# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=667 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 668 --- ## [Joe Kennedy and Citizen's Energy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-kennedy-and-citizens-energy/433476)
**Author:** [@sesame\_seed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sesame_seed)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-kennedy-and-citizens-energy/433476 "2008-01-15T16:04:45Z")
Forgive me if this topic has already been discussed (and if it has, providing a link would be greatly appreciated) but I’m extremely curious about the Citizen’s Energy commercials I’ve seen lately. I want to believe tha… --- ## [At what point was Allied victory inevitable in World War Two?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-was-allied-victory-inevitable-in-world-war-two/429885)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2008, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-was-allied-victory-inevitable-in-world-war-two/429885 "2008-01-15T10:34:47Z")
I tried searching but couldn’t find any threads on the topic, maybe other posters can point me in the direction of some threads that address this issue. To make things clearer I’ll separate out the question by asking a… --- ## [James Randi calls time on the $1 million dollar prize ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-calls-time-on-the-1-million-dollar-prize/432263)
**Author:** [@SpaceDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceDog)\ **Replies:** 575\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-calls-time-on-the-1-million-dollar-prize/432263 "2008-01-15T06:07:40Z")
… do we care ? So in his weekly newsletter James Randi announced that, from March 2010, the JREF will no longer be offering the $1 million dollar prize for a demonstration of supernatural abilities. The foundation will… --- ## [Has China proved the Internet CAN be censored?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-china-proved-the-internet-can-be-censored/433388)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-china-proved-the-internet-can-be-censored/433388 "2008-01-15T02:39:24Z")
If the government controls all the data links in and out of the country, and the top-level servers/routers all have backdoors monitored by the intelligence services, then doesn’t that scotch the idea that the Internet is… --- ## [Fight my ignorance over HIGH SCHOOL MATERNITY LEAVE!?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-ignorance-over-high-school-maternity-leave/432987)
**Author:** [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-ignorance-over-high-school-maternity-leave/432987 "2008-01-14T20:06:49Z")
Okay, I don’t whether to laugh, cry or stand up and cheer. The superintendent of the Denver Public School District has recommended that high school girls who give birth be given a four-to-six-week maternity leave during … --- ## [Do Muslims Party ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-muslims-party/433229)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-muslims-party/433229 "2008-01-14T19:50:45Z")
I’m under the impression that there are no gala balls and socials that bring men and women together in Islamic societies… And I can’t imagine a formal party in Islam where the guys dress up . If I’m right, I can underst… --- ## [Disband the Department of Homeland Security](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disband-the-department-of-homeland-security/433340)
**Author:** [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disband-the-department-of-homeland-security/433340 "2008-01-14T17:03:58Z")
I can’t put this in GD because I’m not a skilled debater and I really don’t have a position except to say that I think it would be a good idea. And, I can’t defend that idea, either. So, I’m curious: Does anyone else th… --- ## [Does Basic Training amount to brainwashing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-basic-training-amount-to-brainwashing/432462)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2008, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-basic-training-amount-to-brainwashing/432462 "2008-01-14T09:04:58Z")
The similarities to other forms of indoctrination- hostages, kidnap victims, POWs and pollitical prisoners, fraternity hazing, gang initiations, prostitutes- seem compelling.\[ul\]\[\]Step One, stress to the breaking point: … --- ## [How will history judge this administration?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-history-judge-this-administration/432891)
**Author:** [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2008, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-history-judge-this-administration/432891 "2008-01-14T06:52:39Z")
This thread could go anywhere. I started here at IMHO but it could be GD and will probably devolve to the Pit, but here goes. America currently has an administration that has, to be perfectly honest, a less than stellar… --- ## [Huckabee - Doesn't really have a theology degree - Should it matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-doesnt-really-have-a-theology-degree-should-it-matter/433176)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huckabee-doesnt-really-have-a-theology-degree-should-it-matter/433176 "2008-01-14T01:26:25Z")
It seems that the theology degree that Huckabee likes to claim that he has does not exist. Apparently, he now claims that his bachelor of arts in religion is a theological degree. Now, that seems to make as much sense … --- ## [The impossible beauty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impossible-beauty/433379)
**Author:** [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impossible-beauty/433379 "2008-01-14T00:20:22Z")
I was checking ebay express for some espadrilles. For some reason in the “Related Items” area a pair of shoes came up that had me thinking it had to be a joke. These must be the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever seen… --- ## [Surge - The Iraqi Benchmarks One Year Later](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surge-the-iraqi-benchmarks-one-year-later/433095)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surge-the-iraqi-benchmarks-one-year-later/433095 "2008-01-13T22:00:49Z")
Today is the one year anniversary of the announcement of the surge. So how has it done in achieving the benchmarks that laid for the Iraqi government? Let’s look at the benchmarks: The Iraqi government to take responsib… --- ## [Would Bush Jr. have made it in the Senate/House?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bush-jr-have-made-it-in-the-senate-house/433184)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2008, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-bush-jr-have-made-it-in-the-senate-house/433184 "2008-01-13T21:48:40Z")
I’m curious whether he went for the big prize because that was what he wanted, if it it was thought that he had some drawback that would have prevent him from succeeding in the Senate/House as well as he has as President… --- ## [Designing a Test for Psychic Urination](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designing-a-test-for-psychic-urination/433261)
**Author:** [@richnz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richnz)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designing-a-test-for-psychic-urination/433261 "2008-01-13T21:40:42Z")
Rosemary Hunter has applied for the (One Million Dollar Randi) Challenge, media presence requirement included, with the claim that she can make people urinate themselves with the power of her mind. Ms. Hunter has also p… --- ## [Designing a common psychic test-Dowsing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designing-a-common-psychic-test-dowsing/433126)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/designing-a-common-psychic-test-dowsing/433126 "2008-01-13T15:53:55Z")
In this post from the James Randi thread, it is proposed that perhaps a standardized test for psychic abilities could be developed for each catagory, thus speeding up the testing process itself. I’m thinking that, due t… --- ## [Are TV "news" and newspapers still important?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tv-news-and-newspapers-still-important/431818)
**Author:** [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tv-news-and-newspapers-still-important/431818 "2008-01-13T14:38:14Z")
John Hockenberry, late of “Dateline NBC”, describes here his insider’s view of the transformation of network news from the time of Murrow and Cronkite to its current, well, superciliousness. He attributes it to both ith… --- ## [Does calling Nazi actions THE holocaust promote ignorance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-calling-nazi-actions-the-holocaust-promote-ignorance/433182)
**Author:** [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-calling-nazi-actions-the-holocaust-promote-ignorance/433182 "2008-01-13T04:42:14Z")
I recognize that WWII saw the greatest genocide in history, with the deaths of (my history is weak, but from what I could find) 6 to 10 times more people than any other genocide. I’m not trying to downplay the importanc… --- ## [I would admire a Christian if I met one.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-admire-a-christian-if-i-met-one/431451)
**Author:** [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Replies:** 137\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-admire-a-christian-if-i-met-one/431451 "2008-01-13T00:55:06Z")
Jesus had a pretty appealing message. Love everyone. Don’t judge people, because nobody is perfect. Obey the law. Never committ or support violence, even in response to violence against you. Treat everyone well. If… --- ## [Hijab - Some questions about them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijab-some-questions-about-them/433237)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijab-some-questions-about-them/433237 "2008-01-12T20:32:55Z")
A girl I went to college was former Muslim. I am not sure if that is the proper term. Basically, she was raised as a Muslim, but came to feel the whole God thing was BS. I guess you could say she was an apostate. She sti… --- ## [Any gun owners support a gun ban?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-gun-owners-support-a-gun-ban/432895)
**Author:** [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-gun-owners-support-a-gun-ban/432895 "2008-01-12T17:19:36Z")
Are there any gun owners out there that support some form of gun ban (handgun, semi-automatic, etc?) My feeling is that a lot of people that seek to ban guns do not understand them. --- ## [Is there any proof torture works?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proof-torture-works/430987)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proof-torture-works/430987 "2008-01-12T16:11:02Z")
Was reading Scylla’s thread on water boarding and thought I would start a thread on a related subject…didn’t want to hijack his thread with my questions. Basically what I’m looking for here is: Is there any proof that … --- ## [Dems as responsible for Iraq as Bush?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dems-as-responsible-for-iraq-as-bush/432179)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dems-as-responsible-for-iraq-as-bush/432179 "2008-01-12T05:34:18Z")
This post by Liberal repeats a fairly common meme (yes, I know many people hate that word), which is usually expressed by conservatives, or (in this case) smugger-than-thou independents, which is that those democrats and… --- ## ["The Abolition of Man" discussion thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-abolition-of-man-discussion-thread/431556)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-abolition-of-man-discussion-thread/431556 "2008-01-12T04:02:46Z")
This is the discussion thread for the book The Abolition of Man, as planned in my most recent thread. It is intended to be a free-wheeling conversation in which anyone can say what they feel about the book or any part o… --- ## [Why am I Accountable to a Union for Where I Do Business?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-accountable-to-a-union-for-where-i-do-business/433059)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-accountable-to-a-union-for-where-i-do-business/433059 "2008-01-12T02:59:02Z")
Inspired by a GQ thread about what employers gain by hiring unions: I remember walking through St. Louis, and there was a group of people protesting outside of a particular restaurant. The protestors’ beef seemed to be … --- ## [Is the word "Lynching" primarily a racial statement.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-lynching-primarily-a-racial-statement/433143)
**Author:** [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-lynching-primarily-a-racial-statement/433143 "2008-01-12T02:44:06Z")
Reflecting on the recent Al Sharpton crusade discussed Here, and watching it being covered on CNN a couple of days ago, I was surprised to learn that the Reverend Sharpton and others considered the word “lynching” to be … --- ## [Does the next POTUS have carte blanche?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-next-potus-have-carte-blanche/432865)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-next-potus-have-carte-blanche/432865 "2008-01-12T02:04:44Z")
If the next POTUS raises taxes, sexes up the interns, and calls all Americans fat, ugly, and stupid, do they get a pass because hey, at least they didn’t start an unpopular war in the middle east? And if their Supreme C… --- ## [James Randi briefly replies to my Letter to the Editor re: Intelligent Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-briefly-replies-to-my-letter-to-the-editor-re-intelligent-design/433162)
**Author:** [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-randi-briefly-replies-to-my-letter-to-the-editor-re-intelligent-design/433162 "2008-01-11T23:46:03Z")
My original thread has been locked, so I needed to start a new thread. Since I failed to explain the purpose of my previous thread, kindly allow me to rectify my mistake: I am not looking for any feedback whatsoever reg… --- ## [People should be discouraged from voting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-should-be-discouraged-from-voting/432892)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-should-be-discouraged-from-voting/432892 "2008-01-11T20:38:56Z")
Ok, it’s time to have another go round at this topic. People are always talking about the civic duty of people to vote. That people have an obligation to vote and everyone should be encouraged to vote. Here is my prob… --- ## [New Hampshire results](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-hampshire-results/432802)
**Author:** [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Replies:** 142\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-hampshire-results/432802 "2008-01-11T18:16:32Z")
People are talking about the election in a bunch of different threads, but I though I’d open this one as sort of a center point to talk about the NH results. It’s now 8:21 eastern, the polls in New Hampshire have closed… --- ## [Here Comes Clinton. A Semi-Reassuring Note for Those Who Cringe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-comes-clinton-a-semi-reassuring-note-for-those-who-cringe/432835)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-comes-clinton-a-semi-reassuring-note-for-those-who-cringe/432835 "2008-01-11T03:54:19Z")
I have said before that the Democratic primary, and the election, is Clinton’s if she earns it. It is not going to be handed to her. But my prediction is that she is a scrapper and will just plain make it happen. I di… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=666) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=668)