# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=383 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 384 --- ## [Imbalance in US TV Media Coverage of Greenhouse Gas Regulation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbalance-in-us-tv-media-coverage-of-greenhouse-gas-regulation/585076)
**Author:** [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbalance-in-us-tv-media-coverage-of-greenhouse-gas-regulation/585076 "2011-06-11T04:21:18Z")
Via Skeptical Science. No, this is not a discussion on global warming, the focus is the even older affirmation from many right wingers that mainstream media is liberal. Many times I have made the point that if the main… --- ## [Original Disciples and Lying](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-disciples-and-lying/584953)
**Author:** [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-disciples-and-lying/584953 "2011-06-10T19:19:05Z")
So lately I’ve been doing a lot of reading about the Gospels, Apologetics, and related topics and one thing sprang to mind that I thought I’d throw out and see what sticks - if anything. Let’s suppose that Jesus existed… --- ## [Black Women Less Attractive - Is the Outrage Due to Flawed Researched or Political Correctness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-women-less-attractive-is-the-outrage-due-to-flawed-researched-or-political-correctness/583691)
**Author:** [@eman77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eman77)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-women-less-attractive-is-the-outrage-due-to-flawed-researched-or-political-correctness/583691 "2011-06-10T14:16:15Z")
This is based on an article posted on Yahoo this morning. http://news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20110528/tc\_atlantic/psychologytodayapologizesblackwomenlessattractivearticle38261 After a quick skim of his Wiki page, this doe… --- ## [Behind every fortune is a crime, claimed Balzac. Are there exceptions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behind-every-fortune-is-a-crime-claimed-balzac-are-there-exceptions/218330)
**Author:** [@marky33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marky33)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behind-every-fortune-is-a-crime-claimed-balzac-are-there-exceptions/218330 "2011-06-10T10:41:44Z")
Many may consider the possession of a fortune by one person while others starve a crime, but I assume Balzac was referring to the collection of wealth rather than its possession. I may be wrong, but Bill Gates seems rel… --- ## [Who had the strategic initiative during the Cold War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-had-the-strategic-initiative-during-the-cold-war/584933)
**Author:** [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-had-the-strategic-initiative-during-the-cold-war/584933 "2011-06-10T09:56:48Z")
I was watching a show on the Military Channel about the Soviets and their nuclear program, and according to the show it seemed like, aside from the first hydrogen bomb, the Soviets were always playing catchup with the US… --- ## [How important are political sexual scandals to elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-are-political-sexual-scandals-to-elections/584823)
**Author:** [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-are-political-sexual-scandals-to-elections/584823 "2011-06-10T09:55:30Z")
With all the media coverage of Congressman Weiner’s wiener, I’ve been wondering just how powerful these kinds of scandals are. Does anyone besides me think that’s it’s possible that had there been no Monica Lewinsky the… --- ## ["All rise!": Do courtroom procedures in the USA (and elsewhere?) tend to make the Judge...a King?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-rise-do-courtroom-procedures-in-the-usa-and-elsewhere-tend-to-make-the-judge-a-king/577559)
**Author:** [@Recliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recliner)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-rise-do-courtroom-procedures-in-the-usa-and-elsewhere-tend-to-make-the-judge-a-king/577559 "2011-06-10T06:35:06Z")
I frequently observe what I like to call “mundane criminal court”. Once or twice a month, I’m obliged – not legally, but I’ve been in the position (beat up a nun one time; stole two coconuts the other; totally joking. … --- ## [Are non-US climate change denialists strongly correlated to political parties?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-non-us-climate-change-denialists-strongly-correlated-to-political-parties/584897)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-non-us-climate-change-denialists-strongly-correlated-to-political-parties/584897 "2011-06-10T04:02:23Z")
In the US, there is a strong correlation between climate change denialists (or cloaked denialists; the ‘just asking questions’, ‘not sure yets’, etc.) and the Republican Party (superficial claims of ‘libertarianism’ or ‘… --- ## [Are Unions Good or Bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-unions-good-or-bad/584219)
**Author:** [@MattProle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattProle)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-unions-good-or-bad/584219 "2011-06-10T02:46:21Z")
Seems like they are around for good reasons; preventing the work force from being screwed over on basic human needs seems like a legitimate function. On the other hand, I know reasonable older folks in my daily life who … --- ## [Wiener debate be different if he's independent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wiener-debate-be-different-if-hes-independent/584858)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wiener-debate-be-different-if-hes-independent/584858 "2011-06-09T16:58:05Z")
I really don’t care all that much about Wiener one way or the other. ABut how do you think this debate would change is he was either an independent (and a 50/50 one) or if for some reason we didn’t know what is party wa… --- ## [Make the case for a $300 billion defense budget.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-the-case-for-a-300-billion-defense-budget/583392)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-the-case-for-a-300-billion-defense-budget/583392 "2011-06-09T15:17:52Z")
List all the good things that would happen if our military budget were shrunk in a planned sort of way down to $300 billion. What are the counterarguments? What disasters are supposed to happen if the US military budget… --- ## [Homosexuality -- one of the causes of the population imbalance!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-one-of-the-causes-of-the-population-imbalance/584567)
**Author:** [@boozilu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boozilu)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-one-of-the-causes-of-the-population-imbalance/584567 "2011-06-09T15:14:10Z")
Really? Per Del. Robert G. Marshall (Virginia state delegate), http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/conservatives-call-on-federal-reserve-to-take-down-gay-pride-flag/2011/06/03/AGTpz7HH\_blog.html… --- ## [Will this new feature from Apple signal a change in laws governing copying of media?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-new-feature-from-apple-signal-a-change-in-laws-governing-copying-of-media/584651)
**Author:** [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-this-new-feature-from-apple-signal-a-change-in-laws-governing-copying-of-media/584651 "2011-06-09T03:48:55Z")
As you may know, Apple, Inc. announced yesterday a new service called iCloud that will allow you to store content on centralized servers and share your music / photos / movies amongst several devices (laptop, iPhone, iPo… --- ## [Weiner's wife is Pregnant!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weiners-wife-is-pregnant/584812)
**Author:** [@JimH52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimH52)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weiners-wife-is-pregnant/584812 "2011-06-09T02:21:42Z")
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/weiners-wife-is-pregnant/?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc\_id=NY-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-AWW-060811-NYT-NA&WT.mc\_ev=click Oh geeesshhhhh… --- ## [Why all the inter-service bickering over proprietary camo designs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-inter-service-bickering-over-proprietary-camo-designs/584749)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-inter-service-bickering-over-proprietary-camo-designs/584749 "2011-06-09T01:07:29Z")
Shouldn’t the services pick what works the best? Even if it means that different branches use the same pattern? The purpose of the camo is not to provide distinguishing color patterns for the different branches of th… --- ## [2,000,000 jobs created in 15 months](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-000-000-jobs-created-in-15-months/584697)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-000-000-jobs-created-in-15-months/584697 "2011-06-08T22:34:43Z")
Knowing this will turn into a GD anyways, here it is. Obama recently made a claim that he had created 2 million jobs in the last 15 months. How does he arrive at this number? The only things I can think of is: He ju… --- ## [Rights and freedoms (for whites) in a successful Confederacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rights-and-freedoms-for-whites-in-a-successful-confederacy/584159)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rights-and-freedoms-for-whites-in-a-successful-confederacy/584159 "2011-06-08T01:15:54Z")
I’d known that during the Civil War, the Confederate States of American had a military draft. What I hadn’t known was the legal theory behind it. During the debate over enacting the draft Confederate senator Louis Wigfal… --- ## [Meaningfull Biological Definition of Race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningfull-biological-definition-of-race/582472)
**Author:** [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Replies:** 360\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningfull-biological-definition-of-race/582472 "2011-06-07T23:09:54Z")
Picking up from this thread, at thispost. Not your anecdotes, or logic, or rationalization. Just provide the definition like this: The human races are \_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_, … , and \_\_\_\_ You can determine the race of somebody by… --- ## [1916—Pancho Villa, KIA by Punitive Expedition: what happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1916-pancho-villa-kia-by-punitive-expedition-what-happens/584274)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1916-pancho-villa-kia-by-punitive-expedition-what-happens/584274 "2011-06-07T18:35:45Z")
('been rattling around my head for awhile) Late 1916: Chihuahua, Mexico. General Perishing leads the “Punitive Expedition” against Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa after his attacks on the US. It is little more than … --- ## [Free To Choose](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-to-choose/583958)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-to-choose/583958 "2011-06-07T17:37:52Z")
There have been a lot of threads around here lately on Libertarianism, with a lot of confusion as to what it’s about and what libertarians believe. In the ‘Libertarian Mythology’ thread I posted a link to Milton Friedma… --- ## [Did waterboarding help kill Bin Laden?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-waterboarding-help-kill-bin-laden/580487)
**Author:** [@G-SE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G-SE)\ **Replies:** 368\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-waterboarding-help-kill-bin-laden/580487 "2011-06-07T05:45:21Z")
It is now being reported that crucial information used to find and kill Bin Laden was obtained by Khalid Shaikh Mohamed, who was waterboarded during interrogation at Guantanamo Bay. Although the CIA official does not s… --- ## [Wikileaks a real threat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-a-real-threat/583456)
**Author:** [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-a-real-threat/583456 "2011-06-07T05:21:49Z")
So I recently watched a documentary about Wikileaks and Assange the founder. You know what I found interesting? China and Iran banned it and the US is trying to suppress it. US can’t ban it because of constitutional l… --- ## [The John Edwards Indictment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-john-edwards-indictment/584211)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-john-edwards-indictment/584211 "2011-06-07T01:36:37Z")
Seems dubious to me. You just read the headlines and you get the impression that JE took money that had been contributed to “his campaign” and used it to hide his mistress. But from what I’ve read, that doesn’t seem to … --- ## [Is Fox news for real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-for-real/578933)
**Author:** [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Replies:** 145\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fox-news-for-real/578933 "2011-06-07T00:03:43Z")
So, when I left the US in 1999, I recall Fox news being a regular news channel. Sure it had a slight slant to the right. Just like CNN is news from an American perspective and BBC is news from a British perspective. Ha… --- ## [What did the Germans expect at Versailles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-germans-expect-at-versailles/584163)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-germans-expect-at-versailles/584163 "2011-06-06T20:19:35Z")
The common wisdom is the Treaty of Versailles was a mistake - it was so tough on Germany that it made another war inevitable. The Germans certainly felt it was unbearably harsh. But honestly, what where the Germans expe… --- ## [I haven't seen anything in the media concerning cia ring bust.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-seen-anything-in-the-media-concerning-cia-ring-bust/583213)
**Author:** [@chiefwhitesr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefwhitesr)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-havent-seen-anything-in-the-media-concerning-cia-ring-bust/583213 "2011-06-06T18:47:35Z")
I have been paying fairly close attention to the broadcasts and haven’t heard a word about the CIA ring bust in Iran. Does somebody know something I don’t and should I stop posting about it? --- ## [America's unemployment is not due to a skills mismatch.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-unemployment-is-not-due-to-a-skills-mismatch/584034)
**Author:** [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [June 6, 2011, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-unemployment-is-not-due-to-a-skills-mismatch/584034 "2011-06-06T06:20:04Z")
If you disagree with this, do the following exercise. Imagine that, for hypothetical sake, every working age American has every possible skill known to humanity and is supremely proficient. How many of those people wil… --- ## [Copy and save for 3 years.... \[predictions on an Obama presidency\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-and-save-for-3-years-predictions-on-an-obama-presidency/452027)
**Author:** [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copy-and-save-for-3-years-predictions-on-an-obama-presidency/452027 "2011-06-05T21:01:39Z")
Posted with no comments from me. I’ll just bring it back up in a while when the songs change… :wink: --- ## [At-Large vs. District elections](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-large-vs-district-elections/584005)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-large-vs-district-elections/584005 "2011-06-05T20:25:30Z")
There is nothing to prevent a state from having at-large elections to elect Representatives. My question would be, what would be the effective difference between current elections by district and one where the top 7 vot… --- ## [Does a presidential visit to a disaster area help in any meaningful way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-presidential-visit-to-a-disaster-area-help-in-any-meaningful-way/583887)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-presidential-visit-to-a-disaster-area-help-in-any-meaningful-way/583887 "2011-06-05T15:35:13Z")
Having seen President Obama tour the destruction in Joplin Missouri, I have to wonder, does it accomplish anything of real value to have the President of the United States tour the devastation? It is well known that any… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=382) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=384)