# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=760 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 761 --- ## [How many people would die... - Organic family farming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-would-die-organic-family-farming/377038)
**Author:** [@ted\_baskerville\_yahoo.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ted_baskerville_yahoo.com)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2006, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-would-die-organic-family-farming/377038 "2006-10-20T09:42:21Z")
How people would die if we ended the “evil corporate” food production and back to all organic family farming system where it was only small family run farms. And if we also eliminated supermarkets and went to a small sho… --- ## [Can the NYTimes' reporting rightly called "ultra-liberal" and dismissed out of hand?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-nytimes-reporting-rightly-called-ultra-liberal-and-dismissed-out-of-hand/376710)
**Author:** [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-nytimes-reporting-rightly-called-ultra-liberal-and-dismissed-out-of-hand/376710 "2006-10-20T04:08:41Z")
I saw a recent Fox afiliate newscast in which one of the commentators was reporting on the NYTimes report that the RNC was pulling money out of, among other campaigns, DeWine’s campaign. The reporter basically said some… --- ## [Would ET negate God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-et-negate-god/375045)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-et-negate-god/375045 "2006-10-19T20:01:41Z")
If an intelligent life form from another planet were to land on Earth, how would it affect religous folks? ET showing up in a shuttlecraft would seem to establish either that all that stuff in Genesis didn’t happen, or … --- ## [I think we're headed for a Constitutional crisis ... .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-were-headed-for-a-constitutional-crisis/375444)
**Author:** [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-were-headed-for-a-constitutional-crisis/375444 "2006-10-19T16:24:20Z")
Maybe I’m just feeling paranoid today, but hear me out. President Bush is a great fan of “signing statements” – extra comments that he adds to bills before signing them into law explaining how he intended to interpret w… --- ## [Is the word "slavishly" offensive to African-Americans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-slavishly-offensive-to-african-americans/376955)
**Author:** [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-slavishly-offensive-to-african-americans/376955 "2006-10-19T15:59:46Z")
Here’s a CNN article on the hoohah Steny Hoyer, a Demcratic Representative from Maryland characterized Michael Steele (an African American Republican candidate for Senate in MD) as having had “a career of slavishly supp… --- ## [Human Population Decline](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-population-decline/375455)
**Author:** [@Fredescu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fredescu)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2006, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-population-decline/375455 "2006-10-19T07:55:18Z")
The birth rate of many developed nations is below “replacement level” which means less than 2.x (usually cited between 2.1 and 2.3) births per woman. The CIA website has the full list of birthrates by country and as you … --- ## [North Korea: What's next?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-whats-next/375775)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-whats-next/375775 "2006-10-19T02:50:05Z")
Kim Jong-Il has done it. A nuke test less than 2 hours ago. How does this change the situtation? What’s next; sanctions, blockade, war? What will China do? What’ll the US do? Will this effect Ban Ki-moon of So… --- ## [Olberman reports leak of draft Iraq Commission report.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olberman-reports-leak-of-draft-iraq-commission-report/376505)
**Author:** [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olberman-reports-leak-of-draft-iraq-commission-report/376505 "2006-10-19T01:53:26Z")
On Countdown with Keith Olberman Friday night he reported that a draft copy of the report by the Iraq Commission headed by James Baker had been leaked to the New York Sun. New Yorkers, what sort of paper is the Sun? St… --- ## [Should the US extradite these soldiers for trial in the UK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-extradite-these-soldiers-for-trial-in-the-uk/376610)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-us-extradite-these-soldiers-for-trial-in-the-uk/376610 "2006-10-18T16:51:21Z")
A coroner’s court in the UK has found that US armed forces were probably guilty of unlawful killing of a UK journalist and that the UK Government should be asked to extradite them and their commanding officer for trial i… --- ## [Green in Illinois?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-in-illinois/376577)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-in-illinois/376577 "2006-10-18T13:57:53Z")
This may be a regional thread, but for those aware of the Illinois gubernatorial campaign … We got two real stinkers in the major parties and a Green candidate who actually comes off as intelligent moderate honest and r… --- ## [Does double jeopardy really apply if you killed or bribed a key witness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-double-jeopardy-really-apply-if-you-killed-or-bribed-a-key-witness/376817)
**Author:** [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-double-jeopardy-really-apply-if-you-killed-or-bribed-a-key-witness/376817 "2006-10-18T00:31:54Z")
I ask in GD because this has come up a ridiculous amount of times in Law and Order, and yet I can’t find a clear answer in most real-life resources. Obviously, rigging your trial (say, by bribing a jury member) has gene… --- ## [Hating Evil People, the Last Prejudice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hating-evil-people-the-last-prejudice/375858)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hating-evil-people-the-last-prejudice/375858 "2006-10-17T23:41:27Z")
You can’t hate anyone because of their race. You can’t hate anyone because of their religion. Yet if someone is evil, you can hate them with a vengeance. Is hating evil people the last human prejudice? (FYI I am not say… --- ## [Is Science a belief system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-science-a-belief-system/375029)
**Author:** [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-science-a-belief-system/375029 "2006-10-17T23:15:18Z")
From this thread: \[QUOTE=begbert2\] And, while the belief that there are no gods is hardly a comprehensive belief system in and of itself, I’ve noticed that it’s also commonly accompanied by a belief in the absence of a… --- ## [Rodney King Beating](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodney-king-beating/376593)
**Author:** [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rodney-king-beating/376593 "2006-10-17T21:42:29Z")
I was only in elementary school when the Rodney King incident took place so I don’t really remember much about the atmosphere of the time. I was reading over the wiki article on him Rodney King - Wikipedia and it seems c… --- ## [North Korea sanctions -- meaningful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-sanctions-meaningful/376701)
**Author:** [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-sanctions-meaningful/376701 "2006-10-17T19:18:39Z")
Full text of sanctions resolution available here: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/14/sanctions.text.reut/ According to news reports, an earlier draft of this resolution would have allowed inspections of ships … --- ## [Abraham Hicks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abraham-hicks/376657)
**Author:** [@natural](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/natural)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abraham-hicks/376657 "2006-10-17T16:00:57Z")
A friend of mine is really into the Abraham Hicks thing. I’ve listened to her tapes and it sounds rather interesting. So is she for real? :dubious: --- ## [Children's Right to Religious Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-right-to-religious-freedom/375989)
**Author:** [@rocksolid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocksolid)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-right-to-religious-freedom/375989 "2006-10-17T15:13:17Z")
Is it right that parents have the right to bring their children up to believe in any specific religion? Not sure about other countries but here in the UK parents can choose to send their children to (for example) a catho… --- ## [Spanking, when done correctly, is good for kids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanking-when-done-correctly-is-good-for-kids/376053)
**Author:** [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanking-when-done-correctly-is-good-for-kids/376053 "2006-10-17T15:10:49Z")
A couple days ago in the car, I heard a radio call-in in show discussing a recent study pointing to the benefits of spanking children for disciplinary purposes. Unfortunately I missed the details of the study, but most … --- ## [Abortion and the Constitution--or, my support of States Rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-the-constitution-or-my-support-of-states-rights/376600)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-the-constitution-or-my-support-of-states-rights/376600 "2006-10-17T12:25:49Z")
Here in the U.S. we have what I understand is a unique system of government (compared to other nations), whereas the individual states are confederated under a central government, which helps unify particular rights for … --- ## [Karl Rove: How bad does it have to get?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-how-bad-does-it-have-to-get/376295)
**Author:** [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/karl-rove-how-bad-does-it-have-to-get/376295 "2006-10-17T06:33:57Z")
So in recent weeks we’ve heard that: Karl Rove pressured Foley to stay in the Senate for two more years when Foley was thinking of resigning to become a lobbyist, on the grounds that they wanted to maintain their majori… --- ## [Texas school tells classes to fight back](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-school-tells-classes-to-fight-back/376414)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-school-tells-classes-to-fight-back/376414 "2006-10-17T04:13:02Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061013/ap\_on\_re\_us/defending\_the\_classroom Great. I’m all for it. There’s a great push in modern western society to take the fight out of men (and women, I suppose). We’re trained to be pa… --- ## [Waging Peace - What if the Amish were in charge of the "War on Terror"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waging-peace-what-if-the-amish-were-in-charge-of-the-war-on-terror/376617)
**Author:** [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waging-peace-what-if-the-amish-were-in-charge-of-the-war-on-terror/376617 "2006-10-17T00:14:07Z")
Difficulty - No buggy-bomb jokes… Sojo.net is one of my favorite websites. It is a great source for information on the Christian Social Justice movement. In a blog related to that site, Diana Butler Bass posted an int… --- ## [More "nonfamily households" than marraiges](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-nonfamily-households-than-marraiges/376630)
**Author:** [@50million](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/50million)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-nonfamily-households-than-marraiges/376630 "2006-10-17T00:05:31Z")
Summary of article; for the first time in US history “nonfamily households” account for more households than do marraiges. Nonfamily households include both homosexual and heterosexual couples living out of wedlock. No… --- ## [george Washington Carver: man or Myth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-washington-carver-man-or-myth/376654)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-washington-carver-man-or-myth/376654 "2006-10-16T23:26:13Z")
I know a little about the man, except that he was born a slave, and through immense struggle, obtaines a college education, and evenrually earned a ph.D in chemistry. But the man was supposed to have invented hundreds … --- ## [Is there any way to stop Islamist terrorism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-stop-islamist-terrorism/376263)
**Author:** [@Phrontist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phrontist)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-stop-islamist-terrorism/376263 "2006-10-16T22:07:18Z")
Part of me is shocked and worried by the fact that the list of countries with planned or successful attacks carried out by Muslim extremists grows ever longer. I mean, even the shapes of our commercial buildings seem to… --- ## [Ohio voters: statewide ballot issues](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-voters-statewide-ballot-issues/376400)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-voters-statewide-ballot-issues/376400 "2006-10-16T16:19:42Z")
From my brother-in-law, a politically savvy lawyer, with his permission, and with some minor editing of my own. FWIW, I agree with him on these… This deals only with the first five issues on the ballot, some of which a… --- ## [No Warner? Who can stop Hillary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-warner-who-can-stop-hillary/376244)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-warner-who-can-stop-hillary/376244 "2006-10-16T00:44:17Z")
I’m a Democrat and I want a Democrat to be President. Hillary Clinton is, in my opinion, unelectable in the general election. Warner was my hope to have an electable candidate. Now that he’s out, who has a chance to… --- ## [Using the "N word" in discussions about the word. Racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-n-word-in-discussions-about-the-word-racist/375753)
**Author:** [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-n-word-in-discussions-about-the-word-racist/375753 "2006-10-15T22:51:34Z")
I didn’t want to hijack this pit thread with this question, though the thread in question is simply reminiscent of a number of such instances where this has happened. In the thread in question, the “N word” is discussed… --- ## [Why so few US Humanists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-us-humanists/376180)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-few-us-humanists/376180 "2006-10-15T22:35:12Z")
I’ve realized I was an atheist since I was a kid. But within the past decade I grew tired of “defining” my personal philosophy in terms of one (of many) supernatural belief system I rejected, and looked around to see if… --- ## [Voter fraud: Republicans supress report they don't want to hear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-fraud-republicans-supress-report-they-dont-want-to-hear/376232)
**Author:** [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-fraud-republicans-supress-report-they-dont-want-to-hear/376232 "2006-10-15T22:20:11Z")
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20061011/1a\_lede11.art.htm To sum up: the U.S. Election Assistance Commission was formed to study voter fraud. What they found was that most fraud was plausibly conducted via a… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=759) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=761)