# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=362 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 363 --- ## [Do scientists often admit they were wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-often-admit-they-were-wrong/599516)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-scientists-often-admit-they-were-wrong/599516 "2011-10-14T20:42:35Z")
Whether it’s in an article, an experiment/observation report or in public, do scientists\* often admit: “yeah, I believed A was true but it turns out it’s false/there isn’t enough data to support this belief”? \*Here, we’… --- ## [Are the 'occupy wall street' protesters being treated differently by police than the tea party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-occupy-wall-street-protesters-being-treated-differently-by-police-than-the-tea-party/599293)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-occupy-wall-street-protesters-being-treated-differently-by-police-than-the-tea-party/599293 "2011-10-14T17:00:01Z")
I don’t remember any stories about tea party members being maced and arrested in mass all over the country like what is happening with the occupy movements. Are the occupy movements just more prone to law breaking than … --- ## [Britain gave it's American Colonies Parliament seats.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-gave-its-american-colonies-parliament-seats/599011)
**Author:** [@cvan91](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cvan91)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-gave-its-american-colonies-parliament-seats/599011 "2011-10-14T16:16:07Z")
So what would have happened if from 1770 to today if Britain had given it’s American colonies seats in Parliament? --- ## [Gender Disorder and Hormone Blocking Therapy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-disorder-and-hormone-blocking-therapy/598947)
**Author:** [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-disorder-and-hormone-blocking-therapy/598947 "2011-10-14T15:09:26Z")
A recent article in the Daily Mail has caused a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth across the web. Article The comments there are close to what you see all across the web where this is being discussed. The heading i… --- ## [Is the Media pulling a Kerry with Romney?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-media-pulling-a-kerry-with-romney/599474)
**Author:** [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-media-pulling-a-kerry-with-romney/599474 "2011-10-14T14:04:45Z")
In 2004 the media used a rigged video\* to make Howard Dean look like a nutbag, so that John Kerry could be anointed as the ‘electable’ candidate for the Democrats. Now that Herman Cain has become the next contender to pu… --- ## [How recently did firearms trump the best archers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-recently-did-firearms-trump-the-best-archers/599445)
**Author:** [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-recently-did-firearms-trump-the-best-archers/599445 "2011-10-14T12:53:27Z")
The standard explanation given for the emergence of personal firearms in warfare is not that early firearms were particularly good, but that they were much easier to use than bows and arrows. A man with an early firearm … --- ## [Why has the Obama administration been so much more effective at killing terrorists than Bush's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-obama-administration-been-so-much-more-effective-at-killing-terrorists-than-bushs/599520)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-the-obama-administration-been-so-much-more-effective-at-killing-terrorists-than-bushs/599520 "2011-10-14T04:16:18Z")
Pretty straight forward. --- ## [Why is there so much gridlock in US politics today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-much-gridlock-in-us-politics-today/599101)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-much-gridlock-in-us-politics-today/599101 "2011-10-13T22:13:54Z")
I’ve been observing the way in which US politics is done for the past few years and it seems clear that the political system seems to have two parties completely uninterested in cooperating on things even which aren’t a … --- ## [Does free will exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-free-will-exist/574464)
**Author:** [@donnie\_darko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donnie_darko)\ **Replies:** 218\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-free-will-exist/574464 "2011-10-13T20:29:49Z")
I would say no because I don’t think a person can go against their nature. I think a person’s personality is shaped by the interaction between their biology and their experiences, there is no evidence of an ‘x factor’ of… --- ## [The jobs bill just died in the Senate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jobs-bill-just-died-in-the-senate/599366)
**Author:** [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-jobs-bill-just-died-in-the-senate/599366 "2011-10-13T19:33:41Z")
How do you feel about it? Republicans don’t have a legitimate counter. “Just cut taxes more” isn’t gonna work, and soon enough people will start to realize how empty the rhetoric is. What now? Are Republicans actually … --- ## [How to End the Recession](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-end-the-recession/598518)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-end-the-recession/598518 "2011-10-13T19:32:05Z")
$20,000 refundable tax credit for every taxpayer. Paid for with bonds sold directly to the Fed. --- ## [Cheap subsidised Gas for decades](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-subsidised-gas-for-decades/599003)
**Author:** [@studmuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/studmuffin)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-subsidised-gas-for-decades/599003 "2011-10-13T19:05:45Z")
Unlike the rest of the western world, why are North Americans not prepared to pay a realistic and fair price for Gas ? --- ## [Can you force a child to believe in God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-force-a-child-to-believe-in-god/599322)
**Author:** [@lew\_cody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lew_cody)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-force-a-child-to-believe-in-god/599322 "2011-10-13T15:45:36Z")
Serves me right for reading the Catholic Answers forums, but I came across a question posed to one of their “resident apologists” that dealt with a child (real or hypothetical wasn’t made clear) who didn’t believe in God… --- ## [Can someone explain me the american discussion about the invasion of Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-me-the-american-discussion-about-the-invasion-of-iraq/598998)
**Author:** [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-me-the-american-discussion-about-the-invasion-of-iraq/598998 "2011-10-13T11:32:16Z")
When I read / hear people discussing the invasion, it is mostly critical of it, and the discussion is always focused on whether Osama Bin Laden was there at the time, or whether Saddam had nuclear weapons. The “humanitar… --- ## [Climatologist Dr. Michael Mann completely vindicated...again.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climatologist-dr-michael-mann-completely-vindicated-again/593724)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 472\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climatologist-dr-michael-mann-completely-vindicated-again/593724 "2011-10-13T03:03:45Z")
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/08/22/300821/nsf-inspector-general-investigation-michael-mann/ The Hockey Stick has been independently investigated so many times it’s not funny, and every single time, Mann, et al. ha… --- ## [Was Amanda Knox Involved In Any Way With Her Roommate's Murder?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-amanda-knox-involved-in-any-way-with-her-roommates-murder/597906)
**Author:** [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Replies:** 301\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-amanda-knox-involved-in-any-way-with-her-roommates-murder/597906 "2011-10-13T00:46:18Z")
I know there has been a thread or two about this over the years, but with the re-trial that is currently ongoing, I thought that I would start a new one. Did Amanda have anything to do with Meredith Kercher’s murder? I… --- ## [Why Are There 3.2 Million Open Job Postings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-3-2-million-open-job-postings/599351)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-3-2-million-open-job-postings/599351 "2011-10-12T22:24:52Z")
As reported on CNBC, there are about 14 million unemployed right now, and 3.2 million unfilled job postings. Why? With 4 applicants for every job, shouldn’t that number have quickly gone to zero, leaving about 11millio… --- ## [Modern Day Human Experimentation in the USA.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-human-experimentation-in-the-usa/599389)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-day-human-experimentation-in-the-usa/599389 "2011-10-12T22:20:54Z")
A little while back, I was just reading this thought-provoking article in Wikipedia, about unethical human experiementation in the United States. And I was just wondering, is it possible this could be going on to this da… --- ## [Will police abuse of power go unchecked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-police-abuse-of-power-go-unchecked/597723)
**Author:** [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-police-abuse-of-power-go-unchecked/597723 "2011-10-12T03:11:18Z")
http://thelastword.msnbc.msn.com/\_news/2011/09/26/7978720-rewrite-police-vs-protesters There is clear video evidence of police abuse of power. Is this simply a glimpse of what goes on all the time, without cameras, and… --- ## [10/15/11 - All illegal aliens leave the U.S.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-15-11-all-illegal-aliens-leave-the-u-s/598926)
**Author:** [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-15-11-all-illegal-aliens-leave-the-u-s/598926 "2011-10-12T00:13:19Z")
on 10/15/11, all illegal aliens leave the U.S., either by choice or by force. Let’s iclude those who are incarcerated. They are released and deported. This is neither pro- nor anti-immigration, take it as a given with no… --- ## [Would allowing penalty free withdrawals from 401(k) accounts help the economy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-allowing-penalty-free-withdrawals-from-401-k-accounts-help-the-economy/599256)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-allowing-penalty-free-withdrawals-from-401-k-accounts-help-the-economy/599256 "2011-10-11T20:15:03Z")
From THIS OP-ED page letter: Edited for length and SDMB rules: \*Give people a one-time chance to take out 401(k) money without penalty. \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* … --- ## [Reducing Corporate Income Tax: A Thought Experiment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reducing-corporate-income-tax-a-thought-experiment/599116)
**Author:** [@Lago\_Ys-Transform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lago_Ys-Transform)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reducing-corporate-income-tax-a-thought-experiment/599116 "2011-10-11T17:49:10Z")
So, a thought occurs. Imagine if someone reduced in the United States the Federal and State (and city if applicable) corporate income tax to 0% or near 0%. I’d say 0.5% so that there’d be a precedent to have and raise i… --- ## [Is there a connection between income inequality and economic collapses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-connection-between-income-inequality-and-economic-collapses/598809)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-connection-between-income-inequality-and-economic-collapses/598809 "2011-10-11T16:24:06Z")
I heard a podcast by Paul Krugman several months ago where he would talk (before the economic collapse, pre-2008 so the 2001-2008 period) about how income inequality during that time was approaching or at the level it wa… --- ## [For those who think LHO didn't kill JFK, do you also doubt that OJ is guilty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-think-lho-didnt-kill-jfk-do-you-also-doubt-that-oj-is-guilty/598996)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-think-lho-didnt-kill-jfk-do-you-also-doubt-that-oj-is-guilty/598996 "2011-10-10T18:34:11Z")
If not, why not? The same basic principle of CT obfuscation can also apply to that case, applying some “doubt” or “question” to each individual detail, without ever creating a reasonable, plausible alternate explanation… --- ## [why introduce RFID in credit cards and passports vs magnetic strip or other contact-only records?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-introduce-rfid-in-credit-cards-and-passports-vs-magnetic-strip-or-other-contact-only-records/599045)
**Author:** [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-introduce-rfid-in-credit-cards-and-passports-vs-magnetic-strip-or-other-contact-only-records/599045 "2011-10-10T17:38:11Z")
critics say that these RFID could be read remotely by identity thieves. So what do the supporters say? What is the benefit in making these documents scannable from a non-trivial distance? One possible “benefit” might be… --- ## [Steve Wozniak- Underated and Forgotten?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-wozniak-underated-and-forgotten/599029)
**Author:** [@Julianus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julianus)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-wozniak-underated-and-forgotten/599029 "2011-10-10T06:28:05Z")
With the death of Mr. Jobs, I was prompted to suddenly remember and think of the other Steve, namely Steve Wozniak, who, along with Jobs, were the cofounders of Apple. If Wozniak were to die in the future, would he ev… --- ## [Progressives? Is this an effective strategy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressives-is-this-an-effective-strategy/598665)
**Author:** [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/progressives-is-this-an-effective-strategy/598665 "2011-10-10T05:56:54Z")
I’ve seen a few people post this on a social networking site: I’m not sure what to think about this. Is the Green Party even registered in all states? It does advocate not changing your registration if you’re involve… --- ## [Future of Social Liberalism In Europe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-social-liberalism-in-europe/598979)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-social-liberalism-in-europe/598979 "2011-10-10T00:19:32Z")
While I’m not a big proponent of the Eurabia theory or that the Islamist theocrats will actually take over the European continent, will at the same time increasing influx of populations from socially conservative culture… --- ## [Kennedy assassination question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kennedy-assassination-question/598515)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kennedy-assassination-question/598515 "2011-10-09T23:39:53Z")
I happened to watch a special this evening and they showed the Zapruder film. I’ve seen this film a thousand times, but one thing finally stood out to me that I never thought of before… When Kennedy gets hit in the thr… --- ## [Reducing Corporate Income Tax: A Thought Experiment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reducing-corporate-income-tax-a-thought-experiment/599120)
**Author:** [@Lago\_Ys-Transform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lago_Ys-Transform)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reducing-corporate-income-tax-a-thought-experiment/599120 "2011-10-09T22:52:06Z")
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