# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=379 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 380 --- ## [Is Computer Self-Awareness Possible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-computer-self-awareness-possible/582787)
**Author:** [@Whambulance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whambulance)\ **Replies:** 327\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-computer-self-awareness-possible/582787 "2011-07-05T12:41:22Z")
Will a human-built machine constructed of silicone etc. i.e., a traditionally built computer, ever achieve self-awareness (I am just trying to differentiate between some of the biological systems theorized as of late.)? … --- ## [Are there any good theories on self-awareness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-theories-on-self-awareness/587540)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-good-theories-on-self-awareness/587540 "2011-07-05T04:31:41Z")
I’m sure there are, I’d just like to initiate a discussion, if not an actual debate if there’s one to be had on the nature of consciousness, self-awareness, sentience and sapience. I’m not necessarily a materialist, but… --- ## [Is The Withdrawal of Surge Troops A Mistake](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-withdrawal-of-surge-troops-a-mistake/586569)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 167\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-withdrawal-of-surge-troops-a-mistake/586569 "2011-07-04T17:35:20Z")
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/world/asia/23prexy.html?pagewanted=1&\_r=2&hp Is the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan going too fast? General Petreaus had advised against it and the main supporters of the… --- ## [David Vitter and John Ensign should step down also.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-vitter-and-john-ensign-should-step-down-also/585497)
**Author:** [@JimH52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimH52)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-vitter-and-john-ensign-should-step-down-also/585497 "2011-07-04T15:45:21Z")
If Weiner is being asked to step down, why haven’t these two been asked? Is it because they are Republicans and above reproach? This is an obvious double standard. --- ## [My mom, divorced 3 times, thinks gay marriage will "ruin" marriage.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-divorced-3-times-thinks-gay-marriage-will-ruin-marriage/587381)
**Author:** [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Replies:** 616\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2011, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mom-divorced-3-times-thinks-gay-marriage-will-ruin-marriage/587381 "2011-07-04T07:55:37Z")
My mom’s a devout Catholic, so I guess this shouldn’t have been surprising to me, but somehow I’d had the vague idea that she differed from the Church on this topic. But anyway, this morning on Facebook (I don’t care if … --- ## [Is illlegal prositution an unfair restriction on a womans use of her own body?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-illlegal-prositution-an-unfair-restriction-on-a-womans-use-of-her-own-body/584457)
**Author:** [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2011, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-illlegal-prositution-an-unfair-restriction-on-a-womans-use-of-her-own-body/584457 "2011-07-03T09:10:06Z")
Was reading one of the (many) abortion threads and got thinking about this. Why is it accepted that the government can legislate what a woman does with her own body? If someone wants to accept money for sex then surely … --- ## [Is the conservative belief that a low tax rate on the rich is necessary to stimulate growth a fraud?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-conservative-belief-that-a-low-tax-rate-on-the-rich-is-necessary-to-stimulate-growth-a-fraud/587608)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2011, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-conservative-belief-that-a-low-tax-rate-on-the-rich-is-necessary-to-stimulate-growth-a-fraud/587608 "2011-07-03T05:10:38Z")
I ask because of this exchange (part of it quoted below) where Ben Stein claims that there is no proof that low tax rates on the wealthy stimulate growth, and in fact high marginal tax rates on the wealthy are historical… --- ## [Chiropractors-yea or nea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chiropractors-yea-or-nea/586642)
**Author:** [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chiropractors-yea-or-nea/586642 "2011-07-02T21:34:12Z")
Ok, I’m not sure if this should be here in great debates or in general questions, but I feel this is probably the appropriate locale, so here it goes… How many of the board members here believe in chiropractic practice?… --- ## [Domain names to expand: .law, .coke, .hitachi, .nyc, etc. - good idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domain-names-to-expand-law-coke-hitachi-nyc-etc-good-idea/586146)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/domain-names-to-expand-law-coke-hitachi-nyc-etc-good-idea/586146 "2011-07-02T17:05:34Z")
Seems like a good idea to me. What do you think? --- ## [Virginia's compensation fund for victims of "Massive Resistance"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginias-compensation-fund-for-victims-of-massive-resistance/586640)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginias-compensation-fund-for-victims-of-massive-resistance/586640 "2011-07-02T15:17:02Z")
Hey! We finally get to talk about reparations with a real life example! Some of Virginia’s Desegregation Scholarships Go to White Applicants, Sparking Controversy Essential background reading from Wikipedia: \*Senator… --- ## [With the "end of the world" in 2012 fast approaching, let's consider...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-the-end-of-the-world-in-2012-fast-approaching-lets-consider/586776)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-the-end-of-the-world-in-2012-fast-approaching-lets-consider/586776 "2011-07-02T04:29:54Z")
How would world culture, politics, etc., change if there were truly a certain date for the end of the world? Suppose astronomers discovered some object out in space that was sure to pulverize the Earth in 5000 years. A… --- ## [America's foreign policy hypocrisy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-foreign-policy-hypocrisy/586965)
**Author:** [@Sablicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sablicious)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-foreign-policy-hypocrisy/586965 "2011-07-02T02:24:05Z")
How can the US stand idly by when this kind of thing goes down in the backyards of their biggest debt holder and one of its strongest idealogical allies, yet preach from the pulpit when it comes to the Middle-East? Sure… --- ## [The handicap stall argument-clear and concise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-handicap-stall-argument-clear-and-concise/586809)
**Author:** [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-handicap-stall-argument-clear-and-concise/586809 "2011-07-02T01:23:59Z")
ALL i’m saying is that it should be considered a toilet of “last-resort” for the able-bodied, or non-disabled. If all other, perfectly usable options are not available, by all means, any and everybody has the right to u… --- ## [SCOTUS rules against Arizona campaign finance law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-rules-against-arizona-campaign-finance-law/587164)
**Author:** [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-rules-against-arizona-campaign-finance-law/587164 "2011-07-01T20:36:50Z")
ARIZONA FREE ENTERPRISE CLUB’S FREEDOMCLUB PAC v.BENNETT Opinion Dissent This might be a worse decision than Citizen’s United. At least that case had a plausible First Amendment rationale, but this… Arizona provides… --- ## [Is the debt ceiling unconstitutional.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-debt-ceiling-unconstitutional/587321)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-debt-ceiling-unconstitutional/587321 "2011-07-01T18:07:17Z")
Some Democratic Senators are saying that the debt ceiling may be unconstitutional. It could be argued that if this is valid, it’s only valid in that you can’t have a ceiling on paying off already incurred debt. It wou… --- ## [Do compassion and empathy have a legitimate place in setting political policy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-compassion-and-empathy-have-a-legitimate-place-in-setting-political-policy/587432)
**Author:** [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-compassion-and-empathy-have-a-legitimate-place-in-setting-political-policy/587432 "2011-07-01T17:58:51Z")
A co-worker and I were talking politics: he claims to be a strict constitutionalist, and certainly questioning him on different aspects of his political ideaology leads me to believe he is what he says. In his opinion, … --- ## [Playing chicken with the debt limit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-chicken-with-the-debt-limit/572070)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 181\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-chicken-with-the-debt-limit/572070 "2011-07-01T17:49:16Z")
So, there’s a lot of discussion about certain Congresspeople voting against raising the debt limit, mostly because they think the government is spending too much. Of course, talk is cheap (and sometimes an end unto itse… --- ## [North Korea...how will it end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-how-will-it-end/587232)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-how-will-it-end/587232 "2011-07-01T17:05:32Z")
This thread about the North Korean airline got me on a kick of reading and learning about North Korea, something I really didn’t know very much about until now. I mean, I knew it was bad, but I didn’t really realize how … --- ## [Is Quakerism a "Passive" Cult?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-quakerism-a-passive-cult/586684)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-quakerism-a-passive-cult/586684 "2011-07-01T13:21:51Z")
Although (I assume) people are free to leave, is the Quaker religion a “passive” cult? My cousin joined, and the things she comes out with equate in my mind to a brainwashed Moon child standing on a street corner peddli… --- ## [Majority of States Now Challenging Health Care Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/majority-of-states-now-challenging-health-care-law/567588)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 259\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/majority-of-states-now-challenging-health-care-law/567588 "2011-07-01T03:44:46Z")
With Kansas joining the suit, there are now 26 states as parties to litigation challenging the constitutionality of the health care law. I first have to say that I never saw this coming. I didn’t suss out the specific a… --- ## [Glen Beck](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glen-beck/586216)
**Author:** [@indian3478](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indian3478)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glen-beck/586216 "2011-07-01T03:41:39Z")
Does anyone know why Fox has thrown Glen Beck under the bus ??? --- ## [Tort Reform](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tort-reform/587174)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tort-reform/587174 "2011-07-01T01:34:08Z")
I saw part on HBO piece on tort reform last night and it was petty enlightening. It was pretty clear that show was against it and they presented a fair amount of information to back their position. I am against frivolous… --- ## [Free trade/currency devaluation \[merged Le Jacquelope threads\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-trade-currency-devaluation-merged-le-jacquelope-threads/585848)
**Author:** [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-trade-currency-devaluation-merged-le-jacquelope-threads/585848 "2011-06-30T18:37:38Z")
You don’t see China, South Korea, Mexico or Brazil enacting any kind of program to retrain people whose jobs were lost to free trade. Perhaps because they aren’t losing any, but rather, gaining? If free trade is creatin… --- ## [Is the argument that approving gay marriage opens the door to plural marriage illogical or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-argument-that-approving-gay-marriage-opens-the-door-to-plural-marriage-illogical-or-not/586801)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 163\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-argument-that-approving-gay-marriage-opens-the-door-to-plural-marriage-illogical-or-not/586801 "2011-06-30T14:59:18Z")
I’m all for adults of any sexual persuasion being able to marry as they choose. One of the arguments opponents of gay marriage put forth against gay marriage is that it opens the door to plural marriage. While this argum… --- ## [Will Europe/Asia subsidize clean energy/tranport in the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-europe-asia-subsidize-clean-energy-tranport-in-the-u-s/587171)
**Author:** [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-europe-asia-subsidize-clean-energy-tranport-in-the-u-s/587171 "2011-06-30T14:38:03Z")
President Obama wants to implement some high speed rail projects in the U.S.; European/Asian companies are keen to get contracts to construct them and there has even been talk of foreign companies operating them and a… --- ## [Should the ban on sales of pornography to minors be lifted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-ban-on-sales-of-pornography-to-minors-be-lifted/587083)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2011, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-ban-on-sales-of-pornography-to-minors-be-lifted/587083 "2011-06-30T10:30:12Z")
The SCOTUS has just ruled that sales of violent video games cannot be restricted based on age. My first thought when reading this, and apparently a thought on the minds of Justices Breyer and Thomas, was: then how the… --- ## [What will really happen if Texas passes the TSA anti-groping bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-really-happen-if-texas-passes-the-tsa-anti-groping-bill/586310)
**Author:** [@Dripping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dripping)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2011, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-really-happen-if-texas-passes-the-tsa-anti-groping-bill/586310 "2011-06-30T07:44:18Z")
Cite: Welcome tsatyranny.com - BlueHost.com and http://www.earnedmedia.org/tsat0621.htm This looks likely to pass and become law in Texas. Soon. Then what? Will the feds really cancel all flights in and out of Texas?… --- ## [Lawyers Helping Clients by Besmirching Others](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-helping-clients-by-besmirching-others/587042)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-helping-clients-by-besmirching-others/587042 "2011-06-29T22:30:00Z")
Suppose a lawyer knows that his client’s best chance at acquittal is in trashing innocent people. He can do his best to persuade the jury (and by extension, the public at large) that some other person actually committed… --- ## [1973 War Powers Act: does Libya qualify?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1973-war-powers-act-does-libya-qualify/585897)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1973-war-powers-act-does-libya-qualify/585897 "2011-06-29T14:39:48Z")
No, says Obama. Here Now, So no need for Congressional approval. Yet he used the War Powers Act to keep Congress of of his back when he started this. I can’t believe I actually agree with John Boehner on this. W… --- ## [Gloves off! It's time to criminalize tobacco - SG of US says so!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-off-its-time-to-criminalize-tobacco-sg-of-us-says-so/180019)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2011, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-off-its-time-to-criminalize-tobacco-sg-of-us-says-so/180019 "2011-06-29T09:01:25Z")
From the Guardian. The social costs of tobacco addiction are staggering. Is it time to being considering the criminalizing the sale of tobacco and banning the use use of tobacco? The Surgeon General thinks it might well… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=378) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=380)