# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=558 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 559 --- ## [What would you tell Thain et al? (banking bailout)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-thain-et-al-banking-bailout/484560)
**Author:** [@MichaelJohnBertrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelJohnBertrand)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-tell-thain-et-al-banking-bailout/484560 "2009-02-06T02:34:26Z")
Say you could go back in time and try to convince all the people who failed the entire world so badly not to do it. What would you tell them? Why shouldn’t they do it? Or even the ones in charge right exactly now. Wh… --- ## [Insight into the world of John Thain and his $35,000 commode](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insight-into-the-world-of-john-thain-and-his-35-000-commode/483603)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2009, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insight-into-the-world-of-john-thain-and-his-35-000-commode/483603 "2009-02-06T01:52:53Z")
I haven’t seen any discussion of John Thain on the boards, but he’s the latest Wall Street executive whose bizarre spending is being subject to public scrutiny. About a year ago, Thain, who was the Merrill Lynch chief w… --- ## [What Makes a Man Say It's the \_\_\_\_ or Me and Why Do Women Stay WIth Them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-man-say-its-the-____-or-me-and-why-do-women-stay-with-them/484238)
**Author:** [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-man-say-its-the-____-or-me-and-why-do-women-stay-with-them/484238 "2009-02-06T00:51:49Z")
Rather than hijack this thread about a woman who killed her child, I wanted to ask a separate question. You see, she killed her 12 year old daughter because her boyfriend said it was the child or him. This is an extre… --- ## [Ehud Barak proposes tunnel linking WB and Gaza](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ehud-barak-proposes-tunnel-linking-wb-and-gaza/484271)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ehud-barak-proposes-tunnel-linking-wb-and-gaza/484271 "2009-02-05T23:01:36Z")
Story here. :confused: WTF?! Why a tunnel? The Palestinians are not plague carriers. Why not just a road, and a treaty guaranteeing Palestinians free passage across it? --- ## [Obama admits he "screwed up" with his nominees.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-admits-he-screwed-up-with-his-nominees/484361)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-admits-he-screwed-up-with-his-nominees/484361 "2009-02-05T22:12:03Z")
I noticed President Obama already admitting he screwed up, a couple weeks into his administration. He admited that the problems with his nominees not paying their taxes was an embaressment, and he took full responsibilit… --- ## [Conservatives, please: How has Keynesian economics been debunked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatives-please-how-has-keynesian-economics-been-debunked/484277)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatives-please-how-has-keynesian-economics-been-debunked/484277 "2009-02-05T17:12:22Z")
The Republican Party line is that Obama is trying to institute a New Deal policy on America, when Roosevelt did it in '33 after 8 years it failed to get us out of the Great Depression (many Democrats would disagree but l… --- ## [Post-Soviet rapid reaction force - neo-colonialism all over again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-soviet-rapid-reaction-force-neo-colonialism-all-over-again/484525)
**Author:** [@Camus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2009, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-soviet-rapid-reaction-force-neo-colonialism-all-over-again/484525 "2009-02-05T08:17:31Z")
A joint military force, consisting of units from member nations, but operating under a single command and based in Russia? Is such a force all but giving Russia the power to overtly (as opposed to behind the scenes) co… --- ## [you should be able to buy votes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-should-be-able-to-buy-votes/484351)
**Author:** [@MichaelJohnBertrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelJohnBertrand)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-should-be-able-to-buy-votes/484351 "2009-02-05T05:59:00Z")
Here’s a wacky idea for you hearty Teemers to ponder. I propose that we sell votes in our democracy. Anyone with enough money can buy all the votes they want. Price starts at ten million dollars each. … --- ## [Devil's advocate: saving America from socialized medicine.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/devils-advocate-saving-america-from-socialized-medicine/483032)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 289\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/devils-advocate-saving-america-from-socialized-medicine/483032 "2009-02-05T04:51:37Z")
OK, I’ll try this from the other side. I’m going to try to argue why the USA should not have single-payer socialized medicine. I’ll number my attempts (with any reasons they seem undercut in sea green). It’s a bit odd, I… --- ## [A single event made most of the world's petrolium supply. What if it never happened?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-event-made-most-of-the-worlds-petrolium-supply-what-if-it-never-happened/483728)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-event-made-most-of-the-worlds-petrolium-supply-what-if-it-never-happened/483728 "2009-02-04T21:42:14Z")
In perusing this article, I got to thinkin’. The rise of industry seemed to be tied to the steam engine. That means coal. Petrolium and other fossil fuels have moved humankind along quite rapidly in the last 150-200 yea… --- ## [NRA Members, Would You Want Ted Nugent as President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-members-would-you-want-ted-nugent-as-president/483918)
**Author:** [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nra-members-would-you-want-ted-nugent-as-president/483918 "2009-02-04T20:57:55Z")
He’s talking about making a run. Would he be a useful spokesman for the gun lobby or would he be a detriment? Personally, I think the NRA is only slightly on the good side of wacky, and having a loudmouth who has a t… --- ## [Why did the USA/Israel insisted on the Hamas taking part in Palestine's elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-usa-israel-insisted-on-the-hamas-taking-part-in-palestines-elections/481229)
**Author:** [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-usa-israel-insisted-on-the-hamas-taking-part-in-palestines-elections/481229 "2009-02-04T20:29:35Z")
That’s more a question, but given the topic, I open this thread in GD. The other day, I was following a debate on TV about the situation in Gaza. Several of the debaters made the point that the USA/Israel insisted on th… --- ## [What do we do about the economic perception problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-do-about-the-economic-perception-problem/484462)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-we-do-about-the-economic-perception-problem/484462 "2009-02-04T20:11:41Z")
No matter what the problems the economy has, and they’re numerous and serious, peoples’ perception of such is a separate (?) serious problem. We’ve known this from the start; after all, that’s why the banks and companie… --- ## [Why is the fight against ignorance taking so long?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-fight-against-ignorance-taking-so-long/484208)
**Author:** [@achilles\_bogart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/achilles_bogart)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-fight-against-ignorance-taking-so-long/484208 "2009-02-04T19:09:01Z")
I think its because many people are in love with the sound of their own voice to the point that they cease to listen to other voices. --- ## [Water, the key to Infrastructure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-the-key-to-infrastructure/484203)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-the-key-to-infrastructure/484203 "2009-02-04T17:03:40Z")
OK, the UUS needs a lot of stuff. Oddly universal high-speed internet access is not even near the top. After all, there is at least a mechanism for the private sector to provide the service. Compare that to our water in… --- ## [Why wasn't Blago permitted to call the witnesses he named?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-blago-permitted-to-call-the-witnesses-he-named/483630)
**Author:** [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-blago-permitted-to-call-the-witnesses-he-named/483630 "2009-02-04T05:23:52Z")
He says he’s being railroaded as a result. Also, In his address to the IL Senate, he claims he did nothing that other politicians do, implying, I think, that Illinois Senators are no exception. So. As the Governor of … --- ## [Octuplet Mom: How ethical are fertility treatments for someone with 6 kids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octuplet-mom-how-ethical-are-fertility-treatments-for-someone-with-6-kids/483764)
**Author:** [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/octuplet-mom-how-ethical-are-fertility-treatments-for-someone-with-6-kids/483764 "2009-02-04T01:18:47Z")
The news has been abuzz with the news of the newly born octuplets to the point where I’m sure no one here has missed it. Just yesterday, the new mother’s mother said to the press that her daughter already has 6 kids at h… --- ## [Has there ever been a society in which darker skin = higher status?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-society-in-which-darker-skin-higher-status/482466)
**Author:** [@Webner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Webner)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-society-in-which-darker-skin-higher-status/482466 "2009-02-04T01:07:22Z")
The title of the thread pretty much sums it up. I’m taking a class about Modern India right now and once again the society I’m learning about has a bias against darker skin. Has there ever, in all of human history, been … --- ## [What could make a mother murder her child?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-make-a-mother-murder-her-child/484021)
**Author:** [@longPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longPath)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-make-a-mother-murder-her-child/484021 "2009-02-03T22:29:20Z")
After some thought, I decided not to post this in the pit. I can’t help but think there is some kind of problem beyond the obvious. This one is very close to home. The case of Karrisa Boudreau. What troubles me is th… --- ## [What is the rationale behind an "economic stimulus"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-rationale-behind-an-economic-stimulus/483080)
**Author:** [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-rationale-behind-an-economic-stimulus/483080 "2009-02-03T18:27:23Z")
I don’t know if this belongs in GQ or GD, but here it is. What is the economic rationale behind all these “economic stimulus” efforts? There was that check that the government sent out a while back, and all these recent… --- ## [How can we have faith?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-we-have-faith/483891)
**Author:** [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-we-have-faith/483891 "2009-02-03T17:10:09Z")
If this interview is indicative of the “brains” that are running our country, how can we have any faith in their ability to forge an economic stimulus or bailout package that will do anything but doom us. --- ## [The Origin of Man (embracing Woman, of course) \[Did Adam and Eve have navels?\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-man-embracing-woman-of-course-did-adam-and-eve-have-navels/483916)
**Author:** [@haywiremac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haywiremac)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-man-embracing-woman-of-course-did-adam-and-eve-have-navels/483916 "2009-02-03T16:21:38Z")
This question in not original to me by any means. I read it when reviewing the interviews with Martin Gardner of Scientific American’s Recreational Math Dept. on the Cambridge University blog. A blazing genius in his own… --- ## [BELIEVERS: why does God act so circuitously in freeing the Hebrews from Egypt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-does-god-act-so-circuitously-in-freeing-the-hebrews-from-egypt/483289)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-does-god-act-so-circuitously-in-freeing-the-hebrews-from-egypt/483289 "2009-02-03T14:13:56Z")
I’m placing this in Great Debates because of the religious nature of the question, but otherwise I don’t think it truly belongs here. I don’t have a thesis to defend, as I personally don’t believe that the Exodus story… --- ## [Are the Democrats going to get a super majority?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-democrats-going-to-get-a-super-majority/483900)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-democrats-going-to-get-a-super-majority/483900 "2009-02-03T05:27:15Z")
Jake Tapper is reportingthat Senator Judd Gregg could be appointed to Commerce Secretary on Monday. A few days ago all the Republicans were basically saying that there was no way Gregg would take the job. Now it looks… --- ## [Which party "protects" the country better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-party-protects-the-country-better/483576)
**Author:** [@petew83](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/petew83)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-party-protects-the-country-better/483576 "2009-02-03T05:24:40Z")
My father’s favorite pro-Republican talking point is that the Republican party “protects” the country better than Democrats. I’m interested in some different perspectives on this pretty vague assertion. I have a few id… --- ## [How much blame do the citizens of Gaza deserve?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-blame-do-the-citizens-of-gaza-deserve/483192)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 179\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-blame-do-the-citizens-of-gaza-deserve/483192 "2009-02-02T23:11:05Z")
I just came away from a heated discussion about the current Israeli attack on Gaza and I need some perspective. From what I understand, the rockets from Hamas haven’t killed all that many people. The Israeli strike on G… --- ## [Is it troubling that Blagojevich was permanently banned from political office?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-troubling-that-blagojevich-was-permanently-banned-from-political-office/483792)
**Author:** [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-troubling-that-blagojevich-was-permanently-banned-from-political-office/483792 "2009-02-02T21:25:11Z")
Along with removing him from office, the state Senate voted to ban Blagojevich from ever again holding political office in Illinois. Setting aside any consideration of the main impeachment verdict (removal from his curr… --- ## [Gun owners...how bad is it, how bad could it be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-owners-how-bad-is-it-how-bad-could-it-be/483942)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 141\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-owners-how-bad-is-it-how-bad-could-it-be/483942 "2009-02-02T04:51:04Z")
Composing this at the airport on an iPod so go gently on me for syntax and spelling screwups. Ok, here is the OP. In my office right now there are several of my cow-orkers who are in a low level state of panic right no… --- ## [Orphans of the sky: Does Human nature prevent multi-generational interstellar travel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orphans-of-the-sky-does-human-nature-prevent-multi-generational-interstellar-travel/483404)
**Author:** [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orphans-of-the-sky-does-human-nature-prevent-multi-generational-interstellar-travel/483404 "2009-02-01T23:51:41Z")
It is of course physically possible for us to travel to another solar system – only it takes a long time. Supposing we find habitable planets a few light years away, and have a ship that is designed to make it there in s… --- ## [Libertarians: Is pushing religious error a victimless crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarians-is-pushing-religious-error-a-victimless-crime/483929)
**Author:** [@Dostoyevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dostoyevsky)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libertarians-is-pushing-religious-error-a-victimless-crime/483929 "2009-02-01T21:29:57Z")
(Full disclosure: I am a libertarian, philosophically and officially. Voted Barr in '08 and am pro-choice on everything from abortion to private schools.) Those of a libertarian persuasion typically hold that: Prope… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=557) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=559)