# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=329 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 330 --- ## [France's Hollande ET disclosure - the only way to avert nuclear and planetary cataclysm?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frances-hollande-et-disclosure-the-only-way-to-avert-nuclear-and-planetary-cataclysm/620617)
**Author:** [@greenlife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlife)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frances-hollande-et-disclosure-the-only-way-to-avert-nuclear-and-planetary-cataclysm/620617 "2012-05-11T15:11:46Z")
Mr Hollande is all but elected as French president. The expectations of a change after nearly decades right-wing presidency are high. How would that affect the world in a broader way? On the surface of “integration and … --- ## [Everyone is willing to be comfortably ignorant.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everyone-is-willing-to-be-comfortably-ignorant/621050)
**Author:** [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everyone-is-willing-to-be-comfortably-ignorant/621050 "2012-05-11T07:26:56Z")
Delusional beliefs are often discussed alongside the pleasure they may bring. Religion comes up quickly: atheists think of religious beliefs as pleasing, but without any real basis in facts or logic. I happen to agree wi… --- ## [How come the world's 6th most powerful army can't eradicate a terrorist group?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-the-worlds-6th-most-powerful-army-cant-eradicate-a-terrorist-group/621214)
**Author:** [@gvozd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gvozd)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-the-worlds-6th-most-powerful-army-cant-eradicate-a-terrorist-group/621214 "2012-05-11T04:58:38Z")
They also have the biggest land forces in Middle East. It’s very interesting that they haven’t managed to get rid of a terrorist group for more than 30 years. --- ## [Think gay marriage is hard to get? Try gay divorce.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-gay-marriage-is-hard-to-get-try-gay-divorce/621441)
**Author:** [@Daniel\_Selcke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel_Selcke)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/think-gay-marriage-is-hard-to-get-try-gay-divorce/621441 "2012-05-11T03:04:20Z")
The Huffington Post just put up an article about the challenges facing would-be gay divorcees. Getting the endorsement of the President is a big deal, but what do you guys think about the issues beyond gay marriage? --- ## [Political Compass #38: No broadcasting institution should receive public funding.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-compass-38-no-broadcasting-institution-should-receive-public-funding/266824)
**Author:** [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-compass-38-no-broadcasting-institution-should-receive-public-funding/266824 "2012-05-10T22:49:39Z")
Many political debates here have included references to The Political Compass, which uses a set of 61 questions to assess one’s political orientation in terms of economic left/right and social libertarianism/authoritaria… --- ## [The Second Amendment does not apply to illegal immigrants.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-amendment-does-not-apply-to-illegal-immigrants/621308)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-amendment-does-not-apply-to-illegal-immigrants/621308 "2012-05-10T19:22:58Z")
At least according to the 10th circuit court of appeals. Washington Post Article: Federal appeals court says illegal immigrants don’t have right to bear arms. Link to the ruling (pdf): UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EMMAN… --- ## [Was the American Civil War inevitable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-american-civil-war-inevitable/620709)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-american-civil-war-inevitable/620709 "2012-05-09T20:07:40Z")
Of course, trouble had been brewing for years. Was there any talk of letting the South just walk away? In hindsight, it would have saved 100,000’s of lives. Was the separation of the South just seen as the workings of… --- ## [Filming The Police](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filming-the-police/621270)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filming-the-police/621270 "2012-05-09T18:21:24Z")
In this thread we’re discussing whether or not it’s legal to film the police doing police-y things. The consensus seems to be that the Constitution protects your right to do so as long as you’re not interfering (unless y… --- ## [No Income Tax? What Would Happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-income-tax-what-would-happen/621095)
**Author:** [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-income-tax-what-would-happen/621095 "2012-05-09T17:09:35Z")
What would happen if, somehow, the income tax was suddenly and deliberately abolished? A whole lot of chaos, to be sure, but would it collapse the US economy? Would it bring business and industry back into the US? I’m n… --- ## [Do statins prevent heart disease, heart attacks and strokes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-statins-prevent-heart-disease-heart-attacks-and-strokes/620951)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-statins-prevent-heart-disease-heart-attacks-and-strokes/620951 "2012-05-09T13:16:21Z")
I cannot find a straight answer on this. I know statins will lower your LDL levels, but does that translate into a lower risk of death, disease and disability? This article references several studies on statins saying t… --- ## [Woman pulls winning lottery ticket out of the garbage, must return it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-pulls-winning-lottery-ticket-out-of-the-garbage-must-return-it/620622)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-pulls-winning-lottery-ticket-out-of-the-garbage-must-return-it/620622 "2012-05-09T12:26:40Z")
I’m confused by this ruling. To summarize: Woman rummages through a trash bin outside a convenience store and finds a $1 million winner. Another woman who claims to have purchased the ticket sues her and WINS. I thou… --- ## [The "gay fix" is out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-fix-is-out/620253)
**Author:** [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2012, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gay-fix-is-out/620253 "2012-05-09T05:35:54Z")
Dr. Robert Spitzer, author of the 2001 study that suggested “highly motivated” individuals could benefit from anti-gay therapy, has withdrawn the study’s conclusions. This appears to have been the last vestige of mains… --- ## [rich liberals, rich conservatives](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-liberals-rich-conservatives/621311)
**Author:** [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-liberals-rich-conservatives/621311 "2012-05-09T04:33:01Z")
I like to be able to document factual assertions. I cannot this time, so I am just tossing this out for discussion. My observation is that rich liberals are usually those who inherit their wealth, and who take wealth fo… --- ## [Anarchists Wanted to Attack NATO, Republican Convention: Feds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627)
**Author:** [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anarchists-wanted-to-attack-nato-republican-convention-feds/620627 "2012-05-08T15:47:03Z")
Anarchists Wanted to Attack NATO, Republican Convention: Feds ABC NewsBy JASON RYAN | ABC News – 20 hrs ago A gang of anarchists arrested for allegedly plotting to blow up a Cleveland, Ohio bridge also talked about att… --- ## [Are Austrians still considered to be Germans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-austrians-still-considered-to-be-germans/621062)
**Author:** [@GermanicPride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GermanicPride)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-austrians-still-considered-to-be-germans/621062 "2012-05-08T13:04:39Z")
Austria was the core of the Kingdom of Germany and part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, most of the King of Germans were Austrians, until this was dissolved in 1806 and then the after the Congress of Vienn… --- ## [Voter ID vs. vote-by-mail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-vs-vote-by-mail/621231)
**Author:** [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-id-vs-vote-by-mail/621231 "2012-05-08T02:49:24Z")
These two things aren’t generally put in the same debate, but they should be. The recent voter ID laws and the debate surrounding them has got me thinking. As far as I can tell, none of the voter ID laws apply to absen… --- ## [Coal is dead. Long live ... what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-is-dead-long-live-what/607192)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coal-is-dead-long-live-what/607192 "2012-05-08T02:40:15Z")
Per today’s WSJ “The Coal Age Nears Its End”. The claim is that natural gas is now so cheap and abundant that coal cannot compete, consequently 10 to 20% of coal plants may shut down by 2016. Meanwhile in the same secti… --- ## [Did 246,000 Japanese people save the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-246-000-japanese-people-save-the-world/620809)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-246-000-japanese-people-save-the-world/620809 "2012-05-08T00:22:35Z")
Number taken from the upper estimates of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki casualties. Let me say why I think an argument can be made that they saved the world. Basically, it hinges around Hiroshima and Naga… --- ## [Petrus Romanus - who is the predicted last pope?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petrus-romanus-who-is-the-predicted-last-pope/621145)
**Author:** [@greenlife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlife)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petrus-romanus-who-is-the-predicted-last-pope/621145 "2012-05-07T23:40:04Z")
a quick look at the 900y old prophecies of the popes show the next one is the last one in the list. BUT the current pope Benedict 16 has the LAST NUMBER ASSIGNED! (111 Glory of the olive) The longest paragraph for the p… --- ## [Medjugorje ex-nun seer of Extraterrestrials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medjugorje-ex-nun-seer-of-extraterrestrials/621220)
**Author:** [@greenlife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlife)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medjugorje-ex-nun-seer-of-extraterrestrials/621220 "2012-05-07T23:39:50Z")
her site http://www.versolanuovacreazione.it/ Stefania contacts with Ashtar of Alpha Centauri and archangel Raphael, claims we will see soon the interplanetary feet coming on God’s command --- ## [Why has college gotten so damn expensive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-college-gotten-so-damn-expensive/620600)
**Author:** [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-college-gotten-so-damn-expensive/620600 "2012-05-07T20:50:21Z")
Do you think it is because increased aid has led to a moral hazard with colleges driving up the price? Do you think it’s because of the government? Because of demand? Something else? --- ## [It's May Day: Let Us Praise Socialism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-may-day-let-us-praise-socialism/620532)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 176\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-may-day-let-us-praise-socialism/620532 "2012-05-07T20:43:59Z")
I like socialism, I really do. I like the idea of living in a society that is inclusive, that believes all of it’s citizens deserve decent lives. Capitalism may be more efficient at distributing wealth, but it has a tend… --- ## ["Ming Dynasty"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ming-dynasty/621179)
**Author:** [@Eastwest99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eastwest99)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ming-dynasty/621179 "2012-05-07T17:25:05Z")
If the Ming Dynasty fleets had discovered a direct sea route to Europe in the early 15th Century would China have conqured and colonized Europe? Why or Why not? How does this apply to current East-West relations? --- ## [Age of Imperialism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-imperialism/621189)
**Author:** [@Eastwest99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eastwest99)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-of-imperialism/621189 "2012-05-07T17:23:55Z")
The philosophies of Adam Smith, Charles Darwin and Karl Marx among other played a key role in the development of new socio-ecnomic theries in the 19th century. What is the impact of thease new ideas and practices on East… --- ## ["Qing Dynasty"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qing-dynasty/621186)
**Author:** [@Eastwest99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eastwest99)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/qing-dynasty/621186 "2012-05-07T17:23:08Z")
“That which accounts for the unprecedented success of the Qing Dynasty also explains its demise.” Explain? Yes this a topic for lecture today and other than relating this to Confucian way of thinking, I’m caught in scra… --- ## [Dynastic Rule vs Confucian Principle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dynastic-rule-vs-confucian-principle/621187)
**Author:** [@Eastwest99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eastwest99)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dynastic-rule-vs-confucian-principle/621187 "2012-05-07T17:21:58Z")
Compare and contrast the merits of dynastic rule and confucian principles of good goverment in East Asia with the revolutionary ideology that led to the rise of Bougeois Liberalism in the 19th Century West.:confused: --- ## [Is porn degrading the woman's image?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-porn-degrading-the-womans-image/620187)
**Author:** [@DukemNukem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DukemNukem)\ **Replies:** 185\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-porn-degrading-the-womans-image/620187 "2012-05-07T16:31:08Z")
I’ve seen a few documentaries that are for the idea that its degrading but now I would like us to throw arguments back and forth until we come to a conclusion. However this might be a difficult topic since there is a wi… --- ## [When does child protection get out of control?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-child-protection-get-out-of-control/500978)
**Author:** [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-child-protection-get-out-of-control/500978 "2012-05-07T14:36:38Z")
In this thread, a little discussion ensued about one poster who asked that said dangerous fans be turned off when she was in a restaurant in Taiwan. I don’t want to be one of those “Kids should just deal” types…but i… --- ## [If USA is a secular country, how come "in God we trust" is written on its money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361)
**Author:** [@gvozd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gvozd)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usa-is-a-secular-country-how-come-in-god-we-trust-is-written-on-its-money/620361 "2012-05-07T12:14:05Z")
Easy question, and waiting answers. --- ## [Can God can create a rock which is too heavy for himself to lift up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-can-create-a-rock-which-is-too-heavy-for-himself-to-lift-up/620455)
**Author:** [@gvozd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gvozd)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-god-can-create-a-rock-which-is-too-heavy-for-himself-to-lift-up/620455 "2012-05-07T07:26:51Z")
The title’s been corrected: Can God create a rock which is too heavy for himself to lift up? Mods, I’m sorry if this is the wrong forum. I have a great deal of difficulty if this thread is worth being in Great Debates. … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=328) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=330)