# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=256 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 257 --- ## [Is Pinyin really a "better" way than Wade-Giles to translate Chinese into English?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pinyin-really-a-better-way-than-wade-giles-to-translate-chinese-into-english/671295)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pinyin-really-a-better-way-than-wade-giles-to-translate-chinese-into-english/671295 "2013-10-15T18:15:17Z")
I’ve been doing a bit of reading on Chinese history lately and noted the differences between the Wade-Giles renderings I grew up with and the Pinyin ones in use today. I get that Pinyin is the “official” way of Translat… --- ## [If there is no debt ceiling increase, can the President pick and choose what debts get paid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-no-debt-ceiling-increase-can-the-president-pick-and-choose-what-debts-get-paid/670681)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-is-no-debt-ceiling-increase-can-the-president-pick-and-choose-what-debts-get-paid/670681 "2013-10-15T00:49:05Z")
The latest talking point by House Republicans is, there is no hurry to increase the debt ceiling, because there won’t be a default. They contend the President can pay the interest on the debt, and fund necessary program… --- ## [Paedophilia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paedophilia/670964)
**Author:** [@Longshanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Longshanks)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paedophilia/670964 "2013-10-14T20:01:30Z")
Back in Ancient Greece they practiced pederasty as they did in Ancient Rome. Their concepts of homosexuality and pedophilia were very different from what they are in modern times. So in your opinions is Pedophilia an inh… --- ## [True believers: dominion over animals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-believers-dominion-over-animals/670851)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-believers-dominion-over-animals/670851 "2013-10-14T12:00:47Z")
If man has “dominion over animals” why didn’t God command that animals don’t harm man? Bees, scorpions, and snakes, to name a few, routinely harm and even kill people with no provocation. --- ## [The 14th Amendment and the Debt Ceiling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-14th-amendment-and-the-debt-ceiling/670739)
**Author:** [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-14th-amendment-and-the-debt-ceiling/670739 "2013-10-14T06:03:10Z")
The Constitution has a handy part of the 14th amendment which states the “validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services .… --- ## [US Spent $5 Million on Major Nidal's Trial-Was "Justice"Served?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-spent-5-million-on-major-nidals-trial-was-justice-served/670490)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-spent-5-million-on-major-nidals-trial-was-justice-served/670490 "2013-10-13T23:56:11Z")
I just read of the insane expenses of trying Nidal (the muslim Army major who murdered 14 people at Ft. Hood. My first reaction was, is there any sanity here? We spent $5 million defending a man who wanted to plead gui… --- ## [My theory on Ted Cruz.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-on-ted-cruz/671035)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-on-ted-cruz/671035 "2013-10-13T20:45:32Z")
I watched some of his blather today. He can’t be President. A congressman’s salary sounds good but it’s nothing spectacular and he knows there is a lot of money out there to be made by preaching to the choir. My theory … --- ## [Why are so many states not taking the Medicaid Expansion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-states-not-taking-the-medicaid-expansion/670384)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-states-not-taking-the-medicaid-expansion/670384 "2013-10-13T19:40:42Z")
When the Supreme Court ruled that the mandate was not unconstitutional, the headline was that ObamaCare was in full effect. However, the Supreme Court did, in fact, put some limitations on the Affordable Care Act: Now… --- ## [Drug addiction as a moral failing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-addiction-as-a-moral-failing/669478)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-addiction-as-a-moral-failing/669478 "2013-10-13T17:14:28Z")
On a political blog, there’s a minor debate over the Emmy broadcast apparently giving an individual tribute to late Glee star Cory Monteith and not to the also-died-this-past-year Jack Klugman and Larry Hagman (though bo… --- ## [What's the rationale for allowing the immigration rally on the closed national mall?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-rationale-for-allowing-the-immigration-rally-on-the-closed-national-mall/670763)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-rationale-for-allowing-the-immigration-rally-on-the-closed-national-mall/670763 "2013-10-12T14:20:07Z")
We’ve been hearing of all these areas in Washington being shut down. Even the war memorial to elderly visiting veteran groups. But an immigration rally was allowed to go on. There were port-a-potties set up the day befo… --- ## [Did Clinton REALLY sell/give nuclear/missle secrets to China/North Korea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-clinton-really-sell-give-nuclear-missle-secrets-to-china-north-korea/223211)
**Author:** [@El\_Mariachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Mariachi)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-clinton-really-sell-give-nuclear-missle-secrets-to-china-north-korea/223211 "2013-10-12T12:14:41Z")
I see conservatives complain about this all the time, yet I’ve never seen an article about it… its like they’re getting this information from talk show hosts or something. I would assume if Clinton actually did such trea… --- ## [Climate change and overpopulation.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-and-overpopulation/669034)
**Author:** [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-and-overpopulation/669034 "2013-10-12T06:24:37Z")
If there are those that actually believe climate change is caused by people and is not a naturally occuring cycle, as it has been ever since the world came into being billions of years before people existed, why won’t th… --- ## [How will humanity end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-humanity-end/668745)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-humanity-end/668745 "2013-10-12T05:20:00Z")
Extinction by war? Heat death of the universe? Alien invasion? Environmental causes? I place my bet on death by evolution due to future advances in genetics. --- ## [Are the Odds of Intelligent Design even roughly calculable](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-odds-of-intelligent-design-even-roughly-calculable/670742)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-odds-of-intelligent-design-even-roughly-calculable/670742 "2013-10-12T02:57:42Z")
I imagine this subject has allready been worked to death but if somehow we were able to roughly calculate the odds of every step needed to get life where it is today and we found out that we had defied these odds by huge… --- ## [Was Jesus the son of a roman soldier](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-jesus-the-son-of-a-roman-soldier/670521)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-jesus-the-son-of-a-roman-soldier/670521 "2013-10-11T22:47:25Z")
I’m sure there are some religious experts here, how valid is the concept that Jesus was the son of a roman soldier? If so I wonder what role that would have had in his anti-Roman, pro-Jewish attitudes. --- ## [Sins and Jesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sins-and-jesus/670076)
**Author:** [@Longshanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Longshanks)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sins-and-jesus/670076 "2013-10-11T19:32:42Z")
When Christians keep going on about Jesus dying for humanities sin, I wonder what sin exactly he supposedly died for? Can any of the Christian dopers explain? --- ## [Pro-Life and Pro-Animal: The conscience of a pro-life vegan conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-life-and-pro-animal-the-conscience-of-a-pro-life-vegan-conservative/670653)
**Author:** [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-life-and-pro-animal-the-conscience-of-a-pro-life-vegan-conservative/670653 "2013-10-11T17:39:55Z")
Pro-Life and Pro-Animal: The Conscience of a Pro-Life Vegan Conservative As a pro-life vegetarian myself, I know that this combination of views exists, but I was really surprised to see this article was posted by the Na… --- ## [Could the House of Representatives be disbanded for refusing to perform their duties?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-house-of-representatives-be-disbanded-for-refusing-to-perform-their-duties/670569)
**Author:** [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-house-of-representatives-be-disbanded-for-refusing-to-perform-their-duties/670569 "2013-10-11T00:03:29Z")
Please, PLEASE don’t respond with one-sided political rhetoric. Both political parties in this current crisis bear some of the responsibility for the deadlock. In any case, I’ve seen the argument that the House of Repr… --- ## [The concept of affirmative consent for sexual encounters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-affirmative-consent-for-sexual-encounters/670147)
**Author:** [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Replies:** 223\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-affirmative-consent-for-sexual-encounters/670147 "2013-10-10T23:48:35Z")
http://www.uiowa.edu/~our/opmanual/iv/02.htm That’s from the University of Iowa and it’s representative of a new concept of affirmative consent. The gist is that without a clear and unambiguous “yes”, no consent is gi… --- ## [True believers: dominion over animals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-believers-dominion-over-animals/670850)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-believers-dominion-over-animals/670850 "2013-10-10T05:05:33Z")
NM Mods: please delete thread --- ## [Does anyone think Bible Code software works?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-think-bible-code-software-works/643256)
**Author:** [@missyzilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missyzilly)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-think-bible-code-software-works/643256 "2013-10-10T04:28:25Z")
Torah soft , or some other type? If so did you find anything worth talking about? --- ## [The Antichrist reads the Gospel of Mark; singes appear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-antichrist-reads-the-gospel-of-mark-singes-appear/670426)
**Author:** [@The\_Antichrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Antichrist)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-antichrist-reads-the-gospel-of-mark-singes-appear/670426 "2013-10-10T00:43:14Z")
First off, I’m not meaning to provoke or harass with this (or my username); but I am certain that Jesus Christ is a fabrication (see the website Jesus Never Existed, for instance - I realise its not a mainstream view, bu… --- ## [Billy Meier, whats the verdict?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-meier-whats-the-verdict/669000)
**Author:** [@TheBodhi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBodhi)\ **Replies:** 1238\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-meier-whats-the-verdict/669000 "2013-10-10T00:28:00Z")
I’ve been reading a little on Billy Meier. So what’s everyone’s take on the Billy Meier Story, and has anyone been able to disprove his photos completely? Also what’s the thoughts on whether we’ve been visited? If only 1… --- ## [does anyone see a strange thing happening](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-see-a-strange-thing-happening/670251)
**Author:** [@Oracle33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oracle33)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-see-a-strange-thing-happening/670251 "2013-10-09T23:26:28Z")
OK,first off this may come across as a bit of a ramble as I only just sat down to collate this all this stuff tonight. Does anyone besides me see something strange happening in our visual and printed media,everything fr… --- ## [Female to Male Trans Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-to-male-trans-surgery/670172)
**Author:** [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-to-male-trans-surgery/670172 "2013-10-09T13:09:46Z")
The thread on the poor person who suicided post op popped a question into my mind. I know that there are procedures where they grow new body parts on an arm, leg or even face in the case of an ear or nose \[and the use o… --- ## [Cheerleaders and Student Council members suspended for "inappropriate gestures" in class photo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerleaders-and-student-council-members-suspended-for-inappropriate-gestures-in-class-photo/670069)
**Author:** [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheerleaders-and-student-council-members-suspended-for-inappropriate-gestures-in-class-photo/670069 "2013-10-09T06:14:38Z")
MacArthur High in Irving, has recently suspended multiple students for “inappropriate gestures”. This group of students includes multiple cheerleaders, a rally squad member, and an officer in the student council. This … --- ## [Is the US dollar about to collapse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-dollar-about-to-collapse/670671)
**Author:** [@ruben4ruben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruben4ruben)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-dollar-about-to-collapse/670671 "2013-10-08T19:56:33Z")
Is the dollar on the verge of collapsing as a national currency and The international reserve currency? Is there any truth to the stance that the FED has been printing way too much? And that the stimulus or Quantitativ… --- ## [Could the Germans' lane discipline significantly reduce congestion in the USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-germans-lane-discipline-significantly-reduce-congestion-in-the-usa/670139)
**Author:** [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-germans-lane-discipline-significantly-reduce-congestion-in-the-usa/670139 "2013-10-08T17:19:00Z")
I’ll preface this by stating I’ve never actually driven in Germany. When I say “significantly,” I mean it in a statistical sense. The general gist of what I’ve read so far is that, in Germany, you are expected to stay i… --- ## [What would a post-America world economy look like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-post-america-world-economy-look-like/670659)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-post-america-world-economy-look-like/670659 "2013-10-08T13:23:09Z")
So, this editorial argues that no matter what the government does to stave off default, all that matters is the opinion of the world markets. If they lose confidence that the U.S. and the dollar is a good investment (an… --- ## [Homeland Security plans to buy 1 Billion bullets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-plans-to-buy-1-billion-bullets/670012)
**Author:** [@ruben4ruben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruben4ruben)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-plans-to-buy-1-billion-bullets/670012 "2013-10-08T13:16:17Z")
Excerpt: Yes, enough bullets for a 20 year war. Yes, some of them are hollow point rounds. (expensive and not used for target practice) Also; Apparently these vehicles have gun-ports as well. Seems… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=255) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=257)