# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=237 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 238 --- ## [Are we destined to enter a "post-antibiotic" era?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-destined-to-enter-a-post-antibiotic-era/684940)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2014, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-destined-to-enter-a-post-antibiotic-era/684940 "2014-03-31T12:33:03Z")
The linked article refers to arguments that if things keep going the way they are, we’ll eventually enter an era in which antibiotics will be irrelevant because there will be too many bugs that are completely anti-biot… --- ## [Should Obama be visiting Saudi Arabia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-be-visiting-saudi-arabia/684782)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-obama-be-visiting-saudi-arabia/684782 "2014-03-29T21:52:51Z")
OK, I understand that Realpolitik means we probably have to do business with this government but a Presidential visit? What’s the next stop? Uganda? Because let’s face it, vile as the anti-gay laws are in Uganda it is Pi… --- ## [Maryland House Budget bill sez: House of Cards, You CAN'T Leave...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maryland-house-budget-bill-sez-house-of-cards-you-cant-leave/684770)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maryland-house-budget-bill-sez-house-of-cards-you-cant-leave/684770 "2014-03-29T19:28:22Z")
…or we’ll seize your film equipment. As Dave Barry used to say, I am not making this up: This is a very unwise choice of how to exercise the power of eminent domain. --- ## [Gay marriage in Michigan, children, and divorce](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-in-michigan-children-and-divorce/684440)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-in-michigan-children-and-divorce/684440 "2014-03-29T19:18:30Z")
So last week, a U.S. District Judge ruled that the amendment to Michigan’s state constitution which defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman, passed by voters in 2004, to be unconstitutional. The state, in d… --- ## [Should Australia award knighthoods?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-australia-award-knighthoods/684574)
**Author:** [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2014, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-australia-award-knighthoods/684574 "2014-03-29T09:39:52Z")
Abbott has just announced plans to award the title knight/dame to distinguished Australians. Do you agree with this? --- ## [What will be the Ukraine crisis' long-term internal political effect in Russia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-ukraine-crisis-long-term-internal-political-effect-in-russia/683583)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-ukraine-crisis-long-term-internal-political-effect-in-russia/683583 "2014-03-29T02:43:57Z")
At present, Russia is a democracy the way Mexico in the decades of PRI hegemony was a democracy, i.e., to some limited extent and with some real if usually impotent opposition. I’m sure Putin’s actions always do have po… --- ## [Turkish government bans YouTube and Twitter after damning leaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkish-government-bans-youtube-and-twitter-after-damning-leaks/684769)
**Author:** [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkish-government-bans-youtube-and-twitter-after-damning-leaks/684769 "2014-03-28T19:48:10Z")
From Al-Jazeera English: And the audio leaks, if authentic, are very damaging indeed. This recording, purporting to be key members of the Turkish government and military, suggests that they were at least considering a… --- ## [Just say Gurkha](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-say-gurkha/85781)
**Author:** [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-say-gurkha/85781 "2014-03-28T19:29:06Z")
I tried posting this question elsewhere, but I think I selected the wrong forum and didn’t word my query very well. Here it goes again: Since(A) Gurkhas are already acknowledged as some of the fiercest fighters in the w… --- ## [Crimea is Russian. What now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crimea-is-russian-what-now/684011)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crimea-is-russian-what-now/684011 "2014-03-28T19:01:27Z")
For Russia. What the next territory they are going to covet? ARe they going to push further in Europe? C Asia? The latter might make countries like China, Iran, Pakistan and India vert very unhappy. For the West/US Th… --- ## [Suicide by Cop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cop/684517)
**Author:** [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cop/684517 "2014-03-28T14:00:03Z")
This is an easy one. Everyone knows about Suicide By Cop. Some deranged dude rocks up and does something unpleasant in the hope he/she will be killed by the gun-toting cops who rock up. Or is it actually easy? That’s wh… --- ## [Has a false accusation of racism ever caused significant harm to anyone in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-false-accusation-of-racism-ever-caused-significant-harm-to-anyone-in-the-us/684635)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-false-accusation-of-racism-ever-caused-significant-harm-to-anyone-in-the-us/684635 "2014-03-28T05:09:58Z")
In this thread, we were discussing (among other things) false accusations of racism, and how (supposedly) they are common and harmful. So I challenged on the harmful bit, asking the question “Has a false accusation of r… --- ## [The southern states secede but do not form a confederation. Could the Civil War have occurred?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-southern-states-secede-but-do-not-form-a-confederation-could-the-civil-war-have-occurred/684655)
**Author:** [@ombre12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre12)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-southern-states-secede-but-do-not-form-a-confederation-could-the-civil-war-have-occurred/684655 "2014-03-27T22:46:38Z")
South Carolina attacked Fort Sumter…giving Lincoln an excuse to invade.only…South Carolina. Suppose the other secessionist states said "You are at war with South Carolina only. Retake the fort by sea if you choose to… --- ## [SSM between heterosexual partners?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ssm-between-heterosexual-partners/684308)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ssm-between-heterosexual-partners/684308 "2014-03-27T17:55:58Z")
This is sort of a subforum-crossing notion, so rather than put it in GQ because the initial question is factual and have it moved because the rest is speculative… Have there been any same-gender marriages between avowed… --- ## [Evidence we're not living in a simulation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-were-not-living-in-a-simulation/681804)
**Author:** [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-were-not-living-in-a-simulation/681804 "2014-03-27T16:51:46Z")
I know this has been done on the boards before, but I couldn’t find the threads using the search function. Anyway, what are the philosophical arguments against the idea that we’re living in some Matrix-type simulation? F… --- ## [What exactly is a 'healthy diet', is there a scientific consensus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-healthy-diet-is-there-a-scientific-consensus/589611)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-healthy-diet-is-there-a-scientific-consensus/589611 "2014-03-27T04:46:26Z")
The definition of a healthy diet (my defintion: one that improves a persons physical and mental health irrespective of impact on bodyweight) seems highly varied from author to author. The only common threads I have seen … --- ## [Upper Middle Class: A Separate Entity from the Middle Class?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upper-middle-class-a-separate-entity-from-the-middle-class/681813)
**Author:** [@Jumpin-Jack-Flash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpin-Jack-Flash)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upper-middle-class-a-separate-entity-from-the-middle-class/681813 "2014-03-26T22:17:06Z")
In your opinion, what differentiates the upper-middle-class from the middle-class? Are they really different? If so, what makes the upper middle class a separate entity? --- ## [Lee as a Union general](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lee-as-a-union-general/684533)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lee-as-a-union-general/684533 "2014-03-26T18:49:31Z")
Way back when I was in high school we were told that one of the few areas in which the Union was outmatched by the confederacy, at least early in the war, was in the quality of their Generals. I also understand that Lee… --- ## [Does the Buffet Challenge debunk psychic powers once and for all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244)
**Author:** [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-buffet-challenge-debunk-psychic-powers-once-and-for-all/684244 "2014-03-26T12:40:33Z")
In case you don’t already know, Warren Buffett and Quicken Loans are running a contest where you win a billion dollars if you pick all 63 winners in the NCAA basketball tournament. Entries closed a couple of days ago. T… --- ## [The Dakotas and Manitoba/Unemployment rate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dakotas-and-manitoba-unemployment-rate/565320)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dakotas-and-manitoba-unemployment-rate/565320 "2014-03-26T01:06:59Z")
North Dakota has the lowest unemplyment rate in the US at 3.8%. Head south to South Dakota and they have the second best unemployment rate at 4.5%. Head north across the border and Manitoba has the lowest unemployment ra… --- ## [Can you beat germs by waiting them out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-germs-by-waiting-them-out/684543)
**Author:** [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-beat-germs-by-waiting-them-out/684543 "2014-03-25T23:34:39Z")
Everything says that flu germs last 1-2 days on hard surfaces, 8 hours or akin on fabric, and 2 WEEKS on paper. So if I think these surfaces in my home have been exposed to flu germs, I don’t have to clean them if I jus… --- ## [Apparently, baby boomers haven't saved for retirement; What happens next?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-baby-boomers-havent-saved-for-retirement-what-happens-next/683991)
**Author:** [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-baby-boomers-havent-saved-for-retirement-what-happens-next/683991 "2014-03-25T23:29:24Z")
As if we needed another financial crisis… According to these articles, baby boomers aren’t just a little behind on their savings. They’re in deep trouble. Time says the average 55-65 has less than 120K to draw from. … --- ## [OECD Economists Admit Bias, Mistakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oecd-economists-admit-bias-mistakes/683865)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oecd-economists-admit-bias-mistakes/683865 "2014-03-25T22:08:56Z")
So the OECD has released a post-mortem on their economic forecasts during the economic crisis. The key takeaway - their estimates of GDP growth were wildly wrong. For the entire period from 2007-2012, their May predic… --- ## [GMO Foods - Safe? Effective?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-safe-effective/683522)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 263\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmo-foods-safe-effective/683522 "2014-03-25T21:46:18Z")
So I recently got into a debate with some friends over GMO on facebook (my folks are old-school hippies, so most of the family friends are also old-school hippies, with all the ignorance of science and neo-ludditism that… --- ## [New Jersey Bans Direct Sales of Cars (Tesla)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jersey-bans-direct-sales-of-cars-tesla/683481)
**Author:** [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-jersey-bans-direct-sales-of-cars-tesla/683481 "2014-03-25T20:07:40Z")
So today the tech world is upset over New Jersey’s rule that bans the direct sales of cars - effectively shutting down the Tesla model (go to New York if you want your car). They join Texas and Arizona in this. In all… --- ## [How can there be a shortage of execution drugs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-there-be-a-shortage-of-execution-drugs/684229)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-there-be-a-shortage-of-execution-drugs/684229 "2014-03-25T19:11:31Z")
Story here. Also here. Apparently it’s a multi-state problem. Here’s what I don’t get: Why don’t they just use the same stuff veterinarians use to euthanize animals? There’s no shortage of that, is there? --- ## [Is "Think of the children!" a red herring?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-think-of-the-children-a-red-herring/683617)
**Author:** [@deryk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deryk)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-think-of-the-children-a-red-herring/683617 "2014-03-25T16:09:37Z")
Or is it a legitimate argument when discussing social issues like welfare? I read an article today about that elementary school that threw away some children’s lunches because their parents had past due lunch bills. A … --- ## [Hey, goldbugs, why gold? Why not silver?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-goldbugs-why-gold-why-not-silver/683782)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-goldbugs-why-gold-why-not-silver/683782 "2014-03-25T13:53:27Z")
I don’t think a metallic currency is a very good idea – you can read some reasons why not here – but if we are to have one, why gold? A dime-sized coin made of pure gold would be worth about $91; a gold dollar coin woul… --- ## [The upcoming Worker's Revolution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-upcoming-workers-revolution/683191)
**Author:** [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Replies:** 229\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-upcoming-workers-revolution/683191 "2014-03-24T23:51:41Z")
Inspired by this post, although I’ve been thinking about this for quite a while. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17174349&postcount=89 I’m a 44 year old woman, and this is troubling me mightily. I ow… --- ## [Are autistics disordered or just different?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-autistics-disordered-or-just-different/684256)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-autistics-disordered-or-just-different/684256 "2014-03-24T20:42:49Z")
This thread Pitting Kristin Cavallari as a celebrity anti-vaxxer got a bit hijacked at this point: While you’re on wiki: Neurodiversity - Wikipedia See for yourself what the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network thi… --- ## [Rescinding a job offer after a negotiation attempt--kosher?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescinding-a-job-offer-after-a-negotiation-attempt-kosher/684263)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescinding-a-job-offer-after-a-negotiation-attempt-kosher/684263 "2014-03-24T18:03:39Z")
Here’s a story from the academic world in which a woman received an offer for a tenure track position, and replied with the following email: The college replied as follows: TLDR: She replied to the offer by attemptin… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=236) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=238)