# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=369 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 370 --- ## [Hahahahaha. Tea party republicans push for regressive tax hike.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hahahahaha-tea-party-republicans-push-for-regressive-tax-hike/593525)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 170\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2011, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hahahahaha-tea-party-republicans-push-for-regressive-tax-hike/593525 "2011-08-31T09:53:40Z")
Schadenfreude. Taxed enough already seems to only apply to those making over 250k a year. Which isn’t shocking if you understand what the GOP really stand for (instead of what they claim to stand for), but lol to all tho… --- ## [Illegal to film police officers while making an arrest. Insane new trend in state laws.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-film-police-officers-while-making-an-arrest-insane-new-trend-in-state-laws/541936)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-film-police-officers-while-making-an-arrest-insane-new-trend-in-state-laws/541936 "2011-08-31T03:02:34Z")
“At least” three states now have laws on the books making it illegal to film police officers while they are making an arrest. The laws are based largely on wiretapping regulations, which require that all parties conse… --- ## [is evolution a fact?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-evolution-a-fact/593375)
**Author:** [@curiousprincegeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curiousprincegeorge)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-evolution-a-fact/593375 "2011-08-30T23:44:38Z")
Is it correct to say this statement: Evolution is a fact, the theory of evolution is theory. evolution has been proven with:(pick which is fact) a) viruses b)those lizards on that Mediterranean island c)strawberries… --- ## [Why do ultra-right-wingers flip out over gold?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-right-wingers-flip-out-over-gold/592138)
**Author:** [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-right-wingers-flip-out-over-gold/592138 "2011-08-30T19:56:25Z")
I keep hearing unintelligent teabaggers yapping about how gold is the future! \*\*invest in gold! \*\*blahblahblah. Don’t they realize that if an apocalypseall rights reserved, TM, pat.pend. occurred, gold won’t mean anythin… --- ## [Fast & Furious.....Exit? \[Eric Holder and Mexican guns\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-furious-exit-eric-holder-and-mexican-guns/588546)
**Author:** [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-furious-exit-eric-holder-and-mexican-guns/588546 "2011-08-30T19:29:10Z")
Documentation continues to pile up pointing to a less than truthful Eric Holder Holder Lied Is it really a matter of “IF” anymore regarding Obama throwing him under the bus, or are we just to “WHEN”? --- ## [Does this settle the vaccines cause autism question?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-settle-the-vaccines-cause-autism-question/594137)
**Author:** [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-settle-the-vaccines-cause-autism-question/594137 "2011-08-30T17:19:30Z")
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/health/26vaccine.html?ref=us I think it does. Also: (from the same link) Does that mean these kids would have developed Dravet Syndrome no matter what? Or did the vaccine trigger t… --- ## [How did Noah care for 8.7 million species?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-noah-care-for-8-7-million-species/593830)
**Author:** [@REDEYZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/REDEYZZ)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2011, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-noah-care-for-8-7-million-species/593830 "2011-08-30T12:00:43Z")
Would someone care to explain how Noah was able to take care of approximately 8.7 million creatures? How did he feed them all? How did he clean up the waste? How did he gather them all? How did he get them to all … --- ## [Libertarian Islands](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-islands/592928)
**Author:** [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarian-islands/592928 "2011-08-29T16:58:55Z")
Story here. Apparently they’re trying to build artificial islands on which to found new nations. New nations featuring “no welfare, looser building codes, no minimum wage, and few restrictions on weapons.” The first c… --- ## [Will Libya end up being a positive for Obama?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-libya-end-up-being-a-positive-for-obama/593665)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-libya-end-up-being-a-positive-for-obama/593665 "2011-08-29T16:37:05Z")
Some people were saying that Obama screwed up when he committed American forces in Libya (Operation Freedom Falcon - not to be confused with Operation Falcon Freedom). The argument was that Obama would end up getting bog… --- ## [You just now got that figured out? Really?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-just-now-got-that-figured-out-really/594314)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-just-now-got-that-figured-out-really/594314 "2011-08-28T17:13:31Z")
According to someone I’ve never heard of, Alex Pereene, in a piece titled “Tea Party people now less popular than other hated minority groups”, commenting on It struck me as an odd thing to say, because how was this no… --- ## [So if transhumanism hits a wall for advancement, then what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-transhumanism-hits-a-wall-for-advancement-then-what/594153)
**Author:** [@Lago\_Ys-Transform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lago_Ys-Transform)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2011, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-if-transhumanism-hits-a-wall-for-advancement-then-what/594153 "2011-08-28T11:32:17Z")
It’s pretty true that just because it’s possible to have and simulate human brains it doesn’t mean that we’ll be able to do so (meaning that we can’t really enhance intelligence meaningfully). The same is true for pretty… --- ## [Why are Americans so opposed to tax increases?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-so-opposed-to-tax-increases/591733)
**Author:** [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2011, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-americans-so-opposed-to-tax-increases/591733 "2011-08-28T07:48:21Z")
Nobody likes paying higher taxes. I get that. But it seems like the idea of increasing taxes on middle-class Americans\* is anathema, political suicide, six steps beyond super-ooper-duper crazy, and slightly worse than wo… --- ## [Is mathematics the language of the Universe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mathematics-the-language-of-the-universe/593784)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2011, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mathematics-the-language-of-the-universe/593784 "2011-08-28T07:29:20Z")
I this thread on Evolution I’m afraid I started a hijack on what is a “fact” by suggesting 2+2=4 is the only “true” facts we can count on (which is to say math…not just that equation). Derelth responded by saying: The… --- ## [The "Lockerbie Bomber" (Pan Am 103) was framed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lockerbie-bomber-pan-am-103-was-framed/593878)
**Author:** [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lockerbie-bomber-pan-am-103-was-framed/593878 "2011-08-27T22:55:01Z")
He’s innocent, there’s no doubt about that. The evidence, quote unquote, against him was nonsense, so much so that a special court had to be set up so he could be sent to prison without present all that rubbish to a jury… --- ## [San Francisco cel phone shutdown: safety issue, or hint of Orwell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-cel-phone-shutdown-safety-issue-or-hint-of-orwell/592627)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-cel-phone-shutdown-safety-issue-or-hint-of-orwell/592627 "2011-08-27T21:16:24Z")
Yesterday, the Bay Area Rapid Transit shut down a number of cel phone repeaters in their train stations, ostensibly to prevent people from using their phones and social media sites to coordinate a demonstration over a re… --- ## [Is the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-voting-rights-act-of-1965-unconstitutional/594188)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-voting-rights-act-of-1965-unconstitutional/594188 "2011-08-27T20:33:29Z")
Title kinda says it all. Apparently Arizona thinks it is: This is more than an Attorney General offering an opinion. Arizona is going to challenge the law. While Section 5 of the law seems a particular target the ar… --- ## [Obama's Libyan Adventure-Will It End Badly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-libyan-adventure-will-it-end-badly/575628)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 445\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-libyan-adventure-will-it-end-badly/575628 "2011-08-27T20:26:15Z")
I think so. First, we have no idea what we are supporting. For all we know, we might have a new Iran style regime in Libya. Second, it is impossible to bomb targets without killing innocent people. Third, Russia and C… --- ## [Why does God need to be the only God AND omnipotent to boot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-need-to-be-the-only-god-and-omnipotent-to-boot/593866)
**Author:** [@Lago\_Ys-Transform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lago_Ys-Transform)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-god-need-to-be-the-only-god-and-omnipotent-to-boot/593866 "2011-08-27T19:08:48Z")
From a completely neutral (as in, not even atheist–someone with no bias looking for a religion) point of view, frankly this is just pretty lame and sad. It’d be like several comic book artists trying to get you to read t… --- ## [I just found out I've been presupposing naturalism my whole life. Is this a fallacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-ive-been-presupposing-naturalism-my-whole-life-is-this-a-fallacy/592693)
**Author:** [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-found-out-ive-been-presupposing-naturalism-my-whole-life-is-this-a-fallacy/592693 "2011-08-27T18:09:20Z")
While listening to an old Don Johnson Christian Debates podcast, he pointed out that his guest was presupposing naturalism. My gut response was “Well …duh.” If I see card trick, I would never consider the option that i… --- ## [Drug Tests For Welfare Recipients?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-tests-for-welfare-recipients/589784)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 197\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-tests-for-welfare-recipients/589784 "2011-08-27T16:10:51Z")
Do you support or oppose laws that require those who sign up for welfare to take drug tests? Personally I support such laws as welfare should be for those disabled or otherwise cannot take care of themselves or for thos… --- ## [The President and the Economy.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-and-the-economy/593883)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-and-the-economy/593883 "2011-08-27T15:30:09Z")
A little while ago, I had a very interesting discussion with one of my doctors (let’s just call him “Dr. D”). Dr. D says the president really has very little control over the economy. Oh, sure, elections are won and lost… --- ## [The CBO-Reliable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cbo-reliable/593914)
**Author:** [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cbo-reliable/593914 "2011-08-27T03:18:12Z")
Since the CBO has been in service (1981 I think), How often have predicted results come to fruition as stated (for the purposes of this discussion, close is good enough)? The CBO was used as a tool by Bush to proclaim a… --- ## [Merle "Rat Terriers" and not Rat Terriers \[closed duplicate\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-rat-terriers-and-not-rat-terriers-closed-duplicate/594230)
**Author:** [@Darlaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darlaj)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-rat-terriers-and-not-rat-terriers-closed-duplicate/594230 "2011-08-26T21:41:45Z")
Merle Rat Terriers are a hybrid breed. They are a cross of Chihuahua and Rat Terrier. Further more-- Chihuahua’s are not even part of the Rat Terrier breed history. Chihuahua was not even attempted to be introduced into … --- ## [Doc Brown and the Royal Crown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-brown-and-the-royal-crown/594144)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doc-brown-and-the-royal-crown/594144 "2011-08-26T19:07:55Z")
Never mind how. The powers that be in England get one (1) chance at time travel, limited to going back to 1776 or not at all. Would they go back with modern weapons and triumph over the American revolution? Or would the… --- ## [For Krugman followers: How much debt would be acceptable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-krugman-followers-how-much-debt-would-be-acceptable/591106)
**Author:** [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Replies:** 195\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-krugman-followers-how-much-debt-would-be-acceptable/591106 "2011-08-26T18:10:05Z")
Here is a link to a video of the Roundtable discussion from This Week. \[QUOTE=This Week\] PAUL KRUGMAN, NEW YORK TIMES: The first thing is, we shouldn’t – you know, from – from the perspective of a rational person – in … --- ## [Believing in an afterlife](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believing-in-an-afterlife/593719)
**Author:** [@2ManyTacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ManyTacos)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believing-in-an-afterlife/593719 "2011-08-26T17:42:45Z")
Because I was invited by Czarcasm to take the sub-discussion that I had in this thread and spin it into its own topic, here we go. The crux of this question really boils down to a couple of key questions: (1) Do you bel… --- ## [2010s Depression versus the Great Depression](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010s-depression-versus-the-great-depression/593601)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010s-depression-versus-the-great-depression/593601 "2011-08-26T14:30:54Z")
I’ve been reading “The Hungry Years” by T.H. Watkins and “Hard Times” by Studs Terkel–the former being a historical review of the Great Depression (with heavy emphasis on the New Deal programs and labor unionism), the la… --- ## [How are addictions classified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-addictions-classified/594164)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-addictions-classified/594164 "2011-08-26T12:09:10Z")
…and is there much controversey among those who make a living by treating them?? Inspired by an article I read the other day about the Betty Ford Clinic. Apparently the family and the board are/were fighting over wheth… --- ## [Syria deploys troops to put down protesters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-deploys-troops-to-put-down-protesters/575522)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/syria-deploys-troops-to-put-down-protesters/575522 "2011-08-26T03:57:00Z")
Things heat up in Syria. Some people, and some peoples, just do not understand the concept of “Wait your turn.” :mad: The Libyans had the consideration to start their revolution after the Egyptian one was finished. I… --- ## [Prayer Versus Free Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer-versus-free-will/593817)
**Author:** [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prayer-versus-free-will/593817 "2011-08-26T02:50:11Z")
There’s a current thread that began by asking why some people live and others die during a plane crash or mine disaster or whatever, and it has morphed into a general discussion of the Problem of Evil. The most popular… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=368) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=370)