# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=375 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 376 --- ## [Should we be considering costs when recommending vaccines?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-considering-costs-when-recommending-vaccines/590400)
**Author:** [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-considering-costs-when-recommending-vaccines/590400 "2011-07-28T01:00:43Z")
First a note: I am fully in support of vaccines in general and have kept both my children up to date. The MMR and autism scares make me furious. That said, I think we can all agree that not all vaccines are appropriat… --- ## [Thought experiment for white people regarding race.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-for-white-people-regarding-race/589652)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2011, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-for-white-people-regarding-race/589652 "2011-07-27T08:03:58Z")
A thought experiment, aimed towards white people. A lot of people on these threads claim not to see a correlation between violence and race. Perahps this sentiment is right.I do not agree, but again I can only base my … --- ## [Is the War Powers Resolution unconstitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-war-powers-resolution-unconstitutional/587625)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-war-powers-resolution-unconstitutional/587625 "2011-07-27T04:54:56Z")
I’ve never seen this suggested before, although I cheerfully admit this may be owing to my abysmal ignorance rather than the novelty of the idea. The guy here believes that it is. What puzzles me is that if it is so … --- ## [Homeopathy--quackery or legit medicine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeopathy-quackery-or-legit-medicine/589899)
**Author:** [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeopathy-quackery-or-legit-medicine/589899 "2011-07-26T22:14:02Z")
Recently I’ve been reading a lot about the practice of homeopathy and have come to the conclusion is that it’s absolute and total quackery. I made an offhanded comment on Facebook and was surprised to find out that some… --- ## [MSNBC is profiling presidential candidate Ross Perot, could his perspective help today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msnbc-is-profiling-presidential-candidate-ross-perot-could-his-perspective-help-today/589794)
**Author:** [@Cyclone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyclone)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msnbc-is-profiling-presidential-candidate-ross-perot-could-his-perspective-help-today/589794 "2011-07-26T21:40:32Z")
Ross Perot was before my time as a voter, and if I could have voted in 1992 I would have voted for President Clinton. MSNBC portrays Perot as a person who first loves America, built EDS, sold it to General Motors and be… --- ## [Scandal control. In the long run, which is better denial or admission?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandal-control-in-the-long-run-which-is-better-denial-or-admission/590145)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandal-control-in-the-long-run-which-is-better-denial-or-admission/590145 "2011-07-26T18:16:48Z")
My lifetime seems to been a matter of living through a series of scandals. Everything from Watergate, to Iran/Contra, to Whitewater, to whatever, to whatever, to John Edwards to . . . (moving fast forward), John Tressel,… --- ## [If the US does indeed have separation of church and state why does the church remain tax exempt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-does-indeed-have-separation-of-church-and-state-why-does-the-church-remain-tax-exempt/590105)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-does-indeed-have-separation-of-church-and-state-why-does-the-church-remain-tax-exempt/590105 "2011-07-26T17:31:48Z")
Some organizations within any religious hierarchy are structured to funnel charitable donations to those less fortunate and so are tax exempt like those of their secular counterparts. But most of Church property and ass… --- ## [Balanced budget amendment... tied to tax increases](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balanced-budget-amendment-tied-to-tax-increases/589400)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balanced-budget-amendment-tied-to-tax-increases/589400 "2011-07-26T16:23:48Z")
I would support a modified form of a balanced budget amendment, assuming there were provisions included for increasing revenues to meet expenses. I imagine shortfalls being covered on a progressive basis. 90% of any bud… --- ## [Why Republicans don't trust Democrats and their budgeting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-republicans-dont-trust-democrats-and-their-budgeting/578585)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 195\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-republicans-dont-trust-democrats-and-their-budgeting/578585 "2011-07-26T15:08:23Z")
As Supreme Grand Emperor of the Republicans, I agree that to handle the $1.5 trillion deficit, we will agree to raise taxes by $750 billion and you will agree to cut spending by $750 billion Would you do it? What would… --- ## [Is this justice or a travesty of justice? DUI vs. jaywalking charge.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-justice-or-a-travesty-of-justice-dui-vs-jaywalking-charge/590304)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-justice-or-a-travesty-of-justice-dui-vs-jaywalking-charge/590304 "2011-07-26T15:01:18Z")
Now the mother’s actions clearly led to the accident that resulted in her son being killed, but the potential punishment seems way too out of wack, especially in comparison to the sentence that the guy driving the c… --- ## [What if the PRC had fallen to the 1989 Tienanmen Square protests?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-prc-had-fallen-to-the-1989-tienanmen-square-protests/590120)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-prc-had-fallen-to-the-1989-tienanmen-square-protests/590120 "2011-07-26T05:02:46Z")
And assume it had fallen more-or-less peacefully, like the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries, and in its place were established some kind of multiparty democracy. Really posing a question I asked in this thread: Would … --- ## [In years to come, will boxing and other combat sports be seen as barbaric blood sports?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-years-to-come-will-boxing-and-other-combat-sports-be-seen-as-barbaric-blood-sports/590014)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-years-to-come-will-boxing-and-other-combat-sports-be-seen-as-barbaric-blood-sports/590014 "2011-07-26T02:25:55Z")
By blood sports I mean, will they be seen by future generations akin to how we see Roman gladiatorial games, or how most civilised people today see sports that involve cruelty to animals. By years to come, well, define … --- ## [Why doesn't the government consider reducing spending on non-essential programs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-government-consider-reducing-spending-on-non-essential-programs/589720)
**Author:** [@Nica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nica)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-the-government-consider-reducing-spending-on-non-essential-programs/589720 "2011-07-25T22:53:50Z")
Rather than cutting social security and even military pay?? I understand that they give people jobs, but cutting back some funding couldn’t hurt. Like the space program, for example. Do we really NEED to explore space … --- ## [Let's Tax Lottery Winnings at 90%](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-tax-lottery-winnings-at-90/589175)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 158\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-tax-lottery-winnings-at-90/589175 "2011-07-25T21:55:09Z")
Seems like the perfect win/win: conservatives will like it because it’s increasing taxes on the poor since they’re the ones playing the lottery\[sup\]1\[/sup\] \[sup\]2\[/sup\] \[sup\]3\[/sup\] ; meanwhile liberals will like it bec… --- ## [Why are the rich so opposed to paying taxes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-rich-so-opposed-to-paying-taxes/589137)
**Author:** [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Replies:** 165\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-rich-so-opposed-to-paying-taxes/589137 "2011-07-25T19:00:13Z")
Three years ago, the economy was in a mess and the government essentially borrowed a metric boatload of money to try to stimulate our way out of it. While there’s a certain ambiguity about whether that worked or not, i… --- ## [Prison Rape](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prison-rape/589982)
**Author:** [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prison-rape/589982 "2011-07-25T18:49:22Z")
According to the Department of Justice an estimated 216 000 prisoners are raped in the U.S, believe it or not usually by the guards. Source. So, what do we do about that? --- ## [Which non-Xian historians give the most credence to the NT's historical accuracy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-non-xian-historians-give-the-most-credence-to-the-nts-historical-accuracy/589985)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-non-xian-historians-give-the-most-credence-to-the-nts-historical-accuracy/589985 "2011-07-25T17:39:49Z")
Not wanting to digress in this thread here, I’m wondering which credible professional historian who is NOT a professing Christian supports the accuracy of the New Testament’s rendering of historical events. If this has… --- ## [Are religious people crazy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-religious-people-crazy/589739)
**Author:** [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-religious-people-crazy/589739 "2011-07-25T13:52:30Z")
If someone were to read a Harry Potter book and believe every word of it, believe in witches and warlocks and magic, believe that anyone who didn’t believe in them was at best doomed, and at worst in league with evil, wo… --- ## [Will cultural Marxism affect Europe more than economic Marxism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-cultural-marxism-affect-europe-more-than-economic-marxism/584295)
**Author:** [@RaleighRally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaleighRally)\ **Replies:** 203\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-cultural-marxism-affect-europe-more-than-economic-marxism/584295 "2011-07-25T11:55:23Z")
In my Swedish hometown there has been profound changes going on in the last couple of decades because of cultural Marxism. Fox news: sweden in FOX news - YouTube CNBC: CBN: Malmö, Sweden: Growing Muslim Influence - YouT… --- ## [Why is it that only Northern Europeans have been programmed to make themselves into a minority?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-only-northern-europeans-have-been-programmed-to-make-themselves-into-a-minority/589427)
**Author:** [@RaleighRally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaleighRally)\ **Replies:** 403\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-only-northern-europeans-have-been-programmed-to-make-themselves-into-a-minority/589427 "2011-07-25T06:17:47Z")
(For simplicity, Northern Europeans in this thread are people who mainly origin from Britain, Ireland, Belgium, France, Holland, Germany, Austria and Scandinavia) All Northern European descendants have been programmed s… --- ## [Are the troothspeaking lawyers pulling a fast one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-troothspeaking-lawyers-pulling-a-fast-one/590087)
**Author:** [@David42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David42)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-troothspeaking-lawyers-pulling-a-fast-one/590087 "2011-07-25T02:51:25Z")
I made the following post in another thread. Seems like it may be a good question for separate treatment on a question of the logic of it alone. Here we do not ask for court opinions, but analyze the proposition by rea… --- ## [WWII: Germany vs USA, if the USSR lost](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-germany-vs-usa-if-the-ussr-lost/585402)
**Author:** [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-germany-vs-usa-if-the-ussr-lost/585402 "2011-07-24T16:29:51Z")
Germany beats the USSR, what’s the plan for the USA? Pearl Harbor gets attacked, Germany declares war on the US. Point of divergence: Germany, capturing Moscow, puts Stalin’s head on a pike. Hitler still has a declared… --- ## [Could the hacking scandal bring down the Cameron Government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-hacking-scandal-bring-down-the-cameron-government/589671)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-hacking-scandal-bring-down-the-cameron-government/589671 "2011-07-24T02:03:32Z")
Going by the silly history of the Profumo Affair, it don’t take much to bring down a British Government. And this one has implicated high-ranking Scotland Yard officials. Not anybody in the Cabinet, yet, that I know of… --- ## [Are Kids Getting Better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-getting-better/589086)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-getting-better/589086 "2011-07-23T14:50:07Z")
Compared to say twenty or thirty years ago are kids “better” in the sense of being more behaved, less rebellious, and whatnot? Consider the following: crime rates have gone down across the board for the last twenty years… --- ## [Militant Atheism: Good or bad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-atheism-good-or-bad/589693)
**Author:** [@HumanBear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumanBear)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/militant-atheism-good-or-bad/589693 "2011-07-23T05:46:14Z")
Okay, a new thread from the ‘Just how religious is America’ one. I often hear people complain about militant atheists, and I have especially heard that many people dislike Richard Dawkins for his stance on religion. So… --- ## [Israel to attack Iran this fall?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-to-attack-iran-this-fall/589514)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-to-attack-iran-this-fall/589514 "2011-07-22T21:31:10Z")
So says this ex-CIA dude: According to Ben Caspit of the Israeli daily Maariv, Dagan’s blasts at Israel’s political leadership are significant not only because Mossad chiefs, in office or retired, traditionally have ke… --- ## [Carbon Pricing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-pricing/588188)
**Author:** [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-pricing/588188 "2011-07-22T18:46:57Z")
Australia appears to be going round and round with trying to implement a carbon tax and Richard Branson has chimed in with his opinion that the entire world should adopt it at the same time to avoid undue strain on parti… --- ## [A viable solution comprimise to tax the rich?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-viable-solution-comprimise-to-tax-the-rich/589921)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-viable-solution-comprimise-to-tax-the-rich/589921 "2011-07-22T16:13:03Z")
Forgive me if I sound naive on this subject as I am not as knowledgeable as a lot of my fellow Dopers on all things political. Anyway, my understanding is that taxing the rich would hurt the small business man. Thus the… --- ## [The execution of Humberto Leal Garcia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-execution-of-humberto-leal-garcia/588676)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2011, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-execution-of-humberto-leal-garcia/588676 "2011-07-22T13:53:49Z")
Humberto Leal Garcia was recently executed in Texas for the rape/murder of a 16 year old in 1994. I believe that Leal Garcia was about 23 at the time. Born in Mexico, he had been raised since infancy/toddlerhood in San… --- ## [How to respond to the debt limit mess?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-respond-to-the-debt-limit-mess/589396)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-respond-to-the-debt-limit-mess/589396 "2011-07-22T01:46:24Z")
So. I don’t have much confidence in either party’s wisdom or sense of obligation to act in the best interests of the country. I’m debating moving some of my meager savings into the safest 401K haven (a cash fund?) I c… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=374) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=376)