# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=553 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 554 --- ## [Dutch MP denied entry to UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-mp-denied-entry-to-uk/485314)
**Author:** [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dutch-mp-denied-entry-to-uk/485314 "2009-02-27T14:38:54Z")
Dutch MP Geert Wilders has made no secret of his belief that Islam is incompatible with western society, and has advocated strong measures to counter what he sees as the dangerous spread of Islam, going so far as to like… --- ## [Nadya Suleman and Her Octuplets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nadya-suleman-and-her-octuplets/486022)
**Author:** [@claregirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/claregirl)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nadya-suleman-and-her-octuplets/486022 "2009-02-27T06:26:03Z")
God love her for wanting children to take care of. She said she wanted lots of kids to make up for her lonely childhood as an only child; but she has no job, three of her first six kids are on public assistance (one is … --- ## [Obama's Home Rescue Plan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-home-rescue-plan/486469)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-home-rescue-plan/486469 "2009-02-27T05:15:22Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090218/ap\_on\_go\_pr\_wh/obama\_home\_foreclosures It seems like Bush’s plan, only it costs more. It still doesn’t change the fact that these banks don’t own the notes; they have already sold th… --- ## [What would be the ramifications of knowledge of a superluminal event?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-ramifications-of-knowledge-of-a-superluminal-event/487352)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-ramifications-of-knowledge-of-a-superluminal-event/487352 "2009-02-26T22:05:05Z")
Suppose we suddenly had proof of a super-luminal event - something going faster than the speed of light. I’ll leave the details of the event deliberately obscure but assume that we have absolute proof. What would be the… --- ## [If there was no religion how would have humans evolved ??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-was-no-religion-how-would-have-humans-evolved/486932)
**Author:** [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-was-no-religion-how-would-have-humans-evolved/486932 "2009-02-26T18:48:31Z")
Religion = concept of God /supreme being for this thread . There would be no religious wars ! But what else ?? Better or worse or Same ?? --- ## [I Am Second.com = Creationist Agenda](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-second-com-creationist-agenda/487149)
**Author:** [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2009, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-second-com-creationist-agenda/487149 "2009-02-26T06:13:21Z")
Okay, Dopers, I am totally peeved. I’m sure most of you know by now I’m not a believer in anything supernatural. That said, a facebook friend posted she joined I Am Second. At first this site doesn’t look bad at all. … --- ## [Illinois wants Gun ID with $1 M of Insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-wants-gun-id-with-1-m-of-insurance/487012)
**Author:** [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illinois-wants-gun-id-with-1-m-of-insurance/487012 "2009-02-26T04:27:30Z")
What are the odds of this legislation passing, and if passed, making it through the Supreme Court. What does Oppose - Referred to rules committee mean? For debate, is the intention of this law to eliminate guns? It lo… --- ## [Is the expansion of executive power with each new President inevitable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-expansion-of-executive-power-with-each-new-president-inevitable/487408)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-expansion-of-executive-power-with-each-new-president-inevitable/487408 "2009-02-25T22:27:21Z")
And if so, what does this mean for the Constitution? This is prompted by the remarks of Senator Robert Byrd. (Note that we’re not talking about a Republican looking for an opportunity to slam Obama here, this guy is a … --- ## [Israel - Democracy or Theocracy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-democracy-or-theocracy/486937)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-democracy-or-theocracy/486937 "2009-02-25T19:47:48Z")
As a country that is always used as a beacon of democracy in the M.E., I started thinking about what that meant in lieu of the recent elections. Certainly, there would be no one elected to be PM that wasn’t Jewish. The… --- ## [Boomers are gonna start dropping like flies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670)
**Author:** [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2009, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boomers-are-gonna-start-dropping-like-flies/486670 "2009-02-25T06:58:50Z")
There has been some consternation that as the baby boom now starts to retire we are going to have some serious problems with social security and Medicare. My mother-in-law’s cousin just dropped from a heart attack. She… --- ## [Why are so many Christians vehemently opposed to Science?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-christians-vehemently-opposed-to-science/486344)
**Author:** [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-christians-vehemently-opposed-to-science/486344 "2009-02-25T05:12:30Z")
I live in Alabama and I noticed that I’m able to talk about almost every major school subject with ease and comfort. History, English, Math–no problem whatsoever. But when I start to touch the surface of Science, people … --- ## [The "Bush was a bad President" argument and supporting it rhetorically in bars & pubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-was-a-bad-president-argument-and-supporting-it-rhetorically-in-bars-pubs/486834)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-was-a-bad-president-argument-and-supporting-it-rhetorically-in-bars-pubs/486834 "2009-02-25T05:04:36Z")
This evening I, and a group of friends, after some bar hopping ended up the evening at a local pub, and over nachos and after several beers one of them started quizzing people at the table on who they voted for. I demurr… --- ## [Tax cut for investments...Can this really stimulate our economy now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-cut-for-investments-can-this-really-stimulate-our-economy-now/487317)
**Author:** [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-cut-for-investments-can-this-really-stimulate-our-economy-now/487317 "2009-02-25T04:14:15Z")
Tonight in the Republican response to Obama’s speech, I heard again a mantra that I also heard from the new Republican National Committee Chairman that we need to give tax breaks to encourage investment and that this wou… --- ## [Gay Fetus Intervention](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-fetus-intervention/486886)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-fetus-intervention/486886 "2009-02-25T02:58:20Z")
This current thread discusses aborting a gay fetus based on the assumption the cause is genetic. I’m more inclined to belive the cause is the hormonal environment of the womb. Assuming that is the case, I can see a fut… --- ## [Republicans and Obama's Economic Stimulus Plan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-obamas-economic-stimulus-plan/487063)
**Author:** [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-and-obamas-economic-stimulus-plan/487063 "2009-02-24T22:15:57Z")
Mods, forgive me if this thread has already been done. The newsmedia have reported several times over that Congressional Republicans are extremely critical of Obama’s Economic Stimulus Plan as overspending. (I can prov… --- ## [How trustworthy should I consider the Congressional Budget Office re: the economy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-trustworthy-should-i-consider-the-congressional-budget-office-re-the-economy/487177)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-trustworthy-should-i-consider-the-congressional-budget-office-re-the-economy/487177 "2009-02-24T21:36:35Z")
I just read someone use this link and this link in opposing the stimulus. Both pull info/predictions from the Congressional Budget Office. Both say (at least as presented by the previously mentioned “someone”) that the… --- ## [Is Obama's Approval Rating Going to Plunge into the Toilet at Record Speed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obamas-approval-rating-going-to-plunge-into-the-toilet-at-record-speed/485652)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 202\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obamas-approval-rating-going-to-plunge-into-the-toilet-at-record-speed/485652 "2009-02-24T13:18:19Z")
As a disclaimer, I am a sort of moderate Republican/libertarian who didn’t want McCain to win because he is too old and I am getting tired of the existing GOP, especially Bush II. However, Obama and his administration se… --- ## [Evolutionary Cognitive Neuroscience: The Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolutionary-cognitive-neuroscience-the-revenge/486635)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2009, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolutionary-cognitive-neuroscience-the-revenge/486635 "2009-02-24T10:49:34Z")
This is in response to alterego, who wanted a thread solely on the topic. He began with an argument about the evolutionary basis for religion. I answered that there was no evidence for his theory and ample evidence aga… --- ## ["Failure to save East Europe will lead to worldwide meltdown"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/failure-to-save-east-europe-will-lead-to-worldwide-meltdown/486517)
**Author:** [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/failure-to-save-east-europe-will-lead-to-worldwide-meltdown/486517 "2009-02-24T06:44:04Z")
I hate to be one of those people that posts something and then doesn’t give their opinion, but I really don’t know enough about economics or Europe to give an intelligent opinion on this so I am posing this to those that… --- ## [Perspective on Obama admin actions re: Bush WH e-mail case?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perspective-on-obama-admin-actions-re-bush-wh-e-mail-case/487169)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perspective-on-obama-admin-actions-re-bush-wh-e-mail-case/487169 "2009-02-24T05:20:32Z")
According to this article, the new Obama Justice Department is also fighting a lawsuit to recover Bush era White House e-mails. There may very well be some good legal reason for this, or precedent to prevent, but right … --- ## [Commerce: Third time the charm? Is this one a Locke?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commerce-third-time-the-charm-is-this-one-a-locke/487144)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commerce-third-time-the-charm-is-this-one-a-locke/487144 "2009-02-24T02:53:52Z")
Former Washington Gov. Locke seems to be getting the nod this time. From what I can gather (radio report) big on energy policy and business with China. Good choice? Will he make it through? --- ## [Is the language becoming debased?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-language-becoming-debased/486203)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-language-becoming-debased/486203 "2009-02-23T23:57:00Z")
\[Long intro\]I realize that language changes, and I’m not an old fuddy-duddy insisting on the use of “whom.” I’ve long resigned myself to “data” being used with a singular verb. But, it seems to me (pretty obvious) that t… --- ## [Why do cities often have hellhole ghetto inner cores? Any solution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cities-often-have-hellhole-ghetto-inner-cores-any-solution/486813)
**Author:** [@What\_the\_deuce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the_deuce)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cities-often-have-hellhole-ghetto-inner-cores-any-solution/486813 "2009-02-23T21:06:26Z")
Why would people live in such a place? My guess is that they can’t afford to live anywhere else. Is there any possible solution to this problem? --- ## [George Will and the 1970s-Style Global Cooling 'Scare'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-will-and-the-1970s-style-global-cooling-scare/485944)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-will-and-the-1970s-style-global-cooling-scare/485944 "2009-02-23T18:17:08Z")
George Will has an obsession with the global-cooling ‘scare’ of the 1970s. He’s written about it in columns today, last year, in 2006, in 2004, 1997, and whaddaya know, all the way back in 1992. Shorter George Will, ac… --- ## [Is a synagogue the church for me?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-synagogue-the-church-for-me/485814)
**Author:** [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-synagogue-the-church-for-me/485814 "2009-02-23T16:39:29Z")
I grew up in a liberal, middle-class Reform Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation in Portland, OR. I moved to London in 2006, and since then I’ve been looking for a church/congregation with the same laid-back, friendly,… --- ## [Why Does the West Bank Need to be Ethnically Cleansed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-west-bank-need-to-be-ethnically-cleansed/484421)
**Author:** [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Replies:** 254\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-west-bank-need-to-be-ethnically-cleansed/484421 "2009-02-23T15:59:43Z")
My impression is that some of the peace proposals involving Israel entail removing some or all of the Jewish settlements on the West Bank. Isn’t this ethnic cleansing? And haven’t we been told that ethnic cleansing is … --- ## [Evolution and religion - theories that explain eachother?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-and-religion-theories-that-explain-eachother/486382)
**Author:** [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-and-religion-theories-that-explain-eachother/486382 "2009-02-23T12:48:54Z")
Nearly every religious person I’ve spoken to believes that religion and evolution are compatible. However, I believe that this is because they do not fully understand the theory of evolution by natural selection. The Chr… --- ## [Were Republicans consulted on the Stimulus Bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-republicans-consulted-on-the-stimulus-bill/486700)
**Author:** [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-republicans-consulted-on-the-stimulus-bill/486700 "2009-02-23T10:29:09Z")
I’ve read several threads that touched on this issue, but all devolved into sarcasm and shouting matches. I do believe there should be cooperation on major policy initiatives, and I’d really like to know how this bill wa… --- ## [Why did Detroit decline relative to Chicago and Toronto?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-detroit-decline-relative-to-chicago-and-toronto/485893)
**Author:** [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-detroit-decline-relative-to-chicago-and-toronto/485893 "2009-02-23T04:50:15Z")
This question was inspired by an article by Richard Florida (the “creative class” guy) in the March '09 issue of The Atlantic magazine. The article is about possible changes to the US resulting from the economic crisis. … --- ## [Will the ACLU Fight the "Fairness Doctrine"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-aclu-fight-the-fairness-doctrine/486649)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-aclu-fight-the-fairness-doctrine/486649 "2009-02-22T20:45:23Z")
Apparently, the GOV. is looking into forcing AM radio talk shows into presenting opposing (read “left wing”) points of view. I figure this is because AirAmerica flopped badly. Anyway, would the ACLU defend against this … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=552) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=554)