# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=458 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 459 --- ## [To what extent should we limit what we make based on what people NEED?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-should-we-limit-what-we-make-based-on-what-people-need/538075)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-extent-should-we-limit-what-we-make-based-on-what-people-need/538075 "2010-05-11T16:56:01Z")
A post from elucidator spurred this thought. An excerpt: It caught my eye because the BBQ Pit thread on “manufactured demand” was still fresh in my mind. So here’s the question: to what extent should we only make wha… --- ## [Stock market plunge of May 6 2010](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-plunge-of-may-6-2010/538600)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-market-plunge-of-may-6-2010/538600 "2010-05-11T07:30:55Z")
In case you weren’t aware of it \[ul\] \[li\]Dow drops 1,000 points in a couple of minutes, biggest single intraday drop in its history\[/li\]\[li\]Six stocks, including Accenture and Sam Adams, briefly were worth zero dollars\[… --- ## [Why do people feel the government is tyrannical?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-feel-the-government-is-tyrannical/536776)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-feel-the-government-is-tyrannical/536776 "2010-05-10T19:40:46Z")
The \[del\]rant\[/del\]thread about “Taxes are theft” highlighted two things that I feel are at the root of the populist/conservative backlash against government today. One is that our government is at least in form represen… --- ## [A hypothetical Israel-Egypt war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hypothetical-israel-egypt-war/538325)
**Author:** [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-hypothetical-israel-egypt-war/538325 "2010-05-10T16:45:58Z")
I’m not sure why a thread about the U.S. and Iran at the NPT conference got to discussing a hypothetical Israel-Egypt war. Marmite here is itching for these countries to go at it, apparently. I doubt it. It’s true tha… --- ## [Did Jesus Exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jesus-exist/537889)
**Author:** [@moldybread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldybread)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jesus-exist/537889 "2010-05-10T14:46:26Z")
First off, I have been agnostic for only a few years now. Yet I have always thought that Jesus was a real person. Granted I thought maybe he was a great illusionist or something. Recently I’ve started looking into the q… --- ## ["If an ad makes you remember the product, it has succeeded" - really?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-ad-makes-you-remember-the-product-it-has-succeeded-really/536748)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-ad-makes-you-remember-the-product-it-has-succeeded-really/536748 "2010-05-10T12:54:15Z")
Time and time again, I’ve seen this kind of conversation: A: I saw an ad for some noodle bar that was just a 30 second collection of short clips of different people vomiting noodles, finishing with the logo for Bob’s No… --- ## [Are there any countries or cultures where mental health is dealt with competently](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-countries-or-cultures-where-mental-health-is-dealt-with-competently/538613)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-countries-or-cultures-where-mental-health-is-dealt-with-competently/538613 "2010-05-10T08:09:23Z")
I was watching Rosalind Carter on the Daily show talk about mental health, and she said things are just as bad, and in some ways worse than they were 40 years for mental health. We have better drugs and more research, bu… --- ## [Do men really love women?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-really-love-women/538837)
**Author:** [@Hanako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanako)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-men-really-love-women/538837 "2010-05-10T06:19:37Z")
Do men really love women or do they just want to have sex with them? 1.Do men marry women for pure joy of sex or love? 2.Do men rather marry the pretty well mannered girl or the angry beast that swears and curses? --- ## [Was von Stauffenberg a hero?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-von-stauffenberg-a-hero/538648)
**Author:** [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-von-stauffenberg-a-hero/538648 "2010-05-10T04:11:33Z")
Home from work for the day last week I vegged out in front of the Military Channel, and ended up watching a documentary on Claus von Stauffenberg and the assassination plot against Hitler. It reminded me of a time back … --- ## [Re Greek unions & protesters violently fighting EU austerity plan - What's their solution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-greek-unions-protesters-violently-fighting-eu-austerity-plan-whats-their-solution/538353)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-greek-unions-protesters-violently-fighting-eu-austerity-plan-whats-their-solution/538353 "2010-05-10T00:48:55Z")
Re the violent Greek protests at the EU austerity measures as part of the bailout plan I’m curious, with the Greek economy more or less upside down at this point , there really doesn’t seem to be any other logical way fo… --- ## [Who would men rather marry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-men-rather-marry/538853)
**Author:** [@Hanako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanako)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-men-rather-marry/538853 "2010-05-10T00:40:31Z")
I want to know… Do men prefer to marry the sane girl or the insane girl? --- ## [Ethnic Jews v European Settlers Jews](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethnic-jews-v-european-settlers-jews/538806)
**Author:** [@Marmite\_Lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marmite_Lover)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethnic-jews-v-european-settlers-jews/538806 "2010-05-10T00:13:24Z")
Dear Stephen, Thank you for responding to my letter. I’m sorry that I have now been so long in replying. I am without a home computer these days and have grown tired of having to go to the public library to read or wr… --- ## [Why do children need to be "protected from their own budding sexualities"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-children-need-to-be-protected-from-their-own-budding-sexualities/538589)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-children-need-to-be-protected-from-their-own-budding-sexualities/538589 "2010-05-09T23:19:35Z")
From this thread on the outing of anti-gay crusader George Allen Rekers – post by Kimstu: The bolded part jumped out at me because it reflects a widespread and rarely questioned mainstream assumption that children need… --- ## [Bread and Circuses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-circuses/538588)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bread-and-circuses/538588 "2010-05-09T16:24:22Z")
How do you convince someone that the government bribing its citizens to be content (like the free wheat and entertainment of ancient Rome) is wrong? --- ## [Is Gambling Destructive to Society?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gambling-destructive-to-society/318107)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gambling-destructive-to-society/318107 "2010-05-09T13:08:35Z")
In this thread, a lengthy discussion has evolved concerning whether or not Bill Bennett is a hypocrite for having been a high-stakes gambler while simultanously publishing books extolling virtue and clean living - but no… --- ## [Legality of the new Arizona Immigration Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-the-new-arizona-immigration-law/537220)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 505\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-the-new-arizona-immigration-law/537220 "2010-05-09T05:35:14Z")
So, all the buzz today is about the new law in AZ, making it against state law to be in the country illegally. There’s lots of talk about legal challenges, but I’m unclear as to how that would play out. Is this law un… --- ## [Is globalization good for America? Short term? Long term?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-globalization-good-for-america-short-term-long-term/538760)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-globalization-good-for-america-short-term-long-term/538760 "2010-05-09T03:11:21Z")
Over past decade it seems that globalization has resulted in a steadying decrease in the standard of living for the average American worker. Our lives are less stable. Our benefits are less secure. We are losing our manu… --- ## [Should the sexes be treated equally?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sexes-be-treated-equally/538322)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sexes-be-treated-equally/538322 "2010-05-08T21:10:37Z")
Over yonder we are having this discussion about the legality of an employer requiring males employees to have short haircuts (or at least not long hair). There was a question as to whether this requirement is “discrimina… --- ## [Deontology versus Utilitarianism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deontology-versus-utilitarianism/538440)
**Author:** [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deontology-versus-utilitarianism/538440 "2010-05-08T17:36:15Z")
My girlfriend and I are both fond of friendly philosophical debate, but on this issue she gets extremely angry and calls me “asshole” and “stupid” and the like. So I thought maybe I would get some input from the Dope on … --- ## [Looks like we dodged a bullet (no debate here)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-we-dodged-a-bullet-no-debate-here/538087)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-we-dodged-a-bullet-no-debate-here/538087 "2010-05-08T14:12:07Z")
Along the lines of witnessing, I was watching the news in my room earlier and I noticed that some idiot (they are currently saying it looks like a middle aged white male) attempted to blow up a car bomb in Time Square. … --- ## [Gender identity - is it even a debate at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-identity-is-it-even-a-debate-at-all/537366)
**Author:** [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-identity-is-it-even-a-debate-at-all/537366 "2010-05-08T14:08:38Z")
A tangent from certain posts in this thread. I don’t see how there could be a debate as to whether transsexuals are really the gender they identify as or the gender corresponding to their birth sex. Some cisgendered peo… --- ## [Let's define "racism"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-define-racism/537357)
**Author:** [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-define-racism/537357 "2010-05-07T17:45:08Z")
I think “racism” is one of those terms that people don’t bother defining because everyone “knows” what it means. But after a few go-rounds in different debates we often see that different people mean very different thin… --- ## [DC soda tax](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-soda-tax/537786)
**Author:** [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-soda-tax/537786 "2010-05-07T16:54:47Z")
The District of Columbia is considering a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on soft drinks. http://dcist.com/2010/04/cheh\_proposes\_soda\_tax.php What do you folks think about it? Personally, I’m not a fan at all. Like all sales taxes… --- ## [Too big to be nailed - what to do about that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-big-to-be-nailed-what-to-do-about-that/537107)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-big-to-be-nailed-what-to-do-about-that/537107 "2010-05-07T16:35:33Z")
Recently I read about a big pharmaceutical company (I think it was Pfizer) who was accused of marketing a drug in an unapproved way and that the penalty for doing so would be to refuse to allow them to do business with M… --- ## [Well, Martini? \[American attitudes toward WWII\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-martini-american-attitudes-toward-wwii/538380)
**Author:** [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-martini-american-attitudes-toward-wwii/538380 "2010-05-07T16:05:07Z")
Well? --- ## [West Lothian Question: Conservative-dominated England?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-lothian-question-conservative-dominated-england/538159)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-lothian-question-conservative-dominated-england/538159 "2010-05-07T15:26:04Z")
Ever since the creation of the Scottish Parliament, there apparently has been an ongoing debate regarding the role of Scottish members of the U.K. Parliament. In other words, if Scots look to their own legislature, whose… --- ## [How much farther do we let Mexico slide toward being a defacto narco state before we step in?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-farther-do-we-let-mexico-slide-toward-being-a-defacto-narco-state-before-we-step-in/538248)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2010, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-farther-do-we-let-mexico-slide-toward-being-a-defacto-narco-state-before-we-step-in/538248 "2010-05-07T07:03:43Z")
Looking at news reports and the overall situation it appears the Mexican government is almost helpless against the drug cartels that rule the roost in the border areas. Can we afford to share a 2000 mile border with a n… --- ## [Thought Experiment: The Evil Company](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-the-evil-company/537678)
**Author:** [@Dioptre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dioptre)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-the-evil-company/537678 "2010-05-06T23:10:52Z")
A rich and thoroughly evil man establishes an organisation designed to perpetrate acts of harm on individuals. He sets up the organisation such that no individual within the organisation knows about the acts of harm - th… --- ## [How do we get a viable third party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-get-a-viable-third-party/538431)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-get-a-viable-third-party/538431 "2010-05-06T20:32:49Z")
I’ve been following the UK elections a bit and it dawned on me that the major parties in the UK are playing nicer with each other and I believe part of the reason is that Labour’s losses were not always Conservative gain… --- ## [Did Muhammad Exist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-muhammad-exist/538284)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-muhammad-exist/538284 "2010-05-06T17:29:32Z")
Inspired by the"Did Jesus Exist" thread. Do we have the independant (non muslim) and contemporaneous accounts of Muhammad which we seem to lack for Jesus ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=457) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=459)