# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=567 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 568 --- ## [When, if ever, do environmental factors overwhelm personal responsibility?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-ever-do-environmental-factors-overwhelm-personal-responsibility/478899)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-ever-do-environmental-factors-overwhelm-personal-responsibility/478899 "2008-12-28T08:34:34Z")
Can an individual really be said to have a “choice” in a matter if overwhelming environmental factors caused the determination of that choice? So as to not be too vague, let me ask that a bit more precisely: What are s… --- ## [How much could the President get away with?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-could-the-president-get-away-with/477950)
**Author:** [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2008, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-could-the-president-get-away-with/477950 "2008-12-28T08:30:08Z")
This might be a debate rather than a general question, but I’ll start it here and see how it goes. Say the President wakes up one morning and decides “What the fuck, let’s see how much power I really have!” and starts i… --- ## ["governments should not spend money on things businesses are already doing"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governments-should-not-spend-money-on-things-businesses-are-already-doing/478906)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/governments-should-not-spend-money-on-things-businesses-are-already-doing/478906 "2008-12-28T05:24:25Z")
Hence: I suspect that’s more controversial than some persons think. For example, private agencies are providing health insurance in the United States. But there is a belief, based in historical evidence, that the gove… --- ## [What is happening to the pound sterling?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-happening-to-the-pound-sterling/478741)
**Author:** [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-happening-to-the-pound-sterling/478741 "2008-12-27T23:31:22Z")
Why has the value of the pound plummeted so precipitously recently? The Euro finally seems to have reached parity with the pound, and we are now seeing the lowest value of the pound in 28 years. Is the outlook for the … --- ## [How near are we to solving the problem of recharging electric cars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-near-are-we-to-solving-the-problem-of-recharging-electric-cars/475413)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 168\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-near-are-we-to-solving-the-problem-of-recharging-electric-cars/475413 "2008-12-27T23:09:45Z")
Boris Johnson is always worth reading, whether you agree with him or not. He’s just been opining on electric cars. But it seems to me that the real problem with these vehicles is not the initial go, but the time it takes… --- ## [Canadian Human Rights Commission OKs slurs to gays, lesbians, Jews, Hindus, etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-human-rights-commission-oks-slurs-to-gays-lesbians-jews-hindus-etc/478532)
**Author:** [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-human-rights-commission-oks-slurs-to-gays-lesbians-jews-hindus-etc/478532 "2008-12-27T22:42:30Z")
A guy in Canada has complained to the Canadian Human Rights Commission on account of a book published by a Motreal imam, which he thinks breaks the Canadian hate law rules. The commission refused to look into the case s… --- ## [Why do babies need a mother and a father?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-babies-need-a-mother-and-a-father/478631)
**Author:** [@Punintentional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punintentional)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-babies-need-a-mother-and-a-father/478631 "2008-12-27T16:49:34Z")
Im thinking about gay adoption, and the argument that “babies need a mother AND a father”, now I’m not arguing one way or the other, im just curious about the specific reasons that people believe this. So if you believe… --- ## [Would immortality be a blessing or a curse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-immortality-be-a-blessing-or-a-curse/478447)
**Author:** [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2008, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-immortality-be-a-blessing-or-a-curse/478447 "2008-12-27T10:47:11Z")
I’ve been batting this idea for a short story around in my head for a couple of days. The premise is that scientists create a drug which completely halts the aging process. For every day you take the medicine, you don’… --- ## [Cyber War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyber-war/478180)
**Author:** [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2008, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyber-war/478180 "2008-12-27T04:53:58Z")
I’ve just finished reading The Edge of Madness by Michael Dobbs. Chinese hardliners attempt to take over the world by hacking into the government computers of Britain, The USA and Russia and also of several other smalle… --- ## [abortion rights, womens rights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-rights-womens-rights/474358)
**Author:** [@TimJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimJ)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [December 27, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-rights-womens-rights/474358 "2008-12-27T01:08:16Z")
For decades now, I’ve read The Straight Dope. I’ve picked up many fun facts along the way from the researchers who have posed as Cecil Adams. Today, though, I got a shock upon reading the column–a trusted source reveal… --- ## [It can be 4chan discussion tiem nao, pl0x? (a serious discussion of 4chan)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085)
**Author:** [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-can-be-4chan-discussion-tiem-nao-pl0x-a-serious-discussion-of-4chan/478085 "2008-12-26T20:35:11Z")
\[The OP below uses “4chan” as having two meanings: 1) the website 4chan, and 2) the ideology expressed by (but not necessarily created by) 4chan.\] The 4chan \[not hotlinked - NSFW\] imageboard / message board has been ar… --- ## [Would you report a loved one to the police?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-report-a-loved-one-to-the-police/478672)
**Author:** [@I\_Have\_Hippos\_In\_My\_Garden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Have_Hippos_In_My_Garden)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-report-a-loved-one-to-the-police/478672 "2008-12-26T18:33:45Z")
If, for example, you saw a family member or close friend commiting a crime of any sort, would you report them to the police and give evidence? --- ## [Military Spending for VERY questionable medical procedures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-spending-for-very-questionable-medical-procedures/478078)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-spending-for-very-questionable-medical-procedures/478078 "2008-12-26T14:32:18Z")
Has anyone else seen this article about so-called “Battlefield Acupuncture”? Since when does this woo qualify as a “medical procedure”? Is there a map of the major nerves that run from the ear to the upper back or sho… --- ## [Why do people insist that the market will produce new jobs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-that-the-market-will-produce-new-jobs/477216)
**Author:** [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Replies:** 220\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-that-the-market-will-produce-new-jobs/477216 "2008-12-25T05:51:56Z")
Whenever the subject comes up of how automation is eliminating blue collar jobs, and has eliminated a huge number of pink and white collar ones as well, inevitably someone claims that “the market” will produce new jobs. … --- ## [Is it time to start an agressive, "atheist pride" movement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-start-an-agressive-atheist-pride-movement/477954)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 159\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-to-start-an-agressive-atheist-pride-movement/477954 "2008-12-25T02:16:22Z")
I am speaking as both an atheist and as a 60-year-old gay man who has personally witnessed the amazing liberation that gays and lesbians have brought about over the past 50 years through an agressive program of gay pride… --- ## [Convince me not to convert to Islam.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-not-to-convert-to-islam/476133)
**Author:** [@blinkthrice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkthrice)\ **Replies:** 376\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-not-to-convert-to-islam/476133 "2008-12-24T21:09:06Z")
As a 26 year old \[former\] agnostic born into a family of devout South Indian hindu brahmins who has for the most part attended catholic private schools growing up, briefly flirting with Christianity before considering my… --- ## [Science explores conservatism and faith](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-explores-conservatism-and-faith/478255)
**Author:** [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-explores-conservatism-and-faith/478255 "2008-12-24T17:50:41Z")
A couple of short items from the Jan 09 Scientific American: Correlation does not imply cauality and all that, sure, but still … --- ## [Yglesias and Third Way: a blog controversy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yglesias-and-third-way-a-blog-controversy/478286)
**Author:** [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yglesias-and-third-way-a-blog-controversy/478286 "2008-12-24T15:15:28Z")
A controversy at one of my favorite blogs: The incident started with this postby Yglesias about a think-tank called Third Way: Apparently this was too much for the powers at CAP where Yglesias works and on Sunday nigh… --- ## [How do you piss away 50 billion dollars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-piss-away-50-billion-dollars/477219)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-piss-away-50-billion-dollars/477219 "2008-12-24T13:58:28Z")
Unless Madoff was burning the investment money in some giant pyre where did it all go? By all accounts he wasn’t living insanely large. Assuming he had even minimal level of investment savvy how do you burn up 50 billion… --- ## [Is Proposition 8 unconstitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-proposition-8-unconstitutional/478191)
**Author:** [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-proposition-8-unconstitutional/478191 "2008-12-24T12:13:48Z")
This article seems to be suggesting that Jerry Brown, among others, is making the argument that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional (under the California, not the US, constitution): \[QUOTE=Jerry Brown\] Proposition 8 must… --- ## [Great Moments in Bank Regulation: We need more of it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-bank-regulation-we-need-more-of-it/478413)
**Author:** [@IdahoMauleMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IdahoMauleMan)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2008, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-bank-regulation-we-need-more-of-it/478413 "2008-12-24T06:44:02Z")
My favorite paragraphs are the second and the last. He is merely being ‘reassigned’, not fired, and this after he was demoted following the Keating Five scandal. As the left will often argue, the answer to our curren… --- ## [Obama releases internal review of Blago contacts.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-releases-internal-review-of-blago-contacts/478466)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-releases-internal-review-of-blago-contacts/478466 "2008-12-24T03:23:35Z")
Not much juicy here. The real take away here is that there was no suggestion of a deal on either end. Nothing was asked for by anybody. I know some people were still holding onto a thread of hope that there might have … --- ## [Marriage, gays, and the state](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marriage-gays-and-the-state/478283)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marriage-gays-and-the-state/478283 "2008-12-23T22:45:18Z")
Not sure how much this has been discussed in GD, but what about the following solution to the “gay marriage” issue: The state should not recognize marriage for anyone. Both heteros and gays should be allowed by the st… --- ## [Penn Jillette: Religious folk SHOULD proseletyze?!?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-jillette-religious-folk-should-proseletyze/477823)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-jillette-religious-folk-should-proseletyze/477823 "2008-12-23T03:34:38Z")
It really strikes me how deeply touched Penn seems to be here. And what of his point? IF a religious person believes that someone’s afterlife happiness is at risk, either by eternal Hell or temporal punis… --- ## [Wedding Planners vs. Norton (DC vote in Congress/same-sex marriage)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-planners-vs-norton-dc-vote-in-congress-same-sex-marriage/478021)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wedding-planners-vs-norton-dc-vote-in-congress-same-sex-marriage/478021 "2008-12-23T01:50:44Z")
In last week’s Washington DC City Paper, there’s an article commenting on the strategic implications of two initiatives: same-sex marriage in DC and a vote for DC in the House. Some excerpts: There’s much more, but th… --- ## ["In these uncertain times" -- Has it ever been any different?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-these-uncertain-times-has-it-ever-been-any-different/478197)
**Author:** [@shallora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shallora)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-these-uncertain-times-has-it-ever-been-any-different/478197 "2008-12-22T21:42:23Z")
"In these uncertain times . . ." This is an oft-used phrase one sees in: . . . Every newspaper editorial page . . . . . . Every church sermon . . . . . . Every political campaign . . . . . . Every financial presenta… --- ## [Some questions about the extent of Bernie Madoff's evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-questions-about-the-extent-of-bernie-madoffs-evil/477997)
**Author:** [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-questions-about-the-extent-of-bernie-madoffs-evil/477997 "2008-12-22T19:41:51Z")
First of all, let’s start with the obvious. He violated the law and stole lots of money from innocent people. That’s bad. No doubt there are a lot of good hard working folks who have already suffered a lot and will co… --- ## [A Company's first duty should be to the Staff & Community, not the Shareholders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-companys-first-duty-should-be-to-the-staff-community-not-the-shareholders/477560)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 129\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-companys-first-duty-should-be-to-the-staff-community-not-the-shareholders/477560 "2008-12-22T18:26:48Z")
This is an idea I’ve been trying to give a coherent form to for some time now, and the current threads on the Global Financial Crisis and the US Automotive Industry bailouts mean this is probable the best time to share i… --- ## [Multiple Central Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-central-banks/478119)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-central-banks/478119 "2008-12-22T17:47:04Z")
In a thread maybe a month ago, I think Sam Stone commented that at the beginning of the 20th Century there had been more than one central bank and that this had been reduced down to just the Federal Reserve. Seeing as h… --- ## [What should children be taught about Santa Claus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-children-be-taught-about-santa-claus/477126)
**Author:** [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-children-be-taught-about-santa-claus/477126 "2008-12-22T17:11:49Z")
Seemingly a simple question: What should we tell children regarding Santa Claus? Children will be exposed to the belief in Santa Claus regardless of what parents tell them, as their playmates will certainly bring up the… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=566) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=568)