# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=430 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 431 --- ## [Why have the TPTB been able to foment so much union hatred?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-tptb-been-able-to-foment-so-much-union-hatred/554459)
**Author:** [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Replies:** 210\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-the-tptb-been-able-to-foment-so-much-union-hatred/554459 "2010-10-13T19:18:41Z")
I can certainly understand the critique of certain unions when they are in the wrong, but it seems like there is a growing number of people who are against unions in general. Or, more specifically, workers unions. For … --- ## [Obama administartion Mk. II - what's different?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-administartion-mk-ii-whats-different/555721)
**Author:** [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-administartion-mk-ii-whats-different/555721 "2010-10-13T16:26:36Z")
The Obama administration has been in the White House for almost two years and we’re starting to see some predictable turnover. So far, Rahm Emanuel is stepping down as chief of staff to run for mayor of Chicago, Lawrence… --- ## [Using Science to Reliably Test Potential Marriage Partners](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-science-to-reliably-test-potential-marriage-partners/555898)
**Author:** [@Knigel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knigel)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-science-to-reliably-test-potential-marriage-partners/555898 "2010-10-13T02:08:10Z")
Marriage seems to be a major commitment that involves a lot of time, money, and energy while having devastating consequences if it comes to divorce. Choosing marriage partners is very risky business; however, people see… --- ## [Is Glen Beck/Fox News responsible for this guy's attempted mass murder?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-glen-beck-fox-news-responsible-for-this-guys-attempted-mass-murder/556789)
**Author:** [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-glen-beck-fox-news-responsible-for-this-guys-attempted-mass-murder/556789 "2010-10-13T01:18:07Z")
Here’s the article from Media Matters. If we don’t blame Ozzy and Metallica when heavy metal kids commit suicide, how can we blame Glen Beck/Fox News for what the crazy guy in the article tried to do? I believe that po… --- ## [Best Responses to New Atheists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-responses-to-new-atheists/555682)
**Author:** [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Replies:** 434\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-responses-to-new-atheists/555682 "2010-10-12T20:50:29Z")
I’m looking to read responses to the New Atheists, whether they be articles or books. Two questions: What are the most popular responses? In your opinion, what are some of the best responses? --- ## [Democrats and Liberals, Who Do You Want to be the Next Republican President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-and-liberals-who-do-you-want-to-be-the-next-republican-president/556570)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrats-and-liberals-who-do-you-want-to-be-the-next-republican-president/556570 "2010-10-12T20:15:13Z")
I know my thread title has a foregone and premature conclusion in it but let’s face facts, Obama isn’t doing that well to say the least. I listen to NPR in my office all day every day because it is the only radio station… --- ## ["Miranda Rights" not imported to Canada - how does this affect people accused of a crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miranda-rights-not-imported-to-canada-how-does-this-affect-people-accused-of-a-crime/556614)
**Author:** [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miranda-rights-not-imported-to-canada-how-does-this-affect-people-accused-of-a-crime/556614 "2010-10-12T05:24:38Z")
Calgary Herald story - The news story seems simplistic to me - would anyone like to enlighten me on how this will (and currently does) affect people accused of crimes in Canada? --- ## [Good works and commandments.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-works-and-commandments/556437)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-works-and-commandments/556437 "2010-10-12T04:54:35Z")
I was raised a Catholic so we didn’t delve into the mysteries of Protestant doctrine. But I’m in the middle of a book of the Reformation and it’s got me wondering. One of the central tenets of Protestantism is that a pe… --- ## [Would you vote for someone irregardless of there grammer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-someone-irregardless-of-there-grammer/554916)
**Author:** [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-someone-irregardless-of-there-grammer/554916 "2010-10-12T00:03:24Z")
Well? --- ## [Convince Me We Should Have Another 8 Years of Republican Dominance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-we-should-have-another-8-years-of-republican-dominance/511664)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-we-should-have-another-8-years-of-republican-dominance/511664 "2010-10-11T20:39:09Z")
By the next big election, I’ll have US citizenship and voting rights, which leads me to ponder from time to time who I would end up voting for, given that there will only be two choices. I would like to hear some suppor… --- ## [Election '12: economy vs. Republican nominee...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-12-economy-vs-republican-nominee/556593)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-12-economy-vs-republican-nominee/556593 "2010-10-11T20:26:29Z")
Something I was just thinking of, because it feels wrong to claim that his chances are 100% if the economy is better by November '12, and 0% if it’s the same or worse; it feels similarly wrong to say that it’ll be better… --- ## [Why are white-collar jobs held in higher esteem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-collar-jobs-held-in-higher-esteem/555168)
**Author:** [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-collar-jobs-held-in-higher-esteem/555168 "2010-10-11T18:07:53Z")
Rading the “is college for everyone” thread made me wonder: why does society hold white collar jobs in higher regard? (full disclosure: I’m guilty of this) --- ## [If you switched "Muslim" for "Jew," what would the public reaction be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-switched-muslim-for-jew-what-would-the-public-reaction-be/556556)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-switched-muslim-for-jew-what-would-the-public-reaction-be/556556 "2010-10-11T16:35:39Z")
In this thread, Bricker raises some questions concerning a restaurant in NYC that may or may not have run afoul of some technical aspects of kosher certification: The issue isn’t a big deal and to me is a tempest in a… --- ## [Oldest living human.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-living-human/474769)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2010, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-living-human/474769 "2010-10-11T11:08:45Z")
How can wikipedia claim that Jeanne Calment was the oldest living confirmed human? I faintly remember some dude named Moses living a good 500 years, or so my bible confirms… --- ## [What were Einstein's original ideas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-einsteins-original-ideas/556393)
**Author:** [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-einsteins-original-ideas/556393 "2010-10-11T06:05:25Z")
I’ve been having a debate with someone who calls Einstein a plagiarist and says he had no original ideas at all, just pinching them off others and passing them off as his own. A typical comment goes like this: I feel … --- ## [Republicans, conservatives, & libertarians, whom would you lik as next Democratic US President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-conservatives-libertarians-whom-would-you-lik-as-next-democratic-us-president/556577)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-conservatives-libertarians-whom-would-you-lik-as-next-democratic-us-president/556577 "2010-10-11T02:37:33Z")
Inspired by the thread,“Democrats and Liberals, Who Do You Want to be the Next Republican President?” Let’s say that next year, a series of random unfortunate events leave Obama, Biden, & Mrs Clinton all dead or incapac… --- ## [Best & Worst Run States - Dem & Rep?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-run-states-dem-rep/556622)
**Author:** [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-run-states-dem-rep/556622 "2010-10-10T18:48:45Z")
WSJ did a piece on the best and worst run states. My dad is fond of reminding me that California is not doing well and the Democrats control the legislature. Texas is doing fine, where the Republicans are in charge. The… --- ## [Legality of Blue Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-blue-laws/556496)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-blue-laws/556496 "2010-10-09T17:22:44Z")
May be a GQ or a GD but as things tend towards debate here . . . We all know that there are blue laws in various states that restrict certain activities on Sundays and that these laws have a religious (viz. Christian) b… --- ## [Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) - Obama's failure in leadership](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-tell-dadt-obamas-failure-in-leadership/554858)
**Author:** [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-dont-tell-dadt-obamas-failure-in-leadership/554858 "2010-10-09T00:49:55Z")
Just to echo the CNBC townhall meeting that Obama participated in recently, the latest developments in repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law demonstrate a pretty clear failure of Obama’s leadership, both in fulfillin… --- ## [Questions about Israel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-israel/555690)
**Author:** [@Fozz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fozz)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-israel/555690 "2010-10-08T22:10:11Z")
I’ve been thinking about Israel quite a lot recently (Bibi’s settlement support notwithstanding), and I’ve been looking for the answers to some fundamental questions. I want this to be a serious discussion, and I have a … --- ## [What Would The Anti-Stimulus-ers Have Preferred?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-anti-stimulus-ers-have-preferred/554443)
**Author:** [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Replies:** 177\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-anti-stimulus-ers-have-preferred/554443 "2010-10-08T17:30:16Z")
Out here in, purple and dreadfully confused SW Pennsylvania we’ve got a hot congressional race (Jason Altmire versus I Haven’t A Clue Who Because He’s Not Advertising Yet) and a hot senate race (Joe Sestak versus Pat Too… --- ## [Should scientists discontinue research on climate science?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-scientists-discontinue-research-on-climate-science/556351)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-scientists-discontinue-research-on-climate-science/556351 "2010-10-08T16:57:32Z")
Interesting article about MIT and it’s desire to continue research on climate science and the conundrum it faces. Where does it get its funding? So, should climate research continue? Or do we already have all the a… --- ## [World Constitution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-constitution/555801)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-constitution/555801 "2010-10-08T15:51:09Z")
What do you think? The Plans of World Federation Preamble Recognizing that for millennia humanity has been divided and suffering, we resolve that a united government for mankind is necessary for humanity’s welfare. We… --- ## [Man, this brings tears to muh eyes. Anti-Austerity protests raging in Europe.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-this-brings-tears-to-muh-eyes-anti-austerity-protests-raging-in-europe/555471)
**Author:** [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Replies:** 201\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-this-brings-tears-to-muh-eyes-anti-austerity-protests-raging-in-europe/555471 "2010-10-08T15:24:34Z")
I wish we had the stones to do this in America. --- ## [Most Americans Still Think the Healthcare Bill Did Not Go Far Enough, Rather Than Being an Overreach](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-americans-still-think-the-healthcare-bill-did-not-go-far-enough-rather-than-being-an-overreach/555009)
**Author:** [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-americans-still-think-the-healthcare-bill-did-not-go-far-enough-rather-than-being-an-overreach/555009 "2010-10-08T13:16:49Z")
Back in February, I pointed out that polls indicated that 64% of Americans supported a Medicare-for-All single payer plan, and 56% to 68% supported a public option. Obviously, this has not changed. First, this once aga… --- ## [Am I the only person on the Internet who believes in God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944)
**Author:** [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Replies:** 305\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944 "2010-10-08T04:34:52Z")
This isn’t Pit worthy, but not Mundane. Seems like everytime I mention God in a post (in general, not just SDMB) people make comments with the underlying attitude,“Ain’t that precious, you believe in some Invisible Guy i… --- ## [How similar would alien technology be to our own](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-similar-would-alien-technology-be-to-our-own/555360)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-similar-would-alien-technology-be-to-our-own/555360 "2010-10-08T04:17:27Z")
Physical science fields like chemistry, physics, astronomy should be identical. So should most formal science fields involving math (I assume) and theoretically most forms of applied science. Maybe. If the gravity, textu… --- ## [Is having kids ethical?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-having-kids-ethical/553817)
**Author:** [@EVERYNAMEISTAKEN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EVERYNAMEISTAKEN)\ **Replies:** 145\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-having-kids-ethical/553817 "2010-10-08T03:41:29Z")
I contend that life brings with it much suffering, and that for this reason to impose life on someone else and force that suffering upon them is unethical. There is good in life, but this good does not erase the bad. Eve… --- ## [Teacher Reveals Former Prostitution in Support of Craigslist Adult Services Rights - Loses Job](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-reveals-former-prostitution-in-support-of-craigslist-adult-services-rights-loses-job/555352)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 215\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teacher-reveals-former-prostitution-in-support-of-craigslist-adult-services-rights-loses-job/555352 "2010-10-08T00:26:17Z")
The following was posted at Huffington Post: It was posted by Melissa Petro, who was at the time an art teacher at elementary school P.S. 70 in the Bronx, a job she’d held for three years. She’s since been reassigned t… --- ## [Japanese whale whores](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-whale-whores/524021)
**Author:** [@Random\_Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random_Design)\ **Replies:** 337\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-whale-whores/524021 "2010-10-08T00:04:19Z")
This seems to have avoided SD’s sonar, but here’s the story: A fancy racing boat named Earthrace/Ady Gil was recruited into the Sea Sheperd gang (a reality TV show where anti-whalers try to stop whalers), and yesterday … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=429) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=431)