# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=601 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 602 --- ## [Debate or Town Hall?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-or-town-hall/465333)
**Author:** [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-or-town-hall/465333 "2008-09-26T14:52:56Z")
2 coworkers of mine were betting this afternoon on whether McCain will show up for the debate.It was a friendly bet, the loser has to buy the other a rack of german beer. I’m not betting, but before we actually do find o… --- ## [Why is the Federal government against the personal use of Marijuana?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-federal-government-against-the-personal-use-of-marijuana/464846)
**Author:** [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frustrated_Wonderer)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2008, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-federal-government-against-the-personal-use-of-marijuana/464846 "2008-09-26T12:22:09Z")
I’ve never quite understood why the Federal government is so vehemently against the use of Marijuana. The DEA (:rolleyes:) states that it determines the harm of a specific substance before stating the legality of such s… --- ## [Compromising on abortion.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compromising-on-abortion/463610)
**Author:** [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Replies:** 261\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2008, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compromising-on-abortion/463610 "2008-09-26T06:49:12Z")
Let’s try to keep this civil, shall we? I’d like people on both sides to offer some ideas other than the all or nothing arguments. I am very pro-choice, but I’ll toss out some concessions I would be willing to see made… --- ## [Is composting BS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-composting-bs/464723)
**Author:** [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-composting-bs/464723 "2008-09-26T02:25:53Z")
Do you remember this thread: Is Recycling BS? Well, I present to you the sequel. So my fair city of Seattle has been making a lot noise lately about trying to increase the proportion of trash not hauled off to a landfi… --- ## [Why have concealed weapon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-concealed-weapon/464615)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2008, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-concealed-weapon/464615 "2008-09-26T01:41:00Z")
We take photos of people that are applying for their ‘Concealed and Carry’ permit. Often, they will explain why they need the permit; in almost every case it seems to me that they would be better off simply having it out… --- ## [How about this idea for the Presidency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-this-idea-for-the-presidency/465201)
**Author:** [@IdahoMauleMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IdahoMauleMan)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-this-idea-for-the-presidency/465201 "2008-09-25T23:53:26Z")
Saw the Palin footage with Couric. Eesh. Not as laughably horrible as everyone on the Board seems to think, but not particularly inspiring, either. Since half the country seems to worry about McCain’s instability, c… --- ## [We're shooting at our allies and they're shooting back.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-shooting-at-our-allies-and-theyre-shooting-back/465203)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-shooting-at-our-allies-and-theyre-shooting-back/465203 "2008-09-25T23:28:01Z")
There have been at least a half dozen strikes by predator aircraft inside Pakistan since Sept. 1st; these strikes are considered to be a violation of Pakistani sovereignty by the Pakistanis. In fact, the Pakistanis have … --- ## [Ask the former John Bircher...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-john-bircher/287676)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-john-bircher/287676 "2008-09-25T21:33:50Z")
Inspired by this thread in the Pit- I have decided to open up a shameful period of my life in which I, a young & naive C’tian Righty, was involved in the John Birch Society from 1980-82 (age 18-20). And to further th… --- ## [What will happen to Palin when she goes home to AK on Nov. 5?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-to-palin-when-she-goes-home-to-ak-on-nov-5/465155)
**Author:** [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-happen-to-palin-when-she-goes-home-to-ak-on-nov-5/465155 "2008-09-25T21:31:24Z")
I have been getting the feeling that Governor Palin’s antics are not going over very well in Alaska. I can’t name any specific thing that makes me think this, just a feeling I have gotten from a number of articles by an… --- ## [We're shooting at our allies and now they're shooting back.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-shooting-at-our-allies-and-now-theyre-shooting-back/465209)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-shooting-at-our-allies-and-now-theyre-shooting-back/465209 "2008-09-25T21:15:04Z")
Whoops --- ## [Fannie & Freddie and Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fannie-freddie-and-obama/465163)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fannie-freddie-and-obama/465163 "2008-09-25T18:14:35Z")
My head is spinning from all this financial trauma. This (Fox News) Youtube video says Obama was one of the top three recipients of Fannie & Freddie dough. Does this make Obama “one of the good ol’ boys”? H… --- ## [So -- The KAL 007 Passengers Are Alive And Well And Living In The Gulag?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-kal-007-passengers-are-alive-and-well-and-living-in-the-gulag/465029)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-kal-007-passengers-are-alive-and-well-and-living-in-the-gulag/465029 "2008-09-25T14:58:16Z")
Oookayy. I don’t know how I missed this CT (apologies if this has been done before – search doesn’t deal well with either KAL or 007): http://www.rescue007.org/faq.htm My initial conclusion is that the crazy paranoid … --- ## [Will the issue of the economy ultimately sink the Republican ticket?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-issue-of-the-economy-ultimately-sink-the-republican-ticket/465152)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-issue-of-the-economy-ultimately-sink-the-republican-ticket/465152 "2008-09-25T14:41:29Z")
Obama supporters gave a sigh of relief this morning as his numbers this week have bounced back up and in the shadow of a US economic crisis pollsshow more people trust Obama to get us out of it than McCain. The post conv… --- ## [Is "no child left behind" a fatally flawed concept?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-child-left-behind-a-fatally-flawed-concept/464701)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-no-child-left-behind-a-fatally-flawed-concept/464701 "2008-09-25T14:11:04Z")
In life as in all things there is a bell curve of ability and motivation. If you spend an inordinate amount of time and resources trying to mainstream non-academically inclined kids aren’t you dragging the whole system d… --- ## [The failure of the absolute free market system](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-the-absolute-free-market-system/463803)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-the-absolute-free-market-system/463803 "2008-09-25T08:26:38Z")
It seems to me that the recent events involving the demise of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch (in addition to slightly older events like the demise of Bear Sterns, the government stepping in to rescue Fannie Mae and Fr… --- ## [Ron Paul jumps shark, accuses it of being sent by Illuminati](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-jumps-shark-accuses-it-of-being-sent-by-illuminati/465116)
**Author:** [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-jumps-shark-accuses-it-of-being-sent-by-illuminati/465116 "2008-09-25T07:50:29Z")
Ron Paul got a lot of support from libertarian-minded voters and people who would not normally consider voting Republican. When he failed to secure a nomination, it might be thought that the logical choice would be to su… --- ## [Force people who made money from sub-prime mess to pay for it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/force-people-who-made-money-from-sub-prime-mess-to-pay-for-it/464607)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/force-people-who-made-money-from-sub-prime-mess-to-pay-for-it/464607 "2008-09-25T04:58:57Z")
I’m pretty sure many people (financial services execs, traders, brokers, etc) made hundreds of billions of dollars, collectively, out of this whole securitization-of-sub-prime-mortgages fiasco. Instead of making the ave… --- ## [Does Obama understand the economy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-understand-the-economy/463960)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 167\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-obama-understand-the-economy/463960 "2008-09-25T03:41:33Z")
We all fear that McCain will be like Bush I and II and have no clue how to deal with economic downturns or crises. But what about Obama? Has he shown anything either as senator or on the campaign trail to show that he … --- ## [McCain's campaign is writing fake "letters to the editor"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccains-campaign-is-writing-fake-letters-to-the-editor/465014)
**Author:** [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccains-campaign-is-writing-fake-letters-to-the-editor/465014 "2008-09-25T02:35:49Z")
Article here. Essentially, the McCain campaign hires ghost-writers to write fabricated letters in support of McCain and Palin, then mails them to local supporters (who sign them) in swing states after which they get ma… --- ## [What Bizzaro World Does Joe Biden Inhabit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bizzaro-world-does-joe-biden-inhabit/464966)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bizzaro-world-does-joe-biden-inhabit/464966 "2008-09-25T02:15:59Z")
Read about it here:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080923/ap\_on\_el\_pr/biden\_mistaken\_history\_1 So, FDR was president in 1929? And we had national TV in 1929? Seems like old Joe is getting hazy with the facts-i’ll have to … --- ## [Definitive evidence that FOX isn't fair and balanced?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-evidence-that-fox-isnt-fair-and-balanced/464806)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitive-evidence-that-fox-isnt-fair-and-balanced/464806 "2008-09-24T22:30:09Z")
Two things from the start. One, I know good and well that all of the news organizations have their bias, and that they all from time to time seem to miss key facts in their reporting. Second, I’m writing this as someon… --- ## [More voting Mccainery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-voting-mccainery/465071)
**Author:** [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-voting-mccainery/465071 "2008-09-24T22:12:44Z")
From McClatchy Newspapers Democrats: GOP clerk discouraging Colorado students from voting The writing of said article stays in language of accusation, one party to another, and little substansiated fact. However the f… --- ## [UCLA study: Iraq violence drop due to ethnic cleansing, not the Surge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-study-iraq-violence-drop-due-to-ethnic-cleansing-not-the-surge/464702)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ucla-study-iraq-violence-drop-due-to-ethnic-cleansing-not-the-surge/464702 "2008-09-24T22:05:57Z")
Story here. Actual study here (pdf). They are not the first to say so, to be sure. The methodology, however, is something I never would have thought of: Measuring electricity use in various neighborhoods before, durin… --- ## [A Different way to Vote](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-way-to-vote/464813)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-way-to-vote/464813 "2008-09-24T21:05:22Z")
A take-off from this thread and this one (the second containing the idea I will present here.) Any competitive system will select for those best suited to win. Those will rise to the top, those who aren’t will shuffle a… --- ## [Biden Getting Ready To Step Aside?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023)
**Author:** [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-getting-ready-to-step-aside/463023 "2008-09-24T20:46:51Z")
What a shock. Joe Biden is an absolute idiot who, on the same day he asked a wheelchair-bound state senator to stand up for a round of applause, is now admitting: “Make no mistake about this,” Biden responded. “Hillary… --- ## [The End, Planet X and 2012?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-planet-x-and-2012/464738)
**Author:** [@Pinzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pinzone)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-planet-x-and-2012/464738 "2008-09-24T20:44:28Z")
Could this of the world’s upheavals be preface for The End/Begining, when some are predicting that we’ll be buzzed by Planet X, and things will turn upside down, destroying most, if not all life on Earth? :confused: --- ## [Is this the final word on NDEs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-final-word-on-ndes/464177)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-final-word-on-ndes/464177 "2008-09-24T20:17:13Z")
Providing cheating is prevented, will this proposed study be the nail in the coffin, or do you think it might provide evidence of a paranormal nature? --- ## [Adam and Eve- Burning in Hell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-and-eve-burning-in-hell/464855)
**Author:** [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-and-eve-burning-in-hell/464855 "2008-09-24T20:06:14Z")
I woke up this morning, having left the television on last night, to a TV preacher on WGN telling the story of Cain and Abel. The curious part was that he said that “Cain was the first person to go to hell, assuming he … --- ## [Why Americans vote for underqualified politicians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-vote-for-underqualified-politicians/464347)
**Author:** [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-vote-for-underqualified-politicians/464347 "2008-09-24T20:02:28Z")
I just had a thought today and I thought I’d share it with you guys and see what you have to say about it. I got to thinking about what the hell is wrong with America, and why we have such a fascination with electing “n… --- ## [Why the need to cry "Lie"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-need-to-cry-lie/464460)
**Author:** [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-need-to-cry-lie/464460 "2008-09-24T19:40:20Z")
Hey, my first new thread! It seems that certain people (both lefities and righties, Democrats and Republicans) are very quick to say that a politician “lied” when they say anything that either turns out not to be 100% t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=600) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=602)