# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=414 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 415 --- ## [multiple personality disorder and god.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-personality-disorder-and-god/565585)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-personality-disorder-and-god/565585 "2011-01-03T23:35:20Z")
If I suffer from MPD and have accepted Jesus as my lord and savior, but the other personalities didn’t, would I do to heaven and they burn in hell? --- ## [Are American workers just too downright lazy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-american-workers-just-too-downright-lazy/564619)
**Author:** [@HRoark43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HRoark43)\ **Replies:** 236\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-american-workers-just-too-downright-lazy/564619 "2011-01-03T22:25:33Z")
Really. Immigrants come here from the poorest nations in the world and do things like found Google and make millions. Yet we have 16 million American citizens who can’t find work. I don’t get it… America is the land of o… --- ## [Voting is a waste of time.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-is-a-waste-of-time/565681)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-is-a-waste-of-time/565681 "2011-01-03T18:34:34Z")
A single vote never made a difference, or so the saying goes, by those who believe going out to cast their vote is a waste of time and effort. However, inspired by a thread in IMHO, the question of whether enthusing ever… --- ## [Will 2011 be a banner year for neo-confederate revisionist history?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-2011-be-a-banner-year-for-neo-confederate-revisionist-history/565745)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-2011-be-a-banner-year-for-neo-confederate-revisionist-history/565745 "2011-01-03T16:49:53Z")
With the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War fast approaching, we can probably expect an avalanche of neo-confederate historical revisionism, not only as regards the Civil War itself but also the civil rights stru… --- ## [Carotid arteries in cattle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carotid-arteries-in-cattle/566214)
**Author:** [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carotid-arteries-in-cattle/566214 "2011-01-03T15:40:49Z")
I am in a web-debate regarding religion (specifically, the Jewish religion). My counterpart is claiming something that seems rather unbelievable to me. According to him, kosher animals (e.g., cows, sheep, and goats) hav… --- ## [Indian reservations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-reservations/565506)
**Author:** [@BaconAndEggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaconAndEggs)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indian-reservations/565506 "2011-01-03T14:49:06Z")
I have a few questions about Indian reservations and Native Americans. Why do they give Native Americans free bus tokens, scholarships, etc. etc. if they are descendants from the Indians of years and years ago? I guess m… --- ## [Your thoughts about this topic \[stealing\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-about-this-topic-stealing/565998)
**Author:** [@nathaniel1994](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nathaniel1994)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-thoughts-about-this-topic-stealing/565998 "2011-01-03T05:27:46Z")
God said not to steal, but if humans are selling something that benefits everyone, but it costs money and you get the product illegally do you think god counts that as a sin? I’m just curious. --- ## [Should Hawaii look for Ann Soetoro's delivery records?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-hawaii-look-for-ann-soetoros-delivery-records/565637)
**Author:** [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Replies:** 206\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-hawaii-look-for-ann-soetoros-delivery-records/565637 "2011-01-03T02:29:29Z")
Apparently Governor Ambercrombie wants to lay the birthers to rest for good. From here: \*"For Abercrombie, it’s personal. The 72-year-old governor actually knew Obama’s parents, Barack Obama Sr. and Ann Dunham, when th… --- ## [Morality and killing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morality-and-killing/566134)
**Author:** [@JohnnyMac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyMac)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morality-and-killing/566134 "2011-01-03T00:53:00Z")
I was reading through this thread, and it got me thinking about the morality of whaling, or the morality behind killing animals in general. If we put the method of death aside for a moment, one of the things I hear most … --- ## [What's the deal with Whistleblower Crucifixion Syndrome?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whistleblower-crucifixion-syndrome/566027)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-whistleblower-crucifixion-syndrome/566027 "2011-01-02T23:23:35Z")
You’d think they’d be heralded as heroes for pointing out flaws in a system (physical or interpersonal) or corruption within an organization, but no. I’ve read a lot of stories lately where someone will call attention t… --- ## [Major natural gas discovery off-shore Israel: Political ramifications?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-natural-gas-discovery-off-shore-israel-political-ramifications/565751)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-natural-gas-discovery-off-shore-israel-political-ramifications/565751 "2011-01-02T21:43:16Z")
A “significant” amount of exploitable natural gas discovered off-shore of Israel. Allow me the poor etiquette of not staking out an initial thought myself and of just asking the question: how will this play out politic… --- ## [Here's how the estate tax should work ....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-how-the-estate-tax-should-work/565293)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-how-the-estate-tax-should-work/565293 "2011-01-02T13:45:46Z")
Apart from general redistribution of wealth, very little social engineering is achieved with the estate tax. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that the its pretty much a matter of a certain exemtion and a certain ra… --- ## [Forget the Mayans, what about St. Malachy's prophesies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-the-mayans-what-about-st-malachys-prophesies/565696)
**Author:** [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-the-mayans-what-about-st-malachys-prophesies/565696 "2011-01-02T11:17:39Z")
I have in my hands a Catholic tome called Prophecies Of St. Columbkille. Within, it contains a chapter on the Prophesies Of St. Malachy. It lists the Popes up until the Second Coming. First by name, to Pius IX, then b… --- ## [Terrorists Whose Ideals Were Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-whose-ideals-were-right/565029)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorists-whose-ideals-were-right/565029 "2011-01-02T04:58:16Z")
Which terrorists do you think while you may not agree with their methods who you’re sympathetic or think their ideals were right? This by no means means an endorsement of their actions or even most of their ideology. Jo… --- ## [How is this helping the Progress of Science and useful Arts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-helping-the-progress-of-science-and-useful-arts/566054)
**Author:** [@The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Amazing_Hanna)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-helping-the-progress-of-science-and-useful-arts/566054 "2011-01-02T04:18:38Z")
It was thrown out, now it’s back in court again. Simple question: how, exactly, do laws that make this kind of lawsuit even thinkable help the “progress of science and the useful arts”, as the Founding Fathers put it? … --- ## [Hyperinflation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperinflation/565325)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperinflation/565325 "2011-01-01T22:48:22Z")
Why isn’t the United States going to suffer from hyperinflation as outlined in the article below? http://www.shadowstats.com/article/hyperinflation-2010 (Rather than just slam the author as being some kind of nut. Coul… --- ## [Why did most of Europe just lay down for Germany at the start of WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-most-of-europe-just-lay-down-for-germany-at-the-start-of-wwii/562233)
**Author:** [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Replies:** 205\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-most-of-europe-just-lay-down-for-germany-at-the-start-of-wwii/562233 "2011-01-01T17:05:20Z")
I’m reading my way through this book about WWII. This book focuses almost exclusively on the military and political strategies of the war. It’s an excellent book so far and you can get it really cheap at B&N on the bar… --- ## [How do conservatives reconcile government distrust and love for military?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-conservatives-reconcile-government-distrust-and-love-for-military/565117)
**Author:** [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-conservatives-reconcile-government-distrust-and-love-for-military/565117 "2011-01-01T16:00:38Z")
I’m making a bit of a blanket statement, but it’s an observation I’ve noticed particularly in the last 2 years. Can someone explain how conservatives reconcile their apparent distrust of government with their unflagging … --- ## [What the fuck is wrong with Mexico?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 279\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615 "2010-12-31T22:54:10Z")
Perhaps it’s just because of my proximity to Mexico, but I read a lot in the papers about things that happen there, and after the latest news, I gotta ask: what the fuck is wrong with Mexico? For those who haven’t seen… --- ## [Identical persons in identical rooms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-persons-in-identical-rooms/565893)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identical-persons-in-identical-rooms/565893 "2010-12-31T20:23:24Z")
Suppose that Star Trek transporter technology is created and perfected. The transporter is then used to create two identical beings into identical rooms into the exact same locations in their respective rooms. Do you bel… --- ## [No Individual Health Care Mandate (regardless of court decisions) - Do you still support the bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-individual-health-care-mandate-regardless-of-court-decisions-do-you-still-support-the-bill/564109)
**Author:** [@Pierrot\_Le\_Fou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pierrot_Le_Fou)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-individual-health-care-mandate-regardless-of-court-decisions-do-you-still-support-the-bill/564109 "2010-12-31T14:45:16Z")
I was watching a debate (I think it was on MSNBC) on Judge Hudson’s decision. The general consensus was the law does not work without an individual mandate. Then one of the debate members brought up that there already is… --- ## [Greatest and Worst British Prime Minister](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-and-worst-british-prime-minister/565379)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-and-worst-british-prime-minister/565379 "2010-12-30T23:12:46Z")
I make no claims in this thread since I am fairly unknowledgable about British history but who in your opinion were the greatest and worst British Prime Ministers in terms of how they did their jobs as Prime Minister and… --- ## [Who are the uninsured with pre-existing conditions in the US, and will they bankrupt health care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-uninsured-with-pre-existing-conditions-in-the-us-and-will-they-bankrupt-health-care/564420)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-uninsured-with-pre-existing-conditions-in-the-us-and-will-they-bankrupt-health-care/564420 "2010-12-30T21:53:41Z")
With the mandate taken out, and threads talking about how no enforcement existed anyway people are saying that now health insurance has to cover pre-existing conditions w/o a mandate that it will bankrupt the system. Bu… --- ## [Time travel quandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-quandry/565717)
**Author:** [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-quandry/565717 "2010-12-30T16:31:46Z")
Let’s say I have a time machine, and an orange. I place the orange on the time machine and send it back to five minutes ago. After this event occurs, and the orange is upon the time machine of five minutes ago, wouldn’… --- ## [Who carries the most blame in these three scenarios of sexual conflict?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-carries-the-most-blame-in-these-three-scenarios-of-sexual-conflict/564684)
**Author:** [@Knigel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knigel)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2010, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-carries-the-most-blame-in-these-three-scenarios-of-sexual-conflict/564684 "2010-12-30T07:21:08Z")
Situation 1: Hyemin is at a dinner party with her schoolmates. She has been enjoying her conversation with her senior named Taehoon. They have known each other for over one year. Hyemin tells Taehoon that she is tire… --- ## [Fate of 'In God We Trust'.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fate-of-in-god-we-trust/563507)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fate-of-in-god-we-trust/563507 "2010-12-30T05:53:43Z")
This is something I have often wondered about: why didn’t the US Supreme Court ever take “In God We Trust” off the money (in the USA, Re: “Establishment Clause”)? Oh, I certainly know why they don’t do it now. The Suprem… --- ## [Mexican drug war, long term](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-drug-war-long-term/565791)
**Author:** [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-drug-war-long-term/565791 "2010-12-30T05:00:19Z")
Mods, apologies if this is the wrong forum. I’m not debating anything, but the answer to the question is probably debatable, so that’s why I’m placing it here. If Mexican government continues its war on the drug cartel… --- ## [What's the Point of the Royals in Britain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-the-royals-in-britain/563933)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-the-royals-in-britain/563933 "2010-12-30T03:26:36Z")
I’m not particularly impassioned by this or anything. The incident this weekend where Charles and his lady were attacked by a crowd got me to thinking. First, I can’t imagine why anyone would target them. They are totall… --- ## [Might BP p.l.c. yet be destroyed? \[edited title\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/might-bp-p-l-c-yet-be-destroyed-edited-title/564472)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/might-bp-p-l-c-yet-be-destroyed-edited-title/564472 "2010-12-29T23:16:44Z")
It looks as if under the Clean Water Act, British Petroleum may be fined up to $4,300 per barrel of oil spilled. Nearly 5 million barrels were spilled into the gulf, according to federal estimates. That adds up to quite… --- ## [So why don't we simply call the 99th week of unemployment welfare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-dont-we-simply-call-the-99th-week-of-unemployment-welfare/564556)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-dont-we-simply-call-the-99th-week-of-unemployment-welfare/564556 "2010-12-29T18:11:50Z")
The argument I have heard from those who have tried to talk me down from my position that Obama is a pussy is that Obama did it so that the unemployed wouldn’t have to starve during Christmas or something like that. We … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=413) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=415)