# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=503 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 504 --- ## [OPEC kisses the dollar goodbye.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-kisses-the-dollar-goodbye/512843)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2009, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opec-kisses-the-dollar-goodbye/512843 "2009-10-14T08:19:26Z")
So says the Independent. The government of Saudi Arabia denies it, but that hardly matters. Policy wonks have known for years that this had to happen eventually. Whether it happens now or next month or next year is le… --- ## [If not Obama, who should have won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-obama-who-should-have-won-the-2009-nobel-peace-prize/513216)
**Author:** [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-not-obama-who-should-have-won-the-2009-nobel-peace-prize/513216 "2009-10-14T04:01:11Z")
Since the reaction here has mostly been negative I’d like to know who Dopers see as deserving potential winners. Nobel’s will says the award should go to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for frat… --- ## [Was Freud Correct About Fetishes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-freud-correct-about-fetishes/513312)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-freud-correct-about-fetishes/513312 "2009-10-14T00:48:56Z")
From what I remember, Sigmund Freud defined a “fetisH” as some physical object that had a sexual significance. This significance could be very strong-such that touching or seeing the object could actually evoke a sexual … --- ## [OK to cheat in this circumstance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-cheat-in-this-circumstance/512553)
**Author:** [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-cheat-in-this-circumstance/512553 "2009-10-13T23:04:24Z")
I’m not sure how great a debate this might be, so if a mod deems to toss it over to IMHO, so be it. Hypothetical situation: You love your wife very much, and would never even think of divorcing her. But she’s in a coma,… --- ## [Massive land shift. Accept, or "restore"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-land-shift-accept-or-restore/513705)
**Author:** [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massive-land-shift-accept-or-restore/513705 "2009-10-13T22:11:39Z")
Inspired by this CNN story. For those that may not be able to read, apparently in the Washington state Nile Valley, there was a rare occurance. Landslides, mudslides, and shifting landscape due to earthquake are all so… --- ## [The Obama Administration Dismal Human Rights Policies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-administration-dismal-human-rights-policies/512852)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-administration-dismal-human-rights-policies/512852 "2009-10-13T21:05:20Z")
In the last few days, there have been a few very discouraging events that have me worried about the Obama administration’s commitment to various traditional American human rights policies. First, Obama has refused to me… --- ## [This author wants to award the nobel peace prize to nuclear weapons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-author-wants-to-award-the-nobel-peace-prize-to-nuclear-weapons/513413)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-author-wants-to-award-the-nobel-peace-prize-to-nuclear-weapons/513413 "2009-10-13T20:46:54Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091011/us\_time/08599192955300 http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1929553,00.html?xid=rss-fullnation-yahoo His argument is that nuclear weapons pose such a mutually assured des… --- ## [Creating 'human level' intelligence in animals (Uplift)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-human-level-intelligence-in-animals-uplift/513061)
**Author:** [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-human-level-intelligence-in-animals-uplift/513061 "2009-10-13T20:38:30Z")
Inspired by this thead: Screw the limitations. Using anything within our ability and given enough time…could we ‘uplift’ (using Brin’s words) certain animals to human/near human intelligence levels? --- ## [It's not mayhem, says judge, but should it even be a crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-mayhem-says-judge-but-should-it-even-be-a-crime/512494)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-not-mayhem-says-judge-but-should-it-even-be-a-crime/512494 "2009-10-13T19:18:06Z")
Story here. A father and his friend were both charged with cruel and inhumane treatment of a child for giving the child a small tattoo of a dog’s paw print. They could have faced a charge of aggravated mayhem, which ca… --- ## [Would it be possible to breed (not gene-engineer) a dog with near-human-level intelligence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-breed-not-gene-engineer-a-dog-with-near-human-level-intelligence/513046)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-to-breed-not-gene-engineer-a-dog-with-near-human-level-intelligence/513046 "2009-10-13T19:04:17Z")
So far as I know, it has never really been tried. (Perhaps a dog breeder can correct me on that.) If you had enough time, and enough intelligent-for-a-dog breeding stock, would it be possible to produce a breed of dog … --- ## [Can beliefs be chosen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-beliefs-be-chosen/513467)
**Author:** [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-beliefs-be-chosen/513467 "2009-10-13T16:39:52Z")
I’ve had door-to-door Jesus salesmen use Pascal’s Wager as a reason why I should believe in god. It’s pretty common really. There are several different reasons why I think it’s a poor reason for believing in a god, but h… --- ## [Should this man be charged with a crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-this-man-be-charged-with-a-crime/513342)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-this-man-be-charged-with-a-crime/513342 "2009-10-13T13:19:03Z")
Story here Murder? Manslaughter? Criminal Negligence? Discharging a firearm within city limits? I think yes, he should be charged with a crime, and he should lose his right to own firearms. He was grossly negligen… --- ## [Tell me again why hemp is illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-hemp-is-illegal/511700)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-again-why-hemp-is-illegal/511700 "2009-10-13T04:53:49Z")
I could post cites about the practical applications of hempiculture. I might try to trace the legal history or speculate about the social climate, etc. But I’d rather start from scratch. Tell me again why hemp is illega… --- ## [Bilingual packaging and native scripts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bilingual-packaging-and-native-scripts/513102)
**Author:** [@fandango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fandango)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bilingual-packaging-and-native-scripts/513102 "2009-10-13T03:20:24Z")
I debated where to post this, but since it is more of an opinion question than a factual question it should go in GD. Many European (and other) languages use variants of the Latin alphabet, East Asian languages often do… --- ## [When (if ever) was McCain a "maverick"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-ever-was-mccain-a-maverick/513083)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-ever-was-mccain-a-maverick/513083 "2009-10-13T03:07:10Z")
Because he certainly doesn’t seem to be one now; almost every voting decision he’s made in the past several years seems to have followed the Republican party line to a T (counterexamples welcome). It’s just you’d think … --- ## [Killer as "product of society" - how can this possibly make sense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-as-product-of-society-how-can-this-possibly-make-sense/513460)
**Author:** [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killer-as-product-of-society-how-can-this-possibly-make-sense/513460 "2009-10-12T21:15:27Z")
I often hear of killers - or other criminals - referred to as “products” of society. The basic idea I get is that various negative social forces shape certain individuals in such a way that they’re drawn to kill other p… --- ## [Suicide by Living Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-living-will/512348)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-living-will/512348 "2009-10-12T20:49:15Z")
I was reading the following article and thought it was worthy of kicking around here on GD. The upshot, essentially, is a woman drank antifreeze in order to commit suicide. She then called an ambulance and upon arrival… --- ## [Sex Offenders: Give Us Your Passwords](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-give-us-your-passwords/508854)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offenders-give-us-your-passwords/508854 "2009-10-12T03:11:15Z")
In addition to registering themselves and keeping police informed of address changes, Georgia has begun requiring convicted sex offenders to provide police with their e-mail addresses, screen names, passwords, and other … --- ## [That Atlantic Tsunami (caused by Canary Island Landslide):Should We Prevent It?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-atlantic-tsunami-caused-by-canary-island-landslide-should-we-prevent-it/512935)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-atlantic-tsunami-caused-by-canary-island-landslide-should-we-prevent-it/512935 "2009-10-12T00:42:02Z")
The idea of preventing volcanic eruptions made me wonder: should we pre-empt a disastrous tsunami? There is an island in the Atlantic (part of the Canary Islands) which is unstable-half the island might (one day) slide … --- ## [Who's the Most Corrupt Member of Congress?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-most-corrupt-member-of-congress/513058 "2009-10-12T00:25:31Z")
My vote would be Charley Rangel (D-NY). He has failed to report thousands of $ on income (on rental prperties). His excuse:“I didn’t know I had to pay taxes on it”. He also owns several rent-controlled apartments in NYC… --- ## [Obama, "The Messiah", "the Great One", "The Perfect Leader", and so on](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-the-messiah-the-great-one-the-perfect-leader-and-so-on/512420)
**Author:** [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-the-messiah-the-great-one-the-perfect-leader-and-so-on/512420 "2009-10-11T15:41:58Z")
I’m not sure Great Debates is the right forum for this; it might even have a General Question-ish answer, or belong in IMHO. If it needs to be moved, so be it. But yes. It’s been very common, here and elsewhere, since b… --- ## [Resolved: The American Pledge of Allegience is immoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-american-pledge-of-allegience-is-immoral/512534)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-the-american-pledge-of-allegience-is-immoral/512534 "2009-10-11T14:55:22Z")
Mind you, I’ve never even voted Democrat. I guess I’m coming off more Libertarian or Cardinal Party than Conservative. Argument for the affirmative: The Pledge demands that the user be loyal to the political state, reg… --- ## [Of Nike Sneakers and Healthcare reform](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-nike-sneakers-and-healthcare-reform/511045)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 158\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-nike-sneakers-and-healthcare-reform/511045 "2009-10-10T22:01:08Z")
Several years ago, I wrote a post about things I knew for a fact that were true. That post was about how to walk and step properly. I’m an ultrarunner, and if you run 50 or 100 miles, such things become an issue. So, … --- ## [How would the military respond to a zombie attack](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-military-respond-to-a-zombie-attack/511616)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-military-respond-to-a-zombie-attack/511616 "2009-10-10T10:19:27Z")
I know the military had plans like operation gladio, which were designed to be an insurgency movement in case the communists invaded. I guess (from what little I know of the program that wasn’t turned into a false flag o… --- ## [Atheism and the Concept of Time (?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-and-the-concept-of-time/512283)
**Author:** [@MatthewGerlach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MatthewGerlach)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheism-and-the-concept-of-time/512283 "2009-10-09T23:15:09Z")
Dear Peers, I have been an atheist for some time, as I (obviously) do not believe in a God. However, I suddenly came across this idea whilst pondering about the universe and all things. Therefore, I’d like to ask you wh… --- ## [Is the U.S. on the cusp of a Sixth, or Seventh, political party system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-u-s-on-the-cusp-of-a-sixth-or-seventh-political-party-system/512571)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-u-s-on-the-cusp-of-a-sixth-or-seventh-political-party-system/512571 "2009-10-09T22:00:23Z")
Since about 1967, American historians, by general consensus, have divided the political party system in the U.S. into periods, punctuated by realigning (presidential) elections: First Party System: 1792-1824. Federali… --- ## [Japanese attack Russia in 1941,What if?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-attack-russia-in-1941-what-if/512563)
**Author:** [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-attack-russia-in-1941-what-if/512563 "2009-10-09T19:59:12Z")
Just before the end of WW2 the Russians attacked the Japanese and routed them. But basically the German forces were already out of the war,the Japanese knew that the war was virtually over so that undermined their will … --- ## [Why has this guy been sentenced to jail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-this-guy-been-sentenced-to-jail/512332)
**Author:** [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-this-guy-been-sentenced-to-jail/512332 "2009-10-09T17:53:08Z")
In this story, a 21-year-old English soccer player was driving on the motorway on Boxing Day when he crashed into another car, killing a father of five. He later told police he had been changing the song on his MP3 Playe… --- ## [Could the gallipoli Operation Have Worked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-gallipoli-operation-have-worked/510886)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-gallipoli-operation-have-worked/510886 "2009-10-09T17:49:44Z")
The WWI Gallipoli campaign was a disaster-the British and French took terrible casualties, and never got anywhere toward their goal (closing off the Bosphorus straight to the Turks). The senseless slaughter was apalling-… --- ## [The government says we're doomed financially!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-government-says-were-doomed-financially/513131)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-government-says-were-doomed-financially/513131 "2009-10-09T16:34:43Z")
At least, that’s this guy’s interpretation of several reports. Accurate? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=502) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=504)