# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=455 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 456 --- ## [Team photo etiquette -- amateur photog vs. pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/team-photo-etiquette-amateur-photog-vs-pro/540539)
**Author:** [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/team-photo-etiquette-amateur-photog-vs-pro/540539 "2010-05-25T21:17:28Z")
I take photos of teams, send some to local papers, send some to high school yearbook staff for possible use. No pay, just snap a few photos & let people use them if they want. I am not a professional photographer. I am … --- ## [Cultural differences between the northern & southern parts of the west coast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-differences-between-the-northern-southern-parts-of-the-west-coast/539130)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-differences-between-the-northern-southern-parts-of-the-west-coast/539130 "2010-05-25T21:12:35Z")
I haven’t visited there much but I get the impression the southern parts like San Diego and Los Angeles have more of a materialistic and status oriented sort of culture while northern parts of the west coast (Portland Or… --- ## [Lawyers, the Law, going pro se, expertise & expert knowledge, etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-the-law-going-pro-se-expertise-expert-knowledge-etc/540503)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-the-law-going-pro-se-expertise-expert-knowledge-etc/540503 "2010-05-25T09:29:17Z")
Inspired by Stoid’s thread about arguing her case, and the concurrent advice thread on things to keep in mind if you are contemplating appearing in court on a pro se basis, but specifically NOT offering any opinion about… --- ## [Happy Fun 2010 Primary Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-fun-2010-primary-thread/539940)
**Author:** [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-fun-2010-primary-thread/539940 "2010-05-25T04:02:17Z")
For those of you fellow \[del\]masochists\[/del\] interested political observers who haven’t gotten your RDA of bloviation (thanks for tiding us over, UK!), here’s a thread to comment on the primaries in Arkansas, Kentucky, … --- ## [Debating with Americans.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debating-with-americans/539989)
**Author:** [@Marmite\_Lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marmite_Lover)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debating-with-americans/539989 "2010-05-25T02:32:39Z")
“Americans have a problem with the truth. They seem to be unable to accept it, which is difficult to understand at a time in history when knowledge plays a larger and larger role in determining human action. Recognition … --- ## [Are Off-Shore Windmills An Economic Disaster?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-off-shore-windmills-an-economic-disaster/539168)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-off-shore-windmills-an-economic-disaster/539168 "2010-05-25T01:48:42Z")
Taken from the USDOE: Federal subsidies and support for wind power in 2007 was $23.37 per megawatthour produced. The average subsidies and support for all electricity in the US that year was $1.65 per megawatthour produ… --- ## [Nobody worried about Greece/Portugal/Spain and a Euro-zone meltdown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nobody-worried-about-greece-portugal-spain-and-a-euro-zone-meltdown/537701)
**Author:** [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nobody-worried-about-greece-portugal-spain-and-a-euro-zone-meltdown/537701 "2010-05-25T01:46:41Z")
I just did a board search for “greece”, “portugal” and “spain” for the past five days and the only result was something in the Game Room about the World Cup (whatever that is). Is nobody worried about recent events? Gre… --- ## [What do you think of the just-passed financial regulation bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-just-passed-financial-regulation-bill/540221)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-just-passed-financial-regulation-bill/540221 "2010-05-25T01:43:19Z")
People are still nervous about the economy. That’s pretty much a fact. The effects from earlier problems are obviously still being felt, there’s instability in Europe, and so on. No wonder some traders are getting rea… --- ## [Given: the US goes Libertarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-the-us-goes-libertarian/540458)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-the-us-goes-libertarian/540458 "2010-05-24T21:44:17Z")
We elect a Libertarian President, and both houses of Congress have a Libertarian majority. How does the US change? My first thought is that the country without an effective Federal government becomes a Balkanized confed… --- ## [Should The USA Adopt Mexican Law (RE. Illegal Aliens)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-adopt-mexican-law-re-illegal-aliens/540296 "2010-05-24T20:44:49Z")
Mexican President Calderon, in his address to a joint session of Congress, denounced the recently passed Arizona law (intended to curb the influx of illegal aliens into the state). My question: in the spirit of reciproc… --- ## [Is the rise of libertarianism in the U.S. good for the left wing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-rise-of-libertarianism-in-the-u-s-good-for-the-left-wing/533051)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-rise-of-libertarianism-in-the-u-s-good-for-the-left-wing/533051 "2010-05-24T20:35:09Z")
Some would say – I’m sure Sam Stone would say – that libertarianism is on the rise on the American right. But does that herald a great new age for libertarianism in America, or a force that will do for the GOP what the … --- ## [What's with the conservative media peddling all this gold lately?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-conservative-media-peddling-all-this-gold-lately/534285)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-conservative-media-peddling-all-this-gold-lately/534285 "2010-05-24T20:28:20Z")
I have confessed before to a morbid fascination with right wing media – radio shows, website and Fox News. I can’t take it for long periods of time, but I listen on the car radio when I’m picking up my kids from school a… --- ## [State of California lures parole violators in with offer of amnesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-california-lures-parole-violators-in-with-offer-of-amnesty/539613)
**Author:** [@Stentor\_2.5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stentor_2.5)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-of-california-lures-parole-violators-in-with-offer-of-amnesty/539613 "2010-05-24T17:53:15Z")
According to this article Californian police recently set up a sting operation in which they lured parole violators in with offers of amnesty and then sent them back to prison. This column mentions entrapment by estoppel… --- ## [President Obama: Employer-based Health Coverage Will Not Be Impacted By Health Care Reform](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-employer-based-health-coverage-will-not-be-impacted-by-health-care-reform/539315)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-obama-employer-based-health-coverage-will-not-be-impacted-by-health-care-reform/539315 "2010-05-24T17:29:30Z")
I’ve not looked around for a quote of him saying this exact statement, but he certainly did his best to imply it so I assume it’s not disputed. Speaking from my vantage point as an actuary specializing in health care at… --- ## [Believing In God While Hating Him](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believing-in-god-while-hating-him/537942)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believing-in-god-while-hating-him/537942 "2010-05-24T05:38:57Z")
I suspect that many people on this board such as Der Trihs would hate the God of traditional Christian theology even if His existence was proven. So supposing the God of traditional hellfire and brimstone theology exist… --- ## [''Rape Culture''](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape-culture/540040)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 155\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rape-culture/540040 "2010-05-24T00:34:11Z")
Wesley Clark makes some interesting remarks on the prevalence of sexual abuse and rape that IMO merit serious discussion. This all started with a clusterfuck of an IMHO thread here, Women and Sexual Assault, in which se… --- ## [Can the US become sustainable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-become-sustainable/538903)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-become-sustainable/538903 "2010-05-23T19:03:45Z")
(Prelude) I spent two weeks in Florida in 2008 and came away with some opinions regarding sustainability and enviromental awareness that made me rather pessimistic. The US infrastructure seems incredibly car-focused. D… --- ## [Great Repeal Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-repeal-bill/540012)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-repeal-bill/540012 "2010-05-23T18:33:20Z")
Background: Now that Britain has thrown off the shackles of the most evil and corrupt political party since records began\*, one of the things our new government is doing as a matter of priority is putting forward a “Gr… --- ## [For Eliza Doolittle Day: How Much Does Elocution Matter in the 21st Century?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-eliza-doolittle-day-how-much-does-elocution-matter-in-the-21st-century/540191)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-eliza-doolittle-day-how-much-does-elocution-matter-in-the-21st-century/540191 "2010-05-23T15:49:52Z")
Other NPR listeners may have heard this segmenttoday. An excerpt: So how important is elocution in modern day life? Does it flavor your opinion of somebody’s intellect if they speak with a thick accent, be it ‘Jersey… --- ## [Questions for Catholics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-catholics/540207)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-catholics/540207 "2010-05-23T14:22:16Z")
I was raised Catholic, though I’m an atheist now, and stopped practicing at age 12. So my knowledge of Catholicism is limited, dated, and fogged by time. One of my sisters still considers herself a practicing Catholic.… --- ## [The sanction for disrupting a Presidential address should be immediate removal from the chambers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sanction-for-disrupting-a-presidential-address-should-be-immediate-removal-from-the-chambers/509633)
**Author:** [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sanction-for-disrupting-a-presidential-address-should-be-immediate-removal-from-the-chambers/509633 "2010-05-23T09:17:36Z")
I don’t care what or how you express an opinion privately, but we should not let that particular forum be turned into a circus. There should be a follow-on policy to Mr Wilson’s recent rudeness: Disrupt a presidential … --- ## [The world without Stalin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-without-stalin/540287)
**Author:** [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-without-stalin/540287 "2010-05-23T06:15:30Z")
It’s all well and good to speculate about what the world would have been like without Hitler - but what about Stalin? If Stalin had died in a tragic accident in seminary, for example - who would have been likely to take … --- ## [Any Cultural Relevance To The China School Killings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cultural-relevance-to-the-china-school-killings/539169)
**Author:** [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-cultural-relevance-to-the-china-school-killings/539169 "2010-05-23T03:02:31Z")
China recently has had a spate of attacks at schools, mostly very young children. Here’s the most recent incident here: China: School killer in property dispute - CNN.com And here’s the timeline within that article for … --- ## [Saudi officer planning World Cup attacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-officer-planning-world-cup-attacks/540359)
**Author:** [@Marmite\_Lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marmite_Lover)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saudi-officer-planning-world-cup-attacks/540359 "2010-05-23T02:42:14Z")
“The report came as earlier last week, Saudi army officer Abdullah al-Qahtani was arrested in Iraq over charges of planning a terrorist attack during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa…” The Iraqi one is in Ara… --- ## [What should and can the Obama administration/Feds do about the oil spill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-and-can-the-obama-administration-feds-do-about-the-oil-spill/540352)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-and-can-the-obama-administration-feds-do-about-the-oil-spill/540352 "2010-05-22T10:55:03Z")
As I observed in another thread, the oil spill is apparently the latest “Obama’s Katrina” (as most recently observed by The Daily Show). Conservative commentators are demanding to know just what Obama is doing about the… --- ## [Bob Bennett losing his seat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-bennett-losing-his-seat/538783)
**Author:** [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-bennett-losing-his-seat/538783 "2010-05-22T05:51:48Z")
It appears Bob Bennett has been primaried out of his senatorial seat in Utah. As far as right wingers go I thought he pretty dam far to the right. He’s lost to someone even more right wing then himself? How is that even … --- ## [How to pick a candidate to vote out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pick-a-candidate-to-vote-out/540342)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pick-a-candidate-to-vote-out/540342 "2010-05-22T05:04:38Z")
I came across this article in the New York Times: and We’re under an awful lot of stress right now, and frankly Obama could use a hand. If voting out ‘lawmakers who represent \[oil and offshore drilling interests\]’ is… --- ## [Does Theistic Evolution and/or Old Earth Creationism Undermine the Bible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-theistic-evolution-and-or-old-earth-creationism-undermine-the-bible/538592)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-theistic-evolution-and-or-old-earth-creationism-undermine-the-bible/538592 "2010-05-22T03:33:13Z")
Now I am a firm theistic evolutionist considering the massive evidence in favour of evolution but I’ll also admit creationists, especially young earth creationists have a nice argument, which is: “If you don’t take Genes… --- ## [Now Arizona proposes letting states decide Presidential candidate eligibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-arizona-proposes-letting-states-decide-presidential-candidate-eligibility/537063)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-arizona-proposes-letting-states-decide-presidential-candidate-eligibility/537063 "2010-05-22T02:12:13Z")
Arizona wants each states’ secretary of state\* to be able to deny a candidate a place on ballots in that state if they decide the candidate hasn’t presented proof of citizenship: Arizona House OKs Bill Requiring Presiden… --- ## [is it just me or is this very worrisome \[article about conservative influence on history textbooks\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-very-worrisome-article-about-conservative-influence-on-history-textbooks/528676)
**Author:** [@noxxer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noxxer)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-this-very-worrisome-article-about-conservative-influence-on-history-textbooks/528676 "2010-05-22T01:58:32Z")
read this article linked from google news. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/magazine/14texbooks-t.html and it worries me that we are re-writing history more than usual [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=454) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=456)