# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=730 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 731 --- ## [Do you think a billionaire could buy the presidential election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-a-billionaire-could-buy-the-presidential-election/392053)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-a-billionaire-could-buy-the-presidential-election/392053 "2007-02-23T16:20:01Z")
Now that both parties have concluded they can’t make it on public election funds, and that it will take a half billion on each side to get this next election done, do you think someone like Ross Perot, or some ketchup he… --- ## [Is it morally justifiable flying around in a private jet telling people to cut CO2?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-morally-justifiable-flying-around-in-a-private-jet-telling-people-to-cut-co2/392871)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-morally-justifiable-flying-around-in-a-private-jet-telling-people-to-cut-co2/392871 "2007-02-22T15:19:03Z")
Well it’s back in the conservative talk radio circles. Big rich liberals, such as Al Gore flying around the country in his private jet telling us we have to reduce our carbon footprint, stop driving SUV’s and the like. … --- ## [Nixon's the one! in 1960](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixons-the-one-in-1960/392874)
**Author:** [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixons-the-one-in-1960/392874 "2007-02-22T15:16:30Z")
A little bit of alternate history that I don’t think we have ever covered in GD So, Richard Nixon doesn’t slam the car door on his leg. Then for the debate with Kennedy, Nixon wears full make-up. Now Nixon doesn’t lo… --- ## [Social Security Privatization, # Whatever: what's the downside](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-privatization-whatever-whats-the-downside/391929)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-privatization-whatever-whats-the-downside/391929 "2007-02-22T14:37:39Z")
As with most people and most issues, I tend to pay most attention to issues that affect me directly (not a pretty trait, but a human one) so I’m much more aware of Social Security privatization now than in times past. P… --- ## [The power of faith or the power of guilt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-faith-or-the-power-of-guilt/392741)
**Author:** [@kezami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kezami)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2007, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-power-of-faith-or-the-power-of-guilt/392741 "2007-02-22T12:23:55Z")
I happened upon an article in the local Sunday paper that caused me to question my ascription to a selfish, nonaltruistic based lifestyle, one not so dissimilar to the one that has afflicted the ‘me first’, yuppie, boome… --- ## [How Atheism might prevail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-atheism-might-prevail/392603)
**Author:** [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-atheism-might-prevail/392603 "2007-02-22T03:42:35Z")
Bwhahaha! No, seriously, folks, I’ve been reading some folks’ misperceptions of my speculations and desires for atheism to become more acceptable and even mainstream as we continue to evolve (I can supply you with cites … --- ## [The effects of little things on big things](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-of-little-things-on-big-things/392361)
**Author:** [@Spiral\_Stairs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiral_Stairs)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2007, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-effects-of-little-things-on-big-things/392361 "2007-02-22T02:33:07Z")
Here’s a thought experiment I find myself playing with often. Let’s say I had never been born. (I was born in 1972.) That would mean that the daycare slot I took up would have gone to another child, who would not have… --- ## [Romney for President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-for-president/392080)
**Author:** [@Mr.Nuggets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nuggets)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-for-president/392080 "2007-02-22T00:25:45Z")
Ok, so Mitt Romney has announced his candidacy for President. How will his Mormon faith help or hurt him and if it hurts him, would he win anywhere outside of Utah or Idaho? --- ## [No Hugo Chávez Thread?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-hugo-chavez-thread/373562)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-hugo-chavez-thread/373562 "2007-02-21T23:22:34Z")
By now everyone has seen Sr. Chávez’s speech at the UN. Strangely there is no thread on it. Of course it could be because the question that faces this house is simply, “Is President Hugo Chávez whacked or simply off his… --- ## [A victory for fetus rights!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-victory-for-fetus-rights/392436)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 194\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-victory-for-fetus-rights/392436 "2007-02-21T14:49:41Z")
Well in so much as it is being proposed that human fetuses be issues death certificates when aborted. At least we are coming to terms that these little guys are human. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/13/america… --- ## [Idiots did not get us into Iraq, intelligent people did - Now how did that happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-did-not-get-us-into-iraq-intelligent-people-did-now-how-did-that-happen/392718)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2007, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-did-not-get-us-into-iraq-intelligent-people-did-now-how-did-that-happen/392718 "2007-02-21T06:33:41Z")
As aggravated as I am with the whole series of misteps that got up into the current morass in Iraq, if I really sit back and look at the history of how this came to be, it was mostly a series of decision and actions by b… --- ## [Does Civil Disobedience work better than a violent protest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-civil-disobedience-work-better-than-a-violent-protest/392825)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-civil-disobedience-work-better-than-a-violent-protest/392825 "2007-02-21T04:51:41Z")
As history stands, does civil disobedience work better than violent protests in terms of getting the Gov’t to A) see what you are doing and what your cause is B) take actionable measures towards reasonable goals (of the … --- ## [Why does everyone hate Bush?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-bush/390564)
**Author:** [@Heckxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckxx)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-everyone-hate-bush/390564 "2007-02-20T23:35:28Z")
It seems its really easy to hate the guy nowadays. Now, I’m not really big into politics, but like, didn’t we elect him twice? How popular was he when he won against Kerry? And this whole Iraq thing: Again, i dont follo… --- ## [UK: One third of homes dependent on benefits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-one-third-of-homes-dependent-on-benefits/391909)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-one-third-of-homes-dependent-on-benefits/391909 "2007-02-20T18:11:25Z")
(This might be better in IMHO, mods please move if you deem it appropriate.) So says the Telegraph. Bloody hell! I don’t normally read the Telegraph apart from the wonderful Alex cartoon, but this caught my eye. Unfor… --- ## [A new American Civil War....possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-american-civil-war-possible/392537)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-american-civil-war-possible/392537 "2007-02-20T14:11:11Z")
I’m currently reading a book by Orson Scott Card entitled Empire. The book is about a new American Civil war in the not too distant future. In the book, one of the characters makes a statement saying basically that no … --- ## [Inducing Labor when it will likely kill the fetus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inducing-labor-when-it-will-likely-kill-the-fetus/392528)
**Author:** [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2007, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inducing-labor-when-it-will-likely-kill-the-fetus/392528 "2007-02-20T12:55:35Z")
Sometimes pregnant women have conditions like that which used to be called Toxemia which endanger their life and do do not respond to any treatment short of ending their pregnancy. In these cases labor may well be induce… --- ## [Who's more responsible for learning - teachers or kids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-more-responsible-for-learning-teachers-or-kids/392866)
**Author:** [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2007, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-more-responsible-for-learning-teachers-or-kids/392866 "2007-02-20T04:33:20Z")
Interesting op-ed piece here by a woman who thinks kids need to be held responsible more for their performance in school. I mostly agree, but I don’t think she makes a good case in some places. Yes, the teacher is larg… --- ## [What's wrong with psychiatry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-psychiatry/390587)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-psychiatry/390587 "2007-02-20T03:20:26Z")
Assuming that it is not perfect, what specifically is wrong with it? --- ## [Conditions on Iraq funding: Const. crisis? Or preeminence of Congress' purse power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conditions-on-iraq-funding-const-crisis-or-preeminence-of-congress-purse-power/392702)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conditions-on-iraq-funding-const-crisis-or-preeminence-of-congress-purse-power/392702 "2007-02-20T01:33:28Z")
Rep. Murtha, with Speaker Pelosi’s support, is planning to attach a pile of conditions to the next Iraq funding measure: He might even attach a condition forcing the closure of Gitmo. This debate’s not about the advis… --- ## [What does it mean to be racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-racist/392514)
**Author:** [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-racist/392514 "2007-02-19T23:46:00Z")
In the last two episodes of Friday Night Lights, there has been a storyline regarding one of the assistant coaches expressing some not-very-PC ideas about how the abilities & talents of the black players differ from thos… --- ## [House passes anti-"surge" resolution -- now what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-passes-anti-surge-resolution-now-what/392632)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-passes-anti-surge-resolution-now-what/392632 "2007-02-19T22:51:45Z")
Story here. How (if at all) will the Admin respond to this? And what can anti-war members of Congress do next? --- ## [Songs that contain words not commonly found in song lyrics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392845)
**Author:** [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-contain-words-not-commonly-found-in-song-lyrics/392845 "2007-02-19T20:12:11Z")
wrong forum- could a kindly mod please delete/lock- I have reposted in correct area. --- ## [Jehovah's Witnesses, please fight my ignorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jehovahs-witnesses-please-fight-my-ignorance/391509)
**Author:** [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2007, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jehovahs-witnesses-please-fight-my-ignorance/391509 "2007-02-19T17:51:44Z")
First let me assert, I open this topic with respect. I have a negative opinion on beliefs and practices such as I am aware of them, but I am open minded. I’m certainly not out to engage in any JW bashing. Where I’m co… --- ## [Bush/Cheney Simulpeachment: to Pre-Empt a War With Iran (or whoever)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-cheney-simulpeachment-to-pre-empt-a-war-with-iran-or-whoever/390654)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 197\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-cheney-simulpeachment-to-pre-empt-a-war-with-iran-or-whoever/390654 "2007-02-18T17:17:39Z")
Two loose cannons running the country. We’re stuck with them for another 23.6 months. Could they get us into another war, even over the objections of Congress? Sure they could. It’s time for a pre-emptive strike. An… --- ## [Payback for Kidnap and Torture is Beginning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payback-for-kidnap-and-torture-is-beginning/392472)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payback-for-kidnap-and-torture-is-beginning/392472 "2007-02-18T15:14:22Z")
“An Italian judge has ordered 26 US citizens - most of them CIA agents - to stand trial over the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Milan in 2003.” "Those indicted include the former station chief of CIA operations i… --- ## [Why Japan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-japan/391631)
**Author:** [@deanc2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deanc2000)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2007, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-japan/391631 "2007-02-18T14:18:46Z")
I was curious if anyone has a good answer on this issue. Of all the Asian countries, why has Japan been so successful as far as business, technology, economics, etc. All other countries surrounding Japan are not even c… --- ## [California is moving its primary to Feb, #5 on the list. Why not #1?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-moving-its-primary-to-feb-5-on-the-list-why-not-1/392580)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-is-moving-its-primary-to-feb-5-on-the-list-why-not-1/392580 "2007-02-18T13:28:02Z")
My question is why be fifth? Why not first? Who annointed New Hampshire anyway? They’ve had their lead for a lot longer than they deserve. --- ## [Can you make easy moral judgements?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-easy-moral-judgements/392618)
**Author:** [@whyiseveryonestupid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whyiseveryonestupid)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2007, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-easy-moral-judgements/392618 "2007-02-18T09:18:44Z")
Need to make clear this is entirely hypothetical, I’m in no moral dilemma! Consider 2 different types of people - One lives a fairly legal normal life, not hurting anyone on a day to day basis but if put in the right s… --- ## [Do American students learn about the violent massacres of striking laborers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-american-students-learn-about-the-violent-massacres-of-striking-laborers/392291)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-american-students-learn-about-the-violent-massacres-of-striking-laborers/392291 "2007-02-17T20:32:07Z")
Bay View Tragedy, 1886 - immigrant miners and their families are fired on by National Guard. Thirteen year old boy, among others, killed. Lattimer Massacre, 1897 - sheriff’s posse kills 19 unarmed demonstrators. Ludlow… --- ## [Is a charge of "waffling" ever honest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-charge-of-waffling-ever-honest/392508)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-charge-of-waffling-ever-honest/392508 "2007-02-17T20:05:41Z")
Some pols like to charge others with waffling when they have a change of heart. Or even when they they vote differently on a bill that at first won’t get a majority, goes into conference and gets modified, and then pass… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=729) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=731)