# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=373 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 374 --- ## [Is having a cell phone a right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-having-a-cell-phone-a-right/591378)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-having-a-cell-phone-a-right/591378 "2011-08-05T21:38:24Z")
If you can’t afford one do you have the right to get a free one from the government along with free minutes to go with it? Some people think so. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s\_749344.html I can… --- ## [Joint Strike fighters still in limbo - Aussies threaten to withdraw - China hones stealth aircraft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joint-strike-fighters-still-in-limbo-aussies-threaten-to-withdraw-china-hones-stealth-aircraft/590487)
**Author:** [@Sablicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sablicious)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joint-strike-fighters-still-in-limbo-aussies-threaten-to-withdraw-china-hones-stealth-aircraft/590487 "2011-08-05T20:01:45Z")
Article So are the US good for these planes or has the country’s farcical economic situation, military budget cuts pressure and dysfunctional government rendered this deal another pie-in-the-sky promise, a la the F-22 R… --- ## [The death penalty (again)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-death-penalty-again/590726)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-death-penalty-again/590726 "2011-08-05T18:16:42Z")
I am opposed to the death penalty, but only for one reason- because the possibility exists that we may (and probably have) execute an innocent person. Morally I don’t really have a problem with executing murderers, viol… --- ## [Honesty Experiments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honesty-experiments/591493)
**Author:** [@Wood\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wood_Man)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honesty-experiments/591493 "2011-08-05T18:11:38Z")
A major bank in Australia says they conducted honesty experiments. Link - http://www.adverblog.com/2011/08/01/the-honesty-experiments/ Are people really this ‘honest’? Firstly I think they need are new word. Giving ba… --- ## [How do we prevent atrocities like the Norwegian Utoja-massacre and the Oslo terror-bombings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-prevent-atrocities-like-the-norwegian-utoja-massacre-and-the-oslo-terror-bombings/590946)
**Author:** [@RaleighRally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaleighRally)\ **Replies:** 142\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-prevent-atrocities-like-the-norwegian-utoja-massacre-and-the-oslo-terror-bombings/590946 "2011-08-05T06:57:31Z")
Instead of throwing ad hominems in the Pit, it would be a lot more constructive to have a serious debate about this issue. Should we criminalize critique of “Political Correctness” and ban political parties that want … --- ## [What Crimes Should Be Punishable By the Death Penalty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-crimes-should-be-punishable-by-the-death-penalty/590577)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 291\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-crimes-should-be-punishable-by-the-death-penalty/590577 "2011-08-05T02:59:06Z")
Keep in mind that this only makes crimes punishable by the death penalty not necessarilly make it have to be punished by death. I would think the death penalty should be eligible for: First-Degree Murder Treason Espi… --- ## [Brillliant strategy for Pubbies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brillliant-strategy-for-pubbies/591315)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brillliant-strategy-for-pubbies/591315 "2011-08-04T19:35:10Z")
Someone in the “Y U NO stand up for self?” thread mentioned that Congress never slashes their own (salaries, perks, staff etc.) when railing about cutting federal spending, and at first I thought “Duh,” but now I think… --- ## [Not so slippry a slope: Bush has always been the one to blame for our current economic crisis.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-slippry-a-slope-bush-has-always-been-the-one-to-blame-for-our-current-economic-crisis/590401)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-slippry-a-slope-bush-has-always-been-the-one-to-blame-for-our-current-economic-crisis/590401 "2011-08-04T18:31:21Z")
In an effort to break my very mundane Tuesday, I began reading further into the US debt-ceiling debacle; I really want to understand it much more than I currently do. To me - an NPR fiend - I can listen to both sides on … --- ## [What if R.E. Lee fought for the Union?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-r-e-lee-fought-for-the-union/590029)
**Author:** [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-r-e-lee-fought-for-the-union/590029 "2011-08-04T17:42:02Z")
There’s been a lot out there about the Civil War lately due to the sesquicentennial and one thing I read intrigued me. There was a blog post over on the Atlantic.com by Ta Nehisi Coates about Robert E. Lee’s decision to … --- ## [Should Christians apologize for the Oslo killings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-christians-apologize-for-the-oslo-killings/590695)
**Author:** [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-christians-apologize-for-the-oslo-killings/590695 "2011-08-04T15:08:50Z")
I constantly hear conservatives complaining that Muslims in general condone terrorist attacks because they don’t routinely publicly condemn them(which, as an aside, is just not true) One of my answers has always been, w… --- ## [Bullets as a metaphor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullets-as-a-metaphor/590537)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullets-as-a-metaphor/590537 "2011-08-04T13:05:54Z")
Via YouTube, Steny Hoyer: In the immediate wake of the Tuscon shooting, it seemed (for a couple of days, anyway) that there was on this board some fairly wide-spread agreement that bullets as metaphors produced a dange… --- ## [Free Will Revisited - Soft Compatibilism (ver. 2.0)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-will-revisited-soft-compatibilism-ver-2-0/590706)
**Author:** [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-will-revisited-soft-compatibilism-ver-2-0/590706 "2011-08-04T06:53:45Z")
This is a reworked version of a soft compatibilist model for addressing the problem of free will vs. determinism which I posited in a thread last November. The thread didn’t get much traction, but a few posters objected… --- ## [Are there any valid prophecies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-valid-prophecies/589248)
**Author:** [@David42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David42)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-valid-prophecies/589248 "2011-07-27T16:13:32Z")
First, what this thread is NOT about: Its not about your disagreement with religion, excepting discussion of a lack of prohetic fulfillment might discourage religion. Its not about promoting religion, except to the ext… --- ## [Are there many pro-life people who are also anti-death penalty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-many-pro-life-people-who-are-also-anti-death-penalty/590621)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-many-pro-life-people-who-are-also-anti-death-penalty/590621 "2011-08-04T05:58:42Z")
It seems to be a standard configuration, at least amongst Americans, to be pro-life but also pro-death penalty. I understand the intellectual distinction but it strikes me that if you’re wanting to preserve the sanctity … --- ## [Obama, Y U NO STAND UP FOR SELF?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-y-u-no-stand-up-for-self/590907)
**Author:** [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-y-u-no-stand-up-for-self/590907 "2011-08-04T04:17:46Z")
I… don’t understand. As Krugmannotes, Obama seems to systemically give up his bargaining position, over and over again. And yet he seems to be able to get things done, sometimes - see healthcare, don’t ask don’t tell, ge… --- ## [Enough with the no-kill shelters and related wrongheadedness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enough-with-the-no-kill-shelters-and-related-wrongheadedness/591226)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enough-with-the-no-kill-shelters-and-related-wrongheadedness/591226 "2011-08-04T03:32:57Z")
I was going to go IMHO, but then I thought there might be a good chance this would go debate -level, so I’ll just put it here. I think my bona fides as a dog lover are established. I love animals generally, and dogs WA… --- ## [City mandated vs. free market trash collection](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-mandated-vs-free-market-trash-collection/591181)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-mandated-vs-free-market-trash-collection/591181 "2011-08-03T21:21:42Z")
Ever since I moved into my home 9 years ago we have had a type of free market trash collection system. Four to five various trash companies you can pick from and they all compete with eachother to give you the best “dea… --- ## [Tea Party = treason](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-treason/590861)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 210\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-party-treason/590861 "2011-08-03T14:52:16Z")
My wife made that observation this morning as we heard the news. They are seriously trying to overthrow the government and much more likely to succeed than the pathetic American Communist Part ever could have imagined. … --- ## [Catholic Tradition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-tradition/590053)
**Author:** [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-tradition/590053 "2011-08-03T11:55:10Z")
while undergoing catholic education, i was made to understand that the magisterium intereprets God’s work through traditional and scriptural bases. i read reams of discussions and debates concerning spoken traditions (pa… --- ## [Resolved: Atheists are wrong. What now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-atheists-are-wrong-what-now/589949)
**Author:** [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2011, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-atheists-are-wrong-what-now/589949 "2011-08-03T11:45:27Z")
Oh hell, let’s start this one as the companion thread to my companion thread to the currently active thread on whether or not religious people are crazy. As I stated in my earlier thread I believe in Something. In my p… --- ## [What if women ruled the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-women-ruled-the-world/590992)
**Author:** [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Replies:** 191\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-women-ruled-the-world/590992 "2011-08-03T10:19:21Z")
I think we would all be better off. Certain qualities they have I believe would lead to more world peace than compared to the idiot men we have in there now. Think about this, would the wars we have going on right now … --- ## [Claire McCaskill - Statement on Meet the Press](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claire-mccaskill-statement-on-meet-the-press/590950)
**Author:** [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2011, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claire-mccaskill-statement-on-meet-the-press/590950 "2011-08-03T09:47:44Z")
\[QUOTE=Claire McCaskill on Meet the Press 7/31/11\] Here’s the bottom line. This fight has not been about nothing.This hasn’t just been political theater. There’s a philosophical difference here on the hill between the D… --- ## [America needs to invest in infrastructure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-needs-to-invest-in-infrastructure/591100)
**Author:** [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-needs-to-invest-in-infrastructure/591100 "2011-08-02T22:50:57Z")
The American Society of Civil Engineers has released a report stating that America’s aging infrastructure is in dire need of increased funding for maintenance, repairs, and replacements. There is a handy blog post summa… --- ## [Is English "degrading" or just changing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-english-degrading-or-just-changing/591143)
**Author:** [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-english-degrading-or-just-changing/591143 "2011-08-02T21:21:21Z")
So enough of you complained about my lack of grammar conventions when posting, and while I still think it’s stupid that I heard so much about it, I know when I’m beaten. But it’s gotten me thinking. Every so often you h… --- ## [Servants and labor-saving products](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/servants-and-labor-saving-products/589541)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/servants-and-labor-saving-products/589541 "2011-08-02T19:34:34Z")
I was just reading about domestic servants in Victorian Britain and the author made the point that households of that era needed a bunch of servants because they didn’t have the hundreds of labor-saving products that mod… --- ## [Why does the high tech industry seem so bubble-prone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-high-tech-industry-seem-so-bubble-prone/590920)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-high-tech-industry-seem-so-bubble-prone/590920 "2011-08-02T18:29:57Z")
With the massive billion dollar IPO for Linked, people are now eagerly awaiting similar performances from social networking giants Facebook, Twitter, Groupon and Zynga. Some would even say we are getting ready to see a d… --- ## [So now that NCLB has hit the reality of the scholastic ability bell curve. What happens next?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-that-nclb-has-hit-the-reality-of-the-scholastic-ability-bell-curve-what-happens-next/589554)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-now-that-nclb-has-hit-the-reality-of-the-scholastic-ability-bell-curve-what-happens-next/589554 "2011-08-02T17:20:01Z")
In reading articles about NCLB lately it seems that in addition to stories of rampant cheating enabled by the top levels of local school administrations, a lot of the achievement targets set with the evangelical fervor o… --- ## [Constitution 2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-2-0/590939)
**Author:** [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitution-2-0/590939 "2011-08-02T01:55:17Z")
Some of the talks on the debt ceiling have sparked my interest in a topic that I have always enjoyed: revising the U.S. Constitution. I actually am 80-90% sure that not only has this topic been done before but I think I’… --- ## [Should Vargas (self confessed illegal alien reporter) be deported or charged](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-vargas-self-confessed-illegal-alien-reporter-be-deported-or-charged/586491)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-vargas-self-confessed-illegal-alien-reporter-be-deported-or-charged/586491 "2011-08-01T21:52:24Z")
Obligatory links: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/magazine/my-life-as-an-undocumented-immigrant.html http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/22/pulitzer-prize-winner-im-an-illegal-immigrant/ He apparently has broken sever… --- ## [Default and third party politics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/default-and-third-party-politics/590340)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/default-and-third-party-politics/590340 "2011-08-01T21:51:19Z")
Just listened to the President and the Speaker vilify each other and express nothing new. A plague on both (our) houses. Assuming nobody wants to bring back Ross Perot’s party, how could a third party arise to give us … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=372) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=374)