# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=540 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 541 --- ## [Payday lenders leave Virginia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-lenders-leave-virginia/494761)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payday-lenders-leave-virginia/494761 "2009-05-02T15:47:27Z")
The Commonwealth of Virginia has adopted strict limits on “payday loans.” These are, for the uninitiated, very short term, high-interest/fee loans intended to be repaid by the loan recipient’s next payday. As a result of… --- ## [Is this the nastiest, meanest Presidential campaign of modern times?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-nastiest-meanest-presidential-campaign-of-modern-times/468605)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-nastiest-meanest-presidential-campaign-of-modern-times/468605 "2009-05-02T11:17:51Z")
The 2004 campaign was nasty, but at least to my perception this one is way, way past it. It’s now pretty much open season for Republicans to claim “liberals” are un-American terrorists. The Democrats are winning and ha… --- ## [It is dogmatic for you to not accept my ridiculous beliefs.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-dogmatic-for-you-to-not-accept-my-ridiculous-beliefs/495013)
**Author:** [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-dogmatic-for-you-to-not-accept-my-ridiculous-beliefs/495013 "2009-05-02T03:28:48Z")
Recently confronting a group of evolutionary biologists on the campus of the University of Washington, I pointed out that their theories on the original of life are fundamentally flawed. God created all the plants and a… --- ## [Reactions to Obama's press conference](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reactions-to-obamas-press-conference/494901)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reactions-to-obamas-press-conference/494901 "2009-05-02T02:48:16Z")
Disclaimer up front - I’m extremely liberal, generally vote Democrat, and am a pretty strong Obama supporter. But I’d appreciate hearing from others - especially non-fans, how they feel about his public presentations su… --- ## [Is Olympia Snowe Next?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-olympia-snowe-next/494773)
**Author:** [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-olympia-snowe-next/494773 "2009-05-01T20:26:21Z")
Since Arlen Specter’s defection to the Democratic party yesterday, news correspondents and political pundits have been feverishly speculating whether or not Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins are merely a few ticks of the cl… --- ## ["Outside Space and Time"-where and when, again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outside-space-and-time-where-and-when-again/494402)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 178\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outside-space-and-time-where-and-when-again/494402 "2009-05-01T19:00:55Z")
In another thread someone(it doesn’t matter who-the term is used many times by many people) said “God exists outside Space and Time” as if this was all the explanation necessary for those trying to find evidence of that … --- ## ["We'll bankrupt our children"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-bankrupt-our-children/488633)
**Author:** [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-bankrupt-our-children/488633 "2009-05-01T18:29:14Z")
A common Fox News pundit statement… What does that mean exactly? Future generations will earn a wage, page a portion of tax from it, and pay it forward. Just like you and I are doing right now. What will be different for… --- ## [When Private Beliefs Intrude on Work Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-private-beliefs-intrude-on-work-life/494600)
**Author:** [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-private-beliefs-intrude-on-work-life/494600 "2009-05-01T17:23:58Z")
I will try to set this up as clearly as I can. You are a high profile organisation offering a B to C product that reaches easily 50% of the local population of a city (over 2 million people). Your product relies on tru… --- ## [Why This Anger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-anger/494215)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Replies:** 169\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-this-anger/494215 "2009-05-01T17:03:37Z")
In the “Physical Response to the Non-Physical Aggression” Thread, there was a phrase that caught my eye.boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=515010 “There’s a lot of free floating anger around.” My response wa… --- ## [How many animal lives is one human life worth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-animal-lives-is-one-human-life-worth/493662)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-animal-lives-is-one-human-life-worth/493662 "2009-05-01T12:41:33Z")
You may already be aware of the story of Mandy K, a 32-year-old woman mauled by a polar bear in a Berlin after climbing into the bear’s enclosure. I open this thread not to call Mandy an idiot, as that is obvious, but b… --- ## [Israeli military is preparing itself to launch a massive aerial assault on Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-military-is-preparing-itself-to-launch-a-massive-aerial-assault-on-iran/493495)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israeli-military-is-preparing-itself-to-launch-a-massive-aerial-assault-on-iran/493495 "2009-05-01T05:06:32Z")
\[According to The Times\](Israeli military is preparing itself to launch a massive aerial assault) Israel is on the cusp of launching an attack on Iran. Is this wise? Is this necessary? Can Iran repel the attack? --- ## [Is holocaust denial fundamentally different to other forms of government propaganda?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-holocaust-denial-fundamentally-different-to-other-forms-of-government-propaganda/494753)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-holocaust-denial-fundamentally-different-to-other-forms-of-government-propaganda/494753 "2009-05-01T03:31:31Z")
This is inspired by Keeve’s remark in the other holocaust thread: So would you say that holocaust denial, when used as a tool of government propaganda, is any different to any other kind of government propaganda? --- ## [Comparative performance/effects of univeral health care in countries that have it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparative-performance-effects-of-univeral-health-care-in-countries-that-have-it/494685)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparative-performance-effects-of-univeral-health-care-in-countries-that-have-it/494685 "2009-05-01T01:06:57Z")
I mean “effects” on the care-provision side, not on the tax-burden side. E.g., which system is more efficient, the UK’s National Health Service or Canada’s single-payer system, and how do both compare to the U.S.’? How… --- ## [Executive Orders: Limits (with example)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/executive-orders-limits-with-example/494837)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/executive-orders-limits-with-example/494837 "2009-05-01T00:07:10Z")
What exactly are the limits on an Executive Order by the President? We, in the newsroom, are debating just that thing for a specific reason. The Delta Queen, a hotel-type Sternwheel Paddleboat owned Majestic Lines, has… --- ## [How much does party caucusing contrain Senators' votes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-party-caucusing-contrain-senators-votes/494832)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-party-caucusing-contrain-senators-votes/494832 "2009-04-30T17:41:37Z")
Of course inspired by Specters leap and by talk about Snowe and Collins … but informed by 538’s take on it. So on average a switch does come with some change in voting pattern, but not usually reliability. Specter may … --- ## [Liberal US dopers.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-us-dopers/494689)
**Author:** [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberal-us-dopers/494689 "2009-04-30T17:00:40Z")
I’ve seen some people here say that they would like the US to become a lot more liberal. What changes in law and policy would make you happy? There are a few things I can think of: Gay marriage and adoption legalized… --- ## [Does GM management (or the Feds) WANT a prolonged bankruptcy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gm-management-or-the-feds-want-a-prolonged-bankruptcy/494570)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-gm-management-or-the-feds-want-a-prolonged-bankruptcy/494570 "2009-04-30T16:41:34Z")
GM makes bondholders an offer they can refuse today. Allegedly the Feds wouldn’t allow a more generous offer. 90% of bondholders taking that? No way. That’s the biggees talking. And the smaller retail bondholders ar… --- ## [Who Owns The Maunsell "Sea Forts"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-maunsell-sea-forts/494849)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-maunsell-sea-forts/494849 "2009-04-30T16:33:01Z")
See last photo:http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/04/human\_landscapes\_from\_above.html I saw these things mentioned years ago, when “pirate” radio stations operated from them…who owns them now? --- ## [Is this argument against killing lesser beings valid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-argument-against-killing-lesser-beings-valid/494035)
**Author:** [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-argument-against-killing-lesser-beings-valid/494035 "2009-04-30T12:12:55Z")
I want to know if the following argument makes sense. Let me know what you think. In case there is any suspicion, I am absolutely not writing a Philosophy paper. Suppose an individual is confronted while eating meat,… --- ## [Alternative Proposal to High-Speed Rail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-proposal-to-high-speed-rail/493787)
**Author:** [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-proposal-to-high-speed-rail/493787 "2009-04-30T11:24:44Z")
I have a cunning plan… which would never work because I’m sure there are huge political interests who would rather waste money to look Green than spend it wisely. But here it is. Let us say that all the money which is … --- ## [So, when will we write Science papers in Chinese?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-will-we-write-science-papers-in-chinese/493220)
**Author:** [@flonks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flonks)\ **Replies:** 129\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-will-we-write-science-papers-in-chinese/493220 "2009-04-30T06:53:12Z")
Some epistemologists define the beginning of (western) science when researchers stopped writing in Latin and switched to their native languages. But for centuries only a couple of languages dominated, like German and Fre… --- ## [Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) to become a Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627)
**Author:** [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Replies:** 143\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-arlen-specter-pa-to-become-a-democrat/494627 "2009-04-30T00:58:59Z")
I sure as hell didn’t see this one coming. While I’ve said many times that the 60-vote majority thing isn’t as big a deal as the press makes it out to be, it does say something about where the GOP is at. He was likely … --- ## [Traffic cameras too effective, the law never mattered.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traffic-cameras-too-effective-the-law-never-mattered/494364)
**Author:** [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traffic-cameras-too-effective-the-law-never-mattered/494364 "2009-04-29T23:27:29Z")
So there’s a report on Fox News (sorry no link) about cities and private companies getting rid of traffic camera programs, because they’re too effective (people obeying laws due to the cameras presence). All this tells … --- ## [Public Support for Obama: A Challenge to Critics (especially Shagnasty)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-support-for-obama-a-challenge-to-critics-especially-shagnasty/494136)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-support-for-obama-a-challenge-to-critics-especially-shagnasty/494136 "2009-04-29T16:42:27Z")
On Feb. 12, Shagnasty posted the following sentiment: I offered the following wager: Wisely, he never returned to the thread, because today Obama’s approval rating is slightly higher than it was on Feb. 12th. It nev… --- ## [Yahweh, The Beginnings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yahweh-the-beginnings/493932)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yahweh-the-beginnings/493932 "2009-04-28T23:32:27Z")
Originally, the Israeli people were Canaanites. Their gods were largely the gods of Canaan, and their language was simply a dialect of Canaanite. The name “Israel” is a reference to El and Yahweh is a sub-deity or son of… --- ## [Are lawyers' Ethical Obligations the reason they are so hated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-lawyers-ethical-obligations-the-reason-they-are-so-hated/494061)
**Author:** [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-lawyers-ethical-obligations-the-reason-they-are-so-hated/494061 "2009-04-28T18:38:04Z")
Bricker said this in the Jay Bybee thread: A lawyer’s ethical code seem to often be at odds with the ethics of a normal person’s, and that of other professional codes (like, say, engineers). I think it can be taken as… --- ## [Do liberal policies encourage the spread of social conservatism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberal-policies-encourage-the-spread-of-social-conservatism/494165)
**Author:** [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-liberal-policies-encourage-the-spread-of-social-conservatism/494165 "2009-04-28T17:56:47Z")
This is largely targeted at other Americans. Others could certainly be interested and make constructive responses, however. The liberal end of the political spectrum is associated with these values: Respect for membe… --- ## [Reptilian DNA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptilian-dna/494546)
**Author:** [@SupN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SupN)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reptilian-dna/494546 "2009-04-28T16:06:33Z")
It would be better to overcome primitive traits in one’s DNA by recognizing the more advanced side. You have to focus with a certain intention on your humanoid interior until you find that side. It’s reported to give a t… --- ## [Could Texas secede any time they want](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-texas-secede-any-time-they-want/493281)
**Author:** [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Replies:** 137\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-texas-secede-any-time-they-want/493281 "2009-04-28T04:34:11Z")
Texas governor Rick Perry has suggested that Texas can secede from the Union - og knows, they’ve done it before - but what is the legal reality of the situation? Okay, that first part probably qualifies as a GQ type thi… --- ## [Rome stays Pagan in 300 AD](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-stays-pagan-in-300-ad/494370)
**Author:** [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-stays-pagan-in-300-ad/494370 "2009-04-27T21:59:48Z")
Christianity doesn’t get a foothold in Europe through the Roman Empire’s decree. How does this alternate timeline turn out? Does it get a foot hold later? If so what form does it take? How does this change the future of … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=539) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=541)