# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=788 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 789 --- ## [USA: Do the States really matter, and should they?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-do-the-states-really-matter-and-should-they/358254)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-do-the-states-really-matter-and-should-they/358254 "2006-06-01T06:33:09Z")
The US has 50 States. Many of their boundaries are geographically relevent: rivers, etc. Many are not (the Western “box States”). Many are historically relevant: they were the original 13 colonies or particular foreign t… --- ## [Canadian Senate reform](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-senate-reform/358853)
**Author:** [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-senate-reform/358853 "2006-06-01T00:31:31Z")
Well along with fixed election dates, the Harper government is planning to introduce a bill to “reform” the Senate. Basically the push seems to be to: Remove lifetime terms for Senators Senate terms become 8 years Reta… --- ## [Alimony in 2006?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alimony-in-2006/357148)
**Author:** [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Replies:** 188\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alimony-in-2006/357148 "2006-05-31T19:51:04Z")
I don’t know if this belongs here because it may or may not turn into a debate. However, here is my story. I am in love with a man who is currently going through a divorce. We had planned to start a life together when… --- ## [Why do kids have it harder today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-kids-have-it-harder-today/357121)
**Author:** [@MGorgon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MGorgon)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-kids-have-it-harder-today/357121 "2006-05-31T17:20:44Z")
Seems to me we can wear whatever we want if we have the confidence to wear it in schools. We don’t have to walk a mile to school (as my dad puts it no less), or carry firewood just to stay warm in the winter. We have t… --- ## [Is it possible to have a representative, democratic, pluralistic social system](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-a-representative-democratic-pluralistic-social-system/358340)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-a-representative-democratic-pluralistic-social-system/358340 "2006-05-31T15:38:39Z")
I have been listening to alot of heavy metal music thanks to VH1, which is usually based on a sense of feeling at odds with society. And I just listened to Sepultura’s refuse/resist about standing up to political tyranny… --- ## [Funeral Protest Ban--Your thoughts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-protest-ban-your-thoughts/358207)
**Author:** [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2006, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-protest-ban-your-thoughts/358207 "2006-05-31T11:53:47Z")
From this story. Personally, while I think Phelps and the rest of the WBC are scumbags of the highest order, this legislation is a really really bad idea. Not only do I find it unconstitutional, I think it violates th… --- ## [Can abortion be responsible birth control?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-abortion-be-responsible-birth-control/358147)
**Author:** [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-abortion-be-responsible-birth-control/358147 "2006-05-31T06:35:29Z")
Let’s say their is a woman with very low risk of getting pregnant. She does not want to use any form of birth control because of side effects and convience. She is not concerned about the risk of STD’s either. Would it … --- ## [What moral responsibility does the US have for the current Iraqi bloodbath?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-moral-responsibility-does-the-us-have-for-the-current-iraqi-bloodbath/358742)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-moral-responsibility-does-the-us-have-for-the-current-iraqi-bloodbath/358742 "2006-05-31T03:28:58Z")
Things in Iraq seem to keep getting worse despite Bush Administration “corner turning” rhetoric. The US has been at the forefront of lecturing other nations and states about their moral and ethical failings for some time… --- ## [What would it take to change your mind about the theory of evolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-to-change-your-mind-about-the-theory-of-evolution/358763)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-to-change-your-mind-about-the-theory-of-evolution/358763 "2006-05-31T02:49:44Z")
My aim in this thread is not to try to convert anyone from their position, or to incite anyone else to do so. However, this topic seems certain to incite a debate, so I figure I might as well start it off in GD. So, to … --- ## [Is gay marriage "the final tactic of the women's movement"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gay-marriage-the-final-tactic-of-the-womens-movement/233515)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gay-marriage-the-final-tactic-of-the-womens-movement/233515 "2006-05-30T22:24:54Z")
James Howard Kunstler is one of my favorite commentators when he writes about things like the deleterious effects on American life of automobile-dependent suburbanization, destruction of pedestrian-scale neighborhoods, a… --- ## [Seventy bodies delivered to Baghdad morgue in six hours, many tortured and executed.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seventy-bodies-delivered-to-baghdad-morgue-in-six-hours-many-tortured-and-executed/356733)
**Author:** [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seventy-bodies-delivered-to-baghdad-morgue-in-six-hours-many-tortured-and-executed/356733 "2006-05-30T20:30:40Z")
I heard this on the radio early this morning, but I haven’t been able to track the story down online anywhere, but judging by related stories like this, it doesn’t seem at all impossible. And according to this same radi… --- ## [Let's say I don't believe in Jesus's divinity.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-dont-believe-in-jesuss-divinity/357019)
**Author:** [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-say-i-dont-believe-in-jesuss-divinity/357019 "2006-05-30T07:23:54Z")
Let’s say, for the sake of a mental exercise, that I’ve decided that I don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus. I now believe that when he spoke of being a Son of God that he meant that we were all sons and daughters of … --- ## [Is it time for nuke power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-nuke-power/357498)
**Author:** [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-nuke-power/357498 "2006-05-30T06:35:31Z")
In my younger days I was strongly anti-nukewith good reason I believe, but I’ve found my opposition softening lately. Tonight I read this article which points to a side I hadn’t really considered - global warming. The au… --- ## [Being born Gay=Mental Illness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-born-gay-mental-illness/357228)
**Author:** [@Mimetheunholy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mimetheunholy)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-born-gay-mental-illness/357228 "2006-05-30T06:31:53Z")
I at first want to start this not meaning any disrespect, I honestly have no problem with how one chooses to live ones life. (I infact really have no problem at all with gay people) I however have wondered about this. If… --- ## [homosexuality and the society](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-and-the-society/358470)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 149\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuality-and-the-society/358470 "2006-05-30T01:21:28Z")
we have in the last few decades had a liberation of homosexuals in the west and some say it’s fine while others say it’s bad but i would like to take this a step longer and try to See what consequences it have for socie… --- ## [Ethical Responsibility of Tatoo Parlors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-responsibility-of-tatoo-parlors/358628)
**Author:** [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethical-responsibility-of-tatoo-parlors/358628 "2006-05-30T00:23:48Z")
I just saw a man tatooed in a black and white checker board pattern that covered his face and arms. I can’t imagine this person having any kind of normal work or personal life, and my first thought was that he is mentall… --- ## [Does hazing provide societal benefits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hazing-provide-societal-benefits/357358)
**Author:** [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hazing-provide-societal-benefits/357358 "2006-05-30T00:16:38Z")
No matter what steps are taken to reduce or eliminate hazing (in schools and the military, for example), it survives. Latest scandal(s) in collegiate sports, this time involving women. Elements of hazing also enter int… --- ## [Oklahoma Mother Jailed for Daughter's Truancy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oklahoma-mother-jailed-for-daughters-truancy/358090)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oklahoma-mother-jailed-for-daughters-truancy/358090 "2006-05-29T22:23:26Z")
I didn’t see a print article, but it was one of those little video stories on the CNN website. The mom is doing 30 days because the daughter’s truancy continued after repeated warnings from the courts. The daughter is no… --- ## [Has John Bolton lived up (or down) to expectations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-john-bolton-lived-up-or-down-to-expectations/358557)
**Author:** [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-john-bolton-lived-up-or-down-to-expectations/358557 "2006-05-29T19:36:11Z")
Last year, when President Bush nominated John Bolton as his choice for the position of UN Ambassador, there was an outcry in Congress and in the media. He was deemed to be a distinctly undiplomatic choice for a diplomat… --- ## [will Shanghai Cooperation Organization challeng USA and EU i near future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569 "2006-05-29T18:51:28Z")
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization which was founded on June 14, 2001 by leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, the People’s Republic of China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. … --- ## [Should North America eventually form a single Union?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-north-america-eventually-form-a-single-union/358213)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-north-america-eventually-form-a-single-union/358213 "2006-05-29T05:43:35Z")
First I apologize for causing an unexpected hijack to the excellentWhy do Americans know so little about Canada? Should Canada, USA & Mexico form a Union along the lines of the EU or even stronger ties? I think there w… --- ## [What does God mean when he says his name is Yahweh?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-god-mean-when-he-says-his-name-is-yahweh/357619)
**Author:** [@Jebus\_H.Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jebus_H.Christ)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-god-mean-when-he-says-his-name-is-yahweh/357619 "2006-05-28T17:49:34Z")
When Moses asks God what his name is and God answers “YHWH”, what does God mean? Is he saying his name is Yahweh (vowels added from the written Hebrew) in the same way that a person is named Teddy? Or since Yahweh can … --- ## [Racial/Ethnic Slurs and Physical Violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-ethnic-slurs-and-physical-violence/357817)
**Author:** [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racial-ethnic-slurs-and-physical-violence/357817 "2006-05-28T16:03:48Z")
I recently overheard a conversation in a restaurant (a Hooters in Nashville, TN) that intrigued me enough to post here at the SDMB. It went something like this: Two black guys and one white guy (all were about college-a… --- ## [Egypt on the verge of Islamist Revolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egypt-on-the-verge-of-islamist-revolution/356425)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2006, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egypt-on-the-verge-of-islamist-revolution/356425 "2006-05-28T10:21:46Z")
I’ve been reading about Egyptian society and religion and what roles it plays in shaping it, how the government ignores it and appeases Islamists in order for them to stay quiet. But my question is how much longer will t… --- ## [Why can’t more reporters be like Mike Wallace?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-t-more-reporters-be-like-mike-wallace/358010)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2006, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-t-more-reporters-be-like-mike-wallace/358010 "2006-05-28T09:18:58Z")
So I was watching the 60 Minutes send off for Mike Wallace and I was wondering: Why can’t more reporters be like Mike? Why can’t anyone else ask the Grand Ayatollah on his opinion of the prince of Egypt calling him insan… --- ## [Venezuela pulls out of Andean Community -- South American unification derailed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venezuela-pulls-out-of-andean-community-south-american-unification-derailed/358031)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venezuela-pulls-out-of-andean-community-south-american-unification-derailed/358031 "2006-05-28T04:02:19Z")
In this thread – Future of the South American Community of Nations? - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board – I speculated about the projected merger of the Andean Community and MERCOSUR to form the South American … --- ## [Will teaching gay history create false history?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-teaching-gay-history-create-false-history/357953)
**Author:** [@Upgrading\_to\_Critical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Upgrading_to_Critical)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-teaching-gay-history-create-false-history/357953 "2006-05-28T02:37:33Z")
Re: The recent passage of a bill to put gay history into textbooks (which already require textbooks that note the contributions of women, blacks, Native Americans, Mexicans, Asians and Pacific Islanders. ) Will famous … --- ## [Search of Rep. Jefferson unconstitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-of-rep-jefferson-unconstitutional/357933)
**Author:** [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-of-rep-jefferson-unconstitutional/357933 "2006-05-27T19:42:17Z")
Rep. William Jefferson (LA) has allegedly been nailed for accepting bribes to facilitate a business venture in Africa, an allegation I don’t see much cause to doubt at this point. Yet, to my astonisment, there appears t… --- ## [How many illegal/undocumented aliens are there in the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-illegal-undocumented-aliens-are-there-in-the-u-s/358458)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-illegal-undocumented-aliens-are-there-in-the-u-s/358458 "2006-05-27T16:07:18Z")
This is a question obviously relevant to all the ongoing immigration threads in GD. I’m posting it in GD instead of GQ because the answer is, well, debatable. --- ## [Do you think "The system works"? US trials.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-system-works-us-trials/355708)
**Author:** [@marginal\_prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marginal_prophet)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-system-works-us-trials/355708 "2006-05-27T15:16:46Z")
I don’t see that it works at all. I think it’s worse than ever and getting worse every year. I think it’s worse than other countires. And it’s certainly worse than we deserve. Trials seem to take forever to get into … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=787) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=789)