# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=251 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 252 --- ## [Isis Worship--why so popular?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isis-worship-why-so-popular/674842)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isis-worship-why-so-popular/674842 "2013-11-26T19:24:59Z")
Why was the worship of Isis so popular in the Ancient World? Not only was she worshiped in her native Egypt, but elsewhere as well. Romans began worshiping her around the time Cleopatra & Mark Antony were an item (she … --- ## [Tea Partiers Are Well Versed in Science](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-partiers-are-well-versed-in-science/671574)
**Author:** [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Replies:** 205\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-partiers-are-well-versed-in-science/671574 "2013-11-26T15:24:29Z")
This study explodes a lefty talking point. What are your thoughts? --- ## [What if everybody had known about the Holocaust?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-everybody-had-known-about-the-holocaust/674703)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-everybody-had-known-about-the-holocaust/674703 "2013-11-26T05:06:46Z")
Reading about the Holocaust, one of the things that jumps out (other than the horrific nature of it, of course) is the lengths the Nazis went to in order to keep the process secret; from ambiguous language like massacres… --- ## [Indonesiam hardliners call for war with Australia over Snowden leaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indonesiam-hardliners-call-for-war-with-australia-over-snowden-leaks/674423)
**Author:** [@iLemming](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iLemming)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indonesiam-hardliners-call-for-war-with-australia-over-snowden-leaks/674423 "2013-11-25T17:35:08Z")
Seems the hardline undercurrents in Indonesia haven’t taken kindly to the \[revelations that the Australians (certainly at the behest of the U.S.) have been eves dropping on the Indonesian government\](http://www.perthnow.… --- ## [Is a US-Iranian Rapproachment possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-us-iranian-rapproachment-possible/674700)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-us-iranian-rapproachment-possible/674700 "2013-11-25T03:20:53Z")
In the long term, I think this would be desirable, apart from the rhetoric the Iranians have a highly educated population, good cinema, with a government which is I’d say partially representative, and who, like Western n… --- ## [Why is American politics so much more polarized than it used to be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-politics-so-much-more-polarized-than-it-used-to-be/665164)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 181\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-american-politics-so-much-more-polarized-than-it-used-to-be/665164 "2013-11-24T20:32:28Z")
In this thread I discuss The Voting Wars: From Florida 2000 to the Next Election Meltdown, by Richard L. Hasen, in relation to the voter-fraud issue and other matters related to election administration in the U.S. But I… --- ## [Does society have a skewed view on what constitutes a good income?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-society-have-a-skewed-view-on-what-constitutes-a-good-income/673096)
**Author:** [@Stil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stil)\ **Replies:** 211\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-society-have-a-skewed-view-on-what-constitutes-a-good-income/673096 "2013-11-24T16:17:26Z")
I’ve noticed many anecdotal examples of people saying “X” amount of income is “decent” or “isn’t really that much”, when in fact making “X” amount would put you in, say, the 90th percentile of earners. For example, you’… --- ## [Oops. Looks like we were lied to about Obamacare after all.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-looks-like-we-were-lied-to-about-obamacare-after-all/672534)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 1425\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oops-looks-like-we-were-lied-to-about-obamacare-after-all/672534 "2013-11-24T15:54:18Z")
We all heard it from Obama a hundred times…how if you have a health insurance plan you like, you can keep it. No changes. Don’t worry about it. But, now we have this: The question is, what can/should be done about this… --- ## [What Prevents Obama From Closing the Gitmo Prison?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prevents-obama-from-closing-the-gitmo-prison/674152 "2013-11-24T02:27:44Z")
I just saw the "60 Minutes"show on Gitmo. It looks like the US has invested a lot of $$ in the Gitmo detention center-it is not being closed any time soon. So I have a question: Obama pledged to close the place-so why n… --- ## [The Hitler gun control rumor - believing the generation of survivors vs. believing this generation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hitler-gun-control-rumor-believing-the-generation-of-survivors-vs-believing-this-generation/674208)
**Author:** [@ILikeForeignLanguages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILikeForeignLanguages)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hitler-gun-control-rumor-believing-the-generation-of-survivors-vs-believing-this-generation/674208 "2013-11-23T21:20:10Z")
So, this has been brought up on various websites throughout the net, and I thought it would be cool to discuss it here: the Hitler gun control debate. You guys may know that conservatives in the U.S. (I’m one myself) ha… --- ## [Hitler survives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-survives/674508)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-survives/674508 "2013-11-23T16:44:50Z")
As we all know, mass murdering fuckhead Adolf Hitler ended up in a ditch covered in petrol, on fire. On his honeymoon. Most amusing. But - what if his paranoia was proved right? He apparently fed cyanide to his dog Blond… --- ## [Question on a JFK Assassination theory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-a-jfk-assassination-theory/673650)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-a-jfk-assassination-theory/673650 "2013-11-23T06:24:13Z")
I was watching a TV program based on “Mortal Error” wherein a scientific study claims Secret Service agent George Hickey accidently shot the fatal shot. The research seemed well done and has the added advantage that it … --- ## [Keeping a mailed postcard from your kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-mailed-postcard-from-your-kid/674409)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-a-mailed-postcard-from-your-kid/674409 "2013-11-22T16:43:04Z")
Hypothetical situation only - I haven’t done this, and don’t expect I ever will. Your daughter, who’s under age 18, lives with you. She’s sent a postcard by a relative. The postcard arrives while your daughter is at s… --- ## [Is Belief a Choice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-belief-a-choice/673125)
**Author:** [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2013, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-belief-a-choice/673125 "2013-11-22T10:49:55Z")
From time to time, someone will try to talk me into one religion or another. While sometimes certain aspects sound very nice, there’s no getting around the fact that I simply don’t believe them. They pile on the appealin… --- ## [What would happen if a technology that elimintaed sleep was found?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-technology-that-elimintaed-sleep-was-found/674370)
**Author:** [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-a-technology-that-elimintaed-sleep-was-found/674370 "2013-11-21T16:25:32Z")
Thought about putting this in General Questions but it may turn into a debate (or sink fast :D) Reading through these threads about Walmart and minimum wage and the value of labor etc etc…brought back to me a comment a … --- ## [Why are Jewish people so disproportionately successful](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-jewish-people-so-disproportionately-successful/661027)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 200\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-jewish-people-so-disproportionately-successful/661027 "2013-11-21T14:35:02Z")
Jewish people are overrepresented in fields as diverse as politics, science, the wealthiest americans, art, etc. compared to their population size. Jewish people are only 2% of Americans but they make up about 10% of sen… --- ## [Is Judaism a major world religion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-judaism-a-major-world-religion/674113)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-judaism-a-major-world-religion/674113 "2013-11-21T14:26:49Z")
I was just watching a video about the “Five Major World Religions” (which this video defined as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism). Or there’s a Teaching Company course on the the “Great World Religion… --- ## [Are there 20th century examples of dictators who were good leaders and better than elected polticos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-20th-century-examples-of-dictators-who-were-good-leaders-and-better-than-elected-polticos/672807)
**Author:** [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Replies:** 185\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2013, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-20th-century-examples-of-dictators-who-were-good-leaders-and-better-than-elected-polticos/672807 "2013-11-20T23:06:19Z")
Sometimes, when you read about bad national policies that occur as a result of compromises by politicians and end up being worst of both worlds, you say “if I in charge, …” I would imagine that most SD members probably … --- ## [Do most mathematicians really think evolution is impossible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-mathematicians-really-think-evolution-is-impossible/674033)
**Author:** [@Dostoyevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dostoyevsky)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-mathematicians-really-think-evolution-is-impossible/674033 "2013-11-20T22:35:30Z")
Some creationist friends of mine are making the argument that modern biologists are blinded by bias and that they should should listen to mathematicians, a group which my creationist friends assume to be overwhelmingly s… --- ## [Had Hitler Known this , Would He Have Launched Barbarossa?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-hitler-known-this-would-he-have-launched-barbarossa/673449)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-hitler-known-this-would-he-have-launched-barbarossa/673449 "2013-11-20T21:28:35Z")
Germany had piss poor intelligence about its enemies. Hitler’s experts estimated that the Russians had just about 200 front line divisions in 1941 (about 2 million men), with an additional 150 divisions of poor quality … --- ## [Dui checkpoint...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dui-checkpoint/674354)
**Author:** [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dui-checkpoint/674354 "2013-11-20T21:10:11Z")
It appears when a person is talking, the gadget measures alcohol concentration, if a hit is registered, they are asked to pull over for further investigation. --- ## [Obamacare is eliminating all those crappy individual policies, so it's really okay, right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamacare-is-eliminating-all-those-crappy-individual-policies-so-its-really-okay-right/674052)
**Author:** [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Replies:** 148\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamacare-is-eliminating-all-those-crappy-individual-policies-so-its-really-okay-right/674052 "2013-11-20T19:49:47Z")
This talking point comes out in virtually all the talking head debates. Typically, I’ve seen it in the form of weasel words against some unstated definition. “Many of these policies were terrible anyway!” “Lots of peo… --- ## [Let's take a peek at those enrollment numbers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-take-a-peek-at-those-enrollment-numbers/674011)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-take-a-peek-at-those-enrollment-numbers/674011 "2013-11-20T15:02:43Z")
The disastrous news related to Obamacare has been piling up so thick and fast that it’s hard to absorb one piece of it before the next arrives. Yesterday and today, the media was focused on the millions of people who ha… --- ## [What if there was a test for posting in GD?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-there-was-a-test-for-posting-in-gd/673766)
**Author:** [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-there-was-a-test-for-posting-in-gd/673766 "2013-11-19T23:28:22Z")
I was thinking along the lines of a test you can have certain posters take who are struggling with the whole concept of logical/argumentative fallacy. Point them to the logical fallacies list on Wiki and then give them … --- ## [Question on conspiracy mentality.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-conspiracy-mentality/674289)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-conspiracy-mentality/674289 "2013-11-19T21:49:14Z")
Knowing there’s probably not a factual question here, I saved the mods a few keystrokes and just started it in GD. I was watching a program of the “secret bunker” at Denver International Airport (DIA). I know that some… --- ## [What is something that is "business as usual" now that will be seen as horrible in the future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-something-that-is-business-as-usual-now-that-will-be-seen-as-horrible-in-the-future/672836)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-something-that-is-business-as-usual-now-that-will-be-seen-as-horrible-in-the-future/672836 "2013-11-19T20:48:28Z")
Inspired by this post made in my other thread about the Founding Fathers: --- ## [A clean slate for healthcare: starting over](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-slate-for-healthcare-starting-over/674005)
**Author:** [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-slate-for-healthcare-starting-over/674005 "2013-11-19T04:50:50Z")
As I watch the debacle called healthcare.gov, I find myself wishing that we could somehow just wipe the slate clean with regard to health care, and start over from scratch. It isn’t enough to repeal Obamacare, although … --- ## [Questions about Fukushima](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-fukushima/673826)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-fukushima/673826 "2013-11-18T23:12:47Z")
First off is the ocean big enough to disperse all the potential radioactive material and waste water without having major effects on the enviroment? Next question, is this an example of the the capacity of the human race… --- ## [What can be done about the myth that the Federal government only has limits amounts of money](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-be-done-about-the-myth-that-the-federal-government-only-has-limits-amounts-of-money/671614)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-be-done-about-the-myth-that-the-federal-government-only-has-limits-amounts-of-money/671614 "2013-11-18T18:59:13Z")
It goes without saying that that in a country like the US, the governmet is the ultimate source of dollars. Furthermore, it should go without saying that in a growing country with a growing economy, the government must p… --- ## [Has Heritage Fdn killed Conservative/Libertarian political appeal to 'low IQ' Hispanics/Latinos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-heritage-fdn-killed-conservative-libertarian-political-appeal-to-low-iq-hispanics-latinos/657973)
**Author:** [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-heritage-fdn-killed-conservative-libertarian-political-appeal-to-low-iq-hispanics-latinos/657973 "2013-11-17T23:40:18Z")
One of two co-authors on the Heritage Foundations big research paper that Rubio’s immigration bill will cost nearly $7 trillion dollars is a white supremacist/nationalist advocate and wrote a thesis that immigrants have … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=250) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=252)