# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=390 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 391 --- ## [Electoral College Outlived its Time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electoral-college-outlived-its-time/579788)
**Author:** [@mac9891](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac9891)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electoral-college-outlived-its-time/579788 "2011-05-03T13:12:17Z")
The Electoral College is made up of popularly elected representatives who cast presidential/vice-presidential votes for the people of their area. This was originally created because the common person back in the foundin… --- ## [Conspiracy Theorists: Denver International Airport](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theorists-denver-international-airport/580477)
**Author:** [@Mdm.President](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdm.President)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theorists-denver-international-airport/580477 "2011-05-03T04:31:35Z")
Why can’t I just blow stuff like this off as crazy? sigh I’ve been reading that this has to do with an impending alien invasion. sigh again Would it even be possible to confirm the amount of soil removed or the exce… --- ## [How was Jesus dressed when He arose?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-jesus-dressed-when-he-arose/579894)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2011, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-jesus-dressed-when-he-arose/579894 "2011-05-03T01:13:59Z")
Assuming, as our context, that Jesus existed, and that no intentional deception is in the gospels- Jesus was crucified and the Roman soldiers divided up His clothes. He dies, is wrapped in burial linens, and is put in t… --- ## [Gender identity and encouraging 'traditional' roles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-identity-and-encouraging-traditional-roles/578486)
**Author:** [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-identity-and-encouraging-traditional-roles/578486 "2011-05-02T23:26:43Z")
Very controversial article here from a psychiatrist. Personally I think that you should encourage boys to wear pink and girls to be tomboys. I was a tomboy but I have a daughter who is a ‘girly’ girl who wants to wear… --- ## [Should transgendered people be allowed to marry? And have they really changed their gender?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-transgendered-people-be-allowed-to-marry-and-have-they-really-changed-their-gender/579647)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-transgendered-people-be-allowed-to-marry-and-have-they-really-changed-their-gender/579647 "2011-05-02T22:20:20Z")
Texas state legislators in both houses have offered new legislation that would erase current language allowing transgendered people to get marriage licenses. Sen. Tommy Williams (R) and Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R) both spon… --- ## [Report: Guns in the home provide greater health risk than benefit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-guns-in-the-home-provide-greater-health-risk-than-benefit/580014)
**Author:** [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Replies:** 186\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-guns-in-the-home-provide-greater-health-risk-than-benefit/580014 "2011-05-02T18:45:30Z")
So says David Hemenway, a professor of health policy at Harvard School of Public Health: Abstract Anyone still want to argue that you’re better of having a gun in the house? --- ## [Defund Planned Parenthood Ads?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-planned-parenthood-ads/580292)
**Author:** [@mac9891](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac9891)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defund-planned-parenthood-ads/580292 "2011-05-01T23:31:13Z")
While reading on this site I observed a defund planned parenthood ad reading “Millions of babies killed on your dime” now to my understanding in the past year a very small portion of the abortions in the US (well under 1… --- ## [2011 Syrian Protests](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2011-syrian-protests/579946)
**Author:** [@Tyrannosaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrannosaur)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2011-syrian-protests/579946 "2011-05-01T16:35:12Z")
So basically Syria is the next Libya. There’s a civil war forming there, and it isn’t very civil. The Syrian government has fired upon Syrian protestors and it’s getting bloodier by the hour. What do you think will happe… --- ## [America, the second](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-the-second/579840)
**Author:** [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-the-second/579840 "2011-05-01T04:12:43Z")
It seems the age of worldwide economical dominance for the U.S. will have an end in FIVE years. At least from what the news show. http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/economics-mainmenu-44/7263-imf-chinese-economy-to-s… --- ## [In your opinion, who is currently the most honest, in-your-face, no BS politician?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-who-is-currently-the-most-honest-in-your-face-no-bs-politician/578164 "2011-04-30T10:33:28Z")
Someone who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, despite pressures or political fallout? Someone who will tell you the harsh truth whether or not you want to hear it, especially if you don’t want to hear it, because it’s… --- ## [Is a peace officer still a peace officer if he doesn't have insurance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-peace-officer-still-a-peace-officer-if-he-doesnt-have-insurance/580005)
**Author:** [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-peace-officer-still-a-peace-officer-if-he-doesnt-have-insurance/580005 "2011-04-30T00:13:15Z")
Apparently not in Minnesota. Essentially an individual was charged with first-degree DWI and first-degree test refusal. The DWI charge was dismissed but the individual was convicted on the test refusal charge. Upon ap… --- ## [Islam cannot coexist with a peaceful world.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/islam-cannot-coexist-with-a-peaceful-world/580000)
**Author:** [@Sablicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sablicious)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/islam-cannot-coexist-with-a-peaceful-world/580000 "2011-04-29T22:06:48Z")
Islam is the only true ‘way’ and all beliefs are effectively heresy that challenge / corrupt Islam itself; thus classified as blaspemy, punishable by, what’s more often than not, a barabrous death. Members of an Indones… --- ## [Pro-Gaddafi forces clash with Tunisian military](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-gaddafi-forces-clash-with-tunisian-military/580192)
**Author:** [@Tyrannosaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrannosaur)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-gaddafi-forces-clash-with-tunisian-military/580192 "2011-04-29T18:28:44Z")
Looks like Tunisia finally retaliated against Gaddafi forces for sending troops into their territory. --- ## [Pit kerfluffel on adoption](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-kerfluffel-on-adoption/579882)
**Author:** [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pit-kerfluffel-on-adoption/579882 "2011-04-29T16:20:41Z")
So in Oh, you can’t get pregnant, Homer asked why we don’t push for the women to give birth and put the sprogs up for adoption … Homer, there are a number of reasons that women want abortions when they could be carrying… --- ## [why do jews get a pass when it comes to racism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-jews-get-a-pass-when-it-comes-to-racism/577370)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 653\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-jews-get-a-pass-when-it-comes-to-racism/577370 "2011-04-29T11:44:03Z")
Many jews will only marry other jews. Or, if you are willing to convert, a jew might marry the party that converts (assuming it is ok with the jewish family, jewish person in the relationship, or whoever is putting pres… --- ## [Mathematics doesn't provide universal truth with human perspective being irrelevant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathematics-doesnt-provide-universal-truth-with-human-perspective-being-irrelevant/573286)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathematics-doesnt-provide-universal-truth-with-human-perspective-being-irrelevant/573286 "2011-04-29T10:19:56Z")
This thread grows out of a recent thread in which we were discussing the nature of philosophical truth. Somebody claimed that mathematics provides a way to universal truths that are independent of human opinion. Anothe… --- ## [Africa's resources & the rise of a new Cold War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/africas-resources-the-rise-of-a-new-cold-war/579786)
**Author:** [@Tyrannosaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrannosaur)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/africas-resources-the-rise-of-a-new-cold-war/579786 "2011-04-29T10:02:31Z")
Al Jazeera has put up an opinion piece that I found rather interesting and informative, it’s about the struggle for Africa. It covers both American and Chinese interest in Africa’s resources, and how (unfortunately) Chin… --- ## [Immigrants who enter the country illegally and all the crimes they commit.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrants-who-enter-the-country-illegally-and-all-the-crimes-they-commit/580053)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrants-who-enter-the-country-illegally-and-all-the-crimes-they-commit/580053 "2011-04-29T04:58:18Z")
So we all know, needless to say, that immigrants who entered America illegally are an extremely violent bunch, much more likely to commit crimes then good, proper, native-born Americans. But what if what we know is actu… --- ## [South Sudan's Draft Constitution and March Toward Independence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-sudans-draft-constitution-and-march-toward-independence/580117)
**Author:** [@Amasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amasia)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-sudans-draft-constitution-and-march-toward-independence/580117 "2011-04-29T03:38:46Z")
In about two months, South Sudan will become the world’s newest country. Earlier this week, the draft constitution was released publicly, to considerable opposition from the minority parties. The constitution is availab… --- ## [I think we should make harvesting of organs mandatory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-we-should-make-harvesting-of-organs-mandatory/579800)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-we-should-make-harvesting-of-organs-mandatory/579800 "2011-04-29T01:53:47Z")
Here’s where I’m coming from: Dead people should have no rights Dead people are property of the family, however the fashion of disposal is already regulated (can’t bury Uncle Bob in your front yard or leave his cor… --- ## [The excellent education of yore, and your grandma's VCR](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-excellent-education-of-yore-and-your-grandmas-vcr/579851)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-excellent-education-of-yore-and-your-grandmas-vcr/579851 "2011-04-29T00:52:36Z")
I was talking with someone recently about a shift in education: as data becomes increasingly available to us and as the amount of data becomes exponentially greater, it seems to me that education has shifted from learni… --- ## [Obama's New Natl. Security Team](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-new-natl-security-team/580085)
**Author:** [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-new-natl-security-team/580085 "2011-04-29T00:47:52Z")
The President is planning on moving CIA head Leon Panetta to replace the departing Bob Gates at defense. He plans to replace Panetta with Gen. David Patraeus. I find it slightly odd that he’s putting a military man in ch… --- ## [Did the US Pursue the Right Cold War Policy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-us-pursue-the-right-cold-war-policy/579842)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-us-pursue-the-right-cold-war-policy/579842 "2011-04-29T00:27:26Z")
Do you think the United States ran its Cold War policy correctly, to minimize damage and to increase advantages? If you had general control of US policy after 1945, how would you have run the Cold War differently? --- ## [What is the dissidents game-plan? (Northern Ireland)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-dissidents-game-plan-northern-ireland/580024)
**Author:** [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-dissidents-game-plan-northern-ireland/580024 "2011-04-29T00:12:33Z")
Despite the general acceptance of the peace process in Northern Ireland a hardcore minority of dissident Republicans are discontented enough with the current situation to use violence, mostly directed against the securit… --- ## [Insane: No defense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insane-no-defense/133023)
**Author:** [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insane-no-defense/133023 "2011-04-28T21:59:28Z")
I watched this program on the show “Frontline” on PBS the other night. Ralph Tortorici was insane when he held some people hostage in a school in New York in 1994. Everybody involved knew it, but went ahead and tried him… --- ## [Could a website reasonably held responsible for having personal data breached?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-website-reasonably-held-responsible-for-having-personal-data-breached/579978)
**Author:** [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-website-reasonably-held-responsible-for-having-personal-data-breached/579978 "2011-04-28T21:07:47Z")
The recent Playstation Network security breach has got me thinking about this again; it’s been a concern for me for a while. I work for a large company that you’ve all probably heard of. We have hundreds of disparate we… --- ## [Is it possible to stop the increase in the federal debt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-stop-the-increase-in-the-federal-debt/579653)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-stop-the-increase-in-the-federal-debt/579653 "2011-04-28T20:34:22Z")
Who keeps the official calculater anyway? But I digress… the real question is whether the federal government could stop spending money for a day… or at least shut it down enough that revenue would exceed spending. If s… --- ## [Is Latin America Western?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-latin-america-western/578428)
**Author:** [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-latin-america-western/578428 "2011-04-28T19:32:25Z")
According to Huntington it isn’t. According to most educated Latin Americans, of course it is Western, and I agree with them. So, just to hear your oppinions. Answer at your own risk :wink: --- ## [Paul Ryan's Budget Plan???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryans-budget-plan/579792)
**Author:** [@mac9891](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac9891)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryans-budget-plan/579792 "2011-04-28T18:19:40Z")
From What I’ve understood from it he wants to do is effectively take away from government programs while cutting taxes for rich and corporations. In essence redistributing wealth from people who depend on programs (the … --- ## [What Happened to the Intelectual Conservative Movement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-intelectual-conservative-movement/579807)
**Author:** [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-intelectual-conservative-movement/579807 "2011-04-28T17:36:49Z")
My answer: The death of William Buckley. He was able to forge a unified conservative vision in the 70’s, get rid of (most) of the extremist fringe, and make an intelligent case for conservatism & efficiency and effecti… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=389) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=391)