# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=449 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 450 --- ## [Why would Republicans object to the $20 billion BP clean-up fund?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-republicans-object-to-the-20-billion-bp-clean-up-fund/543634)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 193\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-republicans-object-to-the-20-billion-bp-clean-up-fund/543634 "2010-06-24T23:11:06Z")
I was sent the following: I could understand an objection if it was thought that the amount was too small and that Obama “sold out”. How can there be an objection to the Administration holding BP’s feet to the fire to … --- ## [Parking: free-market commodity, or common-good utility?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-free-market-commodity-or-common-good-utility/544379)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-free-market-commodity-or-common-good-utility/544379 "2010-06-24T22:47:43Z")
This comes from an offline discussion that in turn grew out of this thread expressing my annoyance at ultra-modern parking meters. Question. Is parking space for your car in a city: -a commodity that should be provide… --- ## [Who are friends with Osama?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-friends-with-osama/544111)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2010, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-friends-with-osama/544111 "2010-06-24T06:57:27Z")
By which I mean, if Osama popped up in Iran, and we knew and they knew we knew, would they turn him over? Boot him out? I know Saddam would have. Anyone else among the Muslim/Middle Eastern nations? Jordan? --- ## [There soon will be no Loch Ness Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-soon-will-be-no-loch-ness-monster/543995)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-soon-will-be-no-loch-ness-monster/543995 "2010-06-24T01:47:27Z")
I am thinking this through, I am willing to be argued out of this position. You know those Chinese jumping catfish (CJC) that is coming up the Mississippi? I read someplace a few months ago that CJC DNA has been found i… --- ## [What is behind the recent rise of the liberal media](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-behind-the-recent-rise-of-the-liberal-media/544079)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-behind-the-recent-rise-of-the-liberal-media/544079 "2010-06-23T02:40:27Z")
By liberal media, I mean the real liberal media (PBS, MSNBC, air america, KOS, etc). I don’t mean ‘everything except fox news and talk radio’ (aka all non-conservative media outlets) which most people mean when they use … --- ## [Is there a point when religious beliefs become flat out ridiculous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-point-when-religious-beliefs-become-flat-out-ridiculous/543736)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-point-when-religious-beliefs-become-flat-out-ridiculous/543736 "2010-06-22T23:38:04Z")
How do we decide (regardless if you the reader are religious or not) if a certain belief is almost pathological/embarrasing? Many people here can probably find Scientology a bit suspect, and find it hard to take seriou… --- ## [Muslim Immigration & The UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-immigration-the-uk/543321)
**Author:** [@OccamsTaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OccamsTaser)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2010, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-immigration-the-uk/543321 "2010-06-22T11:42:33Z")
Watching the news today… Islamic protestors in Britain spark rioting during a military homecoming celebration. I’m an American, and I’m trying to understand the whole dynamic going on in the UK, of radical Muslims immi… --- ## [Am I The Only One Who Doesn't Particularly Blame Obama Re BP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-doesnt-particularly-blame-obama-re-bp/542315)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-doesnt-particularly-blame-obama-re-bp/542315 "2010-06-22T02:44:40Z")
I don’t like the guy much, and any criticism he gets tends to tickle me after all the Messiah stuff, but when I see Drudge et al. gleefully trumpeting these stories: I’m left a combination of unmoved and annoyed. I d… --- ## [If you saw a miracle tomorrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-a-miracle-tomorrow/542792)
**Author:** [@Marmite\_Lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marmite_Lover)\ **Replies:** 233\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-saw-a-miracle-tomorrow/542792 "2010-06-22T00:21:28Z")
Tonight Jesus comes back. All the world’s press are there. He comes to The Soccer Stadium, in SA in a beam of light witnessed by thousands just before kick off. No tricks, just floats down from the sky onto the pitch. … --- ## [Is Pat Buchanan Right? (America's Problems Due to American Empire)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-buchanan-right-americas-problems-due-to-american-empire/543819)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pat-buchanan-right-americas-problems-due-to-american-empire/543819 "2010-06-21T23:09:35Z")
Buchanan has a unique worldview…one which I think is correct. Basically, the USA is in trouble because we : Maintain military forces around the world. This drain on the treasury is winning us few friends and many enemi… --- ## [Why no conservative outcry over Jeff Gannon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-conservative-outcry-over-jeff-gannon/322351)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-conservative-outcry-over-jeff-gannon/322351 "2010-06-21T18:49:25Z")
Let’s face it, Jeff Gannon was a man-whore with a thing for service personnel, he had naked pics of himself on the website he used to promote his man-whoring, pics that showed “Gannon’s cannon” and the White House was us… --- ## [Is socializing just conversational masturbation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-socializing-just-conversational-masturbation/542461)
**Author:** [@Swarog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swarog)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-socializing-just-conversational-masturbation/542461 "2010-06-21T18:47:32Z")
I find that it is easy to become disinterested when your talking to someone and, the topic of the conversation is directed entirely towards their interests. I also find that people lose focus very quickly when you talk m… --- ## [What paranormal phenomena, if demonstrated to be true, would you consider proof of the supernatural?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-paranormal-phenomena-if-demonstrated-to-be-true-would-you-consider-proof-of-the-supernatural/543693)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-paranormal-phenomena-if-demonstrated-to-be-true-would-you-consider-proof-of-the-supernatural/543693 "2010-06-21T18:21:13Z")
Imagine, if you will, that I am a genuine telepath of the Charles Xavier type: I can read and cast thoughts over a limited distance, as well as probing another person’s memories. My brain’s obviously better than average… --- ## [Ok, Atheist. What's the problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-atheist-whats-the-problem/542025)
**Author:** [@NOLA\_Cajun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NOLA_Cajun)\ **Replies:** 212\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-atheist-whats-the-problem/542025 "2010-06-21T14:37:58Z")
Forget the plethora of world religions and explanations. Because I suspect this “religion” thing is really what turns you off the most. Understandable. Mankind is a sorry representation of “GOD”. So let’s just look at i… --- ## [Pros & Cons with relativism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-cons-with-relativism/543727)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-cons-with-relativism/543727 "2010-06-21T03:29:49Z")
Personally im not convinced by philosophic relativism. I have yet to hear a good argument FOR relativism, in where you cant say that one thing is “better” than the other. To me its seem like a weak and sometime cowardly… --- ## [Not ejaculating, woman's feelings hurt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-ejaculating-womans-feelings-hurt/543849)
**Author:** [@Captain\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Midnight)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-ejaculating-womans-feelings-hurt/543849 "2010-06-20T09:26:25Z")
Howdy! Last night I and my lovely wife had sex late last night. I had to wake up this morning and she was the one who brought up the subject. Of course, I accepted the proposal. We went through the motions, but I could… --- ## [Not ejaculating, woman's feelings hurt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-ejaculating-womans-feelings-hurt/543848)
**Author:** [@Captain\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Midnight)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-ejaculating-womans-feelings-hurt/543848 "2010-06-20T05:36:32Z")
Howdy! Last night I and my lovely wife had sex late last night. I had to wake up this morning and she was the one who brought up the subject. Of course, I accepted the proposal. We went through the motions, but I could… --- ## [The Obama BP/Energy Speech - A Failed Opportunity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-bp-energy-speech-a-failed-opportunity/543374)
**Author:** [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-bp-energy-speech-a-failed-opportunity/543374 "2010-06-19T16:12:17Z")
For those who missed it, Obama addressed the Nation tonight on the BP oil spill. You can read the text of the speech here. I watched. I listened. Totally unimpressed. He had the opportunity to take BP by the balls, … --- ## [Should varmint shooting be outlawed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-varmint-shooting-be-outlawed/543446)
**Author:** [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-varmint-shooting-be-outlawed/543446 "2010-06-19T16:12:04Z")
Varmining, a.k.a varmint hunting, is defined as the act of using a firearm to kill a non-domesticated, not obviously threatening animal when the shooter has no specific intent to use the animal carcass for any practical … --- ## [How could the Great Leader (Kim Il-Jong) liberalize his economy without losing power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-great-leader-kim-il-jong-liberalize-his-economy-without-losing-power/543058)
**Author:** [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-great-leader-kim-il-jong-liberalize-his-economy-without-losing-power/543058 "2010-06-19T00:10:43Z")
Supposing you wake up tomorrow as Kim Jong-Il, or whoever the latest Great Leader is, what would you do to liberalize your economy so your people aren’t near total starvation on a daily basis, but without losing power? I… --- ## [The Problem with Miracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-problem-with-miracles/542799)
**Author:** [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-problem-with-miracles/542799 "2010-06-18T23:27:17Z")
The problem I have with miracles is that they are, essentially, unknowable. I do not think that - if they exist - that they provide reasonable evidence for supernatural claim X and the reason for this is because we cann… --- ## [Europeans worried about Islamic immigrants. Simple racism or are immigrants causing real problems?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europeans-worried-about-islamic-immigrants-simple-racism-or-are-immigrants-causing-real-problems/531565)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europeans-worried-about-islamic-immigrants-simple-racism-or-are-immigrants-causing-real-problems/531565 "2010-06-18T21:47:46Z")
Throughout Europe to varying degrees there seems to be a rising tide of anti-immigrant (and more specifically Islamic immigrant) feeling. In the US over time there have been serious social and cultural indigestion proble… --- ## [When did religion jump the shark for great thinkers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-religion-jump-the-shark-for-great-thinkers/541373)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 319\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-religion-jump-the-shark-for-great-thinkers/541373 "2010-06-18T18:00:54Z")
At one point in our history, all of the scholars, philosophers and general thinkers of any era devoted a large percentage of their research/pondering/life to attaining religious and/or spiritual enlightenment. That hasn… --- ## [Superman & The "Left Behind" series: Do people actually believe in this or is it just entertainment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-the-left-behind-series-do-people-actually-believe-in-this-or-is-it-just-entertainment/543480)
**Author:** [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superman-the-left-behind-series-do-people-actually-believe-in-this-or-is-it-just-entertainment/543480 "2010-06-18T17:55:43Z")
I heard of the “Left Behind” book series, where it dramatizes (I’m guessing here based on vague comprehensions) the apocalypse, as American fundamentalists would imagine it. People are magically transported to heaven and… --- ## [We invent a machine that lets amateurs build machine guns. What happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-invent-a-machine-that-lets-amateurs-build-machine-guns-what-happens/542210)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-invent-a-machine-that-lets-amateurs-build-machine-guns-what-happens/542210 "2010-06-18T15:43:40Z")
Home fabrication, or 3D printing, or whatever name you call it by. The idea is that of a machine that given the raw materials and the computerized plans can produce a metal part of any desired specification. Limited and … --- ## [Are Social Security & Medicare "Ponzi schemes" or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-social-security-medicare-ponzi-schemes-or-not/543249)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-social-security-medicare-ponzi-schemes-or-not/543249 "2010-06-18T13:09:28Z")
This thread was getting thoroughly hijacked, so: Social Security Medicare Ponzi scheme I don’t know how this bullshit meme got started, but it seems very tenacious. Have at it. --- ## [Yes, you can go to prison for nothing more than expressing your views on a message board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-you-can-go-to-prison-for-nothing-more-than-expressing-your-views-on-a-message-board/543353)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yes-you-can-go-to-prison-for-nothing-more-than-expressing-your-views-on-a-message-board/543353 "2010-06-18T01:25:14Z")
I recently learned of the case of Vikram Buddhi, a foreign doctoral student at Purdue who went on the Yahoo Finance message board in 2005 and posted messages expressing the opinion that Iraqis should do harm to certain h… --- ## [What is the future of funding & access in US health care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-future-of-funding-access-in-us-health-care/542470)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-future-of-funding-access-in-us-health-care/542470 "2010-06-18T00:42:14Z")
Health care is the biggest factor in our national debt (medicare, medicaid, VA & SCHIP make up something like 80% of our unfunded liabilities). It is also crippling businesses and pushing tons of people out of the market… --- ## [Religion has given us nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-has-given-us-nothing/542474)
**Author:** [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Replies:** 265\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-has-given-us-nothing/542474 "2010-06-17T03:54:59Z")
I can’t think of a single idea that religion has given us that we didn’t know already. So what’s the point? --- ## [White Castle gross cut in half by Obamacare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-gross-cut-in-half-by-obamacare/543055)
**Author:** [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-castle-gross-cut-in-half-by-obamacare/543055 "2010-06-17T02:47:43Z")
June 21 issue of National Review, says that “The victualer specializing in diminutive hamburgers reports that the punitive feature of Obamacare will cut its income–in half. Very likely, that lost income will be recouped … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=448) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=450)