# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=537 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 538 --- ## [Gateway Theory is Unjust](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-theory-is-unjust/496479)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gateway-theory-is-unjust/496479 "2009-05-15T23:15:53Z")
I hate Gateway Theory or the idea that one thing should be illegal because it might lead one to doing things that are definitely illegal. I think we should have few laws but serious penalties. Drugs, I think Crystal … --- ## [Tell me about Michael Savage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-michael-savage/495526)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-michael-savage/495526 "2009-05-15T14:49:18Z")
As you may be awa --- ## [Is Obama trying to turn Arizona blue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obama-trying-to-turn-arizona-blue/496299)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obama-trying-to-turn-arizona-blue/496299 "2009-05-15T14:47:42Z")
Barack Obama is again back in Arizona today. He was here a couple of months ago to announce the mortgage relief plan. He also rescued Janet Napolitano from the Governor’s mansion with the Homeland Security position. Ariz… --- ## [Do you live your life without fear?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-your-life-without-fear/496254)
**Author:** [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-live-your-life-without-fear/496254 "2009-05-15T14:09:20Z")
I’ve never given myself over to religious practice, but my casual observation of many people’s relationship with their various faiths is that their behavior is often based on the belief that if they do something wrong, t… --- ## [Question for the Religious aboud Idolatry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-religious-aboud-idolatry/496037)
**Author:** [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-religious-aboud-idolatry/496037 "2009-05-15T13:55:11Z")
Of course religious Jews and Christians see idolatry as violating the rules of their religions. I have also heard arguments that it’s a form of idolatry if you go overboard obsessing over stuff like making money to the … --- ## [Math vs. The Universe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-vs-the-universe/495996)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-vs-the-universe/495996 "2009-05-15T08:39:14Z")
I’m continuing the discussion that evolved rather sharply from this thread started by the cryptic rwjefferson (to say the least), which was eventually closed due to rwj’s unintelligible “poetry”. Mostly I found the disc… --- ## [A multiparty system is better for America than a two-party system](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-multiparty-system-is-better-for-america-than-a-two-party-system/495658)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-multiparty-system-is-better-for-america-than-a-two-party-system/495658 "2009-05-15T04:36:02Z")
As it’s relevant to current discussion in this thread on the GOP’s future direction, I decided to create a zombie-clone of this old thread of mine. Arise! I have often argued here for electoral-system reforms which wou… --- ## [What are the CIA's top 3 historical successes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-cias-top-3-historical-successes/495587)
**Author:** [@Altair33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Altair33)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-cias-top-3-historical-successes/495587 "2009-05-15T03:25:42Z")
I’m not a CIA basher per se, since I assume most of them are patriotic guys who try hard. I just can’t really recall them doing anything positive in my lifetime. I do recall them ordering the bombing of the Chinese embas… --- ## [Hypothetical: Conservative media push jury nullification. What happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-conservative-media-push-jury-nullification-what-happens/495760)
**Author:** [@Rolken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rolken)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-conservative-media-push-jury-nullification-what-happens/495760 "2009-05-14T19:49:11Z")
It’s 2012, and Obama has just been reelected. A ragtag crew of skinheads decides that the US can’t withstand another four years of socialist fascism and guns him down. In the resulting hysteria, the new President Biden m… --- ## [Ticking Time Bomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticking-time-bomb/495567)
**Author:** [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticking-time-bomb/495567 "2009-05-14T17:36:36Z")
I don’t understand how the ticking time bomb scenario demonstrates a situation in which torture might be acceptable. I don’t understand why some staunchly anti-torture advocates will concede it. Leaving aside statistic… --- ## [How to Expose Politicians or I Know What You Did Last Summer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-expose-politicians-or-i-know-what-you-did-last-summer/496406)
**Author:** [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-expose-politicians-or-i-know-what-you-did-last-summer/496406 "2009-05-14T16:43:14Z")
What is the best way to expose a Policitian, or Congress’s, actions that you think are highly inappropriate, but perfectly legal? Is voting enough? Newspapers? What can I do personally? Case in point. The Detainee T… --- ## [Australian Rugby Player loses career over 7 year old event... is this right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-rugby-player-loses-career-over-7-year-old-event-is-this-right/496264)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-rugby-player-loses-career-over-7-year-old-event-is-this-right/496264 "2009-05-14T15:04:13Z")
A big news topic here in Australia at the moment isRugby League player Matthew Johns and his involvement in a group sex scandal that took place in New Zealand in 2002. The edited highlights of the scandal is that, in 20… --- ## [What is Paganism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-paganism/495730)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-paganism/495730 "2009-05-14T13:37:44Z")
Over here in the “I hate Being an Atheist” thread, paganism is mentioned.. But what exactly is a Pagan? Google isn’t really giving me much help, but it seems to me that Paganism is just another club of people wanting t… --- ## [Is Obama blackmailing the UK to keep torture details secret?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obama-blackmailing-the-uk-to-keep-torture-details-secret/496245)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obama-blackmailing-the-uk-to-keep-torture-details-secret/496245 "2009-05-14T03:24:37Z")
I’m not sure what to think yet. See this Salon article: It essentially claims that Obama has issued specific threats that he will order intelligence-sharing between the US and UK to cease, if the UK releases details … --- ## ["The general consensus among economists is that the New Deal didn't work."?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-general-consensus-among-economists-is-that-the-new-deal-didnt-work/495975)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-general-consensus-among-economists-is-that-the-new-deal-didnt-work/495975 "2009-05-13T23:22:51Z")
That’s the gist of what I heard an economist from U of Missouri (I think) last night on CNN. I was just flipping through the channels, so I didn’t catch the whole comment. He said something along the lines of “The New … --- ## [Democracy via PageRank](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-via-pagerank/495986)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democracy-via-pagerank/495986 "2009-05-13T06:06:35Z")
There’s this idea I’ve had for a while about implementing a PageRank style algorithm for Democracy. The way it works is: \[ul\] \[li\]Every eligible citizen gets 1 vote to begin with.\[/li\]\[li\]You are allowed to vote for AN… --- ## [What is the rationale for opposition to same-sex marriage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-rationale-for-opposition-to-same-sex-marriage/492382)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 1313\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-rationale-for-opposition-to-same-sex-marriage/492382 "2009-05-13T01:45:56Z")
This is a factual question, but such questions nearly always end up in debate so let’s start here. I understand opposition to abortion on morality grounds, since that is based on the sanctity of life. But if two people… --- ## [Drug laws and... science?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-laws-and-science/496005)
**Author:** [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-laws-and-science/496005 "2009-05-12T23:08:02Z")
A report was published in The Lancet by a team of medical experts suggesting a revamp of the English system for classifying illegal drugs. Basically the team studied and compared drugs in three areas of ‘harm’. Physical,… --- ## [Ileto v. Glock, Inc. et al -- Ninth Circuit upholds federal gun lawsuit ban!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ileto-v-glock-inc-et-al-ninth-circuit-upholds-federal-gun-lawsuit-ban/496174)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ileto-v-glock-inc-et-al-ninth-circuit-upholds-federal-gun-lawsuit-ban/496174 "2009-05-12T20:17:08Z")
Just in from the Ninth Circuit: Ileto v. Glock, Inc. et al. Victims of gun violence sue the gun manufacturers and gun sellers and anyone who ever held a gun, whispered the word gun, or was a fan of the Gunn character on … --- ## [Is it ok to cause great pain, as long as there is no visible injury?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cause-great-pain-as-long-as-there-is-no-visible-injury/496070)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cause-great-pain-as-long-as-there-is-no-visible-injury/496070 "2009-05-12T16:26:27Z")
Inspired by some of the comments in the most recent The Naked Wizard Guy Gets Tasered thread, I thought I’d lay this out as a poll, with an opportunity for some discussion (hence my placing it in GD). Many of the people… --- ## [Is it inevitable that someday guns will be banned in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-inevitable-that-someday-guns-will-be-banned-in-the-us/495197)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-inevitable-that-someday-guns-will-be-banned-in-the-us/495197 "2009-05-12T12:10:05Z")
Please note that I do not like this idea, or that if it came to pass it wouldn’t be wrong or harmful. And yes I’m aware that the Second Amendment would have to either be overturned or effectively made a dead letter by an… --- ## [The Obama Show faces cancellation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802)
**Author:** [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obama-show-faces-cancellation/495802 "2009-05-12T11:51:44Z")
Back in February I wondered in a thread about one of Obama’s many television appearances how much money they were costing, and was told not to be silly. During a crisis - then they meant the economic crisis, not the new… --- ## [Is Blogging a legitimate Small Business Venture?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blogging-a-legitimate-small-business-venture/495776)
**Author:** [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-blogging-a-legitimate-small-business-venture/495776 "2009-05-12T06:43:13Z")
Let’s say someone has the writing skills, pizzazz, knowledge base, and E-commerce know-how to start a blog that makes profits from advertisements. Would that be a legitimate entrepreneurial opportunity? How much money do… --- ## [Manhattan Fly-by -- really a photo-op?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-fly-by-really-a-photo-op/495016)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 145\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/manhattan-fly-by-really-a-photo-op/495016 "2009-05-11T21:13:28Z")
OK, this isn’t meant to be a conspiracy theory thread. I happened to be looking out my window when the military 747 flew by with the fighter jet (I keep hearing there were two, but I only ever saw one fighter). When it… --- ## [Minnows the Size of Blue Whales](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnows-the-size-of-blue-whales/495777)
**Author:** [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minnows-the-size-of-blue-whales/495777 "2009-05-11T20:18:11Z")
We certainly have a diverse biosphere here on Earth, with organisms taking many forms, functions and habitats—each, through selection and vast swaths of time, adapted to exploit a vast array of terrestrial niches. The bi… --- ## [Muslim states with Nuclear Weapons encourage not deter American Imperialism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-states-with-nuclear-weapons-encourage-not-deter-american-imperialism/495861)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-states-with-nuclear-weapons-encourage-not-deter-american-imperialism/495861 "2009-05-11T20:14:26Z")
It seems to me that the basic premise underlying the Iranian desire for the bomb is that it will discourage American Imperial aggression. It also seems as though Pakistan is the perfect object lesson in why the reality … --- ## [Does the Fact that Something Exists mean that Nothing is Impossible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-fact-that-something-exists-mean-that-nothing-is-impossible/495518)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-fact-that-something-exists-mean-that-nothing-is-impossible/495518 "2009-05-11T19:04:20Z")
That’s all there really is to it. Why is there something, rather than nothing? --- ## [The tasing of the naked wizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tasing-of-the-naked-wizard/494264)
**Author:** [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Replies:** 192\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tasing-of-the-naked-wizard/494264 "2009-05-11T18:32:37Z")
WARNING: there is technically a penis in this video http://vimeo.com/ 4273363 (link broken on purpose; take out the space before the numbers) The video is a man who is obviously intoxicated, and naked at a concert. It … --- ## [Allowing Marraige for All](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allowing-marraige-for-all/495950)
**Author:** [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allowing-marraige-for-all/495950 "2009-05-11T18:20:07Z")
What would be wrong with allowing any two people to marry regardless of sex or romantic love? The bilogical sex of the individuals would be irrelevant. Whether or not the two people are romantically in love would be ir… --- ## [My theory on forum threads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-on-forum-threads/495844)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-theory-on-forum-threads/495844 "2009-05-11T16:20:14Z")
I suspect that the number of posts in any given thread will follow a power law distribution, rather than a normal (or other) distribution, as posts attract posts, both through increased interest and through folk replying… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=536) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=538)