# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=620 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 621 --- ## [Why are black political leaders not embracing Obama with open arms?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-political-leaders-not-embracing-obama-with-open-arms/456406)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-black-political-leaders-not-embracing-obama-with-open-arms/456406 "2008-07-17T01:43:30Z")
While Obama’s popularity with the black middle class keeps rising there doesn’t seem to be all that much real Obama love coming from the black political Brahmins. Why? Is it simply jealously as this article suggests or… --- ## [Religion or Ethnic background?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-or-ethnic-background/455374)
**Author:** [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-or-ethnic-background/455374 "2008-07-16T19:53:22Z")
This is something that I’ve tusseled with for years, on a personal basis at times. There are some religions that are very closely identified with ethnic groups; the first one that comes to mind is Judaism. Another exampl… --- ## [Are things worse now than in 1979-80?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-things-worse-now-than-in-1979-80/456562)
**Author:** [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-things-worse-now-than-in-1979-80/456562 "2008-07-16T19:21:10Z")
Make no mistake, I think things are bad now…scary bad. Financial institutions crashing, the entire economy plus we as indivduals reeling from exploding gasoline prices, the lousy dollar, incredible personal and Federal … --- ## [What if self-defence were not an affirmative defence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-self-defence-were-not-an-affirmative-defence/456427)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-self-defence-were-not-an-affirmative-defence/456427 "2008-07-16T17:06:12Z")
Currently self-defence is an affirmative defence. That is, it is for the defendant to prove it. What if it were not affirmative? That is, if the prosecution had to prove that it was not self-defence. How would it affect … --- ## [Mother draws swastika on daughter. Kids taken from her.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-draws-swastika-on-daughter-kids-taken-from-her/456124)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-draws-swastika-on-daughter-kids-taken-from-her/456124 "2008-07-16T16:13:21Z")
I wasn’t sure whether I should put this in Great Debates or in the Pit. I feel quite strongly that was done here was wrong and I could easily have come up with an epithet filled diatribe against the Child and Family Serv… --- ## [Genocide in the U.S. -- Now -- Why Not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genocide-in-the-u-s-now-why-not/455816)
**Author:** [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genocide-in-the-u-s-now-why-not/455816 "2008-07-16T13:34:52Z")
As I’ve read it, recent genocide in other countries (Rwanda, Cambodia, et al) bubbled over rather quickly. Sure, it didn’t actually happen overnight; Rwanda’s tribes had feuded in the past, and Cambodian politics had be… --- ## [Federal Court of Canada: US AWOL soldiers may be refugees after all](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-court-of-canada-us-awol-soldiers-may-be-refugees-after-all/455350)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-court-of-canada-us-awol-soldiers-may-be-refugees-after-all/455350 "2008-07-16T01:54:12Z")
Last fall, we had a discussion about the status of US AWOL soldiers in Canada: Canadian Supremes: AWOL U.S. soldiers are not refugees. Bricker and I had a bit of a debate about the implications of the decision. The i… --- ## [Can anything be done to strengthen the U.S. dollar?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anything-be-done-to-strengthen-the-u-s-dollar/456572)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anything-be-done-to-strengthen-the-u-s-dollar/456572 "2008-07-15T21:27:42Z")
Followup on this thread. Economist Philip Verleger cites the weak U.S. dollar as one of the causes of high oil prices in the U.S., but, apparently, as a cause about which nothing can be done. Can anything be done? --- ## [A 1945-era military with atomic bombs vs. a 2008-era military without](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1945-era-military-with-atomic-bombs-vs-a-2008-era-military-without/455254)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-1945-era-military-with-atomic-bombs-vs-a-2008-era-military-without/455254 "2008-07-15T16:11:04Z")
Yet another speculative scenerio (can you tell I love these?). Let’s say that somehow some great cosmic burp throws two nations from alternate realities against one another. One is equivalent to the United States circa 1… --- ## [Paint a picture of McCain without the Bush brush](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-a-picture-of-mccain-without-the-bush-brush/455738)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-a-picture-of-mccain-without-the-bush-brush/455738 "2008-07-15T14:41:55Z")
As a progressive Republican, I completely understand the vitriol over GWB. Yes, most of it is over the top (e.g. the famous photo of his holding a book upside down was photoshopped) but the truth is that we are wanderin… --- ## [Why do all major religions have Asian roots?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-major-religions-have-asian-roots/456404)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-major-religions-have-asian-roots/456404 "2008-07-15T14:37:44Z")
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Jainism, Baha’i - pretty much every major current religion was either started in Asia or is an offshoot of some oth… --- ## [Would the East India Company still be around if the Indian Mutiny never happened?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-east-india-company-still-be-around-if-the-indian-mutiny-never-happened/453900)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-east-india-company-still-be-around-if-the-indian-mutiny-never-happened/453900 "2008-07-15T13:56:07Z")
The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To British Imperial History\* mentions that is that the Indian Mutiny of 1857 was caused by a myriad of reasons, ranging from mis-management by the East India Company to resentment against the West… --- ## [Is Al-Jazeera reputable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-al-jazeera-reputable/456411)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-al-jazeera-reputable/456411 "2008-07-15T12:18:19Z")
I know this might seem like a strange question, but I’ve seen some interesting reports from Al-Jazeera over the last couple of months. The very mention of the name “Al-Jazeera” would, however, make a lot of people cring… --- ## [Would anyone like to defend the republican part?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-anyone-like-to-defend-the-republican-part/455942)
**Author:** [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-anyone-like-to-defend-the-republican-part/455942 "2008-07-15T07:43:39Z")
I’ve been lurking in some GD threads and thinking about politics lately. In the genocide thread, Der Thris had this to say: Now, I don’t usually agree with Der Thris, and I wouldn’t have phrased it the way he did, but … --- ## [Real cause of crude price increase and a collapse coming?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-cause-of-crude-price-increase-and-a-collapse-coming/455977)
**Author:** [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-cause-of-crude-price-increase-and-a-collapse-coming/455977 "2008-07-15T00:12:16Z")
In a recent email publication from an individual named Philip K. Verleger, Jr. titled “Notes at the Margin” Volume XII, No. 27, Mr. Verleger puts forth his explanation for the significant recent increase in crude prices.… --- ## [Do mainstream economists in the US think a depression is looming?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mainstream-economists-in-the-us-think-a-depression-is-looming/456513)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-mainstream-economists-in-the-us-think-a-depression-is-looming/456513 "2008-07-14T23:55:36Z")
I’d post this in GQ, but I don’t know if there’s a factual answer; the question is related to current events. I want to know if the majority view of regarded mainstream economists – not the fringe, not survivalists, not… --- ## ["Hi. My name is T. Boone Pickens. I am an oil man...."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-my-name-is-t-boone-pickens-i-am-an-oil-man/455980)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-my-name-is-t-boone-pickens-i-am-an-oil-man/455980 "2008-07-14T22:35:15Z")
“…and I’ve got a plan.” Has anyone seen these commercials? I didn’t know who this guy was before a few days ago, but apparently he’s a big time oil guy with a plan to help reduce dependence on foreign oil with a combina… --- ## [Are stocks REALLY the best investment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stocks-really-the-best-investment/456070)
**Author:** [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-stocks-really-the-best-investment/456070 "2008-07-14T22:22:37Z")
If you read Money magazine or most other conventional wisdom, you have been told that stocks are the best long term investment. While that was true in the 20th century, can we really expect that rate of growth in the de… --- ## [How do devout Christians justify military service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-devout-christians-justify-military-service/455666)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-devout-christians-justify-military-service/455666 "2008-07-14T18:04:40Z")
This is really a GQ, but given the subject matter I’ll put it here to avoid it having to be moved later. As mentioned in the “Christian Military” thread, this is something I have wondered before. These are just … --- ## [The Iraqi "Timetable" Debacle, or, WTF?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-timetable-debacle-or-wtf/455689)
**Author:** [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iraqi-timetable-debacle-or-wtf/455689 "2008-07-14T17:54:05Z")
It just gets wierder. First, we have this: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/07/maliki-timeline/ (Note: quotes are taken directly from Think Progress, which supplies the links embedded in the text. I have clicked the … --- ## [China is committing suicide..](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-is-committing-suicide/456104)
**Author:** [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-is-committing-suicide/456104 "2008-07-14T17:49:24Z")
A friend of mine went to Bejing a few yrs ago and her biggest impression was the pollution. She is not chemically sensitive or anything (she smokes a pack aday), but the 30 ft trip from the cab to the hotel door left he… --- ## [War with the US & Israel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-with-the-us-israel/455987)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-with-the-us-israel/455987 "2008-07-14T15:35:48Z")
Let’s look at this from the point of view of the “Iranian leadership” hive-mind. The Americans will soon build an anti-missile system in Europe to preclude our use of missile. We are in a “use them or lose them” situa… --- ## [When does Child support end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-child-support-end/456009)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-child-support-end/456009 "2008-07-14T13:05:00Z")
Does it end when: -the child reaches the age of 21? -the child moves out of the parent’s home? -the child finishes college/ -the child has children of its own? And, does this have to be validated by the family court… --- ## [Who's really in charge? Paranoid or possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-really-in-charge-paranoid-or-possible/454644)
**Author:** [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2008, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-really-in-charge-paranoid-or-possible/454644 "2008-07-14T10:21:56Z")
A friend of mine says he thinks Al Gore got a call in 2000 to back off from pursuing any further recount in FL. We’ve seen the Dems get voted in in 2006 and basically do nothing. Now we’re beginning to see Obama stray f… --- ## [McCain advisor to Americans: stop whining just because you lost your house and shit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-advisor-to-americans-stop-whining-just-because-you-lost-your-house-and-shit/456025)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-advisor-to-americans-stop-whining-just-because-you-lost-your-house-and-shit/456025 "2008-07-13T22:41:01Z")
When McCain said he needed more learnin’ before he could talk about the economy, he chose Phil Gramm — author of the Enron Loophole that allows energy traders to speculate without regulation, hoard commodities, and pay m… --- ## [Do Math Wizars Peak early?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-math-wizars-peak-early/456008)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-math-wizars-peak-early/456008 "2008-07-13T16:41:23Z")
Do mathematicians and physicists peak early? I have heard it said that most of the great mathematicians did their best work before the age of 25. Thereafter, many of these men continued to make solid contributions, but n… --- ## [Judge rules FISA is "exclusive" means for wiretapping -- POTUS can't use CinC power](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rules-fisa-is-exclusive-means-for-wiretapping-potus-cant-use-cinc-power/455200)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rules-fisa-is-exclusive-means-for-wiretapping-potus-cant-use-cinc-power/455200 "2008-07-13T15:54:11Z")
Followup on this thread, but it’s a year old and I didn’t want to bump it. See also this thread. Story here: This, recall, is the case where the charity, the now-defunct U.S. branch of the al-Haramain Islamic Foundat… --- ## [Will any new technology ever make driving cheap again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-any-new-technology-ever-make-driving-cheap-again/456285)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-any-new-technology-ever-make-driving-cheap-again/456285 "2008-07-13T04:30:27Z")
Or, can any conceivable technology for propelling land vehicles ever be as cheap (allowing for inflation) as gasoline used to be? Many people say (and some gleefully) that the era of cheap transportation is over forever.… --- ## [Canuck Dopers: Dr Morgentaler - Order of Canada - Yea or Nay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-dopers-dr-morgentaler-order-of-canada-yea-or-nay/455945)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck-dopers-dr-morgentaler-order-of-canada-yea-or-nay/455945 "2008-07-13T03:36:46Z")
On July 1, the Governor General’s office announced that Dr. Henry Morgentaler, the person who probably did more than any other single Canadian to decriminalize abortion by means of civil disobedience, was named to the Or… --- ## [Is the US a terrorist state?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-a-terrorist-state/456086)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-a-terrorist-state/456086 "2008-07-12T18:38:17Z")
In the thread War with US & Israel the discussion drifted to the distinctions of what constitutes a state that sponsors terrorism. Rather than fully hijack that thread I figured a new discussion was warranted. In the t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=619) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=621)