# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=621 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 622 --- ## [Louisiana passes law to castrate rapists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/louisiana-passes-law-to-castrate-rapists/455914)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/louisiana-passes-law-to-castrate-rapists/455914 "2008-07-12T17:14:45Z")
I think this is great news. Rapists need to be severely punished. Their lives should be made to be almost unbearable. It is just too bad Louisiana did not pass a law that requires physical castration on the first offe… --- ## [Utah going to a 4 day workweek.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-going-to-a-4-day-workweek/455866)
**Author:** [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-going-to-a-4-day-workweek/455866 "2008-07-12T13:30:30Z")
link So what do you guys think? Personally I would absolutely love to work four 10 hour days instead of five 8 hour days, but I can see employers grumbling about lost productivity because I think ultimately workers wil… --- ## [Presidents, candidates and humor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-candidates-and-humor/455947)
**Author:** [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-candidates-and-humor/455947 "2008-07-12T01:05:31Z")
I am pretty consistently a democrat. I’ve voted for one Republican and one independent in my 34 years of voting at the national level (senators and presidents). But I think some of the jokes made by some Republicns hav… --- ## [Is "Organized Crime" better then Disorganized crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-organized-crime-better-then-disorganized-crime/455558)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-organized-crime-better-then-disorganized-crime/455558 "2008-07-12T00:40:15Z")
What are the societal benefits of having “Organized” Crime (versus disorganized crime)? I can think of a few things: -under an Organized crime system, the Mafia (or whatever organization runs things), has a recognized… --- ## [Is it a sin to have your cat put to sleep?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-sin-to-have-your-cat-put-to-sleep/456098)
**Author:** [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-sin-to-have-your-cat-put-to-sleep/456098 "2008-07-11T22:26:03Z")
(No, I’m not asking for advice.) This came up earlier this evening while I was getting my hair cut. My barber mentioned that he had another client who had put her cat to sleep. Not because the cat was old or sick, but … --- ## [Moon Landings: why is there no dust in the lander pads?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-landings-why-is-there-no-dust-in-the-lander-pads/455812)
**Author:** [@where\_s\_the\_subscription\_info](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/where_s_the_subscription_info)\ **Replies:** 217\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-landings-why-is-there-no-dust-in-the-lander-pads/455812 "2008-07-11T21:38:25Z")
Hi I tried to search for this ‘debate’ as it must be as old as the wallpaper in here… but anyway, here goes. It’s a Q that I’ve always needed to itch. On photographs of the moon landers’ feet, you can see inside the pa… --- ## [The newest Jesse Jackson/Obama flap](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newest-jesse-jackson-obama-flap/455897)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-newest-jesse-jackson-obama-flap/455897 "2008-07-11T17:43:36Z")
Apparently the Reverend Jesse Jackson has been peeved that Obama is seemingly lecturing the Black community on moral issues, and in front of a mike that he knew not was live disparaged him somewhat crudely. My proposi… --- ## [How, exactly, did Disney "Kill Copyright?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-did-disney-kill-copyright/455278)
**Author:** [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-did-disney-kill-copyright/455278 "2008-07-11T16:13:31Z")
I’ve seen a lot of lawyers dealing a lot with copyright cases express distaste (or in some cases, deep seeded disdain) for Disney violating the spirit of copyright. They never really make clear arguments, but I gather it… --- ## [Should fertile people be allowed to adopt children?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fertile-people-be-allowed-to-adopt-children/455966)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-fertile-people-be-allowed-to-adopt-children/455966 "2008-07-11T12:51:56Z")
The whole Jolie-Pitt twin girls got me to thinking: These people are obviously able to have children, yet they adopt. The list of celebrities who have done so includes Michael Landon, Jill Ireland & David McCallum, Jill … --- ## [The Real Fate of Cryogenically Frozen Corpses.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-fate-of-cryogenically-frozen-corpses/455933)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-fate-of-cryogenically-frozen-corpses/455933 "2008-07-11T12:11:07Z")
As I’ve already mentioned, there is a Star Trek: TNG episode that deals with cryogenically frozen dead people, more or less from our time period, being brought to life in the 24th century. The work is purely fictional, o… --- ## [Iran's missiles: is Israel the real target?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993 "2008-07-11T09:28:10Z")
Look at the range of those missiles: 2000km+. Israel’s a convenient scapegoat, but I’m wondering if the real recipients of the message are China and India. Much of India is in range, and so is the Chinese border. Both co… --- ## [Do you have an Ethical Obligation to Question the Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-ethical-obligation-to-question-the-law/455477)
**Author:** [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-an-ethical-obligation-to-question-the-law/455477 "2008-07-11T01:46:22Z")
If you would consider yourself to be an ethical person, (based on whatever principles you derive your inner compass from) do you have an obligation to question and protest laws you find unfair or unethical? For the purp… --- ## [Obama/McCain & Corporate Tax Rates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-mccain-corporate-tax-rates/455920)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-mccain-corporate-tax-rates/455920 "2008-07-10T23:43:48Z")
My favoured candidate is for increasing corporate taxes and the other is for cutting corporate taxes in the US which seem to be the highest in the world. That is unfortunate for me, but given that the economy is presentl… --- ## [Death for any felony: Let's bring it back](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-for-any-felony-lets-bring-it-back/455938)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-for-any-felony-lets-bring-it-back/455938 "2008-07-10T22:28:24Z")
In this thread: at least one person asked why not just kill all criminals. He was not suggesting he actually do this. I am. It is important that we do not kill persons who are innocent. So I would require an extra fi… --- ## [Is there any such thing as being a "race traitor"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-being-a-race-traitor/454528)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-such-thing-as-being-a-race-traitor/454528 "2008-07-10T22:14:21Z")
Inspired by the incredible derailing on this thread. Now, I realize that the term “race traitor” is a bit loaded, being mostly associated with white supremacists against any white person who doesn’t share their point of… --- ## [Flint expands the definition of indecent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flint-expands-the-definition-of-indecent/455835)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flint-expands-the-definition-of-indecent/455835 "2008-07-10T18:18:56Z")
Flint .Mich. police chief David Dicks (real name) has ordered his officers to ticket or arrest people (kids) who wear their pants low enough to expose their underwear. He declares it a public nuisance and indecent exposu… --- ## [Why did Bush choose Cheney as his VP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bush-choose-cheney-as-his-vp/455740)
**Author:** [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bush-choose-cheney-as-his-vp/455740 "2008-07-10T17:25:45Z")
In this age of people closely scrutinizing which VP will bring in the best segment of voters and carefully weighing the options of different governors and delegates around the nation, I get to wonder: Cheney? Really? D… --- ## [Is the media exacerbating America's economic woes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-media-exacerbating-americas-economic-woes/454971)
**Author:** [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-media-exacerbating-americas-economic-woes/454971 "2008-07-10T16:21:33Z")
It seems that much of the news concerns America’s economic woes these days…gas prices, the stock market, mortgage crisis, weak dollar, etc. While these things are certainly newsworthy and real problems, I’m starting to … --- ## [Whose scorn is most harmful for a candidate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-scorn-is-most-harmful-for-a-candidate/455918)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-scorn-is-most-harmful-for-a-candidate/455918 "2008-07-10T05:37:45Z")
The current consensus of opinions (including mine) of “Who really cares what Jesse Jackson thinks?” in this thread has me wondering- Who do you think has the most power to do the most real damage to a presidential candi… --- ## [Did Caesar deserve it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-caesar-deserve-it/455627)
**Author:** [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-caesar-deserve-it/455627 "2008-07-09T23:19:54Z")
Three questions: 1.) If you had been a prominent Roman citizen at the time of Julius Caesar’s assassination, and the conspirators had approached you, would you have joined the conspiracy? Betrayed it? Or done nothing? A… --- ## [Why Do People Display the POW MIA Flag?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-display-the-pow-mia-flag/455635)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-display-the-pow-mia-flag/455635 "2008-07-09T22:54:47Z")
It has been 33 years since the USA ended involvement in the Vietnam War. Vietnam is now a major trading partner of the USA, and trade with Vietnam is growing. So why do some people believe that Vietnam is keeping elderly… --- ## [Will Texas turn blue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-texas-turn-blue/455524)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-texas-turn-blue/455524 "2008-07-09T22:38:58Z")
Some think that indeed Texas can tun blue. No, I highly doubt that Team Obama is going to make huge media buys in Texas. It is an expensive state and as I think 538 pointed out as well (can’t find the post) an Obama wi… --- ## [Could a Crow Have Helped Me Find My Golf Ball?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-crow-have-helped-me-find-my-golf-ball/455833)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-crow-have-helped-me-find-my-golf-ball/455833 "2008-07-09T22:31:09Z")
This thread could go in many places, but let me start here in Great Debates because it’s surely debatable. last night I sliced my tee shot over a tree line and into an open area. As I rounded the end of the tree line a… --- ## [Principles vs reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/principles-vs-reality/455467)
**Author:** [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/principles-vs-reality/455467 "2008-07-09T20:50:55Z")
There have been some interesting discussions here lately about political issues. In the Equality vs Freedom thread I tried to discuss a basic concept of conservative and liberal. We got off track a bit talking about smok… --- ## [Could Lincoln be elected today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512)
**Author:** [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512 "2008-07-09T20:49:27Z")
He served four terms in the Illinois House; one term in the federal House - which ended in 1849. His next political experience was a losing effort in the Illinois Senatorial election of 1858. Yet he was elected President… --- ## [Arms, And The Regulation Thereof: Let's Come To A Consensus.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arms-and-the-regulation-thereof-lets-come-to-a-consensus/454741)
**Author:** [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arms-and-the-regulation-thereof-lets-come-to-a-consensus/454741 "2008-07-09T20:01:22Z")
Inspired by the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the individual rights interpretation of the 2nd Amendment, as well as Sal Ammoniac’s recent thread here. Okay, one of the central pillars of the gun-control advocate… --- ## [Are there really "Too many lawyers"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-too-many-lawyers/455329)
**Author:** [@scrambledeggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scrambledeggs)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-too-many-lawyers/455329 "2008-07-09T19:18:17Z")
it’s almost a slogan: “Too many lawyers”. I’m not sure if this is true. But I did look up the yellow pages under “Attorneys” for my town, and it seemed like there were more than you could have ever hoped for. I tried lo… --- ## [Bob Barr drinking John McCain's milkshake?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barr-drinking-john-mccains-milkshake/455704)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-barr-drinking-john-mccains-milkshake/455704 "2008-07-09T14:42:40Z")
According to Zogby, Libertarian Candidate, Bob Barr is polling at 6% nationally, but perhaps more troubling for McCain is what Barr is pulling from conservatives and independents: I have no doubt that Barr’s poll numbe… --- ## [McCain would be OK if not for Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-would-be-ok-if-not-for-obama/455655)
**Author:** [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-would-be-ok-if-not-for-obama/455655 "2008-07-09T03:32:31Z")
Yeah, I know: duh. But I mean Obama rather than another Democratic candidate. McCain really became visible on the national political radar in the 2000 primary season, when he could still plausibly claim to be a “maveri… --- ## [Is peer review as great as it's cracked up to be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-peer-review-as-great-as-its-cracked-up-to-be/455143)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-peer-review-as-great-as-its-cracked-up-to-be/455143 "2008-07-08T20:16:02Z")
I think that it is not. As I see, the nature of the academic world does not lead to the publication of high-quality, truthful articles. In many cases it leads to the opposite. To understand this, let’s look at the pre… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=620) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=622)