# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=530 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 531 --- ## [Ask the Socialist candidate for the European Parliament election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-socialist-candidate-for-the-european-parliament-election/498252)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 423\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-socialist-candidate-for-the-european-parliament-election/498252 "2009-06-20T14:19:22Z")
Greetings, fellow Dopers. I am standing as a candidate in the London constituency for the European Parliamentary Election on 4 June. I haven’t heard much talk of the election on the boards so I thought I’d start this t… --- ## [Can depression make you a dick?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-depression-make-you-a-dick/500134)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-depression-make-you-a-dick/500134 "2009-06-20T12:15:27Z")
I’m mainly thinking about chronic, long-term depression and any changes in personality it may cause. Or is being a dick always a personal, conscious choice, and, as such, unrelated to depression? You may define “being … --- ## ["Publicly Available" is this year's pink!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-available-is-this-years-pink/499994)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publicly-available-is-this-years-pink/499994 "2009-06-19T15:57:40Z")
When I was a lad, there were plenty of records that were “publicly available.” I put the quote marks in the previous sentence because often, while records might be technically publicly available they were actually stored… --- ## [Alex jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-jones/500035)
**Author:** [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-jones/500035 "2009-06-19T15:21:36Z")
Is this guy for real? I listen to his show and I agree with him on a few things but he starts ranting and raving about police brutality being connected to the New World Order and then I think he is just another entertai… --- ## [Is it ethical to carry a concealed weapon on another's private property without their knowledge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ethical-to-carry-a-concealed-weapon-on-anothers-private-property-without-their-knowledge/500072)
**Author:** [@Whiteknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiteknight)\ **Replies:** 210\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ethical-to-carry-a-concealed-weapon-on-anothers-private-property-without-their-knowledge/500072 "2009-06-19T06:13:14Z")
I started a thread in GQ regarding the legality of a CCW permit holder carrying a concealed weapon on another person’s private residential property in another state. Airman Doors pointed out that in addition to the lega… --- ## [Obama and Experience](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-experience/499710)
**Author:** [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-experience/499710 "2009-06-18T23:27:03Z")
In the election, one theme we heard all the time was how inexperienced Obama was. Remember how Palin was supposedly better qualified? So, if you felt that way, how is he doing experience-wise? Is he acting like someone… --- ## [Instead of high-speed rail . . . why not revive conventional rail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instead-of-high-speed-rail-why-not-revive-conventional-rail/499936)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instead-of-high-speed-rail-why-not-revive-conventional-rail/499936 "2009-06-18T20:44:52Z")
I believe HSR is well worth doing – in the long run – but it would be the most expensive public-works project since the Interstate Highway System was finished. And right now, America can’t readily afford expensive thing… --- ## [Lawyers: Would You Have a Convicted Felon Represent you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-would-you-have-a-convicted-felon-represent-you/499582)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-would-you-have-a-convicted-felon-represent-you/499582 "2009-06-18T19:29:49Z")
Read at :www.bostonherald.com For your information, Sa DiMasi is the foremr speaker of the Massachusetts House-now indicted on several federal corrupton charges. His lawyer is a convicted felon. What sort of inference… --- ## [A gay person ADMITS that opposite-sex parents are better!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gay-person-admits-that-opposite-sex-parents-are-better/499550)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gay-person-admits-that-opposite-sex-parents-are-better/499550 "2009-06-18T18:37:46Z")
A lot of debates on this board concerning gay marriage have spilled over (quite naturally) into issues of gay couple parenting and whether it is good for the child to have two daddies or two mommies. The “conservative” … --- ## [I just watched a Kent Hovind video, and I now believe that the earth is 6,000 years old](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-kent-hovind-video-and-i-now-believe-that-the-earth-is-6-000-years-old/499919)
**Author:** [@straggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straggler)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-a-kent-hovind-video-and-i-now-believe-that-the-earth-is-6-000-years-old/499919 "2009-06-18T17:18:35Z")
Well, not really. However, I’ve listened to a few of his lectures, and it got me curious as to what the answer is to some of the questions he raised: The moon is gradually moving away from the earth. Based on the spe… --- ## [Obama's bennies for gay couples: offset elsewhere?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-bennies-for-gay-couples-offset-elsewhere/500082)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-bennies-for-gay-couples-offset-elsewhere/500082 "2009-06-18T16:33:39Z")
Since he is for the “pay as you go” deal, has he offset this increase in federal government spending with tax increases or budget cuts elsewhere? --- ## [Am I just crazy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-just-crazy/498742)
**Author:** [@bintang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bintang)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2009, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-just-crazy/498742 "2009-06-18T09:36:25Z")
I have been getting more and more perturbed by my girlfriends “church”, Calvary. There are many many things I dislike about their set up but I don’t need to go into all of that for this… What I really want to get your … --- ## [Is Now the Time to Invest in Real Estate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-now-the-time-to-invest-in-real-estate/499945)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-now-the-time-to-invest-in-real-estate/499945 "2009-06-17T21:13:39Z")
I was eying my terrible returns on my 401K, and wondering if real estate investments would provide a better return. I can think of quite afew “pros”, also a few “cons”: PRO: home prices have fallen, by as much as 70% … --- ## [State For Me The Case That We're Economically Nowhere Near Out Of The Woods](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-for-me-the-case-that-were-economically-nowhere-near-out-of-the-woods/499791)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-for-me-the-case-that-were-economically-nowhere-near-out-of-the-woods/499791 "2009-06-17T16:45:30Z")
The last few weeks a number of people have told me that “things look like they are beginning to pick up.” I’m familiar with the scraplets of data on which these assurances are based (some good, or at least less-bad-than… --- ## [So, who is this Hossein Moussavi cat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-is-this-hossein-moussavi-cat/499489)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-is-this-hossein-moussavi-cat/499489 "2009-06-17T16:12:00Z")
If the liberal media are to be trusted, it looks like Iran could be on the verge of ditching a corrupt leader bent on decimating his country in favor of one perhaps less inclined to do that. Anyone got any idea who/what… --- ## [Digital TV switchover -- are we ready this time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-tv-switchover-are-we-ready-this-time/499527)
**Author:** [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-tv-switchover-are-we-ready-this-time/499527 "2009-06-17T14:08:54Z")
The digital TV switchover is tomorrow. Are we ready? Recent news reports suggest that number of people left on analog broadcast has been cut roughly in half since the last deadline, from around 6 million to around 3 mi… --- ## [Western Democracies and Islamic Demographics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-democracies-and-islamic-demographics/499821)
**Author:** [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2009, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/western-democracies-and-islamic-demographics/499821 "2009-06-17T08:18:03Z")
The idea for this thread came out of a suggestion in this thread about the BNP. The BNP and other ultra nationalistic parties in Europe would claim that unless action is taken a European Islamic state is innevitable. T… --- ## [Iraq is a total failure and is still on the brink of civil war.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-is-a-total-failure-and-is-still-on-the-brink-of-civil-war/499752)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-is-a-total-failure-and-is-still-on-the-brink-of-civil-war/499752 "2009-06-17T02:18:39Z")
I see people repeating this dogmatically here on the Dope. They keep talking about it like it’s just obviously true, something that everybody knows. Well I don’t know it to be true. So is it? Is it true? Is Iraq sti… --- ## [Will Israel dismantle unauthorized settlements?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-israel-dismantle-unauthorized-settlements/498504)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-israel-dismantle-unauthorized-settlements/498504 "2009-06-16T23:38:23Z")
Obama said that Israel must freeze illegal settlements if there is to be peace. But what about the settlements already built? Surely, they will have to be removed before Hamas and other factions have an incentive to ceas… --- ## [Do lawyers really tend liberal? Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-really-tend-liberal-why/499000)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lawyers-really-tend-liberal-why/499000 "2009-06-16T17:00:31Z")
Is it true that most lawyers tend to be liberal? If so, why is that? Has it always been that way? --- ## [Would it be possible for people to choose where their taxes go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-for-people-to-choose-where-their-taxes-go/499668)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-possible-for-people-to-choose-where-their-taxes-go/499668 "2009-06-16T15:23:26Z")
Would it be possible to offer people the option when they fill out their tax forms to designate where their tax dollars go. An accountant friend mentioned it to me as a way to make people who complain about paying taxes… --- ## [Texas Cop Tasers Granny](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-cop-tasers-granny/499417)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 477\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-cop-tasers-granny/499417 "2009-06-16T14:46:10Z")
A great-grandmother, actually. Story here. In the cop’s defense, I must say I’ve known a few old biddies in Texas I would have loved to taser. Waterboard, at the very least. BBC TV has picked this up – that’s where I l… --- ## [Should everyone go to college?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everyone-go-to-college/499340)
**Author:** [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-everyone-go-to-college/499340 "2009-06-16T14:10:21Z")
I was reading some excerpts of “Shop Class as Soulcraft” by Matthew B. Crawford, an academic/philosopher/motorcylcle mechanic. It was reviewed in the New York Times this weekend and excerpted in their magazine. He argue… --- ## [Let's fight H1N1 by abolishing the handshake.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fight-h1n1-by-abolishing-the-handshake/499485)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-fight-h1n1-by-abolishing-the-handshake/499485 "2009-06-16T03:07:41Z")
The World Health Organization has just declared H1N1 (wrongly known as swine flu) to have reached level 6, making it a pandemic. We all know some version of the story by which a 19th-Century British Doctor, John Snow, r… --- ## [The Aesthetical Jesus - Part III](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-aesthetical-jesus-part-iii/498535)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-aesthetical-jesus-part-iii/498535 "2009-06-16T01:37:19Z")
WITNESSING THREAD In previous discusssions, we have determined the definitions of aesthetics, ethics, morality, goodness, evil, love, and sin. Let’s review those briefly, just for reference. Furthermore, I would respect… --- ## [Obama and his "czars"...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-his-czars/499667)
**Author:** [@squeekster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeekster)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-and-his-czars/499667 "2009-06-15T22:55:27Z")
Can anyone list one good reason why Obama feels the need to appoint so many different “Czars”? These “Czars” don’t have to answer to ANYONE but him. Not the Congress. Not the Senate. Certainly not the PEOPLE. These selec… --- ## [H.R. 1207 Audit the Fed Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-r-1207-audit-the-fed-bill/499873)
**Author:** [@bobthebuilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobthebuilder)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/h-r-1207-audit-the-fed-bill/499873 "2009-06-15T20:59:56Z")
Honestly I do not understand why anyone would be opposed to more oversight over the Federal Reserve through Auditing. Why is their opposition to this Bill? It has gained much bipartisan support in congress, but many thin… --- ## [Is Shepard Smith Walking a Razor Fine Line?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shepard-smith-walking-a-razor-fine-line/499407)
**Author:** [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-shepard-smith-walking-a-razor-fine-line/499407 "2009-06-15T19:07:08Z")
Let me preface by saying I rarely watch FOX {ahem} News. The station makes me want to retch and I swear I think I can feel the stupid through my TV…kind of like dogs smelling fear. Anyway, 20 minutes or so per week is al… --- ## [New way of voting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-way-of-voting/499745)
**Author:** [@Hadrian\_s\_Wall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hadrian_s_Wall)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-way-of-voting/499745 "2009-06-15T13:46:52Z")
I was on the interweb, just browsing with my google-machine, and just for kicks, I looked up, “right to vote.” And it seems to me that there is a big misconception that people are given a “right” to vote. Now, I got cur… --- ## [Too Much Military Reliance? Or Rock Me General Petraeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-military-reliance-or-rock-me-general-petraeus/499536)
**Author:** [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-much-military-reliance-or-rock-me-general-petraeus/499536 "2009-06-15T04:08:47Z")
My question is when was the last time someone (or someones) argued with Gen. Petraeus assessment of things? The latest: Petraeus says “Afghanistan Attacks at High”; Not strictly really relevant to the discussion, but wh… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=529) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=531)