# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=578 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 579 --- ## [Peak Oil: How will our lifestyles change? Or is it Quackery.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-oil-how-will-our-lifestyles-change-or-is-it-quackery/472202)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-oil-how-will-our-lifestyles-change-or-is-it-quackery/472202 "2008-11-14T22:16:19Z")
I’ve been doing some research into Peak Oil or Hubberts Peak Theoryand some of what I have been finding has been mildly alarming, other things I’ve been looking into are encouraging. The pointof the whole matter is not a… --- ## [Why did the US free the slaves after the Civil War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-us-free-the-slaves-after-the-civil-war/472220)
**Author:** [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-us-free-the-slaves-after-the-civil-war/472220 "2008-11-14T19:01:31Z")
While I think slavery was basically\* the cause of the Civil War, it’s not like the Union treated it as a grand crusade to free the slaves. True, they did the emancipation proclamation, but that was for the states in rebe… --- ## [Let's look at the Palin clothes issue a different way](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-look-at-the-palin-clothes-issue-a-different-way/472265)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-look-at-the-palin-clothes-issue-a-different-way/472265 "2008-11-14T17:51:29Z")
As internal Pubbie realpolitiks. She does a few rogueish, rat-getting-ready-to-jump-ship type moves. McCain aides tell her, “Uh, lady, you don’t want to be doing like that.” She goes, “What YOU gonna do about it?” Ey… --- ## [Treasury: Won't buy bad bank assets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasury-wont-buy-bad-bank-assets/472478)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treasury-wont-buy-bad-bank-assets/472478 "2008-11-14T17:12:27Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap\_on\_bi\_ge/financial\_meltdown WTF is this? Wasn’t buying bad bank assets what was voted on and approved by Congress? Now the Treasury Dept. says no, we want to own a portion of the… --- ## [Biblical Prophecy, Financial Armageddon, and why Barack Obama is (not) The Antichrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-prophecy-financial-armageddon-and-why-barack-obama-is-not-the-antichrist/472561)
**Author:** [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-prophecy-financial-armageddon-and-why-barack-obama-is-not-the-antichrist/472561 "2008-11-14T16:46:50Z")
\[Note: I made this post originally in this thread, but since it got completely ignored (and I’m a sucker for attention), I’m starting my own thread on this topic.\] Since the election, I’ve had several people tell me th… --- ## [Is "sex Addiction" a real Disease?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sex-addiction-a-real-disease/472374)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sex-addiction-a-real-disease/472374 "2008-11-14T16:13:00Z")
I am a bit opinionated, i would say NO. My reasoning:nobody can claim that they do not have the ability to exert some self-control. Despite all the talk about morality, surely people realize that giving in to a compulsi… --- ## [Is World War II turning into a Fairy Tale?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-world-war-ii-turning-into-a-fairy-tale/472539)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-world-war-ii-turning-into-a-fairy-tale/472539 "2008-11-14T13:47:56Z")
I made reference in a thread about an upcoming WWII computer game, Call of Duty: World At War that World War II is at serious risk of turning into a simplified Fairy Tale for future generations. If you believed many com… --- ## [The Baltic Dry Index - A Valid Worry??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-baltic-dry-index-a-valid-worry/472681)
**Author:** [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-baltic-dry-index-a-valid-worry/472681 "2008-11-14T12:49:22Z")
Source: Baltic Dry Index - Wikipedia Source: Ibid. Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/shipping-holed-beneath-the-waterline-995066.html (06 Nov 2008) This site says the Baltic … --- ## [Why is unequal wealth distribution “unfair”?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-unequal-wealth-distribution-unfair/471519)
**Author:** [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-unequal-wealth-distribution-unfair/471519 "2008-11-14T08:00:18Z")
I have been wrestling with this for a while. On this board, and many other places, people have been talking about economic “fairness” I’m not sure what they even mean by that, but if it’s what I think it is, then I’m … --- ## [Chinese economic crisis - What do you make of this.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-economic-crisis-what-do-you-make-of-this/472669)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-economic-crisis-what-do-you-make-of-this/472669 "2008-11-14T05:05:47Z")
Duplicate. Sorry. --- ## [What will it take to get a viable third party into American politics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-it-take-to-get-a-viable-third-party-into-american-politics/472491)
**Author:** [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-it-take-to-get-a-viable-third-party-into-american-politics/472491 "2008-11-14T04:50:27Z")
What we have now is two parties slightly left and right of center, fighting for the center. It seems that every time some rich guy decides to run as a third party, he can never scrounge up more than 5% of the votes and n… --- ## [The secret spending of our $2,000,000,000,000.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-secret-spending-of-our-2-000-000-000-000/472076)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-secret-spending-of-our-2-000-000-000-000/472076 "2008-11-14T03:06:27Z")
I came across this article, talks about how our two trillion dollars (I thought it was less than one) is being spent. Evidently, we aren’t allowed to see who gets what or what collateral is used for the loan portions. … --- ## [How strong is Ted Steven's appeal for a new trial?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-is-ted-stevens-appeal-for-a-new-trial/472641)
**Author:** [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-is-ted-stevens-appeal-for-a-new-trial/472641 "2008-11-14T02:59:56Z")
The judge was quite upset with the Prosecution’s failure to provide the Defense with exculpatory testimony from Bill Allen former CEO of the now defunct Veco, the company that did so many favors for Stevens. In written … --- ## [Olbermann says he doesn't vote.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olbermann-says-he-doesnt-vote/472306)
**Author:** [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olbermann-says-he-doesnt-vote/472306 "2008-11-13T23:38:55Z")
See him here, on The View… …claiming he didn’t vote in the recent election as a symbolic gesture. And he went on to admit he never votes. Is his position that of an asshole, a sainted journalist, or what? --- ## [Who if not Columbus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-if-not-columbus/472397)
**Author:** [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-if-not-columbus/472397 "2008-11-13T21:56:59Z")
Christopher Columbus sailed to the discovery of the New World based on a long-shot hunch. His proposed route to the Indies was based on a bad translation of a poor estimate of the wrong distances made fifteen centuries … --- ## [Let's trot the word "gay" out again](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-trot-the-word-gay-out-again/471423)
**Author:** [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-trot-the-word-gay-out-again/471423 "2008-11-13T21:41:56Z")
Prompted by some comments by Hostile Dialect in this thread regarding the use of the word “gay” as being inappropriate in phrases such as gay marriage (same sex marriage is preferred) and gay rights (LBGT rights is prefe… --- ## [Moral Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moral-laws/472273)
**Author:** [@Core44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Core44)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moral-laws/472273 "2008-11-13T21:18:39Z")
How do we discern the difference between right and wrong on earth? --- ## [If Obama is assassinated, the right's use of "messiah" will be directly responsible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-obama-is-assassinated-the-rights-use-of-messiah-will-be-directly-responsible/472382)
**Author:** [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-obama-is-assassinated-the-rights-use-of-messiah-will-be-directly-responsible/472382 "2008-11-13T18:50:27Z")
I tuned into right-wing talk radio last night (the host’s name was “Shawn,” so maybe Shawn Hannity, if he has a radio show?), and I noticed that literally every time he talked about Obama, he called him “The Messiah.” He… --- ## [The Baseline](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-baseline/472528)
**Author:** [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-baseline/472528 "2008-11-13T17:15:20Z")
It seems to me that our society is in for some major restructuring (like it or not). We have seen that communism does not work. We are seeing the unwraveling of capitalism. Neither has been applied as conceived, and I… --- ## [What Happens if GM Goes Under?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-gm-goes-under/471662)
**Author:** [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-gm-goes-under/471662 "2008-11-13T13:20:27Z")
This article paints a pretty grim picture for GM. As a stalwart of the American economy, what are the ramifications of them running out of operating cash? Will they close the doors? How would that affect the automobile i… --- ## [Should people who intentionally try to spread HIV be convicted of attempted murder?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-who-intentionally-try-to-spread-hiv-be-convicted-of-attempted-murder/472401)
**Author:** [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-who-intentionally-try-to-spread-hiv-be-convicted-of-attempted-murder/472401 "2008-11-13T13:03:55Z")
After reading this story from MSNBC, it got me wondering. In this case, the major reason that the suspects were not charged with attempted murder was because: What about in other countries, such as the U.S.? Or certa… --- ## [Pleasant Grove City, UT v. Summum: public religious displays](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-grove-city-ut-v-summum-public-religious-displays/472236)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pleasant-grove-city-ut-v-summum-public-religious-displays/472236 "2008-11-13T04:59:38Z")
The SCOTUS is hearing arguments in this case today. For those not familiar with it, here is the Pew article. \ The city argues that it has a policy of and they are merely following that policy. I’m not sure … --- ## [Narrow elections and recounts: time for a new system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/narrow-elections-and-recounts-time-for-a-new-system/472463)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/narrow-elections-and-recounts-time-for-a-new-system/472463 "2008-11-13T04:18:16Z")
When out of hundreds of thousands or millions of votes an election comes down to a few thousand or even a few hundred disputed votes, what should be done? It’s probably a myth that there’s such a thing as a perfect count… --- ## [How much credit should go to Howard Dean for Dem victory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-credit-should-go-to-howard-dean-for-dem-victory/472352)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-credit-should-go-to-howard-dean-for-dem-victory/472352 "2008-11-13T01:21:28Z")
It seems to me that Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy, which was pooh-poohed by people like Rahm Emmanuel and Charles Schumer, should get a pretty good chunk of the credit for Democratic victories this year. Yes, Obama’s c… --- ## [With hindsight, when did McCain actually lose all hope of winning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-hindsight-when-did-mccain-actually-lose-all-hope-of-winning/471860)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-hindsight-when-did-mccain-actually-lose-all-hope-of-winning/471860 "2008-11-13T00:48:38Z")
For me, the election was Obama’s to lose: the Republican ‘brand’ was too tainted. McCain had to hold in there and hope that Obama made a mistake while making no mistakes himself. But Obama made no mistakes, whereas, for … --- ## [Bush without Cheney](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-without-cheney/472435)
**Author:** [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-without-cheney/472435 "2008-11-13T00:38:01Z")
I’ve gotten a little interested in the 2000 election these days. It was the first election that I actually paid close attention to, and it’s the first election that I voted in. I started to think back to Bush’s VP select… --- ## [AT&T announces a tether option...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-announces-a-tether-option/472407)
**Author:** [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-t-announces-a-tether-option/472407 "2008-11-12T22:52:32Z")
It’s been announced that AT&T is going to release a tethering program for the iPhone. Tethering, for those of you who haven’t used it, is the process of using a cellphone as a wireless modem. On my previous phone, I us… --- ## [When Did soldiering lose its Appeal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-soldiering-lose-its-appeal/470917)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-soldiering-lose-its-appeal/470917 "2008-11-12T20:54:23Z")
I would guess that any romantic appeal (of being a soldier) went away with the advent of WWI. All of sudden, war became a terrible affair, with no redeeming excitement. The decline of fancy uniforms, and units like horse… --- ## [Does the common person have any business investing in the stock market?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-common-person-have-any-business-investing-in-the-stock-market/472400)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-common-person-have-any-business-investing-in-the-stock-market/472400 "2008-11-12T20:23:44Z")
Before the mid 90s with the internet bubble and online trading like e\*trade, I recall a lot of people investing in the stock market. At best, they invested in some funds in their 401k or they had some shares of some wor… --- ## ["We are all socialists now..."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-all-socialists-now/472190)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-all-socialists-now/472190 "2008-11-12T19:19:16Z")
Given the almost universal acknowledgment that the US government’s policy should be to bail out any large entity whose failure would have a powerful downward effect on the overall economy, isn’t that an all-but-explicit … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=577) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=579)