# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=238 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 239 --- ## [Would This Anti-Gay Law Be 'Unconstitutional'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-anti-gay-law-be-unconstitutional/683914)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-anti-gay-law-be-unconstitutional/683914 "2014-03-24T17:29:34Z")
Boy, I hope GD is the place for this topic. I thought of IMHO. But it says it is for “less-than-cosmic topics”, which as you will see, this is definitely not. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I read about this … --- ## [Historic re-enactors dressing up as Nazis at a private party. Is that kosher?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-re-enactors-dressing-up-as-nazis-at-a-private-party-is-that-kosher/683992)
**Author:** [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Replies:** 259\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-re-enactors-dressing-up-as-nazis-at-a-private-party-is-that-kosher/683992 "2014-03-24T14:30:16Z")
A group of historical re-enactors (I really want to put that in quotes, because I’m not personally convinced they are) have been having a yearly party at a German restaurant in Minneapolis, MN. Pictures have surfaced of … --- ## [Cultural modeling by Safa Motesharrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-modeling-by-safa-motesharrei/684344)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-modeling-by-safa-motesharrei/684344 "2014-03-24T01:21:26Z")
I did not see this being discussed here. I am trying to avoid the incendiary rhetoric that I see surrounding it. Human and Nature Dynamics study (small pdf) He is designing system models (algorithms) to apply to human … --- ## [If 2nd Amendment clearly did not guarantee private firearm possession....then what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-2nd-amendment-clearly-did-not-guarantee-private-firearm-possession-then-what/683922)
**Author:** [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-2nd-amendment-clearly-did-not-guarantee-private-firearm-possession-then-what/683922 "2014-03-24T00:36:06Z")
Let’s say that the 2nd Amendment, instead of being a little “murky” on its intent, was very explicit and clearly understood. Rather than guaranteeing the right to private firearm ownership, it was silent on that point. … --- ## [Urban Ghettos and the influx of latinos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-ghettos-and-the-influx-of-latinos/684254)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-ghettos-and-the-influx-of-latinos/684254 "2014-03-22T23:31:34Z")
My debate will be " Is the influx of Latinos into large American cities helping or hurting the challenge of urban renewal?" Based purely on personnal observation over a 60 year period my feelings are that the Latino pop… --- ## [Scientific perspective on the soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-perspective-on-the-soul/683512)
**Author:** [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Replies:** 190\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-perspective-on-the-soul/683512 "2014-03-22T22:26:56Z")
Every religion I have read about (Eastern and Western) talk about every sentient organism having a ‘soul’. It is one thing all religions seem to agree on - everyone has a soul, and something happens to it upon death. The… --- ## [After Tsarnaev is in the ground, should America reconsider its capital punishment policy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-tsarnaev-is-in-the-ground-should-america-reconsider-its-capital-punishment-policy/684052)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-tsarnaev-is-in-the-ground-should-america-reconsider-its-capital-punishment-policy/684052 "2014-03-22T14:01:42Z")
Other Western democracies have abolished capital punishment. It is too barbaric on the face of it. The State dirties itself when it deals death, even to criminals, and besides, once in a blue moon the wrong person is exe… --- ## [What Pakistan knew about Bin Laden](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pakistan-knew-about-bin-laden/684144)
**Author:** [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-pakistan-knew-about-bin-laden/684144 "2014-03-22T00:27:42Z")
A new article in the NYT has again raised the issue of the Pakistani government’s knowledge of Bin Laden’s activities inside Pakistan. It’s a long form article which is in general a pretty scathing indictment of Pakistan… --- ## [What are the negative and positive effects of guns in society?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-negative-and-positive-effects-of-guns-in-society/683895)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-negative-and-positive-effects-of-guns-in-society/683895 "2014-03-21T01:06:31Z")
Every thread that tangentially involves guns eventually hijcaked into an argument about whether or not guns are good or bad for society. So given the current situation, is there any chance that we can repeal the second … --- ## [Correct my understanding of the First Amendment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-my-understanding-of-the-first-amendment/683631)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-my-understanding-of-the-first-amendment/683631 "2014-03-20T21:40:54Z")
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to … --- ## [How much of poverty is the poor persons responsiblity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-poverty-is-the-poor-persons-responsiblity/683375)
**Author:** [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Replies:** 183\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-poverty-is-the-poor-persons-responsiblity/683375 "2014-03-20T16:41:39Z")
Over in this thread Marly23 states: That question implies that poor people are actually poor for reasons other than choices that the poor person makes. I accept that for a certain percentage of the poor there are circ… --- ## [Choosing where your taxes go](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-where-your-taxes-go/683807)
**Author:** [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choosing-where-your-taxes-go/683807 "2014-03-20T15:18:38Z")
Recently I had an idea which seemed a bit crazy to me. I tried to find as many flaws in it as I could, but I came up with many positives and few negatives. Thus, I’m turning this idea over to the SDMB, in the hopes that … --- ## [Diesel vs. Gasoline (polution related)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-vs-gasoline-polution-related/684080)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2014, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diesel-vs-gasoline-polution-related/684080 "2014-03-20T08:59:27Z")
A recent news clip showed that the city of Paris (fr) banned 1/2 the cars to get smog under control. Good thing it worked. Here is the link: Paris car ban stopped after one day | Paris | The Guardian Two short clips f… --- ## [X-20 vs Mercury?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-20-vs-mercury/683961)
**Author:** [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-20-vs-mercury/683961 "2014-03-20T05:40:38Z")
The X-20 Dyna Soar was planned to be the Air Force/NACA’s follow up to the X-15. It was a reusable spaceplane capable of orbital flight. The Mercury spacecraft/concept was basically taken from the AF’s Man In Space Soone… --- ## [Settle This Union Discussion/Debate...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-this-union-discussion-debate/684005)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settle-this-union-discussion-debate/684005 "2014-03-19T17:35:03Z")
So a friend of mine is a dyed in the wool union die hard and has been recently ranting and protesting against a small to mid size local business because they opted to use a non union backed company for some rather expens… --- ## [Ninth Circuit sides with school in banning American flag on Cinco de Mayo.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ninth-circuit-sides-with-school-in-banning-american-flag-on-cinco-de-mayo/682512)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 227\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ninth-circuit-sides-with-school-in-banning-american-flag-on-cinco-de-mayo/682512 "2014-03-19T17:00:01Z")
Link. I understand that the school has leeway in protecting the students, but in upholding this they are legitimizing the potential violence that might arise from kids wearing t-shirts with the American flag on them. Th… --- ## [Small business in a Marxist economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-business-in-a-marxist-economy/683737)
**Author:** [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-business-in-a-marxist-economy/683737 "2014-03-19T16:17:14Z")
How would a small business like a restaurant, a dress shop, a day care center or a put put course be run? --- ## [Newspaper endorsements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-endorsements/684061)
**Author:** [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-endorsements/684061 "2014-03-19T14:47:21Z")
So today I voted in Illinois’ primary election. I pretty much voted how the Chicago Tribune told me to. Their endorsement page leads to an editorial they wrote in 2012, about why they endorse candidates. Specifically,… --- ## [Should responsible couples have a baby in today's world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-responsible-couples-have-a-baby-in-todays-world/683340)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2014, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-responsible-couples-have-a-baby-in-todays-world/683340 "2014-03-19T06:25:37Z")
Are you considering having a baby and raising a happy child? Think again. The future of Earth may not favor mankind as much as it used to. The world’s population has tripled in the last 60 years and 50 years from now th… --- ## [How can revolution be "illegal?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-revolution-be-illegal/683917)
**Author:** [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-revolution-be-illegal/683917 "2014-03-18T16:11:34Z")
This is something that has bugged me for a while. I heard someone ask one time if the American Revolution was “illegal.” Now I see it coming up with places like Kosovo and Crimea… they secede from their parent country … --- ## [Why was/is such a high value placed on "heredity"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-such-a-high-value-placed-on-heredity/683930)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-is-such-a-high-value-placed-on-heredity/683930 "2014-03-18T14:36:14Z")
To be clear, I’m not talking about the right to inherent wealth and property from your parents. I’m referring more to how back in the day, leadership was often determined by hereditary blood lines. The concept that som… --- ## [US to relinquish control of the net](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-to-relinquish-control-of-the-net/683742)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-to-relinquish-control-of-the-net/683742 "2014-03-18T00:22:10Z")
Here’s the story. I’m not even American (I’m English) but I find this a little worrying. The US represents the same liberal freedom-protective tradition that the UK shares. To be blunt that is not a tradition that many… --- ## [What Non-Governmental Group was the Most Atrocious/Evil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-non-governmental-group-was-the-most-atrocious-evil/682535)
**Author:** [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-non-governmental-group-was-the-most-atrocious-evil/682535 "2014-03-17T14:37:43Z")
I think we can all agree that if a group has the levers of governmental power (especially the military), they can commit atrocities and evil on a gigantic scale. Obviously, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao’s regimes spring to mi… --- ## [Fannie, Freddie could send $179.2 billion to taxpayers: White House (exact headline)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fannie-freddie-could-send-179-2-billion-to-taxpayers-white-house-exact-headline/683388)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fannie-freddie-could-send-179-2-billion-to-taxpayers-white-house-exact-headline/683388 "2014-03-17T05:25:50Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/fannie-freddie-could-send-179-2-billion-taxpayers-175239683--sector.html So, what should be done with these enormous profits now that taxpayers have been repaid? Should we keep them to pay down t… --- ## [Are you a Christian, but actually a Jew?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian-but-actually-a-jew/683454)
**Author:** [@GeorgeLTirebiter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeorgeLTirebiter)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-christian-but-actually-a-jew/683454 "2014-03-16T20:44:50Z")
\> Dear Cecil, \> \> There seems to be a general consensus that people - Jews and \> Christians alike, that Jesus Christ, regardless of his manner of \> conception, was born and raised a Jew. He purportedly remained so \>… --- ## [Supreme Court modifies Georgia v. Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-modifies-georgia-v-randolph/683457)
**Author:** [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-modifies-georgia-v-randolph/683457 "2014-03-16T16:14:52Z")
Was his Constitutional rights violated? How would you vote? --- ## [Will gay acceptance erode the Bible's authority?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gay-acceptance-erode-the-bibles-authority/682414)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 230\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gay-acceptance-erode-the-bibles-authority/682414 "2014-03-16T16:08:56Z")
Assuming gay acceptance continues its trend and eventually becomes a non-issue, will the Bible be taken less seriously as a source of authority? The argument I see that leads to “yes” is that a society that openly accep… --- ## [Why is our universe so good at organizing itself.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-our-universe-so-good-at-organizing-itself/683450)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-our-universe-so-good-at-organizing-itself/683450 "2014-03-15T19:47:15Z")
Let me back up here first… From what we can tell, life on earth exploded not much longer after earth itself formed, relatively speaking (within the first billion years). Life can be seen as some localized “reversal of … --- ## [Russia has invaded Ukraine. How should the West respond?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-has-invaded-ukraine-how-should-the-west-respond/682772)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-has-invaded-ukraine-how-should-the-west-respond/682772 "2014-03-15T03:14:09Z")
Spinoff from this thread, “should” being a very different question from “will” and debatable in its own right. I say, with nothing beyond economic sanctions. Let’s not stir up an actual war if it can be avoided. What … --- ## [Colorado's marijuana tax revenue (January)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-marijuana-tax-revenue-january/683418)
**Author:** [@BrokenBriton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrokenBriton)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorados-marijuana-tax-revenue-january/683418 "2014-03-15T01:27:50Z")
Further to this thread ’ Colorado: the beginning of the end of Prohibition (recreational cannabis use)?'. Revenue for January is presumably distorted by the novelty/unique value but looks, at the very least, pretty int… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=237) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=239)