# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=419 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 420 --- ## [Are anti-racism employment practices, in their effect, racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-anti-racism-employment-practices-in-their-effect-racist/562316)
**Author:** [@iamnotaparakeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotaparakeet)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-anti-racism-employment-practices-in-their-effect-racist/562316 "2010-12-08T03:47:40Z")
Apparently my replying to an ancient thread regarding Chipotle, and more probably the current denizens responding in a manner of ludicrousness, resulted in its closing. However, let me generalize this issue so as to not … --- ## [The "Second Coming of Jesus" Error In Translation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-coming-of-jesus-error-in-translation/561420)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-coming-of-jesus-error-in-translation/561420 "2010-12-07T23:52:39Z")
I must admit that the future event (The so-called second coming of Jesus)is a confusing issue. On the one hand, Jesus came back to life after his death, and appeared to his desciples. He then told them “I am with you fo… --- ## [Another brilliant move: No air packages ship to USA over 453 grams. Thanks, TSA!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-brilliant-move-no-air-packages-ship-to-usa-over-453-grams-thanks-tsa/563132)
**Author:** [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-brilliant-move-no-air-packages-ship-to-usa-over-453-grams-thanks-tsa/563132 "2010-12-07T23:10:28Z")
I only see it on a few Japan-based English language news sites so far, but if it’s true, then – BRILLIANT! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! THANKS, TSA! I’ll confine my Christmas gifts to family back home to paper napkins and penci… --- ## [The book "Winning the Oil Endgame"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-winning-the-oil-endgame/562762)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-winning-the-oil-endgame/562762 "2010-12-07T17:30:16Z")
I just finished watching a TED talk about this issue by Amory B. Lovins. In the talk he claims that improvements in efficiency can reduce or eliminate our need for oil. The book is supposed to back up his claims. One … --- ## [Believers: How do we know which religion is the correct one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-how-do-we-know-which-religion-is-the-correct-one/562311)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 193\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-how-do-we-know-which-religion-is-the-correct-one/562311 "2010-12-07T16:37:01Z")
I want to start out by saying I am not interested in any kind of “argument from design.” I’m a weak atheist, but for the purposes of this thread I will assume arguendo that it’s obvious the universe was designed by a Cre… --- ## [What is up with John McCain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-john-mccain/562751)
**Author:** [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-up-with-john-mccain/562751 "2010-12-06T22:24:55Z")
Particularly in regards to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell? He has never been any kind of social conservative activist. Up until the late stages of the 2008 Presidential campaign he remained a moderate Republican. He has always… --- ## [Would The World Have Been Better If There Was No American Revolution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-have-been-better-if-there-was-no-american-revolution/562901)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-have-been-better-if-there-was-no-american-revolution/562901 "2010-12-06T21:35:20Z")
If the American Revolution had been avoided or had been ended quickly and had resulted instead in America being granted certain rights in sort of a compromise would the world have been a better place? --- ## [Obama "facts" circulating via e-mail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-facts-circulating-via-e-mail/562040)
**Author:** [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-facts-circulating-via-e-mail/562040 "2010-12-06T20:20:41Z")
I received the following e-mail more than once and I was hoping some of you would be interested in debating/de-bunking some of the so-called facts it contains. Who’s the Idiot?? If George W. Bush had doubled the nation… --- ## [The Obama pardon drought. Is Obama being too stingy with clemency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-pardon-drought-is-obama-being-too-stingy-with-clemency/559111)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-pardon-drought-is-obama-being-too-stingy-with-clemency/559111 "2010-12-06T20:15:04Z")
Here’s a fact which seems to have escaped much media attention: Obama has been in office for nearly two years, and he hasn’t issued even a single pardon or commutation. I understand Obama not wanting to appear like a st… --- ## [Is It Desireable to Have Foreign Spies In Your Government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-desireable-to-have-foreign-spies-in-your-government/563061)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-desireable-to-have-foreign-spies-in-your-government/563061 "2010-12-06T17:41:11Z")
Recently, I heard that there was a concern, that a Russian spy (mole) had infiltrated the NSA. Isn’t this actually an advantage? It seems to me, that finding that you have a foreign spy is a god thing-you can feed the … --- ## [Cyprus refusing to send mail to USA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyprus-refusing-to-send-mail-to-usa/563024)
**Author:** [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyprus-refusing-to-send-mail-to-usa/563024 "2010-12-06T17:31:33Z")
I debated posting this in GQ, but I don’t think there is an answer. The Cypriot Postal Service is not allowing any post to the USA (including postcards and letters)… and according to the US Embassy: \*Unfortunately, it … --- ## [Language prescriptivism is a moral issue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-prescriptivism-is-a-moral-issue/562431)
**Author:** [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-prescriptivism-is-a-moral-issue/562431 "2010-12-06T16:13:35Z")
So says John Simon in the foreword to Robert Hartwell Fiske’s The Dictionary of Disagreeable English. I think that, given that there is no official governing body of the English language, the arguments of the book don’t … --- ## [Corporate welfare ......](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-welfare/562411)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corporate-welfare/562411 "2010-12-06T14:51:29Z")
Let’s agree on what it is and then agree to get rid of all of it ! :smiley: Can we start by agreeing that it has nothing to do with corporate tax rates? --- ## [Leaked cables make impossible Hillary Clinton's continuing as SecState, sez Slate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-cables-make-impossible-hillary-clintons-continuing-as-secstate-sez-slate/562964)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-cables-make-impossible-hillary-clintons-continuing-as-secstate-sez-slate/562964 "2010-12-06T03:46:24Z")
Slate: Um…what?? OK, a bit of twisted pleasure in seeing Slate turn its idiotic grimace against Ms. Clinton, but is this remotely plausible? Of COURSE US diplomats are supposed to gather intel about their counterparts… --- ## [Iranian Centrifuge Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-centrifuge-worm/562711)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-centrifuge-worm/562711 "2010-12-06T01:19:18Z")
I’m not sure if this is the correct place to post this but it’s too cool for you guys not to know about it.\* Stuxnet is a worm that has infiltrated over a 100,000 computers over the last two years. It’s incredibly comp… --- ## [Interpol to issue international arrest warrant for Dick Cheney](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpol-to-issue-international-arrest-warrant-for-dick-cheney/562691)
**Author:** [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpol-to-issue-international-arrest-warrant-for-dick-cheney/562691 "2010-12-05T23:47:40Z")
See here, and a story from the BBC here. It’s reported that the Nigerian anti-corruption agency is set to issue an arrest warrant for Cheney in connection with a £115m bribery case involving Halliburton, the company tha… --- ## [Should Government Encourage Private Home Ownership?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-government-encourage-private-home-ownership/562215)
**Author:** [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-government-encourage-private-home-ownership/562215 "2010-12-05T17:46:19Z")
I just had a thought recently, when I was driving in rush hour traffic. As I’m sitting on the freeway looking at two streams of traffic going in opposite directions, the first thought was, “If we swapped houses we would … --- ## [John Brown: Hero or Terrorist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-brown-hero-or-terrorist/560506)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 250\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-brown-hero-or-terrorist/560506 "2010-12-05T16:28:04Z")
Was the 19th Century abolitonist John Brown a great freedom fighter or a mad terrorist? Personally I am sympathetic to what he believed in and fought for but I believe his methods were unconstructive and simply polarized… --- ## [Is it fair to call Cal Thomas stupid and/or disingenuous because of his recent piece on health care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-fair-to-call-cal-thomas-stupid-and-or-disingenuous-because-of-his-recent-piece-on-health-care/562836)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-fair-to-call-cal-thomas-stupid-and-or-disingenuous-because-of-his-recent-piece-on-health-care/562836 "2010-12-05T05:44:30Z")
First, a link to the article: Cure or Care? Second, I’ll quote the offending statements: These statements, and the article as a whole, give the impression that Mr. Thomas believes there is a cure for smallpox and poli… --- ## [WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange Wants To Spill Your Corporate Secrets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-julian-assange-wants-to-spill-your-corporate-secrets/562356)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wikileaks-julian-assange-wants-to-spill-your-corporate-secrets/562356 "2010-12-05T01:20:32Z")
Does this guy have some kind of overall plan? Is there a reason behind his antics? Does he have some kind of defined goal or endgame? Does he just enjoy being a Gadfly? This is different than spilling defense or dipl… --- ## [How would South Korea greet the prospect of unification with NK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-south-korea-greet-the-prospect-of-unification-with-nk/562194)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-south-korea-greet-the-prospect-of-unification-with-nk/562194 "2010-12-04T14:10:26Z")
As Korea is in the news again, it’s a good time to think about the long-term situation. I would think that in the U.S. it’s generally assumed that the best conceivable resolution to the Korean situation would be peacefu… --- ## [What do you get for following Jesus Christ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-for-following-jesus-christ/17114)
**Author:** [@Archangel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archangel)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-get-for-following-jesus-christ/17114 "2010-12-04T06:36:54Z")
The bible teaches : Romans 2:6-8, - God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who… --- ## [Tax Incentives for Religious Theme Park](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-incentives-for-religious-theme-park/562712)
**Author:** [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-incentives-for-religious-theme-park/562712 "2010-12-04T03:01:26Z")
News today from Kentucky. \[FONT=Trebuchet MS\]Kentucky governor says jobs are behind incentives for religious theme park\[/FONT\] \[FONT=Trebuchet MS\]Partial quote: \[/FONT\] \[FONT=Trebuchet MS\]\[FONT=Arial\]Gov. Steve Beshea… --- ## [Care to reply to Aristotle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-reply-to-aristotle/562359)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-reply-to-aristotle/562359 "2010-12-04T03:00:39Z")
Here’s one: You may or may not be familiar with how this classic argument plays out. So what? What’s your reaction? Do you have anything to say to Aristotle at this point? --- ## [Why are right wingers opposed to America doing what China is doing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-right-wingers-opposed-to-america-doing-what-china-is-doing/562551)
**Author:** [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-right-wingers-opposed-to-america-doing-what-china-is-doing/562551 "2010-12-03T16:15:01Z")
with regards to tariffs and currency controls? China’s economic moves are making them richer than they were before. Economic growth is way off the charts in China and their people are earning more money now on average t… --- ## [For what reason(s) do humans rule other species and do those reasons apply within the species?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-what-reason-s-do-humans-rule-other-species-and-do-those-reasons-apply-within-the-species/562498)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-what-reason-s-do-humans-rule-other-species-and-do-those-reasons-apply-within-the-species/562498 "2010-12-03T03:02:01Z")
I take it as a given that humans rule other species. Surely there are reaon(s) for this. What do you think they are? Do they same reasons have analogues in terms of which groups rule/dominate other groups, for example, … --- ## [Keynes' Revenge: What's making Euro austerity cuts fail so badly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keynes-revenge-whats-making-euro-austerity-cuts-fail-so-badly/561990)
**Author:** [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keynes-revenge-whats-making-euro-austerity-cuts-fail-so-badly/561990 "2010-12-02T20:10:21Z")
I’m practically giddy with amusement over the fact that I predicted austerity cuts would fail: and as history would have it, it’s proving to be an absolute disaster in Europe. Especially hilarious is Ireland. Their desc… --- ## [How did a PFC collect 250,000 secret docs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-a-pfc-collect-250-000-secret-docs/562343)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-a-pfc-collect-250-000-secret-docs/562343 "2010-12-02T20:05:00Z")
If a low level employee started stripmining a multinational corporation’s restricted documents from multiple areas, it would get noticed. How does a private in the military collect and remove this many “secrets” and nob… --- ## [Will single payer health care be passed on state level. Will it spread to the national level](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-single-payer-health-care-be-passed-on-state-level-will-it-spread-to-the-national-level/562036)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-single-payer-health-care-be-passed-on-state-level-will-it-spread-to-the-national-level/562036 "2010-12-02T18:42:39Z")
There have been blogs about how Vermont is supposedly working on a single payer health care system. The governor and legislature supposedly both support it, and the gov. has supposedly gotten federal waivers to opt ou… --- ## ['Net neutrality vote on December 21... What'll happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-neutrality-vote-on-december-21-whatll-happen/562623)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-neutrality-vote-on-december-21-whatll-happen/562623 "2010-12-02T04:30:05Z")
Though the agenda is still tentative, the FCC is apparently voting on Net Neutrality rules on the 21st. House Republicans are already gearing up their opposition. As I remarked in a previous thread about this issue, I … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=418) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=420)