# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=528 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 529 --- ## [Will the woman who tatooed stars on her face have a normal life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-woman-who-tatooed-stars-on-her-face-have-a-normal-life/501141)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-woman-who-tatooed-stars-on-her-face-have-a-normal-life/501141 "2009-07-01T22:06:49Z")
Maybe you saw the video. A girl seemed to regret having 50+ little stars tatooed on one side of her face. Do you think she’ll be ok? Is she going to have trouble getting a date (what if your girlfriend had stars on her … --- ## [The United States is wrong on its current stand re: Honduras](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-is-wrong-on-its-current-stand-re-honduras/501594)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-united-states-is-wrong-on-its-current-stand-re-honduras/501594 "2009-07-01T18:12:31Z")
Link The military coup that unseated the elected president of Honduras is very likely going to get them suspended from OAS, the vote was unanimous and the only point of contention was just how quickly to do it. “The Un… --- ## [How much has the political structure of China changed over the past twenty years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-the-political-structure-of-china-changed-over-the-past-twenty-years/501076)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-the-political-structure-of-china-changed-over-the-past-twenty-years/501076 "2009-07-01T16:24:45Z")
In the thread devoting to a possible non-shitty path forward for Iran an interesting discussion is emerging but one that might hijack that thread: The example is being made of China twenty years after Tiananmen Square a… --- ## [Are "invisible fence" systems inhumane to dogs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-invisible-fence-systems-inhumane-to-dogs/501220)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-invisible-fence-systems-inhumane-to-dogs/501220 "2009-07-01T16:08:05Z")
Are invisible fence type systems that involve a shock collar and buried perimeter fence system inhumane to dogs or not? --- ## [Hell in Christianity, or the Burden of Clarity on Ambiguous Things \[ed.\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-in-christianity-or-the-burden-of-clarity-on-ambiguous-things-ed/501022)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-in-christianity-or-the-burden-of-clarity-on-ambiguous-things-ed/501022 "2009-07-01T14:29:44Z")
So as not to further digress from the main topic of this thread, I’m opening up this topic. The question is, is it proper to say that Christianity as a generic descriptor can be said to believe in a place called Hell, i… --- ## [Were Shakespeare and Henry Wriothesley homosexual lovers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-shakespeare-and-henry-wriothesley-homosexual-lovers/501456)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-shakespeare-and-henry-wriothesley-homosexual-lovers/501456 "2009-07-01T02:43:27Z")
Some of Shakespeare’s sonnets speak of a “Fair Youth,” and they were addressed to an unidentified man known only by the initials “W. H.” Speculation in recent years has pointed towards Henry Wriothesley, the 3rd Earl of… --- ## [People who make their living in a way that doesn't contribute anything productive to society](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-make-their-living-in-a-way-that-doesnt-contribute-anything-productive-to-society/501401)
**Author:** [@straggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straggler)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-make-their-living-in-a-way-that-doesnt-contribute-anything-productive-to-society/501401 "2009-06-30T22:09:24Z")
The World Series of Poker is on at the moment, and it got me thinking about something I have thought about from time to time in the past. Should we look down on people who make their living in a manner that doesn’t make… --- ## [American infrastructure: how screwed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-infrastructure-how-screwed/501384)
**Author:** [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-infrastructure-how-screwed/501384 "2009-06-30T19:18:42Z")
For years I’ve been seeing specials or reading articles about how American infrastructure is in big trouble. Electrical grids Levees (e.g. California) Dams Bridges Roadways Water treatment / storm drains Too expen… --- ## [Feminists lobby to keep stimulus jobs away from men](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminists-lobby-to-keep-stimulus-jobs-away-from-men/500977)
**Author:** [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminists-lobby-to-keep-stimulus-jobs-away-from-men/500977 "2009-06-30T17:29:08Z")
A current storyin The Weekly Standard by Christina Hoff Sommers details how NOW and its cohorts lobbied the Obama administration – successfully – to redirect the stimulus plan towards female jobs and away from infrastruc… --- ## [Back to Iran: Regardless of who wins the Supreme Council Loses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-iran-regardless-of-who-wins-the-supreme-council-loses/501215)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-iran-regardless-of-who-wins-the-supreme-council-loses/501215 "2009-06-30T16:47:07Z")
http://www.rand.org/commentary/2009/06/22/RC.html This is the lesson I’ve been reading into this, that ultimately the Supreme Council has lost it’s grip on Iran regardless of the outcome of this election. --- ## [What is the relative morality of trapping feral cats vs shooting them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-relative-morality-of-trapping-feral-cats-vs-shooting-them/501381)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-relative-morality-of-trapping-feral-cats-vs-shooting-them/501381 "2009-06-30T16:34:11Z")
In this thread there is discussion about how to control feral cats. It is asserted in the discussion, that feral cats are typically extremely very difficult to adopt out, and that trapping a feral cat and delivering it … --- ## [Why are North Koreans so bombastic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-north-koreans-so-bombastic/499852)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-north-koreans-so-bombastic/499852 "2009-06-30T02:34:50Z")
I don’t quite know whether to put this in GQ or GD so mods: feel free to move this. Anyhow, i found a Web site (http://www.pyonkoma.com/houdou203.asf) where users can download nightly news broadcasts from North Korean t… --- ## [What Do You Consider A "Devleloped Country"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-a-devleloped-country/501406)
**Author:** [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-consider-a-devleloped-country/501406 "2009-06-29T23:21:51Z")
I was looking at this Wikipedia article on “developed countries” and I can see there is a bit of controversy over which countries qualify as “developed.” I think everyone will agree the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ne… --- ## [Kicking an anthill (Waxman-Markey)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kicking-an-anthill-waxman-markey/501029)
**Author:** [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kicking-an-anthill-waxman-markey/501029 "2009-06-29T21:39:46Z")
We’ve had a lovely dearth of threads related to this lately. In the hopes that this one will not become a train wreck, please limit the debate here to the merits of various ideas for limiting carbon emissions. If you w… --- ## [The GOP isn't half the country now, don't act like they are](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-isnt-half-the-country-now-dont-act-like-they-are/501115)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-isnt-half-the-country-now-dont-act-like-they-are/501115 "2009-06-29T20:08:21Z")
I propose that the people of the USA acknowledge that the Grand Old Party is a minority party now. Not the opposition. Just the right-wing third. So, in contexts like Sunday morning talk shows, let’s not weight arguments… --- ## [SciFi: Lawyers must argue both sides](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scifi-lawyers-must-argue-both-sides/500380)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scifi-lawyers-must-argue-both-sides/500380 "2009-06-28T15:29:24Z")
Say, for instance, that it was decided by the 112th United States Congress that so as to combat the (perceived) inequalities in the justice system whereby those with more money can afford a better lawyer and hence escape… --- ## [Is there a cogent argument that explains why government ought not to offer health insurance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cogent-argument-that-explains-why-government-ought-not-to-offer-health-insurance/499167)
**Author:** [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-cogent-argument-that-explains-why-government-ought-not-to-offer-health-insurance/499167 "2009-06-28T02:58:40Z")
I’ll get on the “republican/conservative/capitalism” bandwagon here and admit it: competition is great, grand, and tends to generate the best outcomes So… why can’t the government act as a market participant? why should… --- ## [Raising taxes during a recession. Good idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raising-taxes-during-a-recession-good-idea/501147)
**Author:** [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raising-taxes-during-a-recession-good-idea/501147 "2009-06-27T23:45:00Z")
Country X was in bad economic shape for at least the last decade and now due to the global recession, the government of Country X is desperately strapped for cash, just like any individual or company living there. Invest… --- ## [Depression Dogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depression-dogs/499665)
**Author:** [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depression-dogs/499665 "2009-06-27T21:24:53Z")
Longtime lurker on these boards de-lurking to bring up something I observed recently on a cruise ship: An older lady on board was accompanied by her service dog, a tiny Yorkie, complete with tiny orange service jacket. … --- ## [Pre-emptive attack on doomsday device: justified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-emptive-attack-on-doomsday-device-justified/501106)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-emptive-attack-on-doomsday-device-justified/501106 "2009-06-27T16:23:43Z")
Alright, suppose you (where you are the head of state of a decent nuclear power) come into certain knowledge that another state is about to switch on a Dr. Strangelove-style doomsday device, that if triggered will destro… --- ## [Abortion for Men (redux) now "Roe v. Wade for Men"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-for-men-redux-now-roe-v-wade-for-men/499186)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 503\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-for-men-redux-now-roe-v-wade-for-men/499186 "2009-06-27T12:39:23Z")
Many years ago I started a GD thread titled Abortion For Men. My position was and remains: it is fundamentally unjust to give women (and I am a woman) the power to force fatherhood on a man against his will. I have jus… --- ## [Ladies! FIGHT gay marriage!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-fight-gay-marriage/500929)
**Author:** [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-fight-gay-marriage/500929 "2009-06-27T03:00:50Z")
http://blog.beliefnet.com/kingdomofpriests/2009/06/how-women-will-be-hurt-by-gay-marriage.html The gays are just that good and will take your men! This is either a joke or they’re really getting desperate! --- ## [How far do you trust authorities?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-trust-authorities/501055)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-trust-authorities/501055 "2009-06-26T22:12:33Z")
I’m not exactly sure how to phrase this question, so please bear with me. When I’m trying to decide what I believe about complex scientific issues, I put tremendous weight on what experts in the field say. I believe th… --- ## [Chief Justice Roberts and the living Constitution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chief-justice-roberts-and-the-living-constitution/501063)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chief-justice-roberts-and-the-living-constitution/501063 "2009-06-26T20:36:05Z")
I’m not sure that I can put together a proper debate premise, but here goes. This letter writer to the NY Times (Opinion | If the Country Changes, Does the Constitution? - The New York Times) implies that, by the NY Tim… --- ## [Is Indian Gaming the Ultimate Hypocrisy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-indian-gaming-the-ultimate-hypocrisy/500607)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-indian-gaming-the-ultimate-hypocrisy/500607 "2009-06-26T17:22:50Z")
When talk of changing the tax code to a national sales tax or a flat tax arises, the major objection, especially from the left, is that doing so would negatively impact the “poor.” However, the same lawmakers wholeheart… --- ## [Why Are US CEOs so Grossly Overpaid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-us-ceos-so-grossly-overpaid/499562)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-us-ceos-so-grossly-overpaid/499562 "2009-06-26T16:52:30Z")
My assumption that they are is based on the fact that by comparison with European and Asian CEOs, they are paid significantly more, for performing what are presumably the same functions. I would guess that at least part… --- ## ["Shall issue" visa policy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-issue-visa-policy/498890)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-issue-visa-policy/498890 "2009-06-26T16:43:38Z")
Here I outlined the current version of how I think US immigration law should be written. I’m willing to exclude carriers of virulent exotic diseases as well. Pragmatically, I’ve come to realize that adding requirement… --- ## [Arranged questions @ White House press conference](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arranged-questions-white-house-press-conference/500855 "2009-06-26T13:29:59Z")
From the Washington Post: I’m not sure I see the problem. As long as the press conference isn’t dominated by such tactics, it seems to me the use of a scripted Q&A can be useful for getting a particular message out. W… --- ## [Conservative religious troll outing GLBT public employees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-religious-troll-outing-glbt-public-employees/500401)
**Author:** [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservative-religious-troll-outing-glbt-public-employees/500401 "2009-06-26T08:28:39Z")
There’s an interesting case going on in Seattle these days. A public employee who’s a white conservative Christian is acting as a real-life troll–e.g., he became a member of the organization’s Black Employees’ Associatio… --- ## [Ok, who are the "top Republican candidates" for the 2012 White House race.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-who-are-the-top-republican-candidates-for-the-2012-white-house-race/500931)
**Author:** [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-who-are-the-top-republican-candidates-for-the-2012-white-house-race/500931 "2009-06-26T03:58:14Z")
THis is not meant to be a partisan bash session, but a legitimate question. So leave off your jokes about “Satan” or “It doesn’t matter, they are all losers” responses. When the latest scandal arose concerning Gov. Mark… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=527) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=529)