# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=555 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 556 --- ## [Do GM and Chrysler have any hope of surviving?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gm-and-chrysler-have-any-hope-of-surviving/477924)
**Author:** [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gm-and-chrysler-have-any-hope-of-surviving/477924 "2009-02-17T21:56:24Z")
According to this CBC article Chrysler and GM have been saved by a 17 billion dollar injection of taxpayer money. My question is does this do anything other than delay the inevitable? My understanding of the financial c… --- ## [What the GOP considers "wasteful." (Stimulus)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gop-considers-wasteful-stimulus/484264)
**Author:** [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Replies:** 141\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-gop-considers-wasteful-stimulus/484264 "2009-02-17T20:50:43Z")
Link. You know, I can see their point about some of these. Tax breaks for Hollywood to buy film? But they are also objecting to fire control on Forest Service lands, flood reduction projects along the Mississippi, and r… --- ## [Jesse Jackson has a good idea. Yeah, yeah... he's due.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-jackson-has-a-good-idea-yeah-yeah-hes-due/486001)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesse-jackson-has-a-good-idea-yeah-yeah-hes-due/486001 "2009-02-17T20:20:40Z")
I read a commentary today in USA Today by Jesse Jackson. Not only was it reasonable, I can’t think of any downside, maybe you can. Essentially he says the government should give out student loans and charge 1% interest… --- ## [\[retitled\] Presidential determination re Palestine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retitled-presidential-determination-re-palestine/486107)
**Author:** [@butwhat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butwhat)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retitled-presidential-determination-re-palestine/486107 "2009-02-17T16:59:32Z")
There is a link to a copy of the order at this link --- ## [Gardasil side affects and future programs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardasil-side-affects-and-future-programs/484770)
**Author:** [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gardasil-side-affects-and-future-programs/484770 "2009-02-17T05:56:24Z")
This is a revisit of an earlier debate on Guardasil. On CBS tonighttheir latest health issue is the high rate of problems with Guardasil (per the National Vaccine Information Center). The earlier debate was about the … --- ## [The Republican Party will come back; the conservative movement will not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-will-come-back-the-conservative-movement-will-not/485415)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-will-come-back-the-conservative-movement-will-not/485415 "2009-02-16T21:11:44Z")
I suggest what the recent election shows is not merely voter disgust with the past 8 years, but that America has passed a tipping point: The right wing now is looking at a landscape where it will be doomed to very slow … --- ## [What, if anything, should the United States do about Mexico?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-should-the-united-states-do-about-mexico/485496)
**Author:** [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-should-the-united-states-do-about-mexico/485496 "2009-02-16T19:29:36Z")
You’ll have to forgive me in advance for any mistakes I make in my OP WRT the forum rules…I don’t start many threads (much less in GD). Last year more than 5,000 people were killed in drug related violence. I know it’s… --- ## [Don't blame the players for steroid abuse in MLB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-blame-the-players-for-steroid-abuse-in-mlb/485236)
**Author:** [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-blame-the-players-for-steroid-abuse-in-mlb/485236 "2009-02-16T16:26:52Z")
Professional atheletes are hyper competitive and driven to perform. If they are succesfull they are given millions of dollars and the idolization of fans. When they stop performing they are booed by the fans and dropped … --- ## [Charlie, a Gallup poll and... Republican conspiracy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-a-gallup-poll-and-republican-conspiracy/485594)
**Author:** [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2009, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-a-gallup-poll-and-republican-conspiracy/485594 "2009-02-16T09:21:26Z")
Dopers, my first OP. (eeep!) I do not believe in conspiracy theory. I find it harder to believe a government could EVER pull off a conspiracy… too many cooks.(!) But here we are, on CD’s 200th birthday. In America, ou… --- ## [racisms presence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racisms-presence/484217)
**Author:** [@Thesmartestidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thesmartestidiot)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racisms-presence/484217 "2009-02-16T04:19:26Z")
Alright I’m just coming from experience of ignorant high schoolers, and the sight of news stories about racist acts. My thought is why is there still racism? Has the world not seen enough of hatred, war and blood yet? My… --- ## [These are the best of times](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-are-the-best-of-times/485623)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/these-are-the-best-of-times/485623 "2009-02-16T03:28:05Z")
Life has never been easier or better. More than 93% of us have jobs. Gas is under two bucks. They are practically giving away new cars with 0% financing. House prices are half of what they were a few years ago and a… --- ## [What's wrong with the stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-stimulus/485466)
**Author:** [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-stimulus/485466 "2009-02-15T17:02:59Z")
Okay, so I keep getting sucked into debating the stimulus in other threads, and I have not seen any straight-up yes-or-no threads on the subject. Here is what I see as the problems with the administration’s proposals. T… --- ## [Court Ruling: Innoculations NOT a cause of Autism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-ruling-innoculations-not-a-cause-of-autism/485562)
**Author:** [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-ruling-innoculations-not-a-cause-of-autism/485562 "2009-02-15T14:28:34Z")
See MSNBC brief here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29160138/ I am not a doctor and have no dog in this hunt, but could not avoid hearing about the controversy over the past decade or so. I had heard pretty consistently… --- ## [How much did Obama break out of traditional voting blocs in the last election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-did-obama-break-out-of-traditional-voting-blocs-in-the-last-election/484869)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2009, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-did-obama-break-out-of-traditional-voting-blocs-in-the-last-election/484869 "2009-02-15T10:46:01Z")
\[Could this be a GQ? Hrm.\] I saw mention of an article by someone at the National Review stating that with the stimulus package, Obama is taking a huge blow. The argument is something along the lines of “the magic is … --- ## [Are all conspiracy theories debunkable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-conspiracy-theories-debunkable/485280)
**Author:** [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-conspiracy-theories-debunkable/485280 "2009-02-15T07:09:01Z")
From a skeptic’s view, have all conspiracies been debunked? I’m talking about things like: JFK/floride/NWO/Superhighway/HIV/Roswell/moon landing/Philadelphia Experiment/MKULTRA/Radioactive pink snow in Minnesota causin… --- ## [A VERY Premature Question About Pres. Obama...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-premature-question-about-pres-obama/485441)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-premature-question-about-pres-obama/485441 "2009-02-15T05:19:16Z")
President Barack Obama hasn’t even been in office a full month. So you will understand why I call this a very premature question: What are Pres. Obama’s chances of being reelected in 2012? If you think it rests on certai… --- ## [Stimulating the economy - a few dollars at a time](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulating-the-economy-a-few-dollars-at-a-time/485521)
**Author:** [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stimulating-the-economy-a-few-dollars-at-a-time/485521 "2009-02-14T16:25:58Z")
Not sure this is GD-worthy, but wasn’t sure where else to put it. Please move if it belongs elsewhere. This is based on a true-life situation… The other day my parents informed all their “kids” (we are all late 30s/ea… --- ## [The octuplet woman, crazy, selfish or normal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-octuplet-woman-crazy-selfish-or-normal/485204)
**Author:** [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-octuplet-woman-crazy-selfish-or-normal/485204 "2009-02-14T05:29:27Z")
I haven’t seen any threads about it, but I may have overlooked them. I’ve only followed the story lightly, catching bits of it on the news at a time, but this woman, Nadya Suleman, that just had octuplets…she already ha… --- ## [U.S. judges admit to jailing children for money](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-judges-admit-to-jailing-children-for-money/485644)
**Author:** [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-judges-admit-to-jailing-children-for-money/485644 "2009-02-14T05:09:34Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090213/od\_uk\_nm/oukoe\_uk\_crime\_usa\_judges Is this an isolated incident or are there more of these type of situations currently in existance? --- ## [Another "I don’t care anymore, tase me, bro!" police taser debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-i-don-t-care-anymore-tase-me-bro-police-taser-debate/485372)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-i-don-t-care-anymore-tase-me-bro-police-taser-debate/485372 "2009-02-14T02:03:55Z")
This Youtube video depicts an incident which spawned an excessive use of force lawsuit against the deputy involved. I don’t think the force was so excessive as to be unconstitutional. While it’s true the man isn’t fight… --- ## [Ticketting someone for not locking their car doors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketting-someone-for-not-locking-their-car-doors/485079)
**Author:** [@scule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scule)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticketting-someone-for-not-locking-their-car-doors/485079 "2009-02-13T21:34:52Z")
There was a story on CBC Radio this morning about a woman in Gatineau who got a ticket from a municipal by-law officer for not locking her car doors. For those not in the know, the CBC is Canada’s semi-public national b… --- ## [CEO and Other Top Executive Salaries/Bonuses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceo-and-other-top-executive-salaries-bonuses/485414)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceo-and-other-top-executive-salaries-bonuses/485414 "2009-02-13T18:19:04Z")
I can understand superior athlete compensation. They get millions annually because they generate that much more for their employer from the market. And they are few. But there must me hundreds of thousands of MBAs and p… --- ## [How do you think the "average voter" sees the events of the Obama admin. so far?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-think-the-average-voter-sees-the-events-of-the-obama-admin-so-far/485638)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-think-the-average-voter-sees-the-events-of-the-obama-admin-so-far/485638 "2009-02-13T17:33:49Z")
Politically, I mean. Because I know what partisans say: “Republicans are just trying to screw Obama and the country over because they can’t stand someone pointing out the mess they made over the last eight years.” “Oba… --- ## [Why aren't pro-lifers killing abortionists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-pro-lifers-killing-abortionists/485045)
**Author:** [@Weston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weston)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-pro-lifers-killing-abortionists/485045 "2009-02-13T16:58:39Z")
If you’re a pro-lifer and you believe that human beings are created at conception, you must conclude that abortion is murder. If you believe this you must also accept that there is a veritable holocaust of unborn childr… --- ## [Is there any real distinction between the National Guard and the Army Reserve?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-distinction-between-the-national-guard-and-the-army-reserve/485640)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-distinction-between-the-national-guard-and-the-army-reserve/485640 "2009-02-13T15:52:17Z")
Title pretty much says it all. Wikipedia’s article National Guard (United States) - Wikipedia details the ever increasing federalization of the Guard. What does signing up for the Guard do that signing up with the Army R… --- ## [What are "Saved Christians" saved from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-saved-christians-saved-from/485120)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-saved-christians-saved-from/485120 "2009-02-13T12:52:43Z")
I was chatting with a co-worker who kept telling me how she was saved and if I wasn’t saved, I was sure to go to hell. So, I asked her what saved means, and don’t you know that I never could get an answer… her answer was… --- ## [What are the adverse effects of not having sex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-adverse-effects-of-not-having-sex/485275)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-adverse-effects-of-not-having-sex/485275 "2009-02-13T08:10:55Z")
This is something that’s puzzled me for quite a while. Recently a doper asserted that sex “cannot be abstained from without adverse effects”. There’s no need to single out that particular statement, since similar claim… --- ## [What would count as artificial intelligence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-count-as-artificial-intelligence/485319)
**Author:** [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-count-as-artificial-intelligence/485319 "2009-02-13T06:33:50Z")
The AI debate always leaves me dissatisfied. The dissatisfaction bgin with the unfortunately popular Chinese Room thought experiment. (Searle’s “brains cause minds” followup embarasses me for the species as a whole.) Ne… --- ## [Guns: What's the big deal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-whats-the-big-deal/485145)
**Author:** [@santosvega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/santosvega)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-whats-the-big-deal/485145 "2009-02-13T03:02:38Z")
So I’m writing as one who’s lurked these fair boards here and there for many years now, and have recently started doing so again. There have been a few gun-related threads in recent days, and I must say I’d not have tho… --- ## [Hilarious PSA spoof from Rep. Eric Cantor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hilarious-psa-spoof-from-rep-eric-cantor/485448)
**Author:** [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hilarious-psa-spoof-from-rep-eric-cantor/485448 "2009-02-13T02:38:01Z")
I put this in Great Debates because that’s where my Crystal Ball told me it would eventually end up (though I argued passionately with it that MPSIMS was the more appropriate spot for the thread, it won the argument \[aga… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=554) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=556)