# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=482 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 483 --- ## [Obama to Propose Limits on Risks Taken by Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-to-propose-limits-on-risks-taken-by-banks/525829)
**Author:** [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-to-propose-limits-on-risks-taken-by-banks/525829 "2010-01-26T00:28:06Z")
According to the NY Times, the Obama administration is going to propose legislation that will limit bank size and prohibit commercial banks from proprietary trading. Per the article, “Only a handful of large banks would… --- ## [Bush awards multimillion non-comptetive bid to Haliburton...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-awards-multimillion-non-comptetive-bid-to-haliburton/526390)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-awards-multimillion-non-comptetive-bid-to-haliburton/526390 "2010-01-25T19:39:32Z")
…I’m sorry please change the following: Bush to Obama Haliburton to Checchi & Company Consulting Remember this quote: Now this:http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=82626 I thought this was going to stop when he b… --- ## [Palin/Bachmann /'12](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-bachmann-12/525928)
**Author:** [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-bachmann-12/525928 "2010-01-25T14:31:46Z")
Fark Headline attached to this: “I felt a great disturbance in the Fark, as if millions of headlines suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.” Palin to campaign fo… --- ## [Wherefore the fundamental liberal/conservative gap, and can/should it be bridged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-the-fundamental-liberal-conservative-gap-and-can-should-it-be-bridged/525963)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-the-fundamental-liberal-conservative-gap-and-can-should-it-be-bridged/525963 "2010-01-25T14:18:30Z")
I’ve decided to make a thread out of an observation from another. It’s pretty clear that there’s a rather fundamental gap in the way that liberals and conservatives see the world. Take the recent Supreme Court ruling o… --- ## [HS expels student for shotguns being in his truck \*off\* school property. Can they really do this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-expels-student-for-shotguns-being-in-his-truck-off-school-property-can-they-really-do-this/518534)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hs-expels-student-for-shotguns-being-in-his-truck-off-school-property-can-they-really-do-this/518534 "2010-01-25T05:59:17Z")
Per this news items via fark, it seems kind of reaching. Is it really within the power of a school administration to direct that police enter and search a kid’s truck parked off campus on a residential side street, and t… --- ## [How about a universal catastrophic plan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-universal-catastrophic-plan/526106)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-a-universal-catastrophic-plan/526106 "2010-01-25T03:49:24Z")
Yay, another health care thread. Assume the government (the very one that invaded Iraq and gave tax cuts out while the levees in New Orleans started developing cracks) decided to implement a public catastrophic coverage… --- ## [Obama endorses deficit reduction task force](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-endorses-deficit-reduction-task-force/526239)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-endorses-deficit-reduction-task-force/526239 "2010-01-25T02:24:58Z")
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Obama-endorses-deficit-task-apf-3690851821.html?x=0 I had to laugh at this one. I’m not even on the committee, but I can come up with recommendation #1: STOP SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY AND PR… --- ## [Does the moderate left in the US need a more radical left](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-moderate-left-in-the-us-need-a-more-radical-left/525412)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2010, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-moderate-left-in-the-us-need-a-more-radical-left/525412 "2010-01-25T01:47:46Z")
In the book ‘predictably irrational’ Dan Ariely talks about how some of our decisions are based on comparisons with other alternatives, and in some situations it is best to have a decoy alternative to make the ideal alte… --- ## [Thank you, Scott Brown! (Gratitude from a Progressive)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-scott-brown-gratitude-from-a-progressive/525830)
**Author:** [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-scott-brown-gratitude-from-a-progressive/525830 "2010-01-24T21:17:49Z")
So I’m sure the Pubs think they’ve really achieved something here, and some Dems are actually asking for the healthcare bill to be ping-ponged from the House to the Pres’s desk. Well, as a fervent progressive, let me ju… --- ## [Why does everyone hate Vice Presidents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-vice-presidents/526184)
**Author:** [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-vice-presidents/526184 "2010-01-24T21:14:17Z")
It seems like the VP (or VP candidate) is almost never talked about in terms approaching ‘good’. No matter who the president is, everyone agrees that the VP is not desirable, or worse. Is this some secret strategy? An un… --- ## [How much would you be willing to personally financially sacrifice for everyone to be insured?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-you-be-willing-to-personally-financially-sacrifice-for-everyone-to-be-insured/525991)
**Author:** [@Richie\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richie_Incognito)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-you-be-willing-to-personally-financially-sacrifice-for-everyone-to-be-insured/525991 "2010-01-24T17:25:55Z")
When I read the pro-health care reform stance, it seens to be centered around the simplified principle that society should provide such a benefit to the uninsured. I never hear these people mention that they would be wi… --- ## [Was Christianity a plagiarisation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-christianity-a-plagiarisation/524874)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-christianity-a-plagiarisation/524874 "2010-01-24T15:17:59Z")
I was reading a book that claimed that Horus, the Egyptian sun god, was born on December 25th, was born of a virgin, was baptized at the age of 30, had twelve disciples, performed miracles such as healing the sick and wa… --- ## [Abortion & Immigration: A moderate reponse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-immigration-a-moderate-reponse/525761)
**Author:** [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-immigration-a-moderate-reponse/525761 "2010-01-24T11:44:12Z")
Perhaps this should be two postings but both of these ideas are bouncing around my head. I like to joke that it’s hard to be a moderate when everybody wants you either right or left of where you want to be. However, as… --- ## [Silver linings from the MA Senate race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-linings-from-the-ma-senate-race/525813)
**Author:** [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-linings-from-the-ma-senate-race/525813 "2010-01-24T03:56:14Z")
I hated to start another thread about MA-SEN, but I thought this worked better as an OP. Now that we’ve had time to lick our wounds from yesterday’s loss, I think the Democrats can take comfort in a few things. –If Bro… --- ## [My love for Roger Ebert continues to grow...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-love-for-roger-ebert-continues-to-grow/525960)
**Author:** [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-love-for-roger-ebert-continues-to-grow/525960 "2010-01-24T02:55:33Z")
A letter to Rush Limbaugh http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100114/OPINION/100119985 --- ## [How does this fit in with Creationist arguments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fit-in-with-creationist-arguments/525127)
**Author:** [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fit-in-with-creationist-arguments/525127 "2010-01-24T01:13:05Z")
(mods, feel free to move if this is the wrong place) Bible Possibly Written Centuries Earlier, Text Suggests What implications, if any, does this have for those who argue divine creation? --- ## [Adoption: Why say Mom and Dad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adoption-why-say-mom-and-dad/525506)
**Author:** [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Replies:** 428\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adoption-why-say-mom-and-dad/525506 "2010-01-24T00:28:26Z")
This is a question I have always had about people that adopt children who are not in anyway related to them, but whenever I try to ask it, I get hysterics. Why is it necessary to maintain the fiction that the adopters g… --- ## [Popularity (not validity!) of conspiracy theories is a meaningful measure of honesty/openness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-not-validity-of-conspiracy-theories-is-a-meaningful-measure-of-honesty-openness/525437)
**Author:** [@Defero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defero)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popularity-not-validity-of-conspiracy-theories-is-a-meaningful-measure-of-honesty-openness/525437 "2010-01-23T18:48:05Z")
I think we can all agree that: When people feel that government, media and corporations that control their lives are trustworthy, most will not gravitate to conspiracy theories (and therefore away from mainstream media … --- ## [Wittgenstein vs. Gödel: Are laws of inference superfluous and without sense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wittgenstein-vs-godel-are-laws-of-inference-superfluous-and-without-sense/525669)
**Author:** [@Defero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defero)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wittgenstein-vs-godel-are-laws-of-inference-superfluous-and-without-sense/525669 "2010-01-23T16:10:20Z")
What I propose is that we attack and/or defend Wittgenstein’s notion below and what would be the consequences for Gödel’s work on incompleteness: 5.132 W1: If p follows from q, I can make an inference from q to p, dedu… --- ## [Justice Department worse than Nixon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justice-department-worse-than-nixon/524862)
**Author:** [@Chen019](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chen019)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2010, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justice-department-worse-than-nixon/524862 "2010-01-23T10:13:23Z")
Any law experts want to comment? http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/13/menacing-turn-in-black-panther-case/ --- ## [How do conservatives ACTUALLY feel about the SCOTUS financing position?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-conservatives-actually-feel-about-the-scotus-financing-position/526025)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2010, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-conservatives-actually-feel-about-the-scotus-financing-position/526025 "2010-01-23T07:53:05Z")
Something I’ve been reading here and at DailyKos is that Conservatives think that the decision made by the Supremes recently is a good decision. But most of the Conservatives that I speak to think it’s appalling. There… --- ## [China, Google, and Sovereignty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-google-and-sovereignty/526076)
**Author:** [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-google-and-sovereignty/526076 "2010-01-23T05:35:10Z")
Yesterday Hillary Clinton made a big speech upholding America’s commitment to Internet freedom, notable mainly because she backed Google and called out China by name. (Some analysis of the diplomatic niceties here.) Pr… --- ## [Congrats Scott Brown! Massachusetts Has A Great New Senator!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congrats-scott-brown-massachusetts-has-a-great-new-senator/525650)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 141\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congrats-scott-brown-massachusetts-has-a-great-new-senator/525650 "2010-01-23T01:13:36Z")
Most of you don’t live here or maybe not even in U.S. but Massachusetts has performed a massive political coup that was unthinkable even a few weeks ago. A small-town Republican independent/conservative is going to repla… --- ## [How will the Democratic UHC change health care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-democratic-uhc-change-health-care/526044)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-democratic-uhc-change-health-care/526044 "2010-01-23T00:44:31Z")
I have always contended that THE BILL being called health-care reform is a misnomer and that it is truly health-insurance reform. Can we cut out the rhetoric? Other than anecdotes, no one on the UHC side has shown wh… --- ## [Why was Coakley such an awful candidate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-coakley-such-an-awful-candidate/525653)
**Author:** [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-coakley-such-an-awful-candidate/525653 "2010-01-22T22:50:56Z")
Well, the Democrats did it again. They snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. This should have been very much a safe district, but they blew it. Anyway, maybe someone from Massachusetts or someone who just paid a lot… --- ## [Supreme Court decision re: Campaign Finance Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-decision-re-campaign-finance-laws/525883)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-decision-re-campaign-finance-laws/525883 "2010-01-22T22:25:53Z")
I’m sure this is a simplistic analysis and I’m missing something, but the decision today seems to be almost the definition of an activist court decision\*: The court found a right to free speech for corporations and lab… --- ## [Utility vs ideology in the health care debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utility-vs-ideology-in-the-health-care-debate/525825)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utility-vs-ideology-in-the-health-care-debate/525825 "2010-01-22T21:26:09Z")
I was originally going to post this in this thread because reading it made me think about this issue, but I realized it wasn’t particularly on topic. Once my post was long and general enough, I decided to spin it off int… --- ## [How are you going to fix the United States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-going-to-fix-the-united-states/524474)
**Author:** [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-going-to-fix-the-united-states/524474 "2010-01-22T18:14:23Z")
Inspired by \[thread=547185\]this thread in the pit\[/thread\] I propose the following scenario: The US government has come to you for advice, and a binding plebiscite has confirmed that the people concur that the only solu… --- ## [What if, say, all that we have known is actually wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-say-all-that-we-have-known-is-actually-wrong/524968)
**Author:** [@thaelmax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thaelmax)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-say-all-that-we-have-known-is-actually-wrong/524968 "2010-01-22T17:53:53Z")
That’s my short little question. What if everything that we (or you) have learned or found, even studied is wrong? What would that kind of thing be like? By saying wrong, i meant that all that stuffs human have come acr… --- ## [What are the pros and cons of a high consumer savings rate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-high-consumer-savings-rate/525824)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-high-consumer-savings-rate/525824 "2010-01-22T08:14:33Z")
Assume we have a civilization where workers saved 20% of their net (after tax but before housing, food, transportation, etc) income. What are the pros and cons of this? I don’t know tons about economics, so I really don’… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=481) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=483)