# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=564 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 565 --- ## [Could this Restaurant Get Into (Legal) Trouble?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-restaurant-get-into-legal-trouble/479942)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-restaurant-get-into-legal-trouble/479942 "2009-01-13T00:45:21Z")
I went to dinner at a very nice restaurant (Italian- DONATO’s-Port Charlotte, FL), las week. The decor of the restaurant was very interesting-it was set up like NYC (Little Italy), with names from “THE GODFATHER”. For i… --- ## [Is equating pets with kids offensive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-equating-pets-with-kids-offensive/478735)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 320\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-equating-pets-with-kids-offensive/478735 "2009-01-12T23:09:09Z")
I understand that pet-owners intend no disrespect when they equate (or even compare, but let’s stick with equating, in this thread) their pets with other people’s children, but the practice can bother some parents, espec… --- ## [Is Bush mental? (Ed Grimley sense)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bush-mental-ed-grimley-sense/480663)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bush-mental-ed-grimley-sense/480663 "2009-01-12T16:40:31Z")
I reallize this is about #8495 on my list of things I find disturbing about the way the current (for another week and a half!) President’s brain works, but from scanning Green Bean’s thread about nicknames, and particula… --- ## [Catch .22LR, or "No Guns For You!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catch-22lr-or-no-guns-for-you/480408)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catch-22lr-or-no-guns-for-you/480408 "2009-01-12T16:00:00Z")
In New Jersey, a person must have a permit to purchase a handgun. The law provides various grounds that disqualify a person from getting or renewing such a permit; among them is this: Pretty reasonable, yes? Now let’s… --- ## [Why Should I Support Israel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015)
**Author:** [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Replies:** 303\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-support-israel/479015 "2009-01-12T07:03:06Z")
The title says it all. I don’t understand the fierce support for the state. I can understand the practical implications, (oil, military) and that the government there is fairly liberal and democratic for the region, but … --- ## [Governor Blagojevich Arrested, What Now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396)
**Author:** [@twhitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twhitt)\ **Replies:** 433\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governor-blagojevich-arrested-what-now/476396 "2009-01-12T06:11:25Z")
Link to ongoing developments in the Chicago Tribune Governor Blagojevich has been arrested by federal authorities on corruption charges, related to selling Obama’s senate seat in exchange for personal favors, and severa… --- ## [Maginot Line Build Across Belgian Border-Prevents French Defeat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maginot-line-build-across-belgian-border-prevents-french-defeat/480741)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maginot-line-build-across-belgian-border-prevents-french-defeat/480741 "2009-01-12T04:28:41Z")
As I understand it, the Maginot Line (intended to protect Frace from invasion from Germany) was never built along the Belgian border. This was because French defense planners saw the French Army as allied with the Belgia… --- ## [We can win either Iraq or Afghanistan but not BOTH](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-win-either-iraq-or-afghanistan-but-not-both/480639)
**Author:** [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-can-win-either-iraq-or-afghanistan-but-not-both/480639 "2009-01-12T00:55:26Z")
It seems to me that we will have to forfeit victory in one of our ongoing wars to ensure victory in the other. The Obama Admin. has talked about reducing forces in Iraq and escalating in Afghanistan. We have seen a gre… --- ## [Polar Ice and Iceland](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polar-ice-and-iceland/480190)
**Author:** [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polar-ice-and-iceland/480190 "2009-01-12T00:53:14Z")
Here is a graph which purports to show the prevalence of polar ice at the coast of Iceland over the last millenium or so: http://www.grisda.org/origins/images/10058-1h.gif I believe that the graph is probably correct, … --- ## [Obama should pressure Israel to remove some West Bank Settlements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-pressure-israel-to-remove-some-west-bank-settlements/480554)
**Author:** [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-should-pressure-israel-to-remove-some-west-bank-settlements/480554 "2009-01-11T18:29:26Z")
By now it should be pretty well established the US and Israel are not going to appease any terrorists. So now that we’ve used the stick, it’s time to break out the carrot. President Obama should pressure the Israeli go… --- ## [Courts unwinding Chris Hansen style net sex sting convictions without actual victims](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/courts-unwinding-chris-hansen-style-net-sex-sting-convictions-without-actual-victims/479929)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 279\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/courts-unwinding-chris-hansen-style-net-sex-sting-convictions-without-actual-victims/479929 "2009-01-11T15:58:54Z")
Rulings target Internet sex stings - Appeals court says there must be an actual victim Adults trying to hook up with teenyboppers is not acceptable, but on the other hand it seems a lot of these net “sex sting” convicti… --- ## [Will we ever again have a President that understands the rudiments of economics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-again-have-a-president-that-understands-the-rudiments-of-economics/480059)
**Author:** [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-again-have-a-president-that-understands-the-rudiments-of-economics/480059 "2009-01-11T10:12:06Z")
Just asking. Reagan had somewhat of a clue, and he was basically a layman. It is hard to think of one before or after that. Obama has announced plans that demonstrate that he has never had a whiff. 600,000 new federal em… --- ## [Pushing through a stimulus package](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pushing-through-a-stimulus-package/480254)
**Author:** [@Snag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snag)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pushing-through-a-stimulus-package/480254 "2009-01-11T06:52:57Z")
The Democrats will soon be in full control of the executive and legislative branches, down to a difference of two seats in the federal government. It seems to me that, with a nation in crisis the best way to push through… --- ## ["It's all pointless" vs "So what? Have fun!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-pointless-vs-so-what-have-fun/480484)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-all-pointless-vs-so-what-have-fun/480484 "2009-01-11T04:35:02Z")
I seem to oscillate between two approaches to life: It’s all pointless. No matter what we do, how many great things we achieve, we will all age, wither away and die. So what if it is all pointless? Just enjoy your … --- ## [Legality of requiring-denying licensing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-requiring-denying-licensing/480626)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-requiring-denying-licensing/480626 "2009-01-11T01:58:39Z")
This issue comes up a lot in reference to gun control laws, but my question isn’t specifically gun related. Laws where something is technically legal with a license, only the government refuses to issue licenses. Have an… --- ## [What would a world with mandatory DNA testing of all children be like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-world-with-mandatory-dna-testing-of-all-children-be-like/480372)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-world-with-mandatory-dna-testing-of-all-children-be-like/480372 "2009-01-10T22:20:56Z")
Prompted by this post: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10664529&postcount=4 Just as a little personal background, when my wife became pregnant with our first child about 3 years ago, I was reading th… --- ## [A couple of child-support hypotheticals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-child-support-hypotheticals/480516)
**Author:** [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-child-support-hypotheticals/480516 "2009-01-10T20:10:13Z")
Since paternity-issue threads seem to be all the rage these days… My current understanding is that, generally, in the US, a man is held responsible for child support of his wife’s children, regardless of their actual pa… --- ## [Non-Father must continue child support](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-father-must-continue-child-support/480342)
**Author:** [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Replies:** 237\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-father-must-continue-child-support/480342 "2009-01-10T17:42:39Z")
Man who didn’t father twins must pay child support From the Globe and Mail. The bare bones of the story: A man divorced his wife 6 years after the birth of their twin sons. He pays child support and has some visitati… --- ## [Can President Obama move the American capitol?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-president-obama-move-the-american-capitol/480680)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-president-obama-move-the-american-capitol/480680 "2009-01-10T17:00:03Z")
Suppose he wanted new national capitol, Usa, is constructed in the middle of the United States. It is shaped like the United States, with a similarly shaped capitol building. Would he be able to do it? --- ## [Our responsibility to the suffering.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-responsibility-to-the-suffering/479631)
**Author:** [@Zygomide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zygomide)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-responsibility-to-the-suffering/479631 "2009-01-10T15:58:12Z")
I’m always hearing about people dying and starving in third-world countries. What makes it the responsibility of us to try to save them? Are we just inhibiting the “survival of the fittest?” Would it truly benefit hum… --- ## [What do people think of Obama's picks for intel chiefs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-of-obamas-picks-for-intel-chiefs/480123)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-of-obamas-picks-for-intel-chiefs/480123 "2009-01-10T03:07:16Z")
Obama’s picks for the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the CIA (is that still called the DCI?) are being questioned as neither has much intelligence experience. My worry is that these picks will be … --- ## [How to Talk To Atheists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-talk-to-atheists/479255)
**Author:** [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-talk-to-atheists/479255 "2009-01-10T02:04:10Z")
http://www.joethepeacock.com/2008/03/how-to-actually-talk-to-atheists-if.php I’m sharing this with my Christian as well as non-Christian friends. I love his explaination. (If this has been posted before, I’m sorry - I … --- ## [Did Obama implicitly accept Islamophobia during the campaign?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-implicitly-accept-islamophobia-during-the-campaign/480220)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-implicitly-accept-islamophobia-during-the-campaign/480220 "2009-01-09T22:12:39Z")
We have many discussions moving from GD to The Pit, here’s one going the other way! Beginning on this page Lib and I began to hijack a discussion. He objected to my claim that one needn’t go any farther than Obama’s imp… --- ## [Should the SEC and CFTC merge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sec-and-cftc-merge/480576)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-sec-and-cftc-merge/480576 "2009-01-09T20:12:50Z")
Mary Schapiro (who Obama has named to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission \[SEC\]) has advocated for a merger of the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Such a notion has been kicked around in th… --- ## [Would an early 18/19th century America would have collasped if not for the Blacks..](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-an-early-18-19th-century-america-would-have-collasped-if-not-for-the-blacks/480195)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-an-early-18-19th-century-america-would-have-collasped-if-not-for-the-blacks/480195 "2009-01-09T17:11:26Z")
So I’m up at the bar today when somehow I get myself in a conversation with a bigot who seemed to be of the opinion that “Blacks” owe us (white people) because they’re here now and they get to live a good life thanks to … --- ## [Does the U.S.A. have a "Head of State"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-u-s-a-have-a-head-of-state/479790)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-u-s-a-have-a-head-of-state/479790 "2009-01-09T14:16:14Z")
In the “Barack the Magic Negro” thread in the Pit, there’s a bit of a disagreement going on as to how much deference (one might say “servility” if one is so inclined) is due the President (or the Presidency) by ordinary … --- ## [Theists: Why do you believe in your religion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theists-why-do-you-believe-in-your-religion/479393)
**Author:** [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theists-why-do-you-believe-in-your-religion/479393 "2009-01-09T04:43:37Z")
Why do you think your religion is the right one? Why do you think your holy book is correct, but all the other ones aren’t? Why do you think your prophet spoke to God, but other prophets didn’t? --- ## [What single change would best improve government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-change-would-best-improve-government/479901)
**Author:** [@doubled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doubled)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-single-change-would-best-improve-government/479901 "2009-01-09T01:57:29Z")
If you could make any one change to the US government to improve the system what would it be? Not a specific law (raise/lower taxes, make abortion legal/illegal, etc) but a process change to improve how other laws are cr… --- ## [How likely is too likely?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-too-likely/480422)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-too-likely/480422 "2009-01-09T01:26:58Z")
The recent flurry of interest in the giant volcano under Yellowstone National Park got me thinking about disasters. Obviously hoping that a given disaster won’t happen isn’t an acceptable strategy, as the response to Hu… --- ## [Pat Buchanan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-buchanan/480169)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pat-buchanan/480169 "2009-01-08T21:43:06Z")
I think this is a debate and not an IMHO. It may drift between the two. What think ye of Pat Buchanan? He comes from a long line of cave dwellers (natives of DC who are not political), I like that. He worked as Nixon’s… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=563) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=565)