# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=259 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 260 --- ## [Teleportation would destroy the world.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teleportation-would-destroy-the-world/667285)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 480\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teleportation-would-destroy-the-world/667285 "2013-09-26T04:20:12Z")
Think of industries such as trucking, taxis, airlines, shipping. All obsolete. Add to those people driving cars far fewer miles and both the auto and oil industries fail. Why would you live in Duluth when you could live… --- ## [GOP Obstructionism and the Constitution and SCOTUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-and-the-constitution-and-scotus/669202)
**Author:** [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-obstructionism-and-the-constitution-and-scotus/669202 "2013-09-25T23:48:19Z")
Once again, the House GO is threatening to shut down the US if it doesn’t get its way. This time its healthcare. Suppose they get their wish and the Federal Government stops paying its bills. In the ensuing global melt… --- ## [Why is the 2nd Amendment phrased the way it is?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-2nd-amendment-phrased-the-way-it-is/669614)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-2nd-amendment-phrased-the-way-it-is/669614 "2013-09-25T20:43:57Z")
None of the other amendments are phrased in the way “A being necessary to B, so C”. I.e. The third amendment it doesn’t say “Being harassed by drunk soldiers sucks, so no soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in … --- ## [How does the USA's social safety net compare with those of the European welfare states?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-usas-social-safety-net-compare-with-those-of-the-european-welfare-states/668841)
**Author:** [@stravonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stravonius)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-usas-social-safety-net-compare-with-those-of-the-european-welfare-states/668841 "2013-09-25T07:36:32Z")
Here in the UK we have all sorts of benefits for the poor. We have child benefits, unemployment benefit, free housing, free universal healthcare, working tax credit, disability allowance, bereavement benefit, and many ot… --- ## [Did LBJ and Ted Kennedy destroy America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-lbj-and-ted-kennedy-destroy-america/669230)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-lbj-and-ted-kennedy-destroy-america/669230 "2013-09-25T04:41:35Z")
A few of my college friends and I exchange emails on various topics. A recurring theme from a couple of them is how bad LBJ and Ted Kennedy were for the country. A typical comment is: "Let’s just say that only LBJ bea… --- ## [Could a world as presented in SyFy's "Continuum" work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-world-as-presented-in-syfys-continuum-work/669336)
**Author:** [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-world-as-presented-in-syfys-continuum-work/669336 "2013-09-24T17:46:03Z")
Minus the technological hand-waving, naturally. I’m referring more to the idea that the free market really took over, and basic public services are now provided by corporations, who have a financial interest in providin… --- ## [Does GW Bush give you a choice to keep UN inspections in Decision Points Theater?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gw-bush-give-you-a-choice-to-keep-un-inspections-in-decision-points-theater/660463)
**Author:** [@NotfooledbyW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotfooledbyW)\ **Replies:** 350\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gw-bush-give-you-a-choice-to-keep-un-inspections-in-decision-points-theater/660463 "2013-09-24T05:06:32Z")
Should the Decision Points Theater interactive exhibit in the George W. Bush Library give you a choice to keep UN inspections as a means to avoid starting a war since historically that is what happened. Saddam Hussein di… --- ## [Should "implied consent" apply to married couples?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-implied-consent-apply-to-married-couples/669025)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-implied-consent-apply-to-married-couples/669025 "2013-09-24T03:09:34Z")
I’m not talking about forcible rape. I mean, like, if your spouse is drunk, or asleep --- ## [Assad uses chemical weapons. Now what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assad-uses-chemical-weapons-now-what/657135)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assad-uses-chemical-weapons-now-what/657135 "2013-09-24T02:18:12Z")
I’m surprised that no one has made a thread on this yet, so I’ll give it a try. So there is evidence mounting that Assad has used chemical weapons. An action that Obama said previously would cross a “Red Line” and be a… --- ## [Is the mainstream Christianity belief in Hell supported by the Bible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mainstream-christianity-belief-in-hell-supported-by-the-bible/669391)
**Author:** [@ruben4ruben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruben4ruben)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mainstream-christianity-belief-in-hell-supported-by-the-bible/669391 "2013-09-24T01:23:42Z")
Interesting if: You like Biblical topics. If you’re atheist, you win this one right from start because Hell does not exist. Ingredients: 99% my own words + reference to some old books. I used the Watchtower online libra… --- ## [Creationism: Why not call a spade a spade?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-why-not-call-a-spade-a-spade/668065)
**Author:** [@BrianJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianJ)\ **Replies:** 381\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-why-not-call-a-spade-a-spade/668065 "2013-09-23T23:59:24Z")
Creationists, especially the ones coming up with this tripe to feed the sheep, do not care about whether science is correct or not. All they care about is whether people believe in their religion. So why not be direct w… --- ## [2nd Amendment loophole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-amendment-loophole/669402)
**Author:** [@KR5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KR5)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2nd-amendment-loophole/669402 "2013-09-23T21:31:12Z")
“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Keep and bear “arms,” plural. One gun, firearm. Two guns, firearms. Wou… --- ## [Larry Summers' smoking gun: How he, Rubin & Geithner deregulated banks -- GLOBALLY](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-summers-smoking-gun-how-he-rubin-geithner-deregulated-banks-globally/666917)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-summers-smoking-gun-how-he-rubin-geithner-deregulated-banks-globally/666917 "2013-09-23T17:55:31Z")
Greg Palast breaks the story. In 1997, Larry Summers – now a leading candidate for Chairman of the Federal Reserve – was serving as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, under Secretary Robert Rubin, who was pushing very ha… --- ## [Question about Christian Theology--Christ as Sacrifice to Whom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-christian-theology-christ-as-sacrifice-to-whom/668668)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-christian-theology-christ-as-sacrifice-to-whom/668668 "2013-09-23T16:41:08Z")
The traditional idea of course is that Christ was offered as a sacrifice to God to satisfy his wrath etc etc. I’m wondering whether there have been any theologians who ever suggested that it wasn’t God whom this sacrifi… --- ## ["10% of the population could just never get it together."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-of-the-population-could-just-never-get-it-together/669222)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-of-the-population-could-just-never-get-it-together/669222 "2013-09-23T16:11:42Z")
So I was listening to the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast and his guest, founder of Vice Magazine, Shane Smith, said something that really piqued my interest. When talking about those that are continually on welfare and jus… --- ## [Reverse SETI question: If You Could Send A Message...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-seti-question-if-you-could-send-a-message/668794)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-seti-question-if-you-could-send-a-message/668794 "2013-09-23T15:08:07Z")
Suppose scientists decided to send a message to an extra-solar civilization (like the message we’re listening for, with SETI), and you were put in charge of what to say. The brainiacs say your message will reach them in … --- ## [Why do we try to stop people who are threatening suicide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-try-to-stop-people-who-are-threatening-suicide/457521)
**Author:** [@BrknButterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrknButterfly)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-try-to-stop-people-who-are-threatening-suicide/457521 "2013-09-22T17:58:55Z")
So I have been thinking about writing this thread for a while, though for a couple different reasons I kept putting it off because I wasn’t exactly sure what the general reaction would be. I know the topic can be a very … --- ## [Did anti-Semitism hurt Gore-Lieberman?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anti-semitism-hurt-gore-lieberman/55513)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anti-semitism-hurt-gore-lieberman/55513 "2013-09-22T13:03:07Z")
This time, I’m not going to offer an opinion, I’m just soliciting other people’s thoughts. Obviously, when an election is as close as the 2001 presidential race, there is no ONE reason that somebody “won” or “lost” (I p… --- ## [Why the dramatic spike in mass shootings lately?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-dramatic-spike-in-mass-shootings-lately/644078)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-dramatic-spike-in-mass-shootings-lately/644078 "2013-09-22T03:15:22Z")
And I don’t mean why do they happen at all, I mean why have there been so many more in 2012 than previously? The availability of firearms hasn’t changed significantly, so what’s the deal? My w.a.g. is that the more these… --- ## ["I'm the President of the most powerful nation in the world..."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377)
**Author:** [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-the-president-of-the-most-powerful-nation-in-the-world/669377 "2013-09-22T02:02:55Z")
I recall in “Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye” that JFK said this about himself being the 'President of the most powerful nation on earth…" (Something like his advisers said he couldn’t go on a trip he wanted to go on, and his… --- ## [We have not yet encountered extraterrestrial Strong AI machines, hence the Singularity is impossible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-not-yet-encountered-extraterrestrial-strong-ai-machines-hence-the-singularity-is-impossible/633104)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-not-yet-encountered-extraterrestrial-strong-ai-machines-hence-the-singularity-is-impossible/633104 "2013-09-21T18:29:58Z")
First, some terms: Strong AI (artificial intelligence) is, roughly, the concept that we can create machines that are conscious and smarter than people. Strong AI - Wikipedia The Singularity is the concept according to … --- ## [Obama: “I’m also mindful that I’m the president of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy,”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-i-m-also-mindful-that-i-m-the-president-of-the-world-s-oldest-constitutional-democracy/667824)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 194\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2013, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-i-m-also-mindful-that-i-m-the-president-of-the-world-s-oldest-constitutional-democracy/667824 "2013-09-21T10:48:11Z")
Is this true? It all depends on what one means by Constitutional and Democracy. Iceland and England (and later Great Britain) surely have some prior claim as does Athens. Or is it just a debating point? --- ## [ROGER MORNEAU AND SATAN'S COUNCIL OF THE 1700's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-morneau-and-satans-council-of-the-1700s/638099)
**Author:** [@chagqq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chagqq)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-morneau-and-satans-council-of-the-1700s/638099 "2013-09-21T07:25:11Z")
I just wan’t to know what you think about ROger Morneau and his claims about Satan’s plan…maybe you’re a believer, maybe not, but i would like a unbiased answer as you almost always do(%99.5)… (Sorry for any errors engl… --- ## [Generational differences in the threat/safety of the public vs private sector](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generational-differences-in-the-threat-safety-of-the-public-vs-private-sector/669348)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generational-differences-in-the-threat-safety-of-the-public-vs-private-sector/669348 "2013-09-21T00:23:04Z")
An ad campaign started recently showing an Uncle Sam character performing a gynecological exam and a prostate exam, and the message was ‘keep government out of health care’. The ads are supposed to be directed at young… --- ## [Ron White: "I'm a pretty good dog...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-white-im-a-pretty-good-dog/668878)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-white-im-a-pretty-good-dog/668878 "2013-09-20T19:12:32Z")
“but if you don’t pet me every once in a while, it’s hard to keep me under the porch.” Anybody willing to defend Ron White? In other words, is not putting out ever a defense to adultery? --- ## [The Plight of the Underemployed Academic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-plight-of-the-underemployed-academic/669255)
**Author:** [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-plight-of-the-underemployed-academic/669255 "2013-09-20T18:26:23Z")
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/death-of-an-adjunct-703773/ This article has sparked a lot of discussion about the unfortunate situation of many instructors at colleges and universities. The adj… --- ## [Why was Hitler the alternative to Weimar republic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hitler-the-alternative-to-weimar-republic/668641)
**Author:** [@elmirily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmirily)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-hitler-the-alternative-to-weimar-republic/668641 "2013-09-20T12:38:23Z")
Why was Hitler the alternative to Weimar republic? --- ## [The International Solidarity Movement & Syria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-international-solidarity-movement-syria/668547)
**Author:** [@Hottius\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hottius_Maximus)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-international-solidarity-movement-syria/668547 "2013-09-20T11:45:37Z")
Will they be protesting the atrocities occurring there? Or have they already done so? --- ## [Lies, damned lies, and phony statistics? Gun control again.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lies-damned-lies-and-phony-statistics-gun-control-again/666280)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lies-damned-lies-and-phony-statistics-gun-control-again/666280 "2013-09-19T21:41:22Z")
An old friend made contact via Facebook recently. She was always, um, easily led and is now one of those people internet crackpots look for: all it takes is clicking one ad for a medical secret THEY don’t want to know … --- ## [Amber Alerts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amber-alerts/669187)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amber-alerts/669187 "2013-09-19T19:39:21Z")
I understand the concept - finding people sooner than later is a big plus in situations where children are kidnapped. However, is it appropriate to give Amber Alerts (on cell phone/radio/TV/freeway signs) when the child… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=258) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=260)