# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=462 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 463 --- ## [Why do Americans have such a major issue with swear-words?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-such-a-major-issue-with-swear-words/536707)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-have-such-a-major-issue-with-swear-words/536707 "2010-04-24T04:49:14Z")
Whilst I don’t have a link to a peer-reviewed study or anything like that, it’s been my overwhelming experience (both online and through my travels) that American society has a curious problem with swear-words. Often, t… --- ## [Question on the meaning of Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933)
**Author:** [@Hold\_Fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hold_Fast)\ **Replies:** 160\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-meaning-of-life/536933 "2010-04-24T02:09:34Z")
First of, I’ll start by getting it out in the open that I’m a Christian, and so therefore it should go without saying what I believe to be the meaning of life. Yet, I’m interested in hearing some other explanations for … --- ## [Any Current Cassandras?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-current-cassandras/537092)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-current-cassandras/537092 "2010-04-23T21:20:26Z")
OK, so now we have a book by a guy who begged the SEC to listen to his charges about Bernie Maddoff. I think there is another book along the same lines with Goldman-Sachs. But that is the past, and the future lies ahead. … --- ## [Videos of dead or dying kitties and puppies are OK!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/videos-of-dead-or-dying-kitties-and-puppies-are-ok/536759)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/videos-of-dead-or-dying-kitties-and-puppies-are-ok/536759 "2010-04-23T20:13:17Z")
SCOTUS struck down law aimed at banning animal cruelty videos. Free speech trumps concern over animal cruelty. --- ## [Plasma gasification - pros, cons, limitations? Discussion wanted.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-gasification-pros-cons-limitations-discussion-wanted/535869)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-gasification-pros-cons-limitations-discussion-wanted/535869 "2010-04-23T19:18:51Z")
My hometown, Montgomery, Alabama, is presently conducting feasibility studies on installing a plasma arc waste disposal unit. Several private facilities are using the technology, and quite a few municipalities are inves… --- ## [What is more important: wealth & security or civil/political rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-more-important-wealth-security-or-civil-political-rights/537084)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-more-important-wealth-security-or-civil-political-rights/537084 "2010-04-23T18:17:19Z")
I know the knee jerk response is that freedom is more important than security, but when Napoleon came to power he brought security and stability with his dictatorship. The transition from oppressive (but economically fun… --- ## [Sex, love, marriage, and the interaction/links between them...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-love-marriage-and-the-interaction-links-between-them/536962)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-love-marriage-and-the-interaction-links-between-them/536962 "2010-04-23T17:12:41Z")
Inspired by many previous threads and personal thought on the subject. In modern American society, sex, love, and marriage are intimately tied in general society. You are expected to love and/or marry people you have s… --- ## [US military WikiLeaks video release](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-wikileaks-video-release/535047)
**Author:** [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Replies:** 458\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-military-wikileaks-video-release/535047 "2010-04-23T14:31:17Z")
WikiLeaks has been making a noise about releasing a video showing the murder of 12 civilians in Iraq by American forces. Long story short: two Reuters journalists were on assignment in a suburb of Iraq when the group th… --- ## [Is there anything at all wrong with fractional-reserve banking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-at-all-wrong-with-fractional-reserve-banking/536289)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-at-all-wrong-with-fractional-reserve-banking/536289 "2010-04-23T05:24:30Z")
Tangentially related to this recent thread on “fiat money” vs. the gold standard. I’ve been following a thread another board where several posters are arguing that fractional-reserve banking is somehow fundamentally dis… --- ## [What is it about the Catholic Priesthood that attracts so many pedophiles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-catholic-priesthood-that-attracts-so-many-pedophiles/533212)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 169\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-the-catholic-priesthood-that-attracts-so-many-pedophiles/533212 "2010-04-23T02:23:53Z")
Per the news lately the tsunami of young male victimsof child abusing Catholic Priests just seems to keep rippling outward in country after country, decade after decade. I thought the stuff in the US was an anomaly and t… --- ## [What is the government’s involvement in the auto industry bailout?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-government-s-involvement-in-the-auto-industry-bailout/536999)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-government-s-involvement-in-the-auto-industry-bailout/536999 "2010-04-22T20:03:02Z")
One of the right wing’s talking points is that the government nationalized the auto industry. For example, in defending her description of the administration as “gangster government,” Michele Bachmann said: First, is … --- ## [Do we want too much...happiness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-want-too-much-happiness/534848)
**Author:** [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-want-too-much-happiness/534848 "2010-04-22T03:39:55Z")
(Motivated, somewhat, by this thread) Sometimes I think our problem is not that we need to learn to be happy with less stuff, money, status, etc., but that we need to learn to be less happy. Life is full of blows, setb… --- ## [Obama won't nuke those w/o nukes (except NK and Iran)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wont-nuke-those-w-o-nukes-except-nk-and-iran/535203)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-wont-nuke-those-w-o-nukes-except-nk-and-iran/535203 "2010-04-21T23:27:03Z")
So, we have a new policy: I guess this is supposed to make NK and Iran want to play nice. Personally, I can’t see this working, and it seems like a meaningless gesture. Besides, the next president could easily revers… --- ## [Who are the front runners for the next Pope?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-front-runners-for-the-next-pope/536498)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-front-runners-for-the-next-pope/536498 "2010-04-21T04:34:50Z")
Not that I think that Benedict XVI will abdicate over the molestation contraversy but he is so very old and this certainly cannot be good for his health. So if for whatever reason Pope Benedict is no longer Pope before … --- ## [Correlating Smoking Bans with Hospitalization](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlating-smoking-bans-with-hospitalization/536011)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlating-smoking-bans-with-hospitalization/536011 "2010-04-21T01:40:39Z")
It’s been a while since we debated smoking bans in the workplace, restaurants, and bars. A study just released in the Canadian Medical Association Journal examined the rates of hospitalization before, during and after a… --- ## [Language revival of Shinnecock or Unkechaug (Odds of)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-revival-of-shinnecock-or-unkechaug-odds-of/535851)
**Author:** [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-revival-of-shinnecock-or-unkechaug-odds-of/535851 "2010-04-20T19:43:47Z")
\*As far as the records show, no one has spoken Shinnecock or Unkechaug, languages of Long Island’s Indian tribes, for nearly 200 years. Now Stony Brook University and two of the Indian nations are initiating a joint proj… --- ## [Fork Hillary 6: The Supreme Unforking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fork-hillary-6-the-supreme-unforking/535854)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fork-hillary-6-the-supreme-unforking/535854 "2010-04-20T16:45:21Z")
It’s been speculated in the past and probably in recent threads, but someone somewhere is starting rumours of Hilary being nominated for the Supreme Court. Just rumours, yes, but much less threadbare and unreasonable tha… --- ## [Spirit Airlines right to charge for carry-on luggage and Sen Schumer (D-NY) is a loon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spirit-airlines-right-to-charge-for-carry-on-luggage-and-sen-schumer-d-ny-is-a-loon/536626)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spirit-airlines-right-to-charge-for-carry-on-luggage-and-sen-schumer-d-ny-is-a-loon/536626 "2010-04-20T04:29:03Z")
This thread may be more of Pit, and if deemed so by moderators, please move it. But I recognized that there may be some debate on the topic, so I put it here. As most are probably aware, Spirit Airlines recently announ… --- ## [Perceived Racial Bias in Public Assistance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-racial-bias-in-public-assistance/536455)
**Author:** [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceived-racial-bias-in-public-assistance/536455 "2010-04-20T02:09:30Z")
An acquaintance of mine recently said to me that all black people get public assistance (as if there is some kind of ongoing slavery reparations allocation available to all black people in the US) and they get a larger a… --- ## [Neo Confederates and Revisionist Civil War History](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-confederates-and-revisionist-civil-war-history/535821)
**Author:** [@jrodefeld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrodefeld)\ **Replies:** 253\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neo-confederates-and-revisionist-civil-war-history/535821 "2010-04-20T01:38:58Z")
Page 1. It seems to me that we are witnessing a resurgence of Neo Confederate sentiment in the news and around the country in recent months. The most recent and high profile example is when Robert McDonnell issued a pr… --- ## [Understanding Political Philosophy - Progressives vs Conservatives vs Independents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-political-philosophy-progressives-vs-conservatives-vs-independents/533855)
**Author:** [@jrodefeld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrodefeld)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-political-philosophy-progressives-vs-conservatives-vs-independents/533855 "2010-04-20T00:52:37Z")
I am writing this in an attempt to ascertain an understanding of the philosophic underpinnings that form your political beliefs. I think this is critical to be able to define our terms because it seems almost none of th… --- ## [DC vote](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-vote/536646)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-vote/536646 "2010-04-19T22:35:42Z")
Inspired by this thread:http: //boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=559097 I moved from NYC to Hong Kong 20 yearas ago and I kept voting in NY elections. Then I moved to DC and I lost my ability to vote in a… --- ## [Advocating censorship in the name of rights is an oxymoron.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advocating-censorship-in-the-name-of-rights-is-an-oxymoron/536571)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advocating-censorship-in-the-name-of-rights-is-an-oxymoron/536571 "2010-04-19T20:41:18Z")
I’m liberal, I’m feminist, and I’m female. And I am very much aware that speech is powerful, images are powerful, exposure to ideas is powerful. And that would be exactly why the people who founded this country made fre… --- ## [Should you retain voting rights if you live in a foreign country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-retain-voting-rights-if-you-live-in-a-foreign-country/535560)
**Author:** [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-retain-voting-rights-if-you-live-in-a-foreign-country/535560 "2010-04-19T20:11:16Z")
The background: I’m British. I’ve lived in Sweden for around 10.5 years. I’ve been discussing the upcoming British election with friends and family and have been quite surprised at how little is known about overseas v… --- ## [Were 1880's America a "libertarian golden age" for the country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-1880s-america-a-libertarian-golden-age-for-the-country/536587)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-1880s-america-a-libertarian-golden-age-for-the-country/536587 "2010-04-19T19:03:12Z")
Relevant paragraphs here: Were the 1880’s the best time to have libertarian beliefs in America? If not, when? Do the things the author mentions (or the actual conditions of 1880’s America) really reflect what liberta… --- ## [Is this an accurate portrayal of the Boston Tea Party?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-an-accurate-portrayal-of-the-boston-tea-party/536536)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-an-accurate-portrayal-of-the-boston-tea-party/536536 "2010-04-19T17:59:34Z")
I stumbled across this last night when I couldn’t sleep (generally not a good time to find stuff like this, in my experience). I’ve never really heard the Boston Tea Party described as a movement against government trea… --- ## ["Healthy, Happy, and Hot" - Planned Parenthood Opposes Mandatory HIV Disclosure Before Sex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/healthy-happy-and-hot-planned-parenthood-opposes-mandatory-hiv-disclosure-before-sex/535958)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 180\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/healthy-happy-and-hot-planned-parenthood-opposes-mandatory-hiv-disclosure-before-sex/535958 "2010-04-19T12:30:50Z")
So here’s the PDF of a pamphlet put out by International Planned Parenthood. They say that even though you’re HIV-positive, you have the right to a fulfilling sex life. I suppose I agree with that statement generally… bu… --- ## [A simple way to reduce the federal budget deficit.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-simple-way-to-reduce-the-federal-budget-deficit/535323)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-simple-way-to-reduce-the-federal-budget-deficit/535323 "2010-04-19T11:33:35Z")
As the federal budget deficit has ballooned over the last couple years, people have started taking notice and floating proposals for dealing with it. The more intelligent commentators, however, seem to be in general agr… --- ## [Are Western Relief Organizations Scams?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-western-relief-organizations-scams/536615)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2010, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-western-relief-organizations-scams/536615 "2010-04-19T08:51:46Z")
Take one “Save The Children”. This organization solicits funds from donors, and also garners multi-million $ contracts from US Government Agencies (like the US Organization for International Development). It hires peopl… --- ## [Federal judge rules National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-judge-rules-national-day-of-prayer-to-be-unconstitutional/536364)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-judge-rules-national-day-of-prayer-to-be-unconstitutional/536364 "2010-04-18T22:54:32Z")
The practice is not officially banned yet, pending appeals, and Obama has said he intends to still issue the proclamation for this year. So, is this judge right? I’m not really sure. The government asking people to pra… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=461) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=463)