# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=352 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 353 --- ## [Sebelius makes plans for no Plan B](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sebelius-makes-plans-for-no-plan-b/605663)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sebelius-makes-plans-for-no-plan-b/605663 "2011-12-13T17:27:54Z")
As you may have heard, the Obama administration, speaking thru Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, overruled the FDA approval of Plan B, the morning-after contraceptive, to girls younger than 17 withou… --- ## [Clarkson is right on this - people who kill themselves via train](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarkson-is-right-on-this-people-who-kill-themselves-via-train/605144)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarkson-is-right-on-this-people-who-kill-themselves-via-train/605144 "2011-12-13T15:59:03Z")
For those unfamiliar, Jeremy Clarkson is kind of like a much more likeable British version of…well, it’s hard to draw a direct comparison, but Rush Limbaugh springs to mind. Conservative, loud and bolshy, He’s prone to m… --- ## [If Newt had said this:](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-newt-had-said-this/605776)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-newt-had-said-this/605776 "2011-12-13T14:22:41Z")
How it would sound if Newt had said this: "Remember there was no United State as a state. It was part of the British Empire. And I think that we’ve had an invented American people, who are in fact Europeans, and were… --- ## [Creationist rhetoric](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationist-rhetoric/605520)
**Author:** [@GeddyClaypoolBurton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeddyClaypoolBurton)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationist-rhetoric/605520 "2011-12-13T12:38:22Z")
I came across a rather insane creationist that claimed that his proof for the existence of a god is, “the Creation proves a Creator”. What immediately came to mind was the idea that that “Creator” could have been the Fly… --- ## [why is the universe a mystery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-universe-a-mystery/605630)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-universe-a-mystery/605630 "2011-12-13T10:10:30Z")
Well, you might say that we know so much about it but at its heart is the great mystery of where it all came from. We can start with the big bang theory and end with the mysteries of the nucleus of the atom. The large … --- ## [How would a world where the 4th plane hit its intended target be different?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-world-where-the-4th-plane-hit-its-intended-target-be-different/594705)
**Author:** [@Darth\_Ayebaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Ayebaw)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-world-where-the-4th-plane-hit-its-intended-target-be-different/594705 "2011-12-13T08:30:22Z")
Or would it be different at all? Could anyone in the upcoming events have been killed, with their likely replacement likely to handle things differently? Or would the only changes be a higher body count and slightly diff… --- ## [Raindogs comments.. \[on belief and proof - edited title\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raindogs-comments-on-belief-and-proof-edited-title/605048)
**Author:** [@DaveBfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveBfd)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raindogs-comments-on-belief-and-proof-edited-title/605048 "2011-12-13T06:59:30Z")
\[QUOTE=Raindog\] \<-----strong theism----------------------strong belief for-----------------------weak belief for-----------------| no belief either way; agnosticism |--------------------weak belief against--… --- ## [Critiqe this (citizen approach to fedral budget defecit)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critiqe-this-citizen-approach-to-fedral-budget-defecit/605298)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critiqe-this-citizen-approach-to-fedral-budget-defecit/605298 "2011-12-13T01:34:06Z")
CNN had an article about abandoned vacation days amounting to more than $34 billion in lost benefits. These are expenses employers are banking on incurring anyway, so why not make it an intentional thing? If you’re fac… --- ## [A world with no tobacco](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-with-no-tobacco/605642)
**Author:** [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-with-no-tobacco/605642 "2011-12-12T21:51:29Z")
The scope of this question is intended to cover social, political, and economic realms, and is NOT intended to become a place to post links to your favorite anti-smoking health scare sites. Imagine a world in which the … --- ## [Which is the best way to disarm Pakistan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-way-to-disarm-pakistan/604893)
**Author:** [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-way-to-disarm-pakistan/604893 "2011-12-12T19:00:04Z")
Pakistan has atomic weapons. Which would be the best way to make them not have atomic weapons? --- ## [Philly DA No Longer Seeks Death for Jamal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-da-no-longer-seeks-death-for-jamal/605409)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philly-da-no-longer-seeks-death-for-jamal/605409 "2011-12-12T00:13:46Z")
In what has to be one of the most racially charged cases in recent history, the DA in Philly has decided to give up on the death penalty for Mumia Abu Jamal. Jamal, who is black, was convicted 30 years ago of the murder … --- ## [Giving granola bars to the homeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-granola-bars-to-the-homeless/605644)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-granola-bars-to-the-homeless/605644 "2011-12-11T22:40:42Z")
As I’m sure many of you do, I with some regularity drive past people begging for change at intersection and so forth. And sometimes I give them some change, and sometimes I don’t. But I’m fairly often struck by the thou… --- ## [Should a 13 year old be climbing Everest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192)
**Author:** [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Replies:** 225\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192 "2011-12-10T21:47:27Z")
I recently saw this article in the news. Apparently a 13 year old California boy, Jordan Romero, is planning to climb Mt. Everest along with his mother and father. This strikes me as an incredibly bad idea. Everest kill… --- ## [Putin's United Russia loses ground in parliamentary election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putins-united-russia-loses-ground-in-parliamentary-election/605049)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putins-united-russia-loses-ground-in-parliamentary-election/605049 "2011-12-10T17:30:12Z")
Still the biggest party, but no longer supermajority. Well, there you are. Even with fraud, United Russia can’t win it all: United Russia is “centrist.” (Which probably makes it the most palatable to the West of al… --- ## [John Mace's (and others') opinion about societal fairness, 99%, etc](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-maces-and-others-opinion-about-societal-fairness-99-etc/605215)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 203\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-maces-and-others-opinion-about-societal-fairness-99-etc/605215 "2011-12-10T16:23:00Z")
So over in this thread there’s yet another discussion of OWS, the 99%, etc., going on. And at least one thread of the conversation is one that I find very interesting, and I will summarize parts of it like this (making u… --- ## [Help me understand CEO pay](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-ceo-pay/605397)
**Author:** [@A\_clever\_user\_name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_clever_user_name)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-ceo-pay/605397 "2011-12-10T10:19:41Z")
This is somewhat inspired by the many 1% threads. I’d like to understand more about CEO (and other senior corporate officer) pay at very large multinationals/S&P 500 type companies. Note: I do not want to discuss “fair… --- ## [Should Eric Holder resign?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-eric-holder-resign/604562)
**Author:** [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-eric-holder-resign/604562 "2011-12-10T06:28:48Z")
Recently, there have been calls for Eric Holder, the Attourney General of the United States, to resign his office amid a number of scandals. I think we should discuss the matter here, since obviously the Dope is so full … --- ## [What would WWI be like with today's journalists and reporting technology?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-wwi-be-like-with-todays-journalists-and-reporting-technology/605375)
**Author:** [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-wwi-be-like-with-todays-journalists-and-reporting-technology/605375 "2011-12-10T00:53:44Z")
This thought occurred to me last night, so I wanted to ask. Imagine a world where journalists in 1911 had the technology of reporting as 2011. They have access to e-mail, blogs, Youtube, there are 24 hour cable shows on… --- ## [Are we/you in the kingdom of the blind?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-you-in-the-kingdom-of-the-blind/605517)
**Author:** [@hoenikker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hoenikker)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-you-in-the-kingdom-of-the-blind/605517 "2011-12-09T19:20:52Z")
This may be moved to a different forum soon, but in fact I believe it shouldn’t be, since what I’m asking about is actually the greatest debate of all time if you think about it. I’ll try my luck with you moderators tho… --- ## ["When Did The GOP Lose Touch With Reality" by David Frum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-gop-lose-touch-with-reality-by-david-frum/604320)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 357\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-gop-lose-touch-with-reality-by-david-frum/604320 "2011-12-09T17:26:13Z")
A few quotes from the article: Powerful stuff, and hits the core of how I feel about the modern republican party, as well as most of their voters, very well. Thoughts? Criticisms? Discuss. --- ## [Democrats takeover in 2008. What would have happened?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-takeover-in-2008-what-would-have-happened/604593)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-takeover-in-2008-what-would-have-happened/604593 "2011-12-09T05:44:58Z")
What would have happened if the Democrats had full control of the Senate in 2008? If a few close races had gone the other way in 2004 and 2006, the Democrats could have had a 63-37 advantage in the Senate. What if the f… --- ## ["Flu shots make me sick -- why on earth did I even bother?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-shots-make-me-sick-why-on-earth-did-i-even-bother/604551)
**Author:** [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flu-shots-make-me-sick-why-on-earth-did-i-even-bother/604551 "2011-12-09T02:12:07Z")
I hear this all the time from people who claim that flu shots actually make them sick. Is there any truth to the matter? Confirmation bias? --- ## [Nanny State FDA Wants To Kill The Cigar Trade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanny-state-fda-wants-to-kill-the-cigar-trade/605166)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nanny-state-fda-wants-to-kill-the-cigar-trade/605166 "2011-12-09T01:40:08Z")
The source is obviously biased but the basic information is accurate. http://www.famous-smoke.com/blog/post.cfm/fda-regulation-the-end-of-cigars This is ridiculous. Banning walk-in humidors? I’ve never seen a kid in … --- ## [Adam Carolla's Take on Occupy Wall Street](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-carollas-take-on-occupy-wall-street/604784)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-carollas-take-on-occupy-wall-street/604784 "2011-12-08T23:16:01Z")
Here’s his rant on OWS. http://www.gossipcop.com/adam-carolla-occupy-wall-street-rant-tirade-speech-audio-listen/ Instead of just trashing him, is there are specific point that you disagree with him on or is he in step… --- ## [What Was Wrong With the Old Covenant (Religious)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-wrong-with-the-old-covenant-religious/605385)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-wrong-with-the-old-covenant-religious/605385 "2011-12-08T21:52:50Z")
This is a purely religious question. (I am not very religious. But bear with me.) What exactly was wrong with the Old Covenant, between Abraham and Moses? I didn’t study the Bible too much in Catholic school (I was rais… --- ## [So where is the lazy American worker?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-is-the-lazy-american-worker/605129)
**Author:** [@Lago\_Ys-Transform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lago_Ys-Transform)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-is-the-lazy-american-worker/605129 "2011-12-08T20:16:25Z")
Americans have, in no particular order over the past 30 years: Have some of the longest workweeks of most industrialize nations Taken fewer and fewer vacations Raised the IQ and SAT scores of everyone, including minori… --- ## [Should the US Supeme Court Allow Video Cameras?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-supeme-court-allow-video-cameras/605319)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-supeme-court-allow-video-cameras/605319 "2011-12-08T20:15:34Z")
Can Congress Force Supreme Court to let in Cameras? The pro forces are getting stronger, and suggesting that Congress should pass a law requiring SCOTUS to allow video. While that would bust the sanctity of the Court’s… --- ## [Cranick's Folly: Libertarianism at its finest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranicks-folly-libertarianism-at-its-finest/556104)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 391\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cranicks-folly-libertarianism-at-its-finest/556104 "2011-12-08T16:45:46Z")
From news sources like Britain’s Daily Telegraph we learn that I’ve mixed feelings about the story. I’m opposed to “freeloaders” and part of me wants to say “serves the Cranicks right.” On the other hand, fire protec… --- ## [When will this debt crisis end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-this-debt-crisis-end/604492)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2011, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-this-debt-crisis-end/604492 "2011-12-08T08:00:17Z")
It’s understandable that it dominates nearly every debate on the news and also in culture at large, but when will this end? Oddly enough, it seems that we’ve exchanged one cultural legacy (The War On Terror) with the age… --- ## [Antibiotic Use vs Libertarianism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotic-use-vs-libertarianism/601119)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 199\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotic-use-vs-libertarianism/601119 "2011-12-08T01:49:06Z")
In the current antilibertarian thread, the issue of regulating antibiotics and their use came up. The question posed was, “would libertarians regulate its use?” The answer was no, leading to this little melt down: … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=351) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=353)