# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=536 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 537 --- ## [What Explains The "Stagflation" of the 1970's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-explains-the-stagflation-of-the-1970s/496766)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2009, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-explains-the-stagflation-of-the-1970s/496766 "2009-05-21T05:28:45Z")
In discussions of the current Bear market, economists have mentioned the decade of the 1970s-during the period 1969-1980, the US stock market went to sleep-share prices hardly moved.There was lttle interest in stocks, an… --- ## [Why Pelosi?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pelosi/496484)
**Author:** [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pelosi/496484 "2009-05-21T04:17:13Z")
Why is Pelosi being skewered over 'what did she know and when did she know it"? Even if she did know, it was probably Top Secret and it’s not like she could do much about it. Is she just today’s handy target? --- ## [How worried should we be about Swine Flu?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359)
**Author:** [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Replies:** 243\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-worried-should-we-be-about-swine-flu/494359 "2009-05-21T03:14:12Z")
As of Saturday, April 25th, we have reports of sickness in Texas, Calif., NY, and Kansas, and well as multiple deaths in Mexico City. The CDC is convening and emergency meeting and is throwing around words like “very wo… --- ## [Resolved: Unequivocal Opposition To Torture Is Logically Inconsistent.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-unequivocal-opposition-to-torture-is-logically-inconsistent/497014)
**Author:** [@Weston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weston)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-unequivocal-opposition-to-torture-is-logically-inconsistent/497014 "2009-05-21T02:54:46Z")
Responding to the torrents of psychic despair evoked by the conspicuous lack of a brand new torture thread today, I have bravely stepped into the breach to discuss what (I hope) is a new perspective on this very, very ti… --- ## [If the US is an empire, is it necessarily a bad thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-is-an-empire-is-it-necessarily-a-bad-thing/496893)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-is-an-empire-is-it-necessarily-a-bad-thing/496893 "2009-05-20T17:41:55Z")
I wonder if the US is an empire, I’ve been watchin’ about Charlmers Johnson, who used to work with the CIA, and authored a book called ‘Baseworld’ and how colonies have effectively been replaced with a US hegemony and a … --- ## [Tiger Farming, Reasonable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiger-farming-reasonable/495871)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiger-farming-reasonable/495871 "2009-05-20T13:54:59Z")
I’m not a big fan of John Stossel, but this time on 20/20 he was talking about saving endangered species. He claimed that farming American Bison saved them from extinction, and that the same should be done for tigers. … --- ## [Redirecting patients from hospital ERs. Legal? Ethical? (University of Chicago)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redirecting-patients-from-hospital-ers-legal-ethical-university-of-chicago/495084)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redirecting-patients-from-hospital-ers-legal-ethical-university-of-chicago/495084 "2009-05-20T05:26:36Z")
Some background: The University of Chicago is located in the South Side of Chicago. Its immediate neighborhood is Hyde Park (now renamed Obamaland) but most of the surrounding areas are pretty dang poor. The Hospital ha… --- ## [Where are all the young Turk Republicans with new ideas, why is no one stepping up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-young-turk-republicans-with-new-ideas-why-is-no-one-stepping-up/496696)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-young-turk-republicans-with-new-ideas-why-is-no-one-stepping-up/496696 "2009-05-20T02:03:23Z")
As the Republican old guard furiously fights the pull of the tar pits I’m kind of surprised that so few Republicans seem to be stepping up to wrestle for control of the GOP. Where are the young Turk Republicans with new … --- ## [Is pissing in public (as in behind some bushes) such a bad thing??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pissing-in-public-as-in-behind-some-bushes-such-a-bad-thing/496809)
**Author:** [@MarcinCiez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcinCiez)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pissing-in-public-as-in-behind-some-bushes-such-a-bad-thing/496809 "2009-05-20T01:28:31Z")
This is in regards to this news-worthy story, sarcasm intended. I mean, what guy has never peed in public after having a few drings with friends… if you gotta go, you gotta go. LOL, even at home I sometimes can’t be bo… --- ## [Obama says debt is unsustainable](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-debt-is-unsustainable/496493)
**Author:** [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-says-debt-is-unsustainable/496493 "2009-05-19T22:58:43Z")
Link. I’m truly puzzled by this. Record deficits, and then announcements that deficit spending is unsustainable? There must be more to this than I can see - can someone interpret for me? --- ## [Do you think it's okay if Obama does it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-its-okay-if-obama-does-it/496408)
**Author:** [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-its-okay-if-obama-does-it/496408 "2009-05-19T22:52:27Z")
I thought long and hard before posting this - because in general I think the absence of a thread on a topic is only an indication that you should start one if you are interested. However, it is time to go past this gene… --- ## [I saw my first Frighten the Public commercial against health care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-frighten-the-public-commercial-against-health-care/494985)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-my-first-frighten-the-public-commercial-against-health-care/494985 "2009-05-19T22:43:18Z")
As the title said. (At least for this round.) Just now on CNN there was a commercial from Conservatives for Patients Rights tossing out the ‘loss of freedom/health care rationing’ schtick. I’m old enough to remember t… --- ## [Is Reality consistent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-reality-consistent/496256)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-reality-consistent/496256 "2009-05-19T20:42:15Z")
Often when a good Sci-Fi movie, show, or book comes out, the nit-pickers start pointing out inconsistencies. But is reality itself perfectly consistent and free of nits? --- ## [Sexual privacy: so much for that idea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-privacy-so-much-for-that-idea/496338)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexual-privacy-so-much-for-that-idea/496338 "2009-05-19T17:49:33Z")
An English woman named Caroline Cartwright has been arrested multiple times for having noisy sex. Her neighbors have smacked her with an “Anti-social behavior order” because she supposedly made too much noise. Now it’s… --- ## [Do Conservatives REALLY Support Scalia and Thomas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-conservatives-really-support-scalia-and-thomas/496698)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-conservatives-really-support-scalia-and-thomas/496698 "2009-05-19T14:29:27Z")
Not too long ago there was bit of controversy over Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He said he didn’t think the U.S. Constitution provided any protection against being tortured (to elicit a confession). (I think he … --- ## [Question for those who believe all religion should be abolished?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-believe-all-religion-should-be-abolished/496388)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-those-who-believe-all-religion-should-be-abolished/496388 "2009-05-19T05:58:40Z")
Hi, Have you ever met someone who is completely incapable of running their own lives? I have met many a person like this. Only religion or the military seems to help them. There are people for whom religion is a better… --- ## [Word on the street: How's Obama doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-on-the-street-hows-obama-doing/496825)
**Author:** [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-on-the-street-hows-obama-doing/496825 "2009-05-19T02:33:54Z")
So we’ve had a new president for a few months now, I know what I think in great detail, and I know the inside baseball of punditry and the political responses, but sadly I don’t get out enough to gauge the much more casu… --- ## [To kill a bald eagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-bald-eagle/496758)
**Author:** [@auburntiger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auburntiger11)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-kill-a-bald-eagle/496758 "2009-05-19T01:30:39Z")
Would it be illegal for me to catch a pregnant bald eagle, sedate it and kill the unborn birds because I didn’t think the mother would be able to take care of them? --- ## [What is the rationale for closing dealerships?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-rationale-for-closing-dealerships/496755)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-rationale-for-closing-dealerships/496755 "2009-05-18T21:44:39Z")
Fight my ignorance. How are Chrysler and GM going to save money by closing dealerships? What cost is associated with having a network of salesmen? I always assumed they pretty much were zero-cost - they bought cars from … --- ## [Which Religion is the TRUE Religion??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religion-is-the-true-religion/496132)
**Author:** [@MarcinCiez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcinCiez)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-religion-is-the-true-religion/496132 "2009-05-18T19:15:56Z")
After reading this post, it pointed to this graph. Anyway, I’m a Roman Catholic, and as far as I remember I’ve been taught that Roman Catholicism was the true direct lineage of Christianity… now from reading I discover … --- ## [Black Myth Bustin'...OJ Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-myth-bustin-oj-simpson/496474)
**Author:** [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Replies:** 207\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-myth-bustin-oj-simpson/496474 "2009-05-18T13:51:44Z")
I don’t know that this is actually a myth; I just enjoy using the term "black myth bustin’. But this came up at work today (apparently we are stuck in the 90s), and I also had this debate with my neighbor, and I have h… --- ## [Which Anglophone Former Colony Is Most Solicitous Of Its Aboriginals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-anglophone-former-colony-is-most-solicitous-of-its-aboriginals/496568)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-anglophone-former-colony-is-most-solicitous-of-its-aboriginals/496568 "2009-05-18T13:12:03Z")
I’m leaving South Africa out of this because that’s a whole other mess. Out of Australia, Canada, N.Z., and the U.S., where is guilt/solicitude/special provisions for/arguable P.C.-ness for or about the aboriginal popul… --- ## [Single Transferable Vote vs First Past the Post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-transferable-vote-vs-first-past-the-post/495893)
**Author:** [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/single-transferable-vote-vs-first-past-the-post/495893 "2009-05-18T05:02:45Z")
On May 12 2009, British Columbia, Canada, is having an election to determine the election system to use in the province. In contention are the First-Past-the-Post system currently in use, versus a Single-Transferable-Vot… --- ## [Comparison of pro-multipartisan voting systems for single-seat elections](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparison-of-pro-multipartisan-voting-systems-for-single-seat-elections/496364)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparison-of-pro-multipartisan-voting-systems-for-single-seat-elections/496364 "2009-05-18T02:01:05Z")
This thread is getting consistently hijacked over the issue, so let’s pick it up here. At present, the U.S. and most other democracies elect a single officer (“single” must be emphasized – alternative systems for electi… --- ## [Visit an Adult Web Site - Go to Jail!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visit-an-adult-web-site-go-to-jail/496172)
**Author:** [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visit-an-adult-web-site-go-to-jail/496172 "2009-05-17T02:33:08Z")
Richard Wolf, a government employee in Ohio, surfs the web at work. He gets busted by his boss for having a nude picture of himself on the computer. Boss calls cops. Guy gets convicted of a number of charges including on… --- ## [Richard Nixon's presidency](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-nixons-presidency/495188)
**Author:** [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Replies:** 143\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-nixons-presidency/495188 "2009-05-16T21:01:34Z")
Most of what I’ve heard about Tricky Dick has to do with Watergate. I’m grown up with a rather negative image of the man. My father, the nation’s #1 Nixon groupie, says that Nixon did a lot of good things for the countr… --- ## [Is it safer to be loved or feared?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safer-to-be-loved-or-feared/496221)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safer-to-be-loved-or-feared/496221 "2009-05-16T10:45:27Z")
I was glossing over The Prince by Machiavelli when on of his famous quotes caught my eye; However, he also states that; Initially this baffled me. If you have to chose to be feared or loved, it is much safer to be fe… --- ## [Obama keeping Military Tribunals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-keeping-military-tribunals/496554)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-keeping-military-tribunals/496554 "2009-05-16T04:40:20Z")
Now, this is really disappointing (to me): http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/us/politics/16gitmo.html?hp The standards for evidence will be tightened up some, but it still won’t be the same a civilian trial. In my vie… --- ## [I own kiddie porn! AKA Christopher Handley case is truly scary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-kiddie-porn-aka-christopher-handley-case-is-truly-scary/496369)
**Author:** [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-own-kiddie-porn-aka-christopher-handley-case-is-truly-scary/496369 "2009-05-16T01:56:20Z")
So ComiPress has a summary of the Christopher Handley obscenity trial (later half of this article). The article is by one Lawrence A. Stanley, who seems to be a pretty skeevy guy (if it’s the same guy), but a) he is a b… --- ## [Are there limits to free speech? What tests you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-limits-to-free-speech-what-tests-you/496044)
**Author:** [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Replies:** 188\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-limits-to-free-speech-what-tests-you/496044 "2009-05-16T00:23:00Z")
I don’t think so myself, but I came across this article about a video game about rape/abortion: The game is skeevey but it skeeves me way more to think that human rights groups are concerned with this. No human rights … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=535) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=537)