# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=559 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 560 --- ## [Global Universal Healthcare Discussion.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-universal-healthcare-discussion/483557)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-universal-healthcare-discussion/483557 "2009-02-01T21:17:01Z")
Perhaps this has been talked about before but I am curious what it would entail, financially and legally to get health cover extended to every person on earth. My interest in the topic arises from a conversation I had wi… --- ## [Just how Protectionist is President Obama?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-protectionist-is-president-obama/483655)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-protectionist-is-president-obama/483655 "2009-02-01T21:01:57Z")
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=1232625 --- ## [Non-Euclidean geometry and God.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-euclidean-geometry-and-god/482031)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-euclidean-geometry-and-god/482031 "2009-02-01T19:35:51Z")
Thesis: Both theism and atheism are rational beliefs within their own epistemologies. Argument: Which is more of a rational belief, to conclude that parallel lines never intersect, or to conclude that parallel lines al… --- ## [Cutting postal service by a day or two: So what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-postal-service-by-a-day-or-two-so-what/483504)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-postal-service-by-a-day-or-two-so-what/483504 "2009-02-01T19:08:47Z")
A big story on CNN is that the United States Postal Service is talking about cutting mail deliveries by one day a week due to plunging demand. This is spoken of in the sort of tone one might discuss the suggestion that … --- ## [Evolution of the Christian God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-christian-god/483245)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-the-christian-god/483245 "2009-01-31T22:41:03Z")
In Christianity, what gives the sweet and loving post-Jesus God more validity than the wrathful original one? Or is just that an erroneous assumption on my part brought on by overattendance of moderate, non-Bible-belt c… --- ## [Albert Einstein believed in God](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albert-einstein-believed-in-god/483623)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 142\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albert-einstein-believed-in-god/483623 "2009-01-31T22:02:36Z")
So Richard Dawkins insists that Albert Einstein was an atheist and a pantheist. In fact, he says, So there you have it. In Dawkins’ world, there’s not a single Einstein quote which suggests other than that Einstein w… --- ## [How environmentally friendly is Bush's new house?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-environmentally-friendly-is-bushs-new-house/483511)
**Author:** [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-environmentally-friendly-is-bushs-new-house/483511 "2009-01-31T19:00:32Z")
Not so very long ago, a variety of right-wingers delighted in pointing out that Bush’s house in Crawford was more environmentally friendly than Gore’s mansion. However, now that Bush has apparently decided that the prete… --- ## [Ok, if I shouldn't \_shoot\_ the intruder, then...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-if-i-shouldnt-_shoot_-the-intruder-then/482060)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 1026\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-if-i-shouldnt-_shoot_-the-intruder-then/482060 "2009-01-31T18:42:01Z")
How does one deal with the following hypothetical scenerio? You’re a legal gun owner. In the middle of the night, you’re awoken by noise from downstairs. You go downstairs with your gun. You surprise a burglar holding yo… --- ## ["Lobbyists Won't Find A Job in My White House!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobbyists-wont-find-a-job-in-my-white-house/483573)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lobbyists-wont-find-a-job-in-my-white-house/483573 "2009-01-31T17:46:25Z")
Didn’t then-Senator Obama promise that no lobbyists would find a job in the White House if we elected him President? Now: Tom Vilsack was registered to lobby last year on behalf of the National Education Association. W… --- ## [How much of a role do/did we (U.S.) play in how bad other countries' economies are?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-role-do-did-we-u-s-play-in-how-bad-other-countries-economies-are/483693)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-role-do-did-we-u-s-play-in-how-bad-other-countries-economies-are/483693 "2009-01-31T06:10:26Z")
This is an assertion I’ve seen featherlou make in other threads: I believe it’s been addressed in other threads, but as someone who doesn’t know much about how economic interdependency works, I’d like to ask this in it… --- ## [Is bipartisanship possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bipartisanship-possible/483278)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bipartisanship-possible/483278 "2009-01-31T02:49:28Z")
Over lunch I caught a bit of CNN. They were covering Obama’s visit to the Capitol to meet with Repub leaders in the House and Senate. From what I understand the Repub line is that the Dem bailout proposal has too much … --- ## [Quality Assurance Question: Which is Better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-assurance-question-which-is-better/483646)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quality-assurance-question-which-is-better/483646 "2009-01-31T01:56:06Z")
Suppose you have a choice in making a product, you have process A, which yields products which are slightly out of specification, but have an extremely tight distribution (very small standard deviation). So you have a ve… --- ## [how likely is a democratic filibuster-proof majority in the senate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-a-democratic-filibuster-proof-majority-in-the-senate/468465)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-a-democratic-filibuster-proof-majority-in-the-senate/468465 "2009-01-31T01:55:54Z")
how likely is a democratic filibuster proof majority? Do all democrats want it to happen or do some of you dread it? (assuming Obama wins). --- ## [Is there any scientific evidence that abiogenesis occurred on our planet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-scientific-evidence-that-abiogenesis-occurred-on-our-planet/483541)
**Author:** [@Ahu\_Ha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ahu_Ha)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-scientific-evidence-that-abiogenesis-occurred-on-our-planet/483541 "2009-01-31T01:01:21Z")
I am wondering if there is any scientific evidence that abiogenesis occurred on planet earth, at some stage in its history. If so, what is it? --- ## [Ethicality and practicality of therapeutic placebos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethicality-and-practicality-of-therapeutic-placebos/483738)
**Author:** [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethicality-and-practicality-of-therapeutic-placebos/483738 "2009-01-30T23:27:19Z")
I recently read a good book on complimentary and alternative medicine(CAM). The point of the book is to try and show whether or not CAM is distinguishable form placebo. Some of the things in the book got me thinking abo… --- ## [Alternate History: Non-Radioactive Nukes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-history-non-radioactive-nukes/482088)
**Author:** [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-history-non-radioactive-nukes/482088 "2009-01-30T22:28:06Z")
Over various threads here and elsewhere, I have a somewhat confused view of how nuclear weapons were viewed in the 40s, 50s and 60s, before the truly devastating effects of a nuclear war were known. It’s been said often… --- ## [Public education in America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-education-in-america/483549)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-education-in-america/483549 "2009-01-30T22:10:18Z")
Is anything wrong with K-12 education in America? If so, what is it? How do we know? What do we do about it? How do we know when we have succeeded? I am not going to give my answers to these questions, because I thi… --- ## [A special place in the Universe: Cosmology.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-special-place-in-the-universe-cosmology/483003)
**Author:** [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-special-place-in-the-universe-cosmology/483003 "2009-01-30T22:04:09Z")
Continued from: here. The question comes down to, basically, does Earth hold a special place in the universe? (if this isn’t the right place for this, sorry… I thought GD but then thought… I donno…) I don’t think th… --- ## [Okay, will the stimulus package pass? Will it do any good?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-will-the-stimulus-package-pass-will-it-do-any-good/483516)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-will-the-stimulus-package-pass-will-it-do-any-good/483516 "2009-01-30T21:37:07Z")
The passing of Obama’s stimulus package in the House is almost a win-win for both sides: the Democrats are happy that their efforts to fix the economy passed and that things are finally happening the way they want, while… --- ## [The economic stimulus bill, if passed, will doom Dems/Obama politically - thoughts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economic-stimulus-bill-if-passed-will-doom-dems-obama-politically-thoughts/483678)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economic-stimulus-bill-if-passed-will-doom-dems-obama-politically-thoughts/483678 "2009-01-30T20:24:22Z")
This is a point I brought up in another thread that I’m starting to think (since no one in that thread addressed it) deserves its own, since the point seems to be fairly different. I’m not sure what I think of my own ar… --- ## [Growth cannot be the basis of the economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growth-cannot-be-the-basis-of-the-economy/483513)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growth-cannot-be-the-basis-of-the-economy/483513 "2009-01-30T14:27:45Z")
An economic grand strategy based on permanent growth is defective. At some point you overinflate & have to correct, & then your paradigm is useless. A well-designed economic grand strategy will have a way to manage cont… --- ## [Is Obama wrong to pursue bipartisan support?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obama-wrong-to-pursue-bipartisan-support/483314)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-obama-wrong-to-pursue-bipartisan-support/483314 "2009-01-30T11:47:01Z")
Barry Obama is trying too hard to get GOP support for his stimulus package. The GOP aren’t voting for it anyway, & why should they? No matter what is put in the bill, GOP institutional survival depends entirely on defin… --- ## [Are military coup plotters in Latin America a thing of the past? (El Salvador option)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-military-coup-plotters-in-latin-america-a-thing-of-the-past-el-salvador-option/483685)
**Author:** [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-military-coup-plotters-in-latin-america-a-thing-of-the-past-el-salvador-option/483685 "2009-01-30T04:51:22Z")
In El Salvador’s civil war there were 75,000 dead (90 percent caused by the armed forces and right wing death squads) and almost a million in exile, if you apply the numbers to a ratio of the population of Iraq you will … --- ## [Please Debate The Merits Of This Article on Israel/Gaza](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-debate-the-merits-of-this-article-on-israel-gaza/481782)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-debate-the-merits-of-this-article-on-israel-gaza/481782 "2009-01-30T00:52:34Z")
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/14/when-israel-expelled-palestinians/ It begins as follows: And you can imagine where it goes from there. Please debate the merits of this article while I watch. Thank you… --- ## [Compare pictures from Holocaust with Gaza-pictures in a mail ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compare-pictures-from-holocaust-with-gaza-pictures-in-a-mail/482298)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 246\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compare-pictures-from-holocaust-with-gaza-pictures-in-a-mail/482298 "2009-01-29T22:05:15Z")
The mail was sent from the Norwegian embassy in Saudi-Arabia The pictures are here: A fair comparison ? --- ## [Yo-Yo Ma: The Std Operating Procedure Sucks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-yo-ma-the-std-operating-procedure-sucks/483073)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 149\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yo-yo-ma-the-std-operating-procedure-sucks/483073 "2009-01-29T15:31:13Z")
A couple of days ago I heard an interview with Yo-Yo Ma on N.P.R. in which he explained that the quartet performance at the inauguration amounted to a pantomime to a recording made the previous day. Mr. Ma seemed to be u… --- ## [Unilateral Gaza Ceasefire: Now what happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unilateral-gaza-ceasefire-now-what-happens/481859)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unilateral-gaza-ceasefire-now-what-happens/481859 "2009-01-29T14:37:23Z")
So now that Israel has declared that Israel, in Olmert’s words, has “reached all the goals of the war, and beyond” and unilaterally is declaring a ceasefire, what happens next? Clearly a lot depends on the next sets of … --- ## [Are the Republicans still on their long walk in the woods to re-define themselves?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-republicans-still-on-their-long-walk-in-the-woods-to-re-define-themselves/482611)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2009, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-republicans-still-on-their-long-walk-in-the-woods-to-re-define-themselves/482611 "2009-01-29T08:27:28Z")
With the shredded corpse of the old Republican themes and coalitions having been body bagged and covered with lime, what’s next for the Republicans? What are the next big themes and ideas to define what it means to be a … --- ## [Canadian Constitutional Crisis Update: Looks Like It's Blown Over](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-constitutional-crisis-update-looks-like-its-blown-over/483393)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-constitutional-crisis-update-looks-like-its-blown-over/483393 "2009-01-29T06:17:57Z")
The Conservatives submitted a deficit-laden budget full of goodies, and the Liberals rolled over and bared their bellies. It appears they’ll break their coalition agreement with the NDP and separatists - both of whom re… --- ## [Creator laments creation of die Antibabypille](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creator-laments-creation-of-die-antibabypille/480575)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 174\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creator-laments-creation-of-die-antibabypille/480575 "2009-01-29T03:57:52Z")
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jan/09010806.html I am not really coming out on any side of this debate, but I figured a thread about birth control would inevitably lead to a debate. If I am wrong please feel fre… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=558) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=560)