# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=308 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 309 --- ## [SF to legalize prison-sized apartments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-to-legalize-prison-sized-apartments/635713)
**Author:** [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-to-legalize-prison-sized-apartments/635713 "2012-10-08T06:17:41Z")
San Francisco, a city of pretty significant wealth and modest geography, has a housing problem. One proposal to address the issue is to amend the housing code to allow apartments as small as 220 square feet: that’s a ro… --- ## [Why are natural laws called "laws?" (What about other languages)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-natural-laws-called-laws-what-about-other-languages/636466)
**Author:** [@bourbon-soda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bourbon-soda)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-natural-laws-called-laws-what-about-other-languages/636466 "2012-10-08T05:59:57Z")
Calling natural principles “laws” seems to imply that someone promulgates and enforces them them rather than that they just happen. Do all languages and cultures call them “laws?” When did this usage of “law” start? Was … --- ## [Lawyers, what is a driver in this situation able to do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-what-is-a-driver-in-this-situation-able-to-do/634114)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-what-is-a-driver-in-this-situation-able-to-do/634114 "2012-10-08T00:45:52Z")
Also, for all, what should he be able to do? Here’s the link to what happened. With a video when you scroll down. What we know is that a cyclist, who had evidently exchanged words with the driver, uses his bike to block… --- ## [Nuclear blackmail with pathetic demands: Give in?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-blackmail-with-pathetic-demands-give-in/634014)
**Author:** [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-blackmail-with-pathetic-demands-give-in/634014 "2012-10-08T00:08:00Z")
Suppose North Korea is credibly in a position to nuke Washington. Suppose further that through diplomatic channels it states that it will use this capability (and also against London, Moscow, Paris, Geneva, Bejing, Johan… --- ## [So what kind of personality is attracted to the modern military?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-personality-is-attracted-to-the-modern-military/636296 "2012-10-07T23:39:47Z")
Ok first off I’m not in the military and never have been, everything I know I’ve heard second hand. The people I know who have been in recently the money was all they cared about, no one ever said they were attracted to … --- ## [How come Muslim extremists haven't reacted to Jack Chick?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-muslim-extremists-havent-reacted-to-jack-chick/634784)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-muslim-extremists-havent-reacted-to-jack-chick/634784 "2012-10-07T22:56:25Z")
He has beendenigrating Islamfor decades, yet Muslim extremists seem to be unaware or indifferent to his attacks. How come they get outraged by the Danish cartoon and the recent video, but not the anti-Muslim Chick tracts… --- ## [Evidence that Drew Peterson murdered wife?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-that-drew-peterson-murdered-wife/633941)
**Author:** [@Che\_G.Anonymous\_Capitalist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Che_G.Anonymous_Capitalist)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-that-drew-peterson-murdered-wife/633941 "2012-10-07T20:14:52Z")
Peterson was convicted today. I didn’t follow the case that closely, but it is my understanding that there was no evidence that tied Drew to the crime scene. It was unclear whether the 3rd wife was killed or whether she … --- ## [Where's the debate with Muslims?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-with-muslims/634808)
**Author:** [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-debate-with-muslims/634808 "2012-10-07T19:27:46Z")
This is a thread about debates rather than a debate itself, so it may have to be moved, but… All I hear during this and previous episodes of Islamist rage are intercontinental ballistic talking points. You get some Mus… --- ## [Homosexuality and the United Church of Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-and-the-united-church-of-christ/635439)
**Author:** [@Hottius\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hottius_Maximus)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-and-the-united-church-of-christ/635439 "2012-10-07T19:20:58Z")
This is actually a side thread that was inspired by my other thread regarding homosexuality and the Old Testament. Years ago I heard a radio talk show where a lesbian minister in the United Church of Christ was saying t… --- ## [Which subject is the toughest when it comes to finding good information?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-subject-is-the-toughest-when-it-comes-to-finding-good-information/635770)
**Author:** [@MDKSquared](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MDKSquared)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-subject-is-the-toughest-when-it-comes-to-finding-good-information/635770 "2012-10-07T18:59:17Z")
Any subjects irritate you? Creationist dogma when trying to learn more about evolution/physics? Voodoo economics/fabricated history in the political arena? Broscience in the bodybuilding realm? There are a lot of comple… --- ## [If Obama wins in 2012, will the GOP still be trying to repeal healthcare in 2017](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-obama-wins-in-2012-will-the-gop-still-be-trying-to-repeal-healthcare-in-2017/626862)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-obama-wins-in-2012-will-the-gop-still-be-trying-to-repeal-healthcare-in-2017/626862 "2012-10-06T18:26:11Z")
If Obama wins in 2012 and the dems maintain control of at least one chamber of congress, repealing the ACA will be fairly hard (unless the GOP attempts to crash the economy again by messing with the debt limit. However d… --- ## [Is there anything wrong with "class warfare"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-wrong-with-class-warfare/634349)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 263\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-wrong-with-class-warfare/634349 "2012-10-06T13:21:52Z")
As used by the right-wing, “class warfare” seems to mean there are more poor people than rich, by far if they could organize, they could easily outvote us and some of our wealth would be diverted to serve them … --- ## [The ethics of suicide](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-suicide/567524)
**Author:** [@The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Amazing_Hanna)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-suicide/567524 "2012-10-06T12:28:18Z")
Provided you don’t have anybody depending on you for sustenance, is there any good reason why suicide should be considered an inherently evil or sinful act? Why is the act of ending your own life so strongly condemned i… --- ## [Universiality of left/right wing thought?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universiality-of-left-right-wing-thought/632872)
**Author:** [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universiality-of-left-right-wing-thought/632872 "2012-10-06T03:29:44Z")
I’m only reasonably familiar with US and UK politics, in which while the US is further to the right of the UK, the general axis on most issues is aligned the same way. In other words, give someone in the UK and someone … --- ## [Why spend more on higher education](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-spend-more-on-higher-education/636839)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-spend-more-on-higher-education/636839 "2012-10-05T22:59:15Z")
A couple days ago, Salon published this article about the state of public colleges and universities in California. The complaints will be generally familiar to anyone who’s read articles on the same topic: declining gov… --- ## [Do Jews and muslims have a hell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-jews-and-muslims-have-a-hell/636655)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-jews-and-muslims-have-a-hell/636655 "2012-10-05T18:35:55Z")
I put this here because I get conflicting answers to this and I’m very curious as to the real answer (real according to the beliefs of the religion - I don’t want to get into an atheism discussion here.) So, as most Chr… --- ## [Offshore profit shifting and the u.s. Tax code](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offshore-profit-shifting-and-the-u-s-tax-code/636687)
**Author:** [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/offshore-profit-shifting-and-the-u-s-tax-code/636687 "2012-10-05T15:40:53Z")
STATEMENT OF SENATOR CARL LEVIN (D-MICH) BEFORE U.S. SENATE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIATIONS ON OFFSHORE PROFIT SHIFTING AND THE U.S. TAX CODE September 20, 2012 America stands on the edge of a fiscal cliff.… --- ## ["No censorship under any circumstances." Agree?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-censorship-under-any-circumstances-agree/635910)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2012, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-censorship-under-any-circumstances-agree/635910 "2012-10-05T08:33:08Z")
Or, as a Slashdot user put it in a discussion about a Brazilian judge’s rulings against Google and YouTube: “There should be no criminal penalties on any speech, information, or data transmitted from anyone, to anyone.” … --- ## [Settlement in Google Book Search dispute](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settlement-in-google-book-search-dispute/636704)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/settlement-in-google-book-search-dispute/636704 "2012-10-04T15:59:15Z")
The Association of American Publishers and Google have announceda settlement in their dispute over Google’s mass scanning of books. Publishers will be given an opt-out if they don’t want their works in Google’s database. … --- ## [Should we tax spending instead of income?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-tax-spending-instead-of-income/635720)
**Author:** [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-tax-spending-instead-of-income/635720 "2012-10-03T18:05:03Z")
In this article from CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/24/opinion/mccaffery-romney-tax/index.html?hpt=hp\_c1 the author argues that for the poor and middle class, the amount you spend is the same as, or preferably less than… --- ## [More About Moses and Pharoah](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-about-moses-and-pharoah/635841)
**Author:** [@Hottius\_Maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hottius_Maximus)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2012, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-about-moses-and-pharoah/635841 "2012-10-03T07:19:09Z")
I find the Jewish Exodus to be a fascinating story. So…if God sends Moses to impress the Pharoah with magic, how in the world were the court magicians ALSO able to turn canes into live snakes? Any ideas? FYI—I asked t… --- ## [Conversion Therapy and Minors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversion-therapy-and-minors/636393)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversion-therapy-and-minors/636393 "2012-10-03T02:57:43Z")
We can have the debate about Conversion Therapy. This is, for the few who might not be aware, when groups attempt to use therapy to “cure” homosexuals. This therapy is much better known for well-publicized failures (us… --- ## [How Effective A Weapon Was the V-2 Rocket?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-effective-a-weapon-was-the-v-2-rocket/528195)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-effective-a-weapon-was-the-v-2-rocket/528195 "2012-10-02T20:20:32Z")
From what I read, not very! The fact is , this rocket was expensive to produce, carried a very small warhead, and was not very accurate (it had a very crude guidance system). Given the great expense, would the Germans … --- ## [Mobile devices are killing boredom, and this is a BAD thing...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobile-devices-are-killing-boredom-and-this-is-a-bad-thing/636035)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobile-devices-are-killing-boredom-and-this-is-a-bad-thing/636035 "2012-10-02T18:00:19Z")
So says this CNN article. Of course, some folks have been saying that for years, what with the proliferation of DVD players in minivans and such. So when I go home to see my small nephews this holiday season, should I … --- ## [Prospects of Catalonian indepence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prospects-of-catalonian-indepence/635380)
**Author:** [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prospects-of-catalonian-indepence/635380 "2012-10-02T06:57:29Z")
This is possibly the wrong forum, but what are the prospects of imminent Catalonian indepence? Apparently there are rumours that they are going to declare secession from Spain after the next regional election. TBH I don… --- ## [I would like to come to a conclusion on prostitution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-come-to-a-conclusion-on-prostitution/635269)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-like-to-come-to-a-conclusion-on-prostitution/635269 "2012-10-01T21:53:01Z")
How society should hand’t prostitution is one of the issues I’ve been highly inconsistent on, flip-flopping between having strong opinions either way, to more ambivalent positions in the middle. A super-short summary of … --- ## [Is this racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-racist/635717)
**Author:** [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-racist/635717 "2012-10-01T03:38:34Z")
My dad and I got into an argument over whether the following statement is racist: “I find all Asian women unattractive.” I say it’s clearly racist, he disagrees. What does GD think? --- ## [Convince me that government helps the poor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-that-government-helps-the-poor/635707)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-that-government-helps-the-poor/635707 "2012-10-01T00:39:52Z")
In a recent thread I argued that worldwide, small governments and economic freedom correlate with low rates of poverty. Several people agreed that overbearing government harms the poor in the third world, but that in fi… --- ## [Should we attack Iran?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-attack-iran/634775)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 268\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-attack-iran/634775 "2012-09-30T23:46:43Z")
I couldn’t think of a better thread title, I’m not really asking such a simple question, that’s been asked before. What I’m more interested in is what’s in this article from yesterday: \*\* Mr. Obama, the official said,… --- ## [Do Americans have shared beliefs and values?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-americans-have-shared-beliefs-and-values/635781)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-americans-have-shared-beliefs-and-values/635781 "2012-09-30T22:24:16Z")
“American national identity and political culture is based on shared political and civic beliefs and values. These beliefs and values are important in maintaining our constitutional democracy in an increasingly diverse … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=307) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=309)