# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=677 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 678 --- ## [A Third Party in 2008?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-third-party-in-2008/426749)
**Author:** [@palepeony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palepeony)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-third-party-in-2008/426749 "2007-11-23T19:02:49Z")
Some of the last few US presidential races have been colored with a third candidate, which in some cases influence the outcome. Will we see a third in this one? What do you think? In my opinion, there will most certainl… --- ## [Pro-choice and the draft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-choice-and-the-draft/427269)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pro-choice-and-the-draft/427269 "2007-11-23T14:58:49Z")
In this thread lowbrass mentioned \[QUOTE=lowbrass\] “the right to control your own destiny and not be forced to do something against your will” \[/QUOTE\] and I think that is a good summation of a general rule that unde… --- ## [Were the actions security at the UF Kerry Forum (sept. 18, 07) justified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-actions-security-at-the-uf-kerry-forum-sept-18-07-justified/426484)
**Author:** [@Crackhead06](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crackhead06)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-actions-security-at-the-uf-kerry-forum-sept-18-07-justified/426484 "2007-11-23T13:38:33Z")
Hello, yeah, I may seem like I’m not serious from my user name, but it’s only an inside joke, I really want an intelligent debate. So, WERE the UF police actions in this forum justified? That’s the question. In my opini… --- ## [Witnessing: Mankind IS going to Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witnessing-mankind-is-going-to-mars/427289)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2007, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witnessing-mankind-is-going-to-mars/427289 "2007-11-23T10:48:44Z")
This isn’t a debate…I’m simply asserting that Mankind in the form of the US, Russians, Chinese or someone else IS going to send a manned flight to Mars. And it won’t simply be a flags and foot prints mission. Both NASA… --- ## [God is not Great](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-is-not-great/426515)
**Author:** [@9thFloor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/9thFloor)\ **Replies:** 172\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2007, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-is-not-great/426515 "2007-11-23T10:11:21Z")
One of the premises that Hitchens espouses in debates that he’s had in promoting his new book “God is not Great” is that religion has never contributed a single positive (in the secular meaning of the word ‘positive’) th… --- ## [Was Eden a real place?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-eden-a-real-place/427009)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2007, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-eden-a-real-place/427009 "2007-11-23T05:52:56Z")
This sort of goes along with my other thread that asked several biblical questions. This time the question is…was (or could) Eden have been a real, actual place? I was watching a show on the History Channel that brough… --- ## [The illusion of duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusion-of-duality/426356)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-illusion-of-duality/426356 "2007-11-23T02:01:44Z")
Books and teachings on meditation and “awakening” tell us about waking up from the illusion of duality, and recognizing that everything is One. Basically, we are not who we think we are, and when we awaken, we see things… --- ## [How much better (if at all) are things getting in Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-better-if-at-all-are-things-getting-in-iraq/427271)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-better-if-at-all-are-things-getting-in-iraq/427271 "2007-11-22T21:54:48Z")
I’ve been browsing some conservative blogs off and on, and I’ve seen a distinct pattern in the past few months: more and more claims that things are getting objectively better in Iraq. Links like this,, this,, this, an… --- ## [Does anyone these days believe in God, and also think He's flawed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-these-days-believe-in-god-and-also-think-hes-flawed/426067)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-these-days-believe-in-god-and-also-think-hes-flawed/426067 "2007-11-22T18:31:13Z")
It seems most folks, like the Judeo-Christian/Muslim believers, believe in God as a perfect being. A lot of atheists often support their unbelief referencing how the God described in most holy writings does cruel things… --- ## [Who is the Christian right going to vote for in 08?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-christian-right-going-to-vote-for-in-08/427050)
**Author:** [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2007, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-christian-right-going-to-vote-for-in-08/427050 "2007-11-22T05:54:07Z")
All the Democrats are pro-choice and mostly pro-gay, so they are out, and the three front runners for GOP nomination, Rudy, Mitt, and Fred Thompson aren’t really ideal choices for the Christian right. Rudy is also pro-ch… --- ## [Should we be messing with stuff that could destroy the world (Large Hadron Collider)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-messing-with-stuff-that-could-destroy-the-world-large-hadron-collider/426998)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-messing-with-stuff-that-could-destroy-the-world-large-hadron-collider/426998 "2007-11-22T05:00:26Z")
Related to this thread which I started some months ago and resurrected after coming across some more debate on the subject. That thread was discussing the technical aspects of the risks involved in a particle accelerato… --- ## [Antarctica ice cap is growing , not shrinking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antarctica-ice-cap-is-growing-not-shrinking/427319)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antarctica-ice-cap-is-growing-not-shrinking/427319 "2007-11-21T15:30:21Z")
In a recently locked GQ thread I provided the following reply to a statement by the OP \[Quote=xtisme\] I told him that empirically we know the temperature is on the rise because we can see the effect in the global melti… --- ## [Canadian Supremes: AWOL U.S. soldiers are not refugees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-supremes-awol-u-s-soldiers-are-not-refugees/426634)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-supremes-awol-u-s-soldiers-are-not-refugees/426634 "2007-11-21T14:44:03Z")
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected the claims of US military deserters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey that they are refugees from an illegal war. Hinzman and Hughey fled to Canada to avoid going to Iraq, and cla… --- ## [German defensive tactics in WWII - excellent or foolish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-defensive-tactics-in-wwii-excellent-or-foolish/426690)
**Author:** [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-defensive-tactics-in-wwii-excellent-or-foolish/426690 "2007-11-21T14:22:41Z")
I’ve been reading various WWII histories recently, and almost all note that Germans were very aggressive on the defense. Rather than staying in their fortified positions, their tactic was to engage in myriad local count… --- ## [Medical science, McGyver style.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-science-mcgyver-style/427178)
**Author:** [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2007, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-science-mcgyver-style/427178 "2007-11-21T13:25:59Z")
Say we live in a post-apocalyptic society, or get stranded in an island a la Lost, but we keep a healthy supply of every professional that we had before, only that we have no power, no gadgets and just bits and pieces of… --- ## [Was Hillary lying?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-hillary-lying/426685)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-hillary-lying/426685 "2007-11-21T13:23:41Z")
Ms. Clinton argued in the debate last night that raising the FICA cap results in a tax increase on the middle class, including firefighters. The current cap is $102,000. Do any firefighters make more than $102,000? If… --- ## [Carbon tax or cap/trade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-tax-or-cap-trade/426208)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-tax-or-cap-trade/426208 "2007-11-20T23:47:51Z")
I know that carbon tax is unlikely, but what are the relative advantages and disadvantages of each? Does cap and trade run the risk of penalizing those who have been proactive and promote stalling on quick cheap interven… --- ## [Boston PD Begins a Program of Warrantless Searches to Sieze Guns from Minors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-pd-begins-a-program-of-warrantless-searches-to-sieze-guns-from-minors/427113)
**Author:** [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-pd-begins-a-program-of-warrantless-searches-to-sieze-guns-from-minors/427113 "2007-11-20T22:17:42Z")
Here’s the article on Boston.com about this program. The bare bones of the program, AIUI from this article, is that the Police will be asking parents for permission to search homes of teens that community police (esp. t… --- ## [Are small businesses the key to Universal Health Coverage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-small-businesses-the-key-to-universal-health-coverage/427222)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-small-businesses-the-key-to-universal-health-coverage/427222 "2007-11-20T19:42:29Z")
At work, we get the magazine “Fortune Small Business” and the October issue said: That actually doesn’t seem that big of a jump, but does this foretell anything about how small business owners will be voting this year,… --- ## [Why people become Homosexual.. the answer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-people-become-homosexual-the-answer/426614)
**Author:** [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-people-become-homosexual-the-answer/426614 "2007-11-20T15:40:58Z")
The question of why some people become homosexual is truly up there with the greats. So much emotion, ideology, and idealism is vested in it that it’s almost not even surprising why the self-evident answer has been overl… --- ## [Whence the Baptist church(es)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-the-baptist-church-es/426904)
**Author:** [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-the-baptist-church-es/426904 "2007-11-20T14:44:03Z")
In this GQ thread, Shagnasty posted this link, which claims that, despite all evidence to the contrary, churches of the Baptist persuasion are not properly termed “Protestant.” I’ve heard this assertion before, and it ne… --- ## [Historical questions about God and the Bible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-questions-about-god-and-the-bible/426584)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-questions-about-god-and-the-bible/426584 "2007-11-20T07:12:56Z")
Forgive me if this OP is a bit disjointed…I’m currently heavily medicated. I wanted to ask some questions though and hope that someone will be able to decipher my OP and answer them. The other night I was in a rather l… --- ## [Is the Pope seeking to end the Great Schism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-pope-seeking-to-end-the-great-schism/426744)
**Author:** [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-pope-seeking-to-end-the-great-schism/426744 "2007-11-20T05:07:53Z")
From the London Times: The story goes on to say that Benedict has called a meeting of cardinals from all over the world in Rome next week to discuss the document, which among other things suggests a new ecumenical coun… --- ## [Towards Jury Trial Reform](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towards-jury-trial-reform/427128)
**Author:** [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towards-jury-trial-reform/427128 "2007-11-20T02:32:34Z")
Me and a buddy were talking, and we came around to an idea that must have been discussed here before (but if so, I can’t find it). That is: why not let jurors ask questions during the trial? In thinking about it furth… --- ## [Might some of Earth's seas have been formed by asteroid/comet collisions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/might-some-of-earths-seas-have-been-formed-by-asteroid-comet-collisions/426987)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/might-some-of-earths-seas-have-been-formed-by-asteroid-comet-collisions/426987 "2007-11-20T00:08:24Z")
In Niven and Pournelle’s classic 1977 SF novel, Lucifer’s Hammer, there’s an early scene where, as it becomes increasingly clear the comet Hamner-Brown is on a collision course with Earth, some scientists speculate this … --- ## [What if Hillary Clinton were assassinated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-hillary-clinton-were-assassinated/425736)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-hillary-clinton-were-assassinated/425736 "2007-11-19T23:45:13Z")
Let’s put aside the (un)likelihood of an assassin succeeding against such a presumably well-guarded public figure. Let’s talk about the consequences of a successful attempt on her life, although hijacks into the ramific… --- ## [Cultural Imperialism: Valid Complaint?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-imperialism-valid-complaint/426368)
**Author:** [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-imperialism-valid-complaint/426368 "2007-11-19T21:35:07Z")
On occasion I hear the words cultural imperialism used to describe the opening of a McDonalds in a foreign country, the showing of American movies abroad, or the import of other cultural artifacts though typically it see… --- ## [can friendliness be rude?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-friendliness-be-rude/426098)
**Author:** [@9thFloor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/9thFloor)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-friendliness-be-rude/426098 "2007-11-19T19:57:01Z")
So, at the post office that’s local to me where I have to go sometimes to mail packages that are too large to be permitted for the dropoffs, there are 2 guys that work the counter, among others. They’re very friendly. … --- ## [Religion and Work Schedules - What Degree of Accomodation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-and-work-schedules-what-degree-of-accomodation/425786)
**Author:** [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-and-work-schedules-what-degree-of-accomodation/425786 "2007-11-19T13:21:05Z")
Work has been a little insane recently - we have a trial in a few weeks, and so it has been 7 days a week for a while now. What this has brought to mind is the interaction between religious beliefs and the workplace, an… --- ## [An analogical examination of pro-life/pro-choice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-analogical-examination-of-pro-life-pro-choice/426160)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-analogical-examination-of-pro-life-pro-choice/426160 "2007-11-19T04:41:19Z")
Disclosure: I think whatever moral issues there might be with respect to abortion are between a woman and her conscience or her God. I am ambivalent about the ethical issues, however, and can understand the gist of argum… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=676) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=678)