unenforceable Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unenforceable-laws/689928)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unenforceable-laws/689928 "2014-08-07T15:20:48Z")
There’s been a lot of discussion about the legality of President Obama’s actions WRT the prisoner swap. Without getting into whether in fact his actions in this particular case were legal or illegal (or constitutional or… --- ## [The Concept of Just War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-just-war/694935)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-just-war/694935 "2014-08-06T16:19:01Z")
The situation in Gaza has led to much discussion over whether either side are engaging in a Just War or whether either is committing potential war crimes by ignoring International Law. A recent resignation by a UK minis… --- ## [Can/should the irresponsible handling of guns be specifically targeted by law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-the-irresponsible-handling-of-guns-be-specifically-targeted-by-law/694868)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-should-the-irresponsible-handling-of-guns-be-specifically-targeted-by-law/694868 "2014-08-06T02:19:58Z")
Just read this article (in summary – someone is showing off his gun collection, one goes off, and shoots a pregnant woman in the head). The article notes that “Police are still investigating the incident, but believe it… --- ## [A Prominent British Jew speaks the truth about Israel and Palestine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prominent-british-jew-speaks-the-truth-about-israel-and-palestine/694030)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 222\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prominent-british-jew-speaks-the-truth-about-israel-and-palestine/694030 "2014-08-05T23:40:22Z")
A brave and wise man. Wait for the Israeli embassy to denigrate him in the media. --- ## [Egyptian Archaeology and Biblical History](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-archaeology-and-biblical-history/693662)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egyptian-archaeology-and-biblical-history/693662 "2014-08-05T20:45:21Z")
The Bible tells us a Hebrew slave from the land of Canaan named Joseph gained favor in the eyes of Pharoah and grew in power as an administrator, pretty much running all of Egypt. Later, all the hebrews were enslaved, u… --- ## [US warrants for digital data extending into foreign soverrign countries.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-warrants-for-digital-data-extending-into-foreign-soverrign-countries/694522)
**Author:** [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-warrants-for-digital-data-extending-into-foreign-soverrign-countries/694522 "2014-08-05T15:40:28Z")
NY Judge: US Warrant Can Reach Email in Ireland I haven’t fully formulated my opinion on this, but I’m leaning towards it being a bad idea of the Pandora’s Box variety. With no Hope knocking to get out at the end of t… --- ## [Why doesn't Egypt assist Gaza (or do they?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-egypt-assist-gaza-or-do-they/694534)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-egypt-assist-gaza-or-do-they/694534 "2014-08-05T03:44:08Z")
Hopefully there is not already a thread on this. Im a novice at best when it comes to very complex situation between Israel and the Palestines. At the moment of course, the Gaza conflict is the most pressing. Please en… --- ## [Asymmetric Warfare and Proportionality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asymmetric-warfare-and-proportionality/694579)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asymmetric-warfare-and-proportionality/694579 "2014-08-05T03:37:49Z")
I have been waiting for Hamas to secure a hostage- Israel have made it clear that one of their only interests is to secure its own citizens and have paid a high price to rescue such abductees before. Perhaps there will b… --- ## [Have guns ever been confiscated in America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-guns-ever-been-confiscated-in-america/694628)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-guns-ever-been-confiscated-in-america/694628 "2014-08-05T02:00:14Z")
I tried looking it up online but all the hits you get when you enter “gun confiscation” and “firearms confiscation” are discussing theoretical future threats rather than historical acts. So can somebody tell me what law… --- ## [How might society change?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-might-society-change/694363)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-might-society-change/694363 "2014-08-04T21:06:36Z")
If the powers of the world agreed that matters of ethics and morals will be dealt with on a basis of purely rational decisions. This would involve all areas of our lives, education, religion, justice, social etc. --- ## [Are smartphones a waste of potential?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-smartphones-a-waste-of-potential/694422)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-smartphones-a-waste-of-potential/694422 "2014-08-04T02:44:24Z")
Here is a link to the specs of the GS5. Samsung Galaxy S5 - Full phone specifications So what are we using all that power for? You can’t edit videos very well or play high-end games with a touchscreen. I guess it cou… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=222) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=224)