# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=392 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 393 --- ## [Fundamentalist Atheists equivalent to Fundamentalist Theists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalist-atheists-equivalent-to-fundamentalist-theists/579001)
**Author:** [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Replies:** 229\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamentalist-atheists-equivalent-to-fundamentalist-theists/579001 "2011-04-23T03:16:27Z")
At least, Link=\> according to this Article they are \<=Link I agree. Whether the speaker is a hard-core atheist or a hard-core fundamentalist, there seems to be an absence of humility accompanied by huge amounts of self-… --- ## [Woman who attempted suicide while pregnant is accused of murder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-who-attempted-suicide-while-pregnant-is-accused-of-murder/578530)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 165\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-who-attempted-suicide-while-pregnant-is-accused-of-murder/578530 "2011-04-23T02:57:56Z")
That is the title of the article linked below. It does not quite capture the full extent of the unique (near as I have ever heard) circumstances in this case. Honestly I (personally) have barely begun trying to unrave… --- ## [Pro-Choicers: Abortion For Child's Sexuality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-choicers-abortion-for-childs-sexuality/579171)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 168\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-choicers-abortion-for-childs-sexuality/579171 "2011-04-23T02:45:00Z")
If (hypotheically) it became possible to detect the “homosexual” gene before birth, would pro-choicers of this board tolerate fetuses being aborted solely for that reason? --- ## [Resolved, the West will Win the GWoT](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-west-will-win-the-gwot/578826)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 247\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-west-will-win-the-gwot/578826 "2011-04-23T02:05:12Z")
I am disappointed so many people want us (the West) to pull out of Afghanistan. What’s up with that? We are winning in Afghanistan. What the heck did you think a war in that stinkhole would look like? We haven’t even be… --- ## [I'm been a lapsed Republican for some time, but re the budget they are making some sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-been-a-lapsed-republican-for-some-time-but-re-the-budget-they-are-making-some-sense/578593)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-been-a-lapsed-republican-for-some-time-but-re-the-budget-they-are-making-some-sense/578593 "2011-04-22T22:02:44Z")
I like Obama better than I have any President in recent memory. He is doing (IMO) a pretty good job at the running the country in very trying times and in cleaning out the Bush stables. The one point where I would diver… --- ## [Obama: Let's end the Bush tax cuts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-lets-end-the-bush-tax-cuts/578291)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 179\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-lets-end-the-bush-tax-cuts/578291 "2011-04-22T14:37:54Z")
As a way to, you know, deal with the deficit. So, are those projections reliable? What would be the economic effect? Any other reason to do it or not to do it? Wait, didn’t we go over all this last November … --- ## [Uh... Iraq behind the OKC bombing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-iraq-behind-the-okc-bombing/579063)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-iraq-behind-the-okc-bombing/579063 "2011-04-22T13:37:28Z")
Found the following comment on a news story: This sounds like a lot of conspiracy theorizing, but I’d never heard of this before, so I just thought I’d toss it out. Is there actually anything whatsoever to any of this… --- ## [Americas: Census at contact myth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-census-at-contact-myth/578309)
**Author:** [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Replies:** 433\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-census-at-contact-myth/578309 "2011-04-22T00:09:13Z")
I has always wonder how come so many “scientists” speak about the impact of diseases in the Americas, and the millions of people that died like flies… When there is NO CENSUS, and NO RELIABLE FIGURE, of the population o… --- ## [Wisconsin GOP—the new ACORN?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-gop-the-new-acorn/579284)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-gop-the-new-acorn/579284 "2011-04-21T23:16:43Z")
Per TPM: The Democrats in Wisconsin are accusing the GOP of paying out-of-staters to collect signatures in a recall counter effort. Among the accusations are that some of the people who circulated signatures were legall… --- ## [Hungarian Constitution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hungarian-constitution/579039)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hungarian-constitution/579039 "2011-04-21T22:17:58Z")
This is Hungary’s new constitution: http://tasz.hu/files/tasz/imce/alternative\_translation\_of\_the\_draft\_constituion.pdf An attractive feature of it I think, is the instituting of pro-life policies explicitly in the cons… --- ## [Europe has become far too liberal, and now it's destroying the entire continent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europe-has-become-far-too-liberal-and-now-its-destroying-the-entire-continent/579045)
**Author:** [@samusaran253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samusaran253)\ **Replies:** 340\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europe-has-become-far-too-liberal-and-now-its-destroying-the-entire-continent/579045 "2011-04-21T04:27:23Z")
The Euro has failed. They have banned guns in most countries. They have socialist “universal” healthcare, they have driven away almost all major corporations, they have created an unfriendly market for the private sector… --- ## [BRICS countries going off the dollar?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brics-countries-going-off-the-dollar/578883)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brics-countries-going-off-the-dollar/578883 "2011-04-21T02:55:04Z")
I’m afraid I don’t know much about this topic. So far as I can see, it’s currently only to issue credit and grants to each other, but is that a lot to begin with? A sign of more to come? Financial armageddon for the U… --- ## [Long-Term Goals to Keep America Competitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-goals-to-keep-america-competitive/578512)
**Author:** [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-goals-to-keep-america-competitive/578512 "2011-04-20T19:30:40Z")
I realize that this is only a thought exercise. The American people and the politicans they elect have the attention span of a gnat, so focusing on anything further away than next weeks’ DWTS results is pretty tough. B… --- ## [Why don't governments use a % based way to balance their budgets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-governments-use-a-based-way-to-balance-their-budgets/578641)
**Author:** [@boufbowl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boufbowl)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-governments-use-a-based-way-to-balance-their-budgets/578641 "2011-04-20T17:41:56Z")
When a government, like America for instance, decides how the tax money is to be spent and allocated to various governmental departments and subsidies and whatnot for the next year, would it not make more sense to do it … --- ## [America's Education System Is Fine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-education-system-is-fine/579085)
**Author:** [@samusaran253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samusaran253)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americas-education-system-is-fine/579085 "2011-04-20T15:53:14Z")
After seeing some people, mostly Europeans, claim that all Americans are stupid because our “education system is worse than North Korea’s” and making other baseless claims like that, I’ve decided to share my own experien… --- ## [Christians, what are you talking about?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-are-you-talking-about/576936)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christians-what-are-you-talking-about/576936 "2011-04-20T12:16:49Z")
You believe that God sent himself on a suicide mission to pay for sins committed by the first humans. Seriously as adult, is it possible to believe this story with a straight face? I am absolutely flabbergasted --- ## [Just finished reading Romeo Dallaires book. Where to begin? (Rwanda)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-finished-reading-romeo-dallaires-book-where-to-begin-rwanda/579057)
**Author:** [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2011, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-finished-reading-romeo-dallaires-book-where-to-begin-rwanda/579057 "2011-04-20T05:26:24Z")
So I just finished Romeo Dallaires book “Shaking Hands with the Devil” because I’d heard it’s the best first hand account of what the hell happened over there (strategically) that is available. I’ve always wanted to kno… --- ## [Are we living in 1980s Soviet Union, fiscally speaking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-living-in-1980s-soviet-union-fiscally-speaking/572458)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-living-in-1980s-soviet-union-fiscally-speaking/572458 "2011-04-20T03:13:56Z")
One of the core narratives of the Soviet Union’s fall seems to be this: terrified of a mliitary threat presented by their enemies, they neglected their economy in order to pump all their resources into a military buildu… --- ## [Orwellian doublethink in Reagan apologists.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orwellian-doublethink-in-reagan-apologists/578997)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orwellian-doublethink-in-reagan-apologists/578997 "2011-04-20T01:07:30Z")
(Emphasis added) You want to grow the economy with a contraction of the money supply? Really? And then he says it again! What do you think a recession is? It’s a diminishment of economic growth! Of course the econom… --- ## [What would happen if Obama did what his more liberal/progressive supporters want him to do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-obama-did-what-his-more-liberal-progressive-supporters-want-him-to-do/577248)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-obama-did-what-his-more-liberal-progressive-supporters-want-him-to-do/577248 "2011-04-19T23:39:01Z")
I’m fairly sure this is going to turn into another partisan merry-go-round, but I really am curious. As I mentioned this past thread, I’m a little skeptical of partisan blogs of any stripe. I’m just not sure how much t… --- ## [What if the French hadn't surrendered ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-french-hadnt-surrendered/577313)
**Author:** [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-french-hadnt-surrendered/577313 "2011-04-19T17:37:03Z")
Another “What if” thread about ww2. Britain and France had a" no seperate peace agreement" treaty at the start of the war. Britain was more a naval power then a European style military power but still sent her army and… --- ## [What's with the American obesity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-american-obesity/576378)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-american-obesity/576378 "2011-04-19T16:13:49Z")
How come such a large percentage of americans are obese? Is there any other explanation other than the “fast food explanation”? --- ## [Will Italian democracy survive Silvio Berlusconi?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-italian-democracy-survive-silvio-berlusconi/578829)
**Author:** [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-italian-democracy-survive-silvio-berlusconi/578829 "2011-04-19T00:42:00Z")
The man is fantastically corrupt, and has managed to do an awful lot to erode Italy’s civil society - much of the press is either owned by him or his cronies, for example. He’s also managed to create a legislative majori… --- ## [Define Third World](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-third-world/578424)
**Author:** [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-third-world/578424 "2011-04-18T16:56:05Z")
Given all my threads get moved here, I just started this question here. The question is so simple, but come with strings attached… :smiley: Define Third World. What countries are part of the Third World and what aren’t… --- ## [The murder of a rapist? Or "gay panic" killing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-murder-of-a-rapist-or-gay-panic-killing/578441)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2011, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-murder-of-a-rapist-or-gay-panic-killing/578441 "2011-04-18T11:18:50Z")
A totally bizarre and horrific incident occurred in Bloomington, IN, involving a guy who I actually knew, Mike Griffin, and a literature professor, Don Belton. The incident happened at the end of 2009 but the trial is no… --- ## [All Art is Political-Epilogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-art-is-political-epilogue/578799)
**Author:** [@surrounded\_by\_literalists](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/surrounded_by_literalists)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-art-is-political-epilogue/578799 "2011-04-18T07:14:49Z")
A few weeks ago I posted that I had to write an essay discussing the claim 'all art is politica’l. I was having some difficulty putting such a huge, nebulous concept into a coherent 3 page essay. I was so relieved and … --- ## [¡Viva España! Spain looking to indict Bushies ¡Olé!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viva-espana-spain-looking-to-indict-bushies-ole/491440)
**Author:** [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Replies:** 221\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viva-espana-spain-looking-to-indict-bushies-ole/491440 "2011-04-18T02:46:16Z")
The Spanish judge who got Pinochet is now looking at possible warrants against six former Bush officials, who helped get the legal justification to torture at Gitmo. The Spanish Six are Alberto González, John Yoo, Dougl… --- ## [How do you define destroying America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-destroying-america/578157)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-destroying-america/578157 "2011-04-17T21:58:50Z")
There’s another thread asking “Will the disparity of weath \[sic\] distribution destroy America?”. I am wondering two things: What is your definition of destroying America? Could you give an example of something you … --- ## [Did Ayn Rand idolize a serial killer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ayn-rand-idolize-a-serial-killer/578323)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ayn-rand-idolize-a-serial-killer/578323 "2011-04-17T21:58:21Z")
Someone linked me to this article today, and it makes for a horrifying read. In short, it’s about a sociopath from the early 20th century who, among other things, kidnapped a banker’s daughter, held her for ransom, murd… --- ## [Does it make sense to say "I'm proud to be an American."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-make-sense-to-say-im-proud-to-be-an-american/578177)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-make-sense-to-say-im-proud-to-be-an-american/578177 "2011-04-17T21:33:23Z")
Or for that matter, proud to be Canadian, French, German, etc? It seems like utter nonsense to me. Citizenship is generally an accident of birth, and I think pride is something that should be felt towards accomplishment… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=391) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=393)