# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=521 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 522 --- ## [It makes no sense to point to the suffering in this world to argue against "God"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-makes-no-sense-to-point-to-the-suffering-in-this-world-to-argue-against-god/503537)
**Author:** [@straggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straggler)\ **Replies:** 364\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-makes-no-sense-to-point-to-the-suffering-in-this-world-to-argue-against-god/503537 "2009-08-03T18:41:13Z")
People often point to all the suffering in the world as an argument against God. Sometimes it’s to argue against the existence of God, sometimes it’s to imply that if there is a God, he’s evil. Christopher Hitchens gets… --- ## [Opponents of public health care.. oops, "socialized medicine"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opponents-of-public-health-care-oops-socialized-medicine/504335)
**Author:** [@straggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straggler)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opponents-of-public-health-care-oops-socialized-medicine/504335 "2009-08-03T15:26:09Z")
Just got a question for American citizens who oppose “socialized medicine”. What do you make of the fact that the United States is the only first world country that doesn’t provide free, universal health care? Has every… --- ## [Nixon going to China moments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixon-going-to-china-moments/504866)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixon-going-to-china-moments/504866 "2009-08-03T15:20:30Z")
Note to mods; sorry no idea where to put this, so settled on Great Debates “Nixon going to China” events, are described (by moi) as events when a politician known for opposition to one idea, becomes its champion or help… --- ## [Kidnapped by a Schizophrenic (Need Answer Fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kidnapped-by-a-schizophrenic-need-answer-fast/504488)
**Author:** [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2009, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kidnapped-by-a-schizophrenic-need-answer-fast/504488 "2009-08-03T10:07:54Z")
OK, not really. However - This latest trainwreck, and another thread in the Pit about some poor woman killing her child, to which I will not link, sparked a question in my skeleton brain. Suppose I have been kidnapped … --- ## [Economic development and the demographic transition.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-development-and-the-demographic-transition/505122)
**Author:** [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-development-and-the-demographic-transition/505122 "2009-08-03T07:15:57Z")
It is pretty widely recognized that once societies become rich, they produce fewer children. Currently almost all developed countries are below replacement levels, most noticeably in high-growth areas of East Asia. Whe… --- ## [Palin to media: So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making up things](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540)
**Author:** [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-to-media-so-how-about-in-honor-of-the-american-soldier-you-quit-making-up-things/504540 "2009-08-03T03:25:39Z")
Palin had this message to the media in her “Today, I become a quitter” speech: “So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making up things.” What in blazes was she talking about? I either missed somethin… --- ## [38% of households pay no federal income tax - bad for democracy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/38-of-households-pay-no-federal-income-tax-bad-for-democracy/504944)
**Author:** [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/38-of-households-pay-no-federal-income-tax-bad-for-democracy/504944 "2009-08-03T00:26:02Z")
Cite. This trend does not look like it will reverse anytime soon; the premium to skill continues to increase which means that earnings will become more unequal over time. And the political ratchet of “progressive” poli… --- ## [And on it goes: deadliest month of Afghan war](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-on-it-goes-deadliest-month-of-afghan-war/504901)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-on-it-goes-deadliest-month-of-afghan-war/504901 "2009-08-02T21:48:42Z")
Where it stops no one knows. Link Think they’ll declare a ‘hearts and minds’ campaign next? The echoes of Vietnam reverberate everywhere. This is sheer bloody madness. It breaks my heart that young men and women are … --- ## [Criticism of the Obama administration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criticism-of-the-obama-administration/504974)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criticism-of-the-obama-administration/504974 "2009-08-02T14:12:21Z")
This could go in GD, but I’m really more interested in the general perception rather than a debate: Not to pick on Sam Stone unduly (I don’t want to pick on him particularly at all) but his thread here about the Cars fo… --- ## [All The News That's Fit To Print ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-news-thats-fit-to-print/504970)
**Author:** [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-the-news-thats-fit-to-print/504970 "2009-08-02T03:29:03Z")
The O boys kiss and make up. I don’t do cable but do do youtube so while I was aware they sniped at each other and think that Bill is a real contender for the World’s Worse Person, I had no idea that it had come to this… --- ## [Whoo! Go Franken!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whoo-go-franken/504963 "2009-08-02T03:24:49Z")
Senator Al Franken gives Swift Boat financier a piece of his mind I LOVE Franken! Not only does he call out that lying idiot, he does it in front of possibly red-faced colleagues (I hope). I’m glad we have a guy like … --- ## [Is Britain Broken?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-britain-broken/503213)
**Author:** [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-britain-broken/503213 "2009-08-01T21:18:40Z")
In many respects things are better than they have ever been, better medical care and the like, but there seems to be something fundamentally wrong with our society, nobody has respect for anyone anymore, there is a gener… --- ## [Gender roles and violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-roles-and-violence/504696)
**Author:** [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-roles-and-violence/504696 "2009-08-01T16:16:35Z")
In this thread on how to fix men, a lot of people were talking about starting a new one: Sorry if the topic wasn’t really descriptive enough. I wanted to avoid the inflammatory nature of the last one. While obviously … --- ## [Save Your Radio .org](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-your-radio-org/504705)
**Author:** [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-your-radio-org/504705 "2009-08-01T12:45:30Z")
The RDS display on my car radio has recently started displaying SAVE YOUR RADIO DOT ORG where the song title should go, on several stations. So I looked it up. http://saveyourradio.org/page.asp?content=startpage&g=saver… --- ## [Can you turn gay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-gay/504755)
**Author:** [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2009, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-turn-gay/504755 "2009-08-01T11:28:35Z")
Anytime a gay woman or man’s nature is brought up, almost always a corresponding phrase such as, “they were born that way” goes along with it. It makes sense, and could certainly be the case for most gay people, but is… --- ## [The validity of moral boycotts on whole countries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-moral-boycotts-on-whole-countries/504806)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-validity-of-moral-boycotts-on-whole-countries/504806 "2009-08-01T04:00:06Z")
So in the Obama-Beer thread, \*\*jayjay \*\*mentioned that he was upset that Skip Gates didn’t boycott Red Stripe beer out of solidarity with the oppressed homosexuals in Jamaica. Now, this is not enough for me to boycott a… --- ## [Anthropologically speaking, what are the roots of homophobia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropologically-speaking-what-are-the-roots-of-homophobia/504690)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropologically-speaking-what-are-the-roots-of-homophobia/504690 "2009-08-01T03:05:17Z")
Technically I suppose this doesn’t belong in GD, since I am not taking a position or offering a proposition for debate. Anyway, does anyone care to hazard a supposition? --- ## [IYHO: How's Obama doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-hows-obama-doing/504453)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iyho-hows-obama-doing/504453 "2009-08-01T02:41:43Z")
I thought I’d take the temperature of this board with regard to Obama’s presidency so far. He was a rock star there for a while, but I suppose it was inevitable that realpolitik would eventually set in, and his ratings … --- ## [Reassure Me of My Sanity \[perceptions of "Pirates of the Caribbean" vs. actual Somali pirates\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reassure-me-of-my-sanity-perceptions-of-pirates-of-the-caribbean-vs-actual-somali-pirates/504662)
**Author:** [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reassure-me-of-my-sanity-perceptions-of-pirates-of-the-caribbean-vs-actual-somali-pirates/504662 "2009-07-31T14:51:01Z")
And yes, this is Great Debates material, I believe. I had a discussion with an online acquaintance a while back. Or rather, she posted a rant, and I felt compelled to respond, and I was left wondering how any reasonable… --- ## [The dead contacting the living](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dead-contacting-the-living/502274)
**Author:** [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Replies:** 388\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dead-contacting-the-living/502274 "2009-07-31T00:54:28Z")
the Bible says that the dead cannot contact the living, so who is talking to people on Ouija boards or at seances? Demons impersonating lost loved ones maybe? --- ## [Jewish/christian questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-christian-questions/502966)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-christian-questions/502966 "2009-07-30T23:28:08Z")
my knowledge in this area is pretty weak, but I’ve done some reading in some of these threads lately that got me thinking about a few things. apologies in advance if these have already been answered, but I confess I did… --- ## [What If We Had Befriended Cuba?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-we-had-befriended-cuba/504269)
**Author:** [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-we-had-befriended-cuba/504269 "2009-07-30T20:01:28Z")
Fidel Castro has been our Caribbean bogey man for the past 50 years. He and his government have been depicted in the US as perfect example of communist tyranny and repression of freedom and we have waged overt and cover… --- ## [What constitutes a soul?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-soul/503704)
**Author:** [@snailboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snailboy)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-a-soul/503704 "2009-07-30T16:43:59Z")
Here’s a question for the spiritual people. I’m agnostic so I don’t have much of a belief in this topic. I’m curious what religious people think about this though. Let’s define the soul as the part of you that remains af… --- ## [What does being litigated out of a job say about America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-being-litigated-out-of-a-job-say-about-america/504542)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-being-litigated-out-of-a-job-say-about-america/504542 "2009-07-30T03:52:12Z")
This query is partially brought on by Sara Palin’s resignation, but not about her specifically. It’s also brought on by the comments in another thread pointing out that one company can stop another, simply because it has… --- ## [What I'd like to see if universal healthcare is implemented](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-like-to-see-if-universal-healthcare-is-implemented/504360)
**Author:** [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-id-like-to-see-if-universal-healthcare-is-implemented/504360 "2009-07-30T03:37:46Z")
Triple or quadruple tobacco taxes. If I’m paying for your emphysema or cancer treatment for something you’re doing to yourself by choice, you should help in a disproportionate way. Also stricter regulation of what’s in t… --- ## [Where's the outrage from fiscal conservatives over Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-outrage-from-fiscal-conservatives-over-iraq/504180)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-the-outrage-from-fiscal-conservatives-over-iraq/504180 "2009-07-30T02:45:51Z")
This is a serious question. I’ve heard a lot of noise from conservatives over the issue of Universal Healthcare, and how it’s “theft” to take their money and spend it on other peoples medical expenses. But I haven’t hear… --- ## [Is there a way to fix men?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-fix-men/504622)
**Author:** [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-fix-men/504622 "2009-07-29T22:42:12Z")
Let’s discuss men. Men commit more violent crimes than women by an enormous margin (see here or here). Depending on the region and time period studied, for every victim killed by a woman there are 6-11 killed by a man… --- ## [Constitutional Article??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitutional-article/504435)
**Author:** [@Subterfuge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterfuge)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constitutional-article/504435 "2009-07-29T20:34:21Z")
Just what article of the Constitution of The United States is the Obama administration relying on in the undertaking of “healthcare reform”? --- ## [Those damn gay anti-racist jurors! (publicizing juror names held legal)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-damn-gay-anti-racist-jurors-publicizing-juror-names-held-legal/504011)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-damn-gay-anti-racist-jurors-publicizing-juror-names-held-legal/504011 "2009-07-29T19:03:45Z")
From Eugene Volokh’s blog: Matthew Hale, a white supremacist leader, was convicted of soliciting for the murder of a federal judge who presided over an earlier trial involving Hale’s organization. Hale was sentenced to … --- ## [Affirmative Action is Just a Distraction](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affirmative-action-is-just-a-distraction/504454)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/affirmative-action-is-just-a-distraction/504454 "2009-07-29T15:24:36Z")
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/24/AR2009072402090\_pf.html by Shelby Steele Do you agree or disagree with this article? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=520) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=522)