# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=446 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 447 --- ## [Could omniscience exist without omnipotence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-omniscience-exist-without-omnipotence/546373)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-omniscience-exist-without-omnipotence/546373 "2010-07-13T19:34:10Z")
I was thinking about this the other day and I had a nagging feeling that omniscience and omnipotence are mutually inclusive. Clearly, this is a tricky question but I figure someone must’ve asked it before. What is the c… --- ## [US to monitor Europeans’ bank accounts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-to-monitor-europeans-bank-accounts/546222)
**Author:** [@Zanthor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zanthor)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-to-monitor-europeans-bank-accounts/546222 "2010-07-13T14:46:04Z")
Published 09 July, 2010, 14:09 Edited 10 July, 2010, 03:06 The European Parliament has approved a new EU-US bank data-sharing agreement under which US investigators will be able to monitor millions of European bank tra… --- ## [Venezuela is Coming Apart at the Seams](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venezuela-is-coming-apart-at-the-seams/543958)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venezuela-is-coming-apart-at-the-seams/543958 "2010-07-13T13:42:27Z")
Once again, History repeats itself: Hugo Chavez Spearheads Raids as Food Prices Skyrocket This was predictable as rain. Marxist idiot nationalizes wide swaths of the economy, which then under-perform. The economy ta… --- ## [Pros and cons of raising the retirement age](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-raising-the-retirement-age/545587)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-raising-the-retirement-age/545587 "2010-07-12T21:56:12Z")
France raised the retirement age from 60 to 62, and Boehner talked about raising the age from 65/66 up to 70 in the US. I believe other countries facing deficits are looking into this too. But what about the negative co… --- ## [Drawing the line between art and pornography - the Larry Rivers case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drawing-the-line-between-art-and-pornography-the-larry-rivers-case/546195)
**Author:** [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drawing-the-line-between-art-and-pornography-the-larry-rivers-case/546195 "2010-07-12T19:29:58Z")
There was an article in yesterday’s New York Times about the archives of artist Larry Rivers (1923-2002), which have recently been purchased by New York University, and promise to be an excellent source of material about… --- ## [Does gun ownership lead to fewer home invasions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gun-ownership-lead-to-fewer-home-invasions/545199)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 200\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gun-ownership-lead-to-fewer-home-invasions/545199 "2010-07-12T06:13:32Z")
As the title suggests, I’m curious to know if rates of gun ownership (or gun availability) lead to fewer home invasions. I guess at this point it doesn’t really matter if it’s causation or coloration. It would be inter… --- ## [Is it OK to burn money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-burn-money/545782)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-burn-money/545782 "2010-07-12T02:21:25Z")
As a political stunt 100.000 SEK (~$13.100) was burned on a stage today. The person burning it was the lead representative for the swedish feminist party. The reason (other than publicity) was to show how much money wom… --- ## [Another Doomsday scenario.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-doomsday-scenario/546236)
**Author:** [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-doomsday-scenario/546236 "2010-07-11T22:45:59Z")
How much credence can we give to this one, Dopers? How BP Gulf disaster may have triggered a ‘world-killing’ event. --- ## [What's the worst thing you'd let a politician get away with?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-thing-youd-let-a-politician-get-away-with/545841)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-thing-youd-let-a-politician-get-away-with/545841 "2010-07-11T05:00:16Z")
This is an abstract question, not “What would I let Politician X get away with”. By getting away I guess I mean that assuming you had the power to fire him (which you do but you’re sharing it with others). It’s easy to … --- ## [Why are mentally ill elderly treated better than mentally ill youth/young adults](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mentally-ill-elderly-treated-better-than-mentally-ill-youth-young-adults/546026)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mentally-ill-elderly-treated-better-than-mentally-ill-youth-young-adults/546026 "2010-07-11T00:21:12Z")
I was thinking about this today, and our societies attitudes towards neurological diseases that affect cognition, emotions and social functioning seem to be treated far more humanely among the elderly than among youth or… --- ## [Is the Memory of Prohibition the Only Thing Keeping Us from a Total Ban on Tobacco Products?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-memory-of-prohibition-the-only-thing-keeping-us-from-a-total-ban-on-tobacco-products/546041)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-memory-of-prohibition-the-only-thing-keeping-us-from-a-total-ban-on-tobacco-products/546041 "2010-07-10T22:51:08Z")
The question about whether Prohibition was stupid got me to thinking. I think there would be far more of a push to ban tobacco completely if it weren’t for the failure of Prohibition. Is the failure of Prohibition usef… --- ## [ACTA (Proposed anti-counterfeiting treaty)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acta-proposed-anti-counterfeiting-treaty/545814)
**Author:** [@Wisthekiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wisthekiller)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acta-proposed-anti-counterfeiting-treaty/545814 "2010-07-10T14:56:47Z")
I wasn’t sure if this should be in the Pit or here, I figure more people look here and I also wanted opinions on it. How many people are for the ACTA deal. Basically internet piracy will become a felony, IP providers wil… --- ## [FBI breaks up alleged Russian spy ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-breaks-up-alleged-russian-spy-ring/544859)
**Author:** [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-breaks-up-alleged-russian-spy-ring/544859 "2010-07-10T14:29:35Z")
I’m not understanding this at all at the moment; why break up a spy ring that’s not doing anything, surely it’s better to watch and wait and see who else can be trawled in? This lot don’t seem anywhere near as significa… --- ## [Would you oppose inter-species unions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-oppose-inter-species-unions/545596)
**Author:** [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2010, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-oppose-inter-species-unions/545596 "2010-07-10T10:37:52Z")
Scenario: \*Man has just reached Jupiter, when a ship suddenly appears, clearly from another solar system. Aliens fly the ship to Earth, and disembark at Moscow, granting humanity the ablity to fly FTL. Fastforward 50 … --- ## [Easier way to defeat terrorists with zero US casaulties? Bribe 'em!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easier-way-to-defeat-terrorists-with-zero-us-casaulties-bribe-em/546106)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easier-way-to-defeat-terrorists-with-zero-us-casaulties-bribe-em/546106 "2010-07-10T05:50:53Z")
My idea is simple: just simply out-compete them in recruiting suicide bombers and terrorist cells. Is the idea crazy or brilliant? I’m not sure, so I am humbly submitting this idea for SDMB think tank approval. Assum… --- ## [Why did people hate gays for so long?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-people-hate-gays-for-so-long/544703)
**Author:** [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-people-hate-gays-for-so-long/544703 "2010-07-10T05:42:39Z")
Was thinking of this a while back, never posted. We know that the current period where society is cool with gays is pretty rare (Greek had out gays, and apparently some native American tribes did too), and that for most… --- ## [The right to see your siblings, or other family.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-to-see-your-siblings-or-other-family/545936)
**Author:** [@Captain\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Midnight)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-right-to-see-your-siblings-or-other-family/545936 "2010-07-09T21:24:09Z")
Howdy! I find the Westboro Baptist Church interesting. I have always been interested in religion, and the wierder the better, and Westboro takes the proverbial cake for strangeness. Most of the people at Westboro are r… --- ## [Civil war in Kirghizist-. . . Kyrgyz-. . . Elbonia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-in-kirghizist-kyrgyz-elbonia/535767)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-in-kirghizist-kyrgyz-elbonia/535767 "2010-07-09T15:45:47Z")
The former Soviet Republic of Kyrgyzstan was the scene of the “Tulip Revolution” five years ago. Now there’s upheaval again: Riots all over the country, the president fled from the capital, Bishkek, Foreign Minister Roz… --- ## [Black athletes benefiting from slavery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-athletes-benefiting-from-slavery/545059)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-athletes-benefiting-from-slavery/545059 "2010-07-09T06:25:59Z")
Somewhat inspired from this thread, I am asking what effect the selective pressure of slavery in the Americas had on black athletes today. A friend of mine thinks that selective pressure makes American blacks physically… --- ## [Should Leslie Van Houten (Manson Family) Be Paroled?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-leslie-van-houten-manson-family-be-paroled/359824)
**Author:** [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Replies:** 234\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-leslie-van-houten-manson-family-be-paroled/359824 "2010-07-09T03:44:41Z")
My first Great Debates Thread started ever: The wife and I watched the DVD of the old Helter Skelter (the one with Steve Railsback’s uncanny performance as Charles Manson) movie last night, and afterwards I (being a bit… --- ## [Exponential Growth of Technology and the Singularity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exponential-growth-of-technology-and-the-singularity/545608)
**Author:** [@peledre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peledre)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exponential-growth-of-technology-and-the-singularity/545608 "2010-07-08T12:57:03Z")
First coined by Verner Vinge in the early 90s is the idea that because of exponential growth, society will at some point in the surprisingly near future reach a level of technology so incomprehensible to us that we have … --- ## [What qualifies as "hate speech"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-qualifies-as-hate-speech/545371)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-qualifies-as-hate-speech/545371 "2010-07-08T12:29:39Z")
A current thread is getting bogged down by a discussion about what is and what is not “hate speech”, with many disagreeing with my characterization of insults such as “lazy assed fatties” being hate speech. I am happy t… --- ## [14th Amendment and Due Process](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14th-amendment-and-due-process/545434)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/14th-amendment-and-due-process/545434 "2010-07-08T11:27:43Z")
\[QUOTE=the 14th Amendment\] nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law \[/QUOTE\] How have the Courts used this vehicle to incorporate so much of the Bill of Rights a… --- ## [What Did Susan B. Anthony Ever Accomplish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-susan-b-anthony-ever-accomplish/545930)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-susan-b-anthony-ever-accomplish/545930 "2010-07-08T07:30:42Z")
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906). She died 14 years before the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. So we know she didn’t do that. You see, I have been thinking lately: hero worship. We do it al… --- ## [What is going on in California (re: minimum wage)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-going-on-in-california-re-minimum-wage/545292)
**Author:** [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-going-on-in-california-re-minimum-wage/545292 "2010-07-08T02:19:07Z")
Apparently Schwarzernegger has ordered that all state employees be payed minimum wage for the next month, apart from those who are exempt from minimum wage laws such as doctors, who will be payed nothing. Apparently, th… --- ## [The 2nd Amendment, Militias, and the threat of secession.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2nd-amendment-militias-and-the-threat-of-secession/545003)
**Author:** [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2nd-amendment-militias-and-the-threat-of-secession/545003 "2010-07-07T17:38:02Z")
I’m just gonna throw this out there as a separate thread because it doesn’t seem to fit anywhere else, and I found it an interesting question, especially since another thread in GD is suggesting that the SC decision yest… --- ## [Is the end near for Michael Steele?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-end-near-for-michael-steele/545388)
**Author:** [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-end-near-for-michael-steele/545388 "2010-07-07T11:50:37Z")
Earlier this week he called the Afghanistan War one of “Obama’s choosing…This is not something the United States has actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in.” Now some high profile Republicans including Liz Cheney an… --- ## [I'd rather a coup by a capitalist than a socialist for whatever country I lived in.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-a-coup-by-a-capitalist-than-a-socialist-for-whatever-country-i-lived-in/544123)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-rather-a-coup-by-a-capitalist-than-a-socialist-for-whatever-country-i-lived-in/544123 "2010-07-07T00:17:05Z")
This quote comes from the Venezuelan melt down thread, and I think it’s worth of its own debate. The basis for it is as follows: As far as Venezuela is concerned, I fail to see how the magic of capitalism would make t… --- ## [Indifferent to the 2nd Amendment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indifferent-to-the-2nd-amendment/545165)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indifferent-to-the-2nd-amendment/545165 "2010-07-06T23:02:42Z")
Am I the only person who is indifferent to the subject of gun rights? In theory I believe everyone has the right to defend themselves . . . and in theory I believe that we need to aim toward a society in which people don… --- ## [Where is all the money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-the-money/544976)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-the-money/544976 "2010-07-06T21:24:55Z")
I need an economics wiz to explain to me, in 5th-grader terms, why no one has any money these days. Big business is hurting. Corporate accountants and marketing execs are staying up nights searching for creative but sne… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=445) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=447)