# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=628 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 629 --- ## [Am I enlightened?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-enlightened/450581)
**Author:** [@Friedah35](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Friedah35)\ **Replies:** 223\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-enlightened/450581 "2008-06-12T02:17:22Z")
I have frequented this message board off and on for several years now, as I have found some of the debates to be interesting and so forth. But now I submit my first post, as I am seeking a challenge from the logical, in… --- ## [Coolest Winter Since 2001+US oil reserves+Middle east Apocalypse=NO GAS IN 3 YEARS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-winter-since-2001-us-oil-reserves-middle-east-apocalypse-no-gas-in-3-years/452504)
**Author:** [@focusonz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/focusonz)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-winter-since-2001-us-oil-reserves-middle-east-apocalypse-no-gas-in-3-years/452504 "2008-06-11T23:22:15Z")
These are the conclusions backed up by cites that follow and then, don’t panic, there exists a way out of the forest at the end of this post. 1.The climate is changing and has changed and will continue to change and has… --- ## [Primeminister Harper to Apologize to Canadian Natives regarding Canada's "Genocide"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primeminister-harper-to-apologize-to-canadian-natives-regarding-canadas-genocide/452593)
**Author:** [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primeminister-harper-to-apologize-to-canadian-natives-regarding-canadas-genocide/452593 "2008-06-11T22:03:25Z")
Today Harper will offer an official apology on behalf of the Governement and people of Canada to the 1st Nations for its residental school policy http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/11/harper-apology.html The backst… --- ## [AGW legislation plus Obama Spending = bankruptcy for 45M US Households](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agw-legislation-plus-obama-spending-bankruptcy-for-45m-us-households/451709)
**Author:** [@focusonz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/focusonz)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agw-legislation-plus-obama-spending-bankruptcy-for-45m-us-households/451709 "2008-06-11T19:29:11Z")
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0229748720080602 The synopsis of the legislation Details how money is collected! Does not detail how money is spent! Does not reduce requirements for environmental impac… --- ## [Is there a name for this type of libertarian?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-libertarian/451903)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-type-of-libertarian/451903 "2008-06-11T15:56:34Z")
I’m not thinking about the some normal libertarian who might be a Ron Paul fan, supports minimal government and minimal intrusion into personal freedoms, and so on. I’m thinking about the crowd that … Refuses to pay i… --- ## [Smart move: Build Luxury cars in China?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-move-build-luxury-cars-in-china/452448)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-move-build-luxury-cars-in-china/452448 "2008-06-11T12:19:06Z")
How much would an ASTON-MARTIN car (if made in China) cost? I belive that labor accounts for about65-70% of the cost of a new car, and ASTON-MARTIN is a special case-it is produced in such small volumes (it ain’t a Chevy… --- ## ["I hate war." But I love the military.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-war-but-i-love-the-military/452242)
**Author:** [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2008, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-war-but-i-love-the-military/452242 "2008-06-11T10:46:38Z")
In John McCain’s first general campaign ad, he makes the assertion: \[QUOTE=John McCain\] I hate war. And I know how terrible its costs are. \[/QUOTE\] Now, this is not intended to be a debate about John McCain per se, b… --- ## [I know gender is variable, but re the "Pregnant Man" isn't there a breaking point?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-gender-is-variable-but-re-the-pregnant-man-isnt-there-a-breaking-point/452241)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-gender-is-variable-but-re-the-pregnant-man-isnt-there-a-breaking-point/452241 "2008-06-11T01:18:36Z")
Per this story about the “Pregnant Man” isn’t here a point at which our determination to be politically correct and lexically polite simply breaks down? A “man” by definition cannot become pregnant. It’s physically impo… --- ## [Will people shrunk by a shrink-ray be super strong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-people-shrunk-by-a-shrink-ray-be-super-strong/452418)
**Author:** [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-people-shrunk-by-a-shrink-ray-be-super-strong/452418 "2008-06-10T21:24:22Z")
Taking the plot of Fantastic Voyage plus the fact that x^2:x^3 phenomena drastically change the apparent strengths of things (and other properties), would shrunken humans gain superhuman strength, resiliance, and other a… --- ## [Why did Obama win/Hillary lose the nomination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-obama-win-hillary-lose-the-nomination/452146)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-obama-win-hillary-lose-the-nomination/452146 "2008-06-10T19:15:54Z")
There have been lots of “Hillary’s evil” and “Obama cured my scrofula” threads (and I’m not pointing fingers since I’ve participated in most and started at least a couple), but this one’s more objective. Hillary began a… --- ## ["I'll have to explain it to my children!" Acceptable Justification?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-have-to-explain-it-to-my-children-acceptable-justification/451909)
**Author:** [@jkusters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkusters)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ill-have-to-explain-it-to-my-children-acceptable-justification/451909 "2008-06-10T18:40:38Z")
I’ve read a number of news reports recently about a lesbian couple who were threatened with expulsion from a Mariners baseball game. (An example of such a story is here.) The point of this thread, however, is not about t… --- ## [What happened to the reputations of the Neocons that supported the invasion of Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-reputations-of-the-neocons-that-supported-the-invasion-of-iraq/450624)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-reputations-of-the-neocons-that-supported-the-invasion-of-iraq/450624 "2008-06-10T17:50:46Z")
I haven’t heard much over the last few years from the cadre of various think tank & media darling necons that were pressing hard for the invasion of Iraq in the early stages leading up to the invasion. They used to be a… --- ## [New cars...dumb decision?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cars-dumb-decision/452365)
**Author:** [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cars-dumb-decision/452365 "2008-06-10T16:51:23Z")
Provoked by this reply from Gjanima in a different thread: I’ve head his outlook before. I want to believe it. However, the last 3 times I went out to look at a newer car I didn’t see what was so smart about it. All… --- ## [31 000 American scientists cancel global warming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/31-000-american-scientists-cancel-global-warming/451359)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/31-000-american-scientists-cancel-global-warming/451359 "2008-06-10T13:36:22Z")
have we been fooled by environmentalists, scientist and politicians? The scientist seems to be far more divided than earlier --- ## [Future of Colombia and the FARC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-colombia-and-the-farc/452355)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-colombia-and-the-farc/452355 "2008-06-10T08:09:13Z")
The Colombian rebel organization FARC just got a new leader, Alfonso Cano (aka Guillermo Leon Saenz), replacing the late Manuel Marulanda. According to this article, the consensus seems to be that the FARC (1) is pretty… --- ## [How (other than racism) can Hillary supporters justify voting for McCain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-other-than-racism-can-hillary-supporters-justify-voting-for-mccain/451852)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-other-than-racism-can-hillary-supporters-justify-voting-for-mccain/451852 "2008-06-10T00:31:19Z")
Big Disclaimer: I do NOT believe or mean to imply that racism is behind somebody supporting Hillary or McCain instead of Obama; there are several valid reasons to support either one due to political/economic/ideological … --- ## [Invocation/Lord's Prayer at public school graduation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invocation-lords-prayer-at-public-school-graduation/451478)
**Author:** [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Replies:** 174\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invocation-lords-prayer-at-public-school-graduation/451478 "2008-06-09T22:41:45Z")
On Saturday, we went to a graduation at a public high school in a small town in Kentucky. Early on, my wife (who graduated from a small city school in Kentucky) turned to me and told me they were about to do an invocati… --- ## [Why don't you like Joe Lieberman?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-like-joe-lieberman/451841)
**Author:** [@happywaffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happywaffle)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2008, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-like-joe-lieberman/451841 "2008-06-09T12:21:46Z")
I’m pretty ignorant of all the current disdain for Joe Lieberman, though I find it especially interesting considering the guy was a few chads away from being our (current?) VP. Anyway, for those who aren’t so ignorant, I… --- ## [are the "Clinton-feminists" racist ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-clinton-feminists-racist/452151)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-clinton-feminists-racist/452151 "2008-06-09T01:39:52Z")
CNN asked a New York woman in her 50s (Hillary supporter) if she was going to support Obama now that Hillary have lost, where she answered that was going to vote for MaCain. She also said that she didn’t want a black man… --- ## [The era of cheap food & resources is coming to an end. Massive changes are ahead!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-era-of-cheap-food-resources-is-coming-to-an-end-massive-changes-are-ahead/452230)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-era-of-cheap-food-resources-is-coming-to-an-end-massive-changes-are-ahead/452230 "2008-06-09T00:03:23Z")
With gas at $4 a gallon in the US and rising, and the ever increasing prices of food I have to wonder if we’re setting the stage for a period of massive inflation. So far energy and food increases are annoying but manage… --- ## [Why would Obama even contemplate an Obama-Hillary ticket? The notion is absurd.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-even-contemplate-an-obama-hillary-ticket-the-notion-is-absurd/451849)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-obama-even-contemplate-an-obama-hillary-ticket-the-notion-is-absurd/451849 "2008-06-08T22:48:11Z")
She’s angling for an invite, but she has no real leverage, she has been graceless in pending defeat (so far) and she would be very unlikely to make a good second banana. Plus I rather doubt they would get along. Unless … --- ## [Mobile phone popcorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobile-phone-popcorn/452122)
**Author:** [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mobile-phone-popcorn/452122 "2008-06-08T19:35:56Z")
http://forums.myspace.com/p/3999156/44246726.aspx?fuseaction=forums.viewpost What is happening here? The math makes sense that it should not have enough energy, but is there interference and constructive waves going on… --- ## [Obama v. McCain: Start your engines!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-v-mccain-start-your-engines/451701)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-v-mccain-start-your-engines/451701 "2008-06-08T18:50:27Z")
Obama’s nomination seems all but certain at this point, so it’s time to start the real campaign season (i.e., that in the GD Forum of the SDMB; I understand there might also be a public election or something to ratify th… --- ## [Regime Change in Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regime-change-in-sudan/452244)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regime-change-in-sudan/452244 "2008-06-08T18:00:49Z")
What if instead of Iraq Bush had gone after the Sudan? It was a known Al Qaeda training ground, which is why Clinton attacked it. There was an unpopular genocide occurring. Would the same multilateral moral support we… --- ## [Fork Hillary - The Wooden Stake](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fork-hillary-the-wooden-stake/451862)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fork-hillary-the-wooden-stake/451862 "2008-06-08T14:18:04Z")
Being less informed than we, our noble GD mod closed our Hillary thread. The reason? There was an AP stub report that she was quitting on Friday. :smiley: We can forgive our good friend, Tom, for not knowing the ways o… --- ## [Obama lays down the law with the DNC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-lays-down-the-law-with-the-dnc/452039)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-lays-down-the-law-with-the-dnc/452039 "2008-06-08T13:24:21Z")
Barack is not wasting any time letting the DNC know who their daddy is now: I like this kind of assertiveness, I like the imposition of a genuine change, and I like the not so subtle message implied by the words “My pa… --- ## [Is our releasing CO2 to Earth's (very) long-term benefit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-our-releasing-co2-to-earths-very-long-term-benefit/451892)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-our-releasing-co2-to-earths-very-long-term-benefit/451892 "2008-06-08T11:06:31Z")
I heard this the other day and thought it interesting and amusing enough to post here. Plants absorb CO2 and animals eat plants and CO2 gets turned into coal and oil and limestone, so CO2 gets gradually removed from the… --- ## [Bildebergs in Viriginia- any solid media coverage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bildebergs-in-viriginia-any-solid-media-coverage/452080)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bildebergs-in-viriginia-any-solid-media-coverage/452080 "2008-06-08T07:28:44Z")
and if not, why not? Alas, right now, all I’ve heard of it is from… nutjob Alex Jones, alas. http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/june2008/060508\_spooks\_infest.htm --- ## [Do you have the right to dodge the media?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-the-right-to-dodge-the-media/452028)
**Author:** [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-the-right-to-dodge-the-media/452028 "2008-06-08T05:07:29Z")
On cnn.com there is a clip of someone from the Obama campaign being grilled by the press corps. The corps is upset because Senator Obama arranged some private meetings without the press in attendance. Evidently the pre… --- ## [Should Iraq vote on a continued US military presence in their country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-iraq-vote-on-a-continued-us-military-presence-in-their-country/452137)
**Author:** [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-iraq-vote-on-a-continued-us-military-presence-in-their-country/452137 "2008-06-08T01:54:14Z")
I think it’s a great idea. Of course, I’m speaking from the perspective of an American; I’m not Iraqi. But I think it would add a lot to the debate over the war. Click here for more info: http://chicagoboyz.net/archi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=627) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=629)