# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=550 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 551 --- ## [Building a space elevator would stimulate the economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-space-elevator-would-stimulate-the-economy/488299)
**Author:** [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-space-elevator-would-stimulate-the-economy/488299 "2009-03-13T02:50:58Z")
It’s a wonder why we aren’t doing it already. Not only would it create a ton of new jobs to build the thing, it would promote stellar research, nano research and space research, just off the top of my head. And surely … --- ## [Resolved: Climate change is not a reason to cut petroleum consumption.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-climate-change-is-not-a-reason-to-cut-petroleum-consumption/488707)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-climate-change-is-not-a-reason-to-cut-petroleum-consumption/488707 "2009-03-13T00:54:41Z")
Preface: This thread is NOT about the existence of climate change. I, personally, believe it exists and would, for the purpose of this debate, like everyone who participates to assume that climate change is a reality. … --- ## [What if anything would be wrong with understanding the Trinity this way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-be-wrong-with-understanding-the-trinity-this-way/489088)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-would-be-wrong-with-understanding-the-trinity-this-way/489088 "2009-03-12T16:55:16Z")
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate entities. But they all have the same personality. And that personality is to be identified as God. The difference between the three is not in their personality, but in thei… --- ## [New electricity distribution infrastructure or distributed generation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-electricity-distribution-infrastructure-or-distributed-generation/488764)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-electricity-distribution-infrastructure-or-distributed-generation/488764 "2009-03-12T15:31:30Z")
For the sake of this thread let us please make the assumption that we do indeed need to significantly reduce our CO2 emissions and that renewables will be a large part of how that is done. This is not the thread to debat… --- ## [More Proof That Global Warming Is Toast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-that-global-warming-is-toast/468742)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 238\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-proof-that-global-warming-is-toast/468742 "2009-03-12T10:26:32Z")
From here. I think global warming and the whole environmental movement of late has been a fraud: a complete fraud. Let’s get on with business and ditch all these scare tactics about reducing carbon footprints and ot… --- ## [Obama being tested-How Should he Respond?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-being-tested-how-should-he-respond/488947)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2009, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-being-tested-how-should-he-respond/488947 "2009-03-12T09:53:45Z")
The Chinese are harassing a US Navy spy ship. N. Korea wants to launch a satellite (and warns of retaliation if interfered with). the Russians are saying that they will "not haggle’ with the USA. An Iran announces more u… --- ## [2:45 A.M. , December 8, 2009: The Straight Dope Message Board becomes self-aware](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-45-a-m-december-8-2009-the-straight-dope-message-board-becomes-self-aware/338480)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-45-a-m-december-8-2009-the-straight-dope-message-board-becomes-self-aware/338480 "2009-03-12T06:02:54Z")
AFAIK, computer scientists are currently at an impasse in all efforts to design or create “strong” artificial intelligence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong\_AI SF writers, however, have played around with the idea t… --- ## [Stupid question, but are the Bail Outs a gift or a loan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-question-but-are-the-bail-outs-a-gift-or-a-loan/489160)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-question-but-are-the-bail-outs-a-gift-or-a-loan/489160 "2009-03-12T05:07:51Z")
This is for GQ, but I’m putting it in GD. It seems a simple question, but are the bailouts to the corporations to be repaid or are they free money, and if so under what terms are they to be repaid and does the governmen… --- ## [NDE, I had one, has anyone else?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nde-i-had-one-has-anyone-else/485411)
**Author:** [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Replies:** 410\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nde-i-had-one-has-anyone-else/485411 "2009-03-12T02:19:50Z")
I had a NDE in the hopital once when I temporally died. It was the single most out of this universe experience I’ve ever had. No gods, no devils, no white lights. I “saw” the impersonal aspect of life, the universe an… --- ## [If Vietnam were a U.S. state....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-vietnam-were-a-u-s-state/488956)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-vietnam-were-a-u-s-state/488956 "2009-03-11T23:07:46Z")
…as it is in the alternative-history superhero graphic novel Watchmen, and the new movie. Vietnam now has 86.1 million people. It’s the 13th most populous country in the world. It’s almost 2 1/2 times bigger than Cali… --- ## [The Medium Test](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-medium-test/488823)
**Author:** [@Weston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weston)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-medium-test/488823 "2009-03-11T21:38:02Z")
I was watching an eopisode of the shield the other day and the story featured this psychic who had convinced a client to remorgage her house to pay for more sessions. The client believied that the psychic could contact … --- ## [Obama's dream realized: Ex-Gitmo Prisoner Rejoins Taliban?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-dream-realized-ex-gitmo-prisoner-rejoins-taliban/489068)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-dream-realized-ex-gitmo-prisoner-rejoins-taliban/489068 "2009-03-11T21:36:16Z")
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gepueqQ9a2V5zxXES7DoGnVhSFHwD96REJ1G0 I know, it is all that horrible Bush guy’s fault. This poor innocent guy is back home-preparing to kill more people. I feel so bad… --- ## [Secularism gaining ground in the US ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secularism-gaining-ground-in-the-us/488923)
**Author:** [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secularism-gaining-ground-in-the-us/488923 "2009-03-11T20:27:15Z")
I have to say I have seen no sign of this trend as I’ve been following US politics and general public life for the last few decades. Yet the figures seem pretty convincing, although most of the change was between 1990… --- ## [A false choice between sound science and moral values (stem cells, cloning)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-false-choice-between-sound-science-and-moral-values-stem-cells-cloning/488847)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-false-choice-between-sound-science-and-moral-values-stem-cells-cloning/488847 "2009-03-11T17:06:35Z")
President Obama is going to reverse the Bush administration’s block of federal funds being used for stem cell research because the prohibition represented “…a false choice between sound science and moral values…” Howeve… --- ## [Did Obama snub Gordon Brown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-snub-gordon-brown/488866)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-snub-gordon-brown/488866 "2009-03-11T15:39:13Z")
There has been a lot of press regarding Obama’s snub of Gordon Brown. Has anyone been following this? It’s a very unfortunate incident at least in terms of PR in my opinion. Here is Michael Totten on the subject: --- ## [Which was the Better Fighter: BF109 or Spitfire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-the-better-fighter-bf109-or-spitfire/488907)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-was-the-better-fighter-bf109-or-spitfire/488907 "2009-03-11T02:43:19Z")
I ask because (i seems) that the (British) Spitfire was constantly being upgraded-I belive it went through 9 or 10 iterations by the end of the war. The constant improvements made the planes faster and more maneuverable.… --- ## [Why did Stalin believe Hitler?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-stalin-believe-hitler/488692)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-stalin-believe-hitler/488692 "2009-03-11T00:56:20Z")
In August 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact whereby they agreed to be friendly and (secretly) to divide Poland between them. In June 1941, Hitler, having consolidated his hold on his half of Poland, … --- ## [Why are CDOs hard to value?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cdos-hard-to-value/487672)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-cdos-hard-to-value/487672 "2009-03-11T00:53:38Z")
I know that there have been threads done on this, but I couldn’t find them. Anyway, why are CDOs so hard to value or rate? AIUI, they are basically bonds with a face value and a rating. What made them toxic? Again, I… --- ## [Kindle 2: Authors can restrict text to speech](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-2-authors-can-restrict-text-to-speech/487760)
**Author:** [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-2-authors-can-restrict-text-to-speech/487760 "2009-03-10T23:49:42Z")
I am disgusted by this news. If I find out that a particular author has disabled this feature in his or her kindle books, I will not buy his or her books, at least not new copies. Supposedly they don’t want the competiti… --- ## [Rush is running for congress — does he need to give up his radio show?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-running-for-congress-does-he-need-to-give-up-his-radio-show/488569)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-is-running-for-congress-does-he-need-to-give-up-his-radio-show/488569 "2009-03-10T15:32:19Z")
Rush (Limbaugh, not the Canucks) has decided to run for the congressional seat in his district.\[sup\]\*\[/sup\] What happens to his radio career? Assuming something, can he talk and talk and talk about wanting to run, consi… --- ## [Is recycling hogwash?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-recycling-hogwash/487136)
**Author:** [@What\_the\_deuce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the_deuce)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-recycling-hogwash/487136 "2009-03-10T14:43:09Z")
See the recycling episode of “Penn & Teller’s Bullshit” or the relevant cracked.com article. Also, if no one ever recycled, once we ran out of steel or whatever, couldn’t we just send the contents of the landfills throu… --- ## [John Conyers wants to keep science hidden](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-conyers-wants-to-keep-science-hidden/488379)
**Author:** [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-conyers-wants-to-keep-science-hidden/488379 "2009-03-10T11:17:59Z")
A bill by John Conyers is one of the worst pieces of legislation I have seen. It means that taxpayers would have to pay to see the results of the scientific studies they have paid to have done. I read many studies direct… --- ## [Libertarians and the CDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarians-and-the-cdc/488856)
**Author:** [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarians-and-the-cdc/488856 "2009-03-10T07:09:16Z")
I’m talking about the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, of course. It occurred to me that the CDC might prevent a bit of a gray area for libertarians, and I honestly couldn’t figure out where it might stand in … --- ## [Simon and Dositheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-and-dositheus/488417)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-and-dositheus/488417 "2009-03-10T06:53:55Z")
A basic idea of historical reconstruction is that if you figure that idea is a twig upon a branch upon a stump, then you can tell what the branch is like by finding the items of similarity shared by it’s twigs; then you … --- ## [Obama is choosing his enemies (Obama v. Limbaugh.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-is-choosing-his-enemies-obama-v-limbaugh/488235)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-is-choosing-his-enemies-obama-v-limbaugh/488235 "2009-03-10T05:51:13Z")
Obama’s political skills just continue to impress. The GOP under Bush has done this for years. They not only chose their side of the argument, but also who they were arguing against. Like an episode of Hannity and Colme… --- ## [So, is Rush the leader of the GOP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-rush-the-leader-of-the-gop/488157)
**Author:** [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2009, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-is-rush-the-leader-of-the-gop/488157 "2009-03-10T04:39:00Z")
Certainly nobody else in the Republican Party seems to command as much power as he does today. Hell, anyone who dares criticize him is forced to come groveling for forgiveness. Michael Steele is little more than a figur… --- ## [Your take on Obama releasing secret Bush administration memos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-take-on-obama-releasing-secret-bush-administration-memos/488226)
**Author:** [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-take-on-obama-releasing-secret-bush-administration-memos/488226 "2009-03-09T22:33:03Z")
I searched “Obama” and it doesn’t seem this has been posted yet. That surprises me. My bro e-mailed this to me and a couple other sibs. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-documentsmar03,0,6427490.story … --- ## [Would it have been better to bail out the homeowners rather than the banks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-better-to-bail-out-the-homeowners-rather-than-the-banks/488568)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-have-been-better-to-bail-out-the-homeowners-rather-than-the-banks/488568 "2009-03-09T17:34:25Z")
As I understand it, a large part of the reason the housing bubble popped was when too many people could no longer make their mortgage payments when their fixed-interest terms ended. This then cascaded. Now, a good debt … --- ## [The Lies of Sam Harris](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lies-of-sam-harris/487748)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lies-of-sam-harris/487748 "2009-03-09T17:29:41Z")
Another Doper has asked me for a thread exposing the malicious lies that Sam Harris tells about Christians. Well, seek and ye shall find. Unfortunately the lies that Mr. Harris tells are too numerous to list and debunk… --- ## [I saw a real UFO!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-real-ufo/488708)
**Author:** [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-a-real-ufo/488708 "2009-03-09T17:13:25Z")
If a couple of your really good friends you knew to be honest people claimed they had seen a for-real UFO on a camping trip what possible explanations would you offer to them as to help better explain what they saw? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=549) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=551)