# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=660 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 661 --- ## [Should high speed police chases be outlawed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-high-speed-police-chases-be-outlawed/435733)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-high-speed-police-chases-be-outlawed/435733 "2008-02-08T21:05:55Z")
I personally say they should be outlawed, too many people die during these chases. I think that there are a few states now that have it outlawed, isn’t there? What say you? --- ## [Discrimination Based on Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discrimination-based-on-name/436111)
**Author:** [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discrimination-based-on-name/436111 "2008-02-08T19:53:24Z")
As a release valve for the Urban Names thread, how does everyone feel about the practice of making emplyment decisions based on names? Personally I don’t think it should be an ACTIVE deciding factor. obvious there may b… --- ## [Are we in a recession yet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-in-a-recession-yet/436600)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-in-a-recession-yet/436600 "2008-02-08T18:07:28Z")
Some economists think so. From American Prospect: Don’t suppose there’s anything we can do about it? --- ## [On the Reality of the Existentialist Lifestyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-reality-of-the-existentialist-lifestyle/435767)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-reality-of-the-existentialist-lifestyle/435767 "2008-02-08T17:48:21Z")
This post is about existentialism, not as a philosophical concept but as a way of life. If one were to say, ‘‘What is your religion?’’ I would respond that I am Buddhist. But underlying that sense of devout belief in B… --- ## [Why does anyone care about throwing his vote away in the presidential election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-care-about-throwing-his-vote-away-in-the-presidential-election/436758)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-care-about-throwing-his-vote-away-in-the-presidential-election/436758 "2008-02-08T17:39:11Z")
Any individual’s vote is basically meaningless. No matter who you vote for you are basically throwing it away. There is almost no possibility of an individual affecting the outcome of the presidential election. So why do… --- ## [Poor Voter Turnout](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-voter-turnout/436499)
**Author:** [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-voter-turnout/436499 "2008-02-08T16:52:23Z")
News reports say about half of registered Californians voted and about 35% in Georgia. They call this great. The US should have a law like Australia’s that would require eligible voters to cast a ballot. How can there b… --- ## [Race Factor in Democratic Primaries.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648 "2008-02-08T05:08:40Z")
To the best of my recollection, never before has racial demographics played such a significant role in Democratic primaries. Understandable, given that for the first time a viable black person is running who appears incl… --- ## [Super Tuesday Super Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-tuesday-super-thread/436453)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-tuesday-super-thread/436453 "2008-02-08T03:34:11Z")
Let’s discuss the results as they come in tonight. I believe Georgia is first for the Dems. Should be an easy Obama state. But will it be like South Carolina? Or will Hillary pull closer, even win? --- ## [Has the USA PATRIOT Act been abused by the authorities?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-usa-patriot-act-been-abused-by-the-authorities/436722)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-usa-patriot-act-been-abused-by-the-authorities/436722 "2008-02-07T21:50:31Z")
Sort of a followup to this current thread. I ran two threads on this question in 2005, and nobody seemed to have any really chilling examples to bring. Since then, have the feared abuses of the USA PATRIOT (all caps –… --- ## [Handicap the Dem nomination race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-dem-nomination-race/430256)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-dem-nomination-race/430256 "2008-02-07T19:49:01Z")
Followup/counterpart to this thread. As Iowa approaches, Clinton seems to have lost some of her aura of “inevitability,” opening the door to serious discussion of alternatives. Who will the nominee be? (Not, who do yo… --- ## [\*sigh\* Hillary Clinton is not a "socialist"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-hillary-clinton-is-not-a-socialist/435913)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sigh-hillary-clinton-is-not-a-socialist/435913 "2008-02-07T18:54:38Z")
I would have thought this preposterous braindead meme would have died by now, but it keeps popping up, in this forum and presumably in less exacting fora. “It takes a village to raise a child.” – Merely a statement that… --- ## [How much does The World(tm) ACTUALLY care about the US elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-the-world-tm-actually-care-about-the-us-elections/435921)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-the-world-tm-actually-care-about-the-us-elections/435921 "2008-02-07T16:34:28Z")
Mostly a question for non-US 'dopers. Seriously…how much do you care about the current US elections? I was reading this article on Yahoo! and thinking to myself ‘I bet most folks in other countries actually don’t give… --- ## [Why are Hispanic voters overwhelmingly choosing Clinton over Obama?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537)
**Author:** [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hispanic-voters-overwhelmingly-choosing-clinton-over-obama/436537 "2008-02-07T05:12:57Z")
One clear trend from the primaries is that Hispanic Democrats are voting overwhelmingly for Clinton over Obama. Why? I must admit that I dont exactly have my finger on the pulse of the Hispanic electorate, but to my gr… --- ## [Opinion poll - Dem nomination: Who will win. Why? Result?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-poll-dem-nomination-who-will-win-why-result/436063)
**Author:** [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinion-poll-dem-nomination-who-will-win-why-result/436063 "2008-02-07T00:54:45Z")
This is to get opinions on who dopers feel will ultimately get the democratic nomination for president and why. Note: this is not who you would like to win the nod, but your gut feel as to who will. I’d also like to know… --- ## [Humans make up stuff all the time. Why are we so credulous about the Bible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humans-make-up-stuff-all-the-time-why-are-we-so-credulous-about-the-bible/436065)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humans-make-up-stuff-all-the-time-why-are-we-so-credulous-about-the-bible/436065 "2008-02-07T00:02:25Z")
It’s human nature for many people to make up stuff to buttress this or that position they want to others to support or believe in. People make up stuff, take creative license, engage in puffery and basically lie like ru… --- ## [What if John McCain had been elected president in 2000?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-john-mccain-had-been-elected-president-in-2000/436232)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-john-mccain-had-been-elected-president-in-2000/436232 "2008-02-06T23:31:48Z")
He had a good shot at the Pub nomination, then. If he had got it, and beaten Gore in the general, what would he have done? Based on his rhetoric I’m thinking his approach to the post-9/11 situation would have been very… --- ## [3 undersea cables cut in 3 days ... coincidence, or prelude to some action?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-undersea-cables-cut-in-3-days-coincidence-or-prelude-to-some-action/435923)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-undersea-cables-cut-in-3-days-coincidence-or-prelude-to-some-action/435923 "2008-02-06T16:27:57Z")
Third undersea Internet cable cut in Mideast Interestingly, it appears that Iran’s traffic has been severely impacted (i.e., cut to zero). So, is this just coincidental? Or is someone (the U.S. military or the IDF com… --- ## [What Does it Mean to be Tolerant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-tolerant/436529)
**Author:** [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-tolerant/436529 "2008-02-06T16:12:33Z")
I didn’t wish to hijack the other thread so I started a new one. I have a theory that when most people speak about the virtues of being tolerant towards others they’re actually talking about a rather superficial level … --- ## [Who Is In Iraq Nowadays?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-in-iraq-nowadays/436490)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-in-iraq-nowadays/436490 "2008-02-06T14:49:29Z")
In Pres. Bush’s past “State of the Union” addresses, he used to give us a pep talk about the UK’s role in Iraq along with other allies. Is Blair still in the game? Do we still have allies interested in Iraq? Haven’t h… --- ## [Are McCain and Obama competing for votes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mccain-and-obama-competing-for-votes/436489)
**Author:** [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2008, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mccain-and-obama-competing-for-votes/436489 "2008-02-06T08:53:23Z")
Hillary has strong support from Democrats, and Romney has strong support from Republicans. It seems like Obama and McCain have the same support base - moderates from both parties. If McCain had decided to drop out of t… --- ## [Handicap the Democrats next 11 days](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-democrats-next-11-days/434987)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 247\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicap-the-democrats-next-11-days/434987 "2008-02-06T02:50:20Z")
Obama wins SC. By double digits but barely so. Edwards is a close enough third to keep him in on Super Tuesday. Obama then needs a lot of perceived momentum and free publicity buzz over the next 9 days to do more than j… --- ## [Should We tax vices](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-tax-vices/436043)
**Author:** [@rwjefferson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rwjefferson)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-tax-vices/436043 "2008-02-06T01:56:53Z")
Mike Huckabee recently suggested that taxing drug dealers and prostitutes would help lift our economy. I would suggest that is a self evident truth. Is there any good reason why should not regulate and tax vices? I am … --- ## ["The God Delusion" discussion thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-god-delusion-discussion-thread/432756)
**Author:** [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-god-delusion-discussion-thread/432756 "2008-02-05T22:14:42Z")
This is the discussion thread for Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion, as proposed by ITR Champion’s thread, and as a companion to the discussion thread on C. S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. I assume the ground rules are … --- ## [The Early Voter Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-early-voter-question/436132)
**Author:** [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-early-voter-question/436132 "2008-02-05T22:14:05Z")
In the context of the Obama/Clinton race, I keep hearing about the Early Voter effect, specifically in the case of early voters leaning heavily for Clinton, while election-day results skew more towards Obama. This makes… --- ## [Ann Coulter Supports Clinton](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-supports-clinton/436228)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ann-coulter-supports-clinton/436228 "2008-02-05T20:38:12Z")
Yes. Ann Coulter came out in support of Clinton enthusiastically and yet sort of. The premise seems to be that McCain is so liberal, Hillary Clinton is more conservative than he is. Counter-Coulter She confirms her b… --- ## [Is Hugh Ross the only person to ever correctly translate the Bible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hugh-ross-the-only-person-to-ever-correctly-translate-the-bible/436284)
**Author:** [@wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_in_second_hand_clothing)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hugh-ross-the-only-person-to-ever-correctly-translate-the-bible/436284 "2008-02-05T17:29:04Z")
He certainly seems to think so. Someone claimed that “the bible is the only religious text to properly order the creation of things, and this was done thousands of years before modern science.” I pointed out that last … --- ## [Tel Aviv Hit By Iranian Missile-What Happens Next? \[Hypothetical\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tel-aviv-hit-by-iranian-missile-what-happens-next-hypothetical/436104)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tel-aviv-hit-by-iranian-missile-what-happens-next-hypothetical/436104 "2008-02-05T16:41:03Z")
After months of growing tensions, Iran launches a Shahab II Missile-which carries a 100 kiloton Nuclear warhead. Miraculously, the bomb doesn’t detonate-however, radioactive debris conatminates a large part of the city. … --- ## [Once he's out of office, will Bush get indicted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-hes-out-of-office-will-bush-get-indicted/435334)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-hes-out-of-office-will-bush-get-indicted/435334 "2008-02-05T01:36:49Z")
Do you think this will happen once his term is up? I have a feeling that there is some Kenneth Starr type person waiting in the darkness to attack (with an indictment for war crimes and God knows what else) once he leav… --- ## [Should we instiutionalize the homeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-instiutionalize-the-homeless/435780)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-instiutionalize-the-homeless/435780 "2008-02-04T20:39:02Z")
Two days this week I went downtown and saw some of the same homeless people I usually do. Now, I am not a psychologist nor I have ever spent much time with these people. But one thing is clear for any amount of interacti… --- ## [Why Is The USA Economy Stagnating?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-economy-stagnating/436099)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-usa-economy-stagnating/436099 "2008-02-04T19:38:21Z")
The USA is clearly in trouble-we have a net negative savings rate, the present generation will be substantially LESS wealthy than their parents, and our manufacturing base is disappearing. I think there are a LOT of caus… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=659) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=661)