# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=640 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 641 --- ## [Life Begins at Conception - Arguments against?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-begins-at-conception-arguments-against/445328)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 314\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-begins-at-conception-arguments-against/445328 "2008-04-22T23:42:59Z")
What are the argument against the idea that life begins at conception? It seems self evident that life begins at the point of conception, but this point gets argued about in the abortion debate - for example, Senator Oba… --- ## [PA Primary results thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-primary-results-thread/446462)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pa-primary-results-thread/446462 "2008-04-22T22:01:55Z")
I figured we might as well have a new thread to discuss the results. Drudge just posted that Exit polls are showing it it 52-48 Hillary. If that holds up, it’s bad news for Hilldog. A 4 point victory is as good as a los… --- ## [Handicapping the Pennsylvania primary, 4/22/08](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-pennsylvania-primary-4-22-08/443056)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 270\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-pennsylvania-primary-4-22-08/443056 "2008-04-22T18:42:01Z")
The polls show HRC comfortably ahead, but Senator Bob Casey just endorsed Obama. Any chance he can win it? --- ## [Who was Hitler before Hitler/](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-hitler-before-hitler/446128)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-hitler-before-hitler/446128 "2008-04-22T16:44:58Z")
Today, if you really want to tar somebody’s ideas, you compare that person to Hitler. But, who were the people that were used as references before Hitler? Some guesses on my part: Genghis Khan Nero Ivan IV of Russia P… --- ## [If W strikes a non-treaty "agreement" with Iraq, is it binding on the next admin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-w-strikes-a-non-treaty-agreement-with-iraq-is-it-binding-on-the-next-admin/446391)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-w-strikes-a-non-treaty-agreement-with-iraq-is-it-binding-on-the-next-admin/446391 "2008-04-22T15:45:58Z")
Story here. Thing is, this “status of forces” agreement is not a treaty, therefore does not require Senate approval. But, in that case, is it legally binding on the U.S. government, and especially on the next administ… --- ## [Rep. Barney Frank introduces federal marijuana-decrim bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barney-frank-introduces-federal-marijuana-decrim-bill/445909)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barney-frank-introduces-federal-marijuana-decrim-bill/445909 "2008-04-22T07:08:35Z")
Story here. This would only repeal the federal laws criminalizing the holy hempweed, leaving the rest up to the states. Nice to hear some common sense out of Washington, but is this the time?! I mean, with so much els… --- ## [In Vitro Meat and Vegetarians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-vitro-meat-and-vegetarians/444942)
**Author:** [@spazattak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spazattak)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-vitro-meat-and-vegetarians/444942 "2008-04-22T06:00:16Z")
In vitro meat seems to be not too far from being a feasible food product. Since it’s tissue grown in a lab and there are no animals involved. Would this product be acceptable to vegetarians and vegans? Sign me up for th… --- ## [Ed Rendell complimentary to Farrakhan at Forum. Damage to Hillary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-rendell-complimentary-to-farrakhan-at-forum-damage-to-hillary/446283)
**Author:** [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-rendell-complimentary-to-farrakhan-at-forum-damage-to-hillary/446283 "2008-04-22T02:22:45Z")
Uh-oh. Video of Ed Rendell speaking to a packed audience where Louis Farrakhan was the keynote speaker (sitting to Rendell’s right), referring to a letter sent to Farrakhan and complimenting the Nation of Islam. So, I a… --- ## [How long will the farce about falling Iraqi violence continue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-farce-about-falling-iraqi-violence-continue/446085)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-farce-about-falling-iraqi-violence-continue/446085 "2008-04-22T02:00:47Z")
Members of the pro-war faction generally take it as a given that violence in Iraq is falling. This is often used as proof that the surge is succeeding, that we’ve won the overall war, and/or that the only people who ref… --- ## [What is a feminist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-feminist/445938)
**Author:** [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-feminist/445938 "2008-04-21T23:50:29Z")
Or, maybe the question should be, what is feminism? I wonder this a lot as I read the SDMB, because I consider myself a feminist, but I suspect that many people here would disagree with my definition of it, or even disp… --- ## [Why don't FLDS men just wait until the girls are 18?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-flds-men-just-wait-until-the-girls-are-18/445896)
**Author:** [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-flds-men-just-wait-until-the-girls-are-18/445896 "2008-04-21T23:40:03Z")
While listening to the coverage of the FLDS child abuse case in Texas, my husband and I started wondering, why don’t FLDS men just wait until girls are 18 to “marry” them? It seems like it help keep them out of trouble … --- ## [Is the death penalty for child rape unconstitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-death-penalty-for-child-rape-unconstitutional/445790)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-death-penalty-for-child-rape-unconstitutional/445790 "2008-04-21T21:06:15Z")
Louisiana allows the death penalty to be imposed for rape if the victim is under 12. Kennedy v. Louisiana is before the Supreme Court right now. The are currently two men on death row for capital rape in the US; Pat… --- ## [I think the Texas CPS system is being needlessly cruel & draconian in the FLDS case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-the-texas-cps-system-is-being-needlessly-cruel-draconian-in-the-flds-case/445983)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-the-texas-cps-system-is-being-needlessly-cruel-draconian-in-the-flds-case/445983 "2008-04-21T20:04:37Z")
Granted you many have some underage pregnant teenagers who were coerced to marry and have sex when under aged. Segregate those out and deal with them on a case by case basis if they are at risk. For the remaining vast ma… --- ## [Seat Belt Laws: Good or bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-laws-good-or-bad/444478)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-laws-good-or-bad/444478 "2008-04-21T17:50:26Z")
I didn’t want to hijack the Canadian gun thread, so I started this one to respond to RickJay’s seat belt comments: \[QUOTE=RickJay\] To use an example, I believe seat belt laws are a reasonable intrusion upon people’s li… --- ## [Is Iran Offering Us a Way Out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-iran-offering-us-a-way-out/446077)
**Author:** [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-iran-offering-us-a-way-out/446077 "2008-04-21T16:36:16Z")
Inspired by: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/w...all&oref=slogin It strikes me a golden opportunity, that may have been deliberately proferred. The Iranians may have finally realized that the best way to deal with … --- ## [What if the South had been allowed to secede?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-south-had-been-allowed-to-secede/445376)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-south-had-been-allowed-to-secede/445376 "2008-04-21T03:49:36Z")
Just another related what-if to the ongoing Buchanan: what if the secession was not contested? What would have happened? Could they have been brought back into the fold and slavery abolished with economic pressures alon… --- ## [Is a NWA, Delta merger a wise move at this time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-nwa-delta-merger-a-wise-move-at-this-time/445536)
**Author:** [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-nwa-delta-merger-a-wise-move-at-this-time/445536 "2008-04-21T01:50:12Z")
The front page of the Detroit Free Press today was about a planned Northwest, Delta merger and, being a “local paper”, the subhead said that Metro Detroit likey to gain more flights from deal. What does Northwest proje… --- ## [Former U.S. Comptroller: We're a financial Rome about to collapse...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-u-s-comptroller-were-a-financial-rome-about-to-collapse/445806)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-u-s-comptroller-were-a-financial-rome-about-to-collapse/445806 "2008-04-20T18:37:20Z")
Former comptroller David Walker, in interviews such as this and this (and more, if the Google listing is any indication), has argued that the country’s massive debt and addiction to large programs is going to lead to a m… --- ## [New Gun Law Sparks Controversy in Florida](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-gun-law-sparks-controversy-in-florida/445725)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-gun-law-sparks-controversy-in-florida/445725 "2008-04-20T13:38:18Z")
So, Floridians are now allowed to keep guns in their car at work, regardless of the workplace policy, if they have a concealed weapons permit. My question is about the lawsuit that the businesses are filing. What bas… --- ## [Surrogates, Supporters, and Swiftboaters: Judging a Campaign's Connection to Attacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrogates-supporters-and-swiftboaters-judging-a-campaigns-connection-to-attacks/446091)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrogates-supporters-and-swiftboaters-judging-a-campaigns-connection-to-attacks/446091 "2008-04-20T05:19:34Z")
I’ve grown a little tired of the endless back-and-forth in the Obama threads, so I was hoping to have a political debate without reference to any particular candidates or current events. The question I’d like to debate … --- ## [Does God make sense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-make-sense/444916)
**Author:** [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Replies:** 196\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-god-make-sense/444916 "2008-04-20T04:58:32Z")
Given the solipsistic, immoral, anarchic nihilism endemic to a world (universe?) without God, does it (would it) make sense to invent a God? I’ve done some cursory searches and I tried to read this thread, though I coul… --- ## [So much for the idea that only Muslims threaten violence over images they don't like](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-much-for-the-idea-that-only-muslims-threaten-violence-over-images-they-dont-like/444931)
**Author:** [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-much-for-the-idea-that-only-muslims-threaten-violence-over-images-they-dont-like/444931 "2008-04-20T03:02:49Z")
Furor Over Last Supper Orgy Drawing Some Christians have threatened to come to Vienna and blow up museums after a museum there shows an artwork depicting Jesus and the disciples having an orgy on the table where the Las… --- ## [Barack Obama a Holocaust denier?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama-a-holocaust-denier/446072)
**Author:** [@taxiaxel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxiaxel)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama-a-holocaust-denier/446072 "2008-04-20T02:33:26Z")
\[Removed link.\] I used to like the guy. --- ## [Let's Surge Some More - Michael Yon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-surge-some-more-michael-yon/445923)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-surge-some-more-michael-yon/445923 "2008-04-20T01:46:41Z")
http://online.wsj.com/public/article\_print/SB120787343563306609.html --- ## [Could IKEA Be Sued?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-ikea-be-sued/445199)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-ikea-be-sued/445199 "2008-04-20T00:58:56Z")
I was just visiting an IKEA store-I noticed that there is no ceiling-you just see the beams and dupports -covered with asbestos fire retardant material!! This means (potentially) that asbestos fibers could be breaking of… --- ## [Climate Change and Individual action.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-and-individual-action/445961)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-and-individual-action/445961 "2008-04-19T20:16:48Z")
Can individual/household curtailment of carbon emitting activities actually make any significant difference to projected climate change? I see alot of products touting their green credentials in advertising and am curio… --- ## [European Demographic Timebomb?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-demographic-timebomb/445616)
**Author:** [@Sankara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sankara)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-demographic-timebomb/445616 "2008-04-19T16:52:29Z")
hello folks… I would like a plethoric discussion on the declining population of europe, countries like germany and (the) eastern europe -who are unable to replace their population-what are your ruminations on the matt… --- ## [A Third Choice in the Democratic Convention?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-third-choice-in-the-democratic-convention/445955)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-third-choice-in-the-democratic-convention/445955 "2008-04-19T16:46:53Z")
I guess the way it looks now, Barack Obama will probably be the Democratic nominee. Although truthfully, Hillary Clinton still has a chance, albeit a slim one now. But I recently heard something interesting on tv (sorry,… --- ## [What is Religion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-religion/444972)
**Author:** [@Eben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eben)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-religion/444972 "2008-04-19T11:55:02Z")
Rather than continue to hijack another thread, and because I’d like to discuss it… What is Religion? Which is to say how can we define religion to include those groups commonly thought of as religious but exclude those… --- ## ["Yet More Scientific Evidence that Disproves AGW!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-more-scientific-evidence-that-disproves-agw/445960)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-more-scientific-evidence-that-disproves-agw/445960 "2008-04-19T06:07:56Z")
So says many on the conservative side, who say that examination of the world’s oldest tree shows that it was a lot warmer than previously thought when the Ice Age ended, and that it ended a lot earlier than previously th… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=639) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=641)