# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=644 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 645 --- ## [New Zealand - China free trade deal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-china-free-trade-deal/444325)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-china-free-trade-deal/444325 "2008-04-07T21:51:57Z")
New Zealand has signed a free trade agreement with China. It’s the first developed nation to do so. Why was NZ the first? I’m very familiar with its economy. Since their economy is tiny compared to China’s, I would g… --- ## [Click it or Ticket: Target young blacks and hispanics!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/click-it-or-ticket-target-young-blacks-and-hispanics/443828)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/click-it-or-ticket-target-young-blacks-and-hispanics/443828 "2008-04-07T19:50:34Z")
According to the Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local\_news/epaper/2008/04/03/0403clickit.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76 Police will be targeting young blacks and hispanics because they are… --- ## [Future of American Surgery is not America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-american-surgery-is-not-america/444065)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-american-surgery-is-not-america/444065 "2008-04-07T19:03:40Z")
Americans are traveling abroad for surgery nowadays, Why? procedure Heart bypass America 130,000 India 10,000 Thailand 11,000 Heart valve replacement 160,000 9,000 10,000 angioplasty … --- ## [reengineering government](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reengineering-government/443552)
**Author:** [@focusonz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/focusonz)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reengineering-government/443552 "2008-04-07T18:28:31Z")
Engineers apply established principles drawn from mathematics and science in order to develop economical solutions to technical problems. The founding fathers of our country were engineers, scientists, and technologists… --- ## [Soul vs. Innermost Self](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soul-vs-innermost-self/441561)
**Author:** [@Anomalous\_Reading](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomalous_Reading)\ **Replies:** 211\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soul-vs-innermost-self/441561 "2008-04-07T11:28:01Z")
I don’t believe in a non-corporeal soul. I don’t see why I need to. I do believe that, for whatever reason, I have an innermost self - something intensely personal and intensely felt, something… almost unutterable or … --- ## [Religious Accomodation vs Discrimination](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-accomodation-vs-discrimination/444251)
**Author:** [@xiix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xiix)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-accomodation-vs-discrimination/444251 "2008-04-07T10:58:49Z")
National Post Editorial "A generation ago, human-rights commissions were set up to ensure that Canadians weren’t discriminated against in the provision of employment, housing and trade because of their race, religion or… --- ## [Is a puissant but limited God worth worshipping?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-puissant-but-limited-god-worth-worshipping/443608)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-puissant-but-limited-god-worth-worshipping/443608 "2008-04-07T09:43:50Z")
This question is directed specifically to Christians and other theists, but anyone who feels moved to answer may. Hereabouts it seems unnecessary to define the central question of theodicy, but just to be safe I will: G… --- ## ["Takeover," by Charlie Savage, and the "imperial presidency"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/takeover-by-charlie-savage-and-the-imperial-presidency/437350)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/takeover-by-charlie-savage-and-the-imperial-presidency/437350 "2008-04-07T04:39:00Z")
I just finished Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy, by Charlie Savage. His thesis is this: Although the Nixon, Reagan and both Bush admins are the clearest culprits… --- ## [Mukasey: Worse than Gonzalez?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mukasey-worse-than-gonzalez/425432)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mukasey-worse-than-gonzalez/425432 "2008-04-06T20:52:48Z")
Media attention to the Senate confirmation hearings of Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey has focused on the retired judge’s refusal to give an unambiguous opinion that waterboarding is a form of torture and illega… --- ## [Nuclear Threshold of a country.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-threshold-of-a-country/443941)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-threshold-of-a-country/443941 "2008-04-06T20:43:34Z")
Nuclear threshold is defined as a point where a nation feels that the use of nuclear weapons and its ineviatvle retaliation is more in its interests than restraint. What could be a concievable nuclear threashold for a na… --- ## [Should Geriatric Felons Be Paroled?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-geriatric-felons-be-paroled/443993)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-geriatric-felons-be-paroled/443993 "2008-04-06T19:10:10Z")
I would say that we need to consider how to deal with the huge number of prisoners who will become elederly in the next 20 years. Quite apart from the expense of caring for these people, does it really make sense to keep… --- ## [Napleon: Skilled Strategist, or just lucky?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napleon-skilled-strategist-or-just-lucky/440967)
**Author:** [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napleon-skilled-strategist-or-just-lucky/440967 "2008-04-06T16:08:58Z")
Napoleon managed to conquer pretty much all of Europe, either directly, or by proxy. According to my history textbook, France could call up 700,000 soldiers, most of them veterans of the Revolution. France entered Russ… --- ## [Double standards and Randi Rhodes.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-standards-and-randi-rhodes/443929)
**Author:** [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-standards-and-randi-rhodes/443929 "2008-04-05T19:56:34Z")
The news today states that Air America radio host Randi Rhodes has been suspended. While I personally don’t lament that, I have to wonder about the reason: The Times doesn’t get into details. Here they are: Now, let… --- ## [Hillary Clinton "Misspoke';Now 'Mishears"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clinton-misspoke-now-mishears/443938)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clinton-misspoke-now-mishears/443938 "2008-04-05T16:23:32Z")
Are these terms correct usage: (see articlehttp://www.nypost.com/seven/04042008/news/nationalnews/hillary\_is\_one\_big\_mistake\_104932.htm) anyway, how many times can you ‘mishear’-without admitting that you can’t tell the… --- ## [HRC as an independent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hrc-as-an-independent/443770)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hrc-as-an-independent/443770 "2008-04-05T15:59:17Z")
Now before you go off and say, “She’ll never split the vote.” or “She wouldn’t dig her own grave in the Democratic Party.” or any other common sense answer, remember these are the Clintons - you know Slick Willie the Can… --- ## [The tyranny of city ordinances](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tyranny-of-city-ordinances/443301)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tyranny-of-city-ordinances/443301 "2008-04-05T00:35:08Z")
In the debates about the DC gun law and the Supreme Court case concerning it, I recently heard one argument that I don’t know how to address: that DC, or any other city, has broad power to enact civic ordinances much mor… --- ## [More Muslims than Catholics in the world](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-muslims-than-catholics-in-the-world/443372)
**Author:** [@JohnnieEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnieEnigma)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-muslims-than-catholics-in-the-world/443372 "2008-04-04T23:44:02Z")
The vatican just reported this weekend that there are now more Muslims than Catholics. Since Catholics are no longer the leading religion, will we lose our status in being the number one target? Will Catholic-bashing b… --- ## [Soviet Union/Russia lying about population, and we go along.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soviet-union-russia-lying-about-population-and-we-go-along/443285)
**Author:** [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soviet-union-russia-lying-about-population-and-we-go-along/443285 "2008-04-04T17:42:23Z")
Robert Heinlein made a visit to the Soviet Union in 1960, and upon returning wrote of his impressions. One of his strongest was that the population of Moscow was being exaggerated by perhaps an order of magnitude. This w… --- ## [Will Oprah need to pay more taxes under Obama?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-oprah-need-to-pay-more-taxes-under-obama/443790)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-oprah-need-to-pay-more-taxes-under-obama/443790 "2008-04-04T16:36:20Z")
As one of Obama’s more vocal and influential supporters, I wonder if Oprah will be paying more with Obama or McCain. Could Obama could add some riders into the tax legislation that exempts Oprah specifically or black fo… --- ## [What exactly is the point of expanding NATO?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-point-of-expanding-nato/443518)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-point-of-expanding-nato/443518 "2008-04-04T16:09:52Z")
Bush is pushing to admit the Ukraine and Georgia to NATO, even though the Russians strongly oppose this and it’s bound to stir up tensions. Look, how exactly would this benefit the security of Europe or the U.S.? It’s … --- ## [Yoo and Rights: 4th Amendment And War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yoo-and-rights-4th-amendment-and-war/443906)
**Author:** [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yoo-and-rights-4th-amendment-and-war/443906 "2008-04-04T15:49:44Z")
It seems our good friend, John Yoo, notorious fighter of civil liberties and promoter of the executive presidency wrote an interesting memo. In it, it seems, he provided an argument that the Fourth Amendment has no appli… --- ## [Would we be a totally secular society without modern physics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-be-a-totally-secular-society-without-modern-physics/443857)
**Author:** [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-be-a-totally-secular-society-without-modern-physics/443857 "2008-04-04T15:13:50Z")
Okay, bear with me while I set this up. I was just watching a show on the Science Channel called “Light Fantastic”, a historical perspective on 19th and 20th century discoveries about light and related technologies (read… --- ## [Is time travel possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-time-travel-possible/443182)
**Author:** [@Dertulm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dertulm)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-time-travel-possible/443182 "2008-04-04T11:06:01Z")
I do not know how many of you out there would have heard about Quantum Physics . It is one of the hot-and-happening topics in the field of science . For those who have not heard about lt , who would be very few , I will … --- ## [Best political way to get rid of the penny](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-political-way-to-get-rid-of-the-penny/443451)
**Author:** [@onions\_without\_tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onions_without_tears)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-political-way-to-get-rid-of-the-penny/443451 "2008-04-04T05:40:54Z")
Inspired by Cecil’s current discussion of coinage, I considered that since dropping the penny has not been done on practical grounds, it must be done on emotional (i.e., political) grounds. Some ideas: Appealing to ec… --- ## [A question regarding molestation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-molestation/443708)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-molestation/443708 "2008-04-04T01:31:40Z")
If your child was molested by a parent at a “too young to remember” age, would you ever tell the child? Why or why not? --- ## [What, tomorrow morning, is the possibility of another 9/11?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tomorrow-morning-is-the-possibility-of-another-9-11/443639)
**Author:** [@shigyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shigyu)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tomorrow-morning-is-the-possibility-of-another-9-11/443639 "2008-04-03T21:28:55Z")
And should the US government realistically be doing to prevent it? Most sensible people agree that the Iraq War didn’t help, and that curtailing civil liberties is bad karma. So where is the threat now and what should th… --- ## [How damaging is it that Clinton was fired for lying during Watergate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-damaging-is-it-that-clinton-was-fired-for-lying-during-watergate/443726)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-damaging-is-it-that-clinton-was-fired-for-lying-during-watergate/443726 "2008-04-03T20:08:53Z")
Is it even true? Link. Money quote: If she were that bad, why wasn’t she disbarred? --- ## [Israel can't sit on the U.N. Security Council?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-cant-sit-on-the-u-n-security-council/441981)
**Author:** [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-cant-sit-on-the-u-n-security-council/441981 "2008-04-03T20:04:30Z")
I recently received a form letter from the American Jewish Committee, and in one of the inserts that came with the form letter was a list of nations, on one side a list of nations under the heading “Countries eligible to… --- ## [Why are the primaries scheduled the way they are?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-primaries-scheduled-the-way-they-are/443704)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-primaries-scheduled-the-way-they-are/443704 "2008-04-03T19:38:01Z")
Apologies if this is a naive question, but why exactly are the primaries conducted on the schedule that they are? Who is perceived as benefitting from a process that is so long, with such substantial gaps? It seems to … --- ## [Legality of E-Filing US Federal Tax Return?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-e-filing-us-federal-tax-return/443549)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-e-filing-us-federal-tax-return/443549 "2008-04-03T19:31:14Z")
Just wondering: if you efile your tax return, you have not signed it. So, if the IRS finds an error in it, are you off the hook? If you don’t ign a legal document, can you be held responsible for errors in said document? … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=643) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=645)