# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=498 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 499 --- ## [Will the country unravel if Obama is assassinated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-country-unravel-if-obama-is-assassinated/516342)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-country-unravel-if-obama-is-assassinated/516342 "2009-11-07T13:11:01Z")
I hope this isn’t too grisly a topic. Certainly I’m not in favor of killing any president, much less the only one I ever campaigned for. Anyway, this week’s Mad Men, centered around the characters’ reaction to the JFK a… --- ## [Obama vs. Fox](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497)
**Author:** [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Replies:** 710\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-vs-fox/514497 "2009-11-07T03:26:00Z")
I’m mildly surprised that nobody has made a thread about this yet. The Obama administration has explicitly decided to regard Fox News as “an opponent” and “not a news organization.” Yesterday they went so far as to tel… --- ## [What would happen if the gunpowder plot succeeded?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-the-gunpowder-plot-succeeded/516493)
**Author:** [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-the-gunpowder-plot-succeeded/516493 "2009-11-07T02:41:58Z")
A quick refresher for fellow Americans who don’t remember the fifth of November: Guy Fox piled a bunch of gunpowder in the basement of Parliament and was about to blow it up as the King was addressing them. He was caugh… --- ## [Which country suffers the most from US attentions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-suffers-the-most-from-us-attentions/516575)
**Author:** [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-suffers-the-most-from-us-attentions/516575 "2009-11-07T02:17:39Z")
In the current sense. I was thinking about the embargo on Cuba for 45 years and then thought about Agent Orange and the 500,000 children born with defects in Vietnam. Thinking of children made me think of Iraq and the h… --- ## [Suing a prosecutor that framed innocent men](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suing-a-prosecutor-that-framed-innocent-men/516459)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suing-a-prosecutor-that-framed-innocent-men/516459 "2009-11-07T00:03:27Z")
…and the response that the prosecutors can’t be sued. Back in 1978, two men, Curtis McGhee and Terry Harrington, were convicted of murdering security guard John Schweer, who had been killed while guarding a car lot. The… --- ## [It can't be! (chart I can't swallow)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cant-be-chart-i-cant-swallow/516410)
**Author:** [@Fastidiots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fastidiots)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-cant-be-chart-i-cant-swallow/516410 "2009-11-06T18:24:13Z")
I’m a young Canadian, so my knowledge of American politics is fleeting, but is this chart accurate??? And if it is accurate, is it somehow irrelavent due to the way we do business to… --- ## [Is Health Care a right, and why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-health-care-a-right-and-why/515124)
**Author:** [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-health-care-a-right-and-why/515124 "2009-11-06T17:51:30Z")
I believe some months ago here on the SDMB I read a post which was the best explanation of why health care should be a right. Now I can’t find it. Years ago I heard a quote A right is something that doesn’t cost anyone … --- ## [What's your solution to a million unwanted pregnacies occurring as a result of protected sex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-solution-to-a-million-unwanted-pregnacies-occurring-as-a-result-of-protected-sex/515156)
**Author:** [@SmartAlx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlx)\ **Replies:** 381\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-solution-to-a-million-unwanted-pregnacies-occurring-as-a-result-of-protected-sex/515156 "2009-11-06T17:38:11Z")
What is your solution to this dilemma? The most common forms of birth control are condoms and various Estrogen & progestogen options. The real world efficacy of these methods ranges from 3% to 15% cite. If you consider … --- ## [Drinking and Driving: Is Enforcement Hypocritical?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-and-driving-is-enforcement-hypocritical/515272)
**Author:** [@Recliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recliner)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-and-driving-is-enforcement-hypocritical/515272 "2009-11-06T14:24:14Z")
I’ve never been charged with DUI. I don’t drink much these days, and I never go to bars anymore. But I used to, and today I was mulling this over a bit. In the USA (where I live – and I’d love to hear other perspectiv… --- ## [Should Alan Grayson apologize for his "die quickly" remarks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-alan-grayson-apologize-for-his-die-quickly-remarks/512211)
**Author:** [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Replies:** 252\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-alan-grayson-apologize-for-his-die-quickly-remarks/512211 "2009-11-06T04:26:10Z")
Background: Alan Grayson, a representative from Florida, had a crowning moment of awesome telling it like it is when he explained the Republican health care plan. He stated it thus: “Don’t get sick. And if you do get si… --- ## [Homosexuality: Is It a Sin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-is-it-a-sin/515786)
**Author:** [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Replies:** 189\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-is-it-a-sin/515786 "2009-11-06T03:19:06Z")
Is homosexuality a sin? I think in Christianity homosexuality is a sin as evidenced by Corinthians I 6:9-10 (NIV): --- ## [Will football change in the next fifty years? Should it change? And How?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-football-change-in-the-next-fifty-years-should-it-change-and-how/515100)
**Author:** [@The\_Cleveland\_Steamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Cleveland_Steamer)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-football-change-in-the-next-fifty-years-should-it-change-and-how/515100 "2009-11-06T01:49:20Z")
Malcolm Gladwell had an article in the New Yorker a couple of weeks ago about head injuries in football. Gladwell thinks football will be vastly different in fifty years: I do not agree. We have known about the dangers… --- ## [Banning a hijab in a public institution. This time in the US.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-a-hijab-in-a-public-institution-this-time-in-the-us/515976)
**Author:** [@ruritanian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruritanian)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-a-hijab-in-a-public-institution-this-time-in-the-us/515976 "2009-11-05T23:41:36Z")
I remember the big brouhaha that went on around here when the banning of the burqa in France was front page news. Well, this time it’s happening in the US, and even though it’s been in the news for a while, no one has m… --- ## [Blended gold-fiat $ monetary system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blended-gold-fiat-monetary-system/516214)
**Author:** [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blended-gold-fiat-monetary-system/516214 "2009-11-05T15:49:04Z")
Would it be possible to have a blended gold-fiat money standard that would work? For instance, say banks had to have 25 percent or 50 percent of their money in gold and have the rest fiat money like we have now. If so,… --- ## [Maine and gay marriage - who cares?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-and-gay-marriage-who-cares/515907)
**Author:** [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maine-and-gay-marriage-who-cares/515907 "2009-11-05T13:22:29Z")
I was very surprised to learn that gay marriage could well be repealed by the citizens of Maine within the month. I did a Google and found very few news stories, and nearly no coverage. At the moment the polls are neck… --- ## [Does someone's character make their convictions more plausible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-someones-character-make-their-convictions-more-plausible/515461)
**Author:** [@Blut\_Aus\_Nord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blut_Aus_Nord)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-someones-character-make-their-convictions-more-plausible/515461 "2009-11-05T04:13:47Z")
Hypothetically, we have the most dignified, charismatic, seemingly intelligent man in the world with us today. This man dedicates his life to the greater good with no selfish ulterior motives (for the sake of argument, w… --- ## [Should abhorrent political parties be given the oxygen of publicity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-abhorrent-political-parties-be-given-the-oxygen-of-publicity/514590)
**Author:** [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-abhorrent-political-parties-be-given-the-oxygen-of-publicity/514590 "2009-11-05T02:36:44Z")
Here in the UK we have a political party called the British National Party (BNP). For details, see their Wiki entry. To name all their abhorrent practices and beliefs would take up too much room, but to give you a flavo… --- ## [Explain the ontological argument to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-ontological-argument-to-me/516098)
**Author:** [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-ontological-argument-to-me/516098 "2009-11-05T01:48:02Z")
During a philosophy course last semester, the professor mentioned an argument for the existance of God called the Ontological Argument. I don’t think I understood him correctly, because it sounded to me like, “I can imag… --- ## [The abortion debate: are the antis really making headway?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-abortion-debate-are-the-antis-really-making-headway/515040)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-abortion-debate-are-the-antis-really-making-headway/515040 "2009-11-05T01:37:10Z")
The question is prompted by the latest episode of Law & Order. I find shows like this are a pretty good barometer of the liberal consensus, which is usually the mainstream consensus. Last night’s show dealt with the murd… --- ## [Possible 3rd Party Forming on the Right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-3rd-party-forming-on-the-right/514942)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 269\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-3rd-party-forming-on-the-right/514942 "2009-11-04T22:56:29Z")
There’s a very interesting race going on in New York right now. The Republicans have put up a very moderate candidate to run against the Democrat. A third party, the Conservative Party of New York, put up a challenger,… --- ## [Copenhagen to set up transnational climate government](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copenhagen-to-set-up-transnational-climate-government/516101)
**Author:** [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copenhagen-to-set-up-transnational-climate-government/516101 "2009-11-04T22:40:13Z")
Has Anyone Read the Copenhagen Agreement? Sounds like a crack-pot. Is he a crack-pot? Someone please tell me he is a crack-pot and there are no plans for anything resembling a transnational entity with “the power to di… --- ## [I don't understand the parable of the Ten Minas.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-the-parable-of-the-ten-minas/515998)
**Author:** [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-the-parable-of-the-ten-minas/515998 "2009-11-04T12:36:39Z")
It’s in the New Testament, all of the Jesus books I think. For some reason, I can’t “get” the point of it. Here’s a summary: This really rich guy has been declared a king of a country he apparently doesn’t even live i… --- ## [Show me the (my) money!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-me-the-my-money/516009)
**Author:** [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-me-the-my-money/516009 "2009-11-04T05:00:24Z")
I am posting this in general questions since I guess I am asking if this guy knows what he is talking about. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2860538828528453481# It is a long video but you will get the idea aft… --- ## [Anti-Jehovah's Witness tactics (need answer fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jehovahs-witness-tactics-need-answer-fast/496434)
**Author:** [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Replies:** 211\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-jehovahs-witness-tactics-need-answer-fast/496434 "2009-11-04T03:21:23Z")
Sorry about the short notice. My housemate just sprung this on me. The Jehovah’s Witnesses… They’re coming back for another visit. In about an hour. They’ve been back several times, and my housemate has a big problem… --- ## [Do we as a society have a paternalistic attitude towards rape?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-as-a-society-have-a-paternalistic-attitude-towards-rape/514616)
**Author:** [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-as-a-society-have-a-paternalistic-attitude-towards-rape/514616 "2009-11-03T23:19:02Z")
Inspired by this thread http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536501 I don’t want to specifically finger Heckity’s son by any means, but the attitude that he shows towards his girlfriend and his girlfrien… --- ## ["The Golden State Isn't Worth It"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-golden-state-isnt-worth-it/516026)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2009, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-golden-state-isnt-worth-it/516026 "2009-11-03T06:59:18Z")
So says an editorial in the LA Times: That’s a pretty good statement of the divide between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats want to tax more, and in return they promise a high level of service from the government.… --- ## [Suicide bombers: why do people tolerate it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-bombers-why-do-people-tolerate-it/515447)
**Author:** [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-bombers-why-do-people-tolerate-it/515447 "2009-11-03T03:25:09Z")
I’ve been thinking a bit lately about suicide bombings, especially when the death toll over this past month has been more than the death toll in pretty much any other month ever. I don’t understand how the people living… --- ## [Make Science a Religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-science-a-religion/514857)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-science-a-religion/514857 "2009-11-03T00:22:49Z")
Okay, I know this flies in the face of everything science stands for. Science is about embracing change when new evidence comes to light (ideally). Religion, resists change to the point of wars waged in its name. This w… --- ## [Bill Gates & Obama favor teacher pay based on student performance - How in the world can this work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-gates-obama-favor-teacher-pay-based-on-student-performance-how-in-the-world-can-this-work/515152)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-gates-obama-favor-teacher-pay-based-on-student-performance-how-in-the-world-can-this-work/515152 "2009-11-02T23:51:57Z")
Per this article the Gates foundation and the POTUSare in favor of merit pay for teachers based on student performance. As a commission based salesperson in commercial real estate I’ve been on “merit pay” the majority of… --- ## [This is blackface? Are they serious? Or am I splitting hairs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-blackface-are-they-serious-or-am-i-splitting-hairs/515769)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-blackface-are-they-serious-or-am-i-splitting-hairs/515769 "2009-11-02T21:15:57Z")
Link to story here. And a picture. You can read the story in the link, but I’ll briefly recap it. At a high school pep rally, some students were spoofing the opposing team, known as the “Purple Knights”. So they put… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=497) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=499)