# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=817 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 818 --- ## [The limits of the "It's my body" argument](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limits-of-the-its-my-body-argument/340541)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limits-of-the-its-my-body-argument/340541 "2006-01-28T01:29:30Z")
If a pregnant woman decides she will have the baby, can she do whatever she wants with the fetus while it is inside her? (since “it’s her body”) Do proponents of the “It’s my body” argument think there are any limits to… --- ## [Do blacks really have 70% illigitimate births?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-blacks-really-have-70-illigitimate-births/340566)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-blacks-really-have-70-illigitimate-births/340566 "2006-01-27T23:52:18Z")
I read something about NO mayor Ray Nagin citing this statistic of 70 percent of black children growing up with one parent - obviously Nagin doesn’t seem like the most trustworthy person, but I have definitely seen or he… --- ## [Serious Staph/Strep Infections in the Hospital](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-staph-strep-infections-in-the-hospital/341886)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-staph-strep-infections-in-the-hospital/341886 "2006-01-27T23:48:27Z")
After reading the horrifying link in the MPSIMS board about the quadruple amputee who caught a horrid infection while delivering her baby, I wonder…what are my chances of getting something like this if I’m in the hospita… --- ## [The Founding Father with the better character - Adams or Jefferson?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-founding-father-with-the-better-character-adams-or-jefferson/341358)
**Author:** [@CoffeeHound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoffeeHound)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-founding-father-with-the-better-character-adams-or-jefferson/341358 "2006-01-27T23:06:42Z")
Just for fun — and for those who might have an opinion – I’ll first take my position by covering myself and noting that both were great Americans. What can you say about two guys who die on the same day and that day bei… --- ## [Is communism what failed in Russia? Or was it failure to follow through?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-communism-what-failed-in-russia-or-was-it-failure-to-follow-through/341031)
**Author:** [@Post.Rinse.Repeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Post.Rinse.Repeat)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-communism-what-failed-in-russia-or-was-it-failure-to-follow-through/341031 "2006-01-27T16:27:22Z")
Wasn’t the real problem with the soviet state that it was never able to divest the rich? The tsarists were killed, but there was a structure of wealth and power still in place all the way from the beginning to now. Power… --- ## [Bush's Betrayal of Federalism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-betrayal-of-federalism/340738)
**Author:** [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushs-betrayal-of-federalism/340738 "2006-01-27T14:50:13Z")
A lot of liberals on the forum have a laundry list of problems with Bush. However, one problem I think all conservatives should have with the Bush administration is Bush’s blatant betrayal of “New Federalism.” Bush was… --- ## [Abramovic is ruining soccerball](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abramovic-is-ruining-soccerball/327238)
**Author:** [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abramovic-is-ruining-soccerball/327238 "2006-01-27T13:41:30Z")
The thief of the Soviet people’s assets, Roman Abramovic, has said that he wants to make Chelsea rule for 100 years. Now, of course money is part of football, and even my own club Liverpool (thumped 4-1 at home recently,… --- ## [Study points to a total lack of reason in political decision-making.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/study-points-to-a-total-lack-of-reason-in-political-decision-making/341507)
**Author:** [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/study-points-to-a-total-lack-of-reason-in-political-decision-making/341507 "2006-01-27T11:43:43Z")
I came across this article at MSNBC.com Political bias affects brain activity, study finds Basically it states that staunch party member skew everything so that it reinforces their already held beliefs. So, two quest… --- ## ["PAYBACK'S A BITCH" says grief-crazed prez--blows up wrong house, women, kids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paybacks-a-bitch-says-grief-crazed-prez-blows-up-wrong-house-women-kids/339995)
**Author:** [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Replies:** 301\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paybacks-a-bitch-says-grief-crazed-prez-blows-up-wrong-house-women-kids/339995 "2006-01-27T09:22:07Z")
Driven mad by the murder of his friends and countrymen, our Cpmmander in Chief hjas lashed out at the perpetrator of the atroity. Unfortunately, just like when El Nortenos mistakenly shoot up the house across the stre… --- ## [Hollywood leans left: why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632)
**Author:** [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-leans-left-why/340632 "2006-01-27T03:10:53Z")
I think it’s generally accepted that Hollywood and the entertainment industry tend to lean left. Any ideas on why that is? --- ## [Theory of reincarnation - credible or not and why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712)
**Author:** [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theory-of-reincarnation-credible-or-not-and-why/340712 "2006-01-27T01:44:21Z")
That’s the question. What is the credibility of the theory of reincarnation? My take is that it appears valid. That is the only theory that IMO somewhat satisfactorily explains why people have so much divergence in the q… --- ## [How important are church rituals to you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-are-church-rituals-to-you/340666)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-important-are-church-rituals-to-you/340666 "2006-01-26T23:58:05Z")
I guess this sounds like IMHO survey, but the religious posters seem to be here, so that’s where I’ll post it. Some church rituals can cause rifts, such as Martin Luther’s rebellion. Yet, most are accepted and even che… --- ## [Is a 10-Lb Rock a Destructive Device](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-10-lb-rock-a-destructive-device/276538)
**Author:** [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-10-lb-rock-a-destructive-device/276538 "2006-01-26T23:02:39Z")
Is a 10-pound rock hefted from an interstate overpass a “destructive device?” Judge turns question and the fate of 3 men accused of M! for throwing a 10-pound rock from an overpass onto the windshield of an oncoming aut… --- ## [Coleman was guilty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coleman-was-guilty/339723)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coleman-was-guilty/339723 "2006-01-26T22:08:03Z")
In several threads over the years like this one, we have discussed the case of Roger Keith Coleman, executed in Virginia for the brutal murder of his sister-in-law. The state of Virginia fought for some time to avoid te… --- ## [A debate about health care in America, pros and cons, etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-debate-about-health-care-in-america-pros-and-cons-etc/341500)
**Author:** [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-debate-about-health-care-in-america-pros-and-cons-etc/341500 "2006-01-26T21:10:18Z")
I have nothing to say in this debate- I’m here to learn. All I want to do is start the ball rolling with some quotes from my pit thread in November (if you don’t know which one, don’t worry about it)- My hope with th… --- ## [Canadian Election Prediction Thread: Contest, With A Real Prize!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-election-prediction-thread-contest-with-a-real-prize/341150)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-election-prediction-thread-contest-with-a-real-prize/341150 "2006-01-26T17:57:16Z")
I’m putting this is GD because A) it’s political and B) I’m voting Conservative, so it shouldn’t take long before someone calls me a baby-killing fascist. Tomorrow is election Day. The Conservatives have a steady lead … --- ## [Resolved: end taxpayer subsidies for superstar athletes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-end-taxpayer-subsidies-for-superstar-athletes/341578)
**Author:** [@David\_God\_of\_Frogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_God_of_Frogs)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-end-taxpayer-subsidies-for-superstar-athletes/341578 "2006-01-26T16:13:46Z")
Conservatives spent much of the 90’s going off on taxpayer subsidies to organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts. Now it’s my turn. This whole phenomenon is made possible of course by the fact that it’s h… --- ## [American neocons in government spying (or manipulation U.S. policy) for Israel?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-neocons-in-government-spying-or-manipulation-u-s-policy-for-israel/267286)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-neocons-in-government-spying-or-manipulation-u-s-policy-for-israel/267286 "2006-01-26T15:42:42Z")
From “Agents of Influence,” an article by Robert Dreyfuss in The Nation, October 4, 2004 – http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20041004&s=dreyfuss: I can think of no fitting way to frame this story as an issue for deb… --- ## [In reincarnation supported by the Bible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reincarnation-supported-by-the-bible/340525)
**Author:** [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-reincarnation-supported-by-the-bible/340525 "2006-01-26T14:51:57Z")
IN this thread raindog and I had a disagreement about reincarnation in the Bible. \*\* raindog \*\*claims My contention is not that reincarnation is obviously supported by the Bible, but that since the Bible is subject … --- ## [Is the United States "lucky"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-united-states-lucky/341461)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-united-states-lucky/341461 "2006-01-26T03:12:05Z")
I’ve been reading some US history lately and it strikes me how (seemingly) amazingly lucky we were early on to get the caliber of individuals we did to guide this emerging nation through difficult times, and all the twis… --- ## [Debate Series Proposal: Any Interest? (The Federalist)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-series-proposal-any-interest-the-federalist/341394)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debate-series-proposal-any-interest-the-federalist/341394 "2006-01-26T03:00:32Z")
Mods move this if you must, but this thread is just looking for a series of hands from the GD crowd, and not intended as a debate in itself. Over winter break I began reading The Federalist, and kept thinking to myself … --- ## [What happened with those lying oil executives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377)
**Author:** [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-with-those-lying-oil-executives/341377 "2006-01-26T01:25:10Z")
Back in November '05, when gas and energy prices were skyrocketing, Congress had executives from the major oil companies come in and answer questions about their record-breaking profits, among other things. A week later… --- ## [The Bush Administration and the "unitary executive" theory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-administration-and-the-unitary-executive-theory/339552)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bush-administration-and-the-unitary-executive-theory/339552 "2006-01-26T01:18:06Z")
This has come up in connection with the Alito confirmation hearing – http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=353296 – but I think it’s an important enough issue to warrant separate debate in its own thread. … --- ## [Iran Predictions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-predictions/340425)
**Author:** [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-predictions/340425 "2006-01-25T20:35:12Z")
I was hoping to get some more Doper insight on what may happen with Iran and whatever it is they are doing/claiming to do. I suppose my semi-uneducated guess is that they just want something and are using this as a barg… --- ## [Alito confirmation hearing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alito-confirmation-hearing/339187)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 319\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alito-confirmation-hearing/339187 "2006-01-25T20:19:43Z")
Today (1/8/06), the Senate Judiciary Committee begins its hearing on confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to take the Supreme Court seat now held by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060109/ts\_nm/c… --- ## [What would happen if SETI succeeds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-seti-succeeds/341216)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2006, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-seti-succeeds/341216 "2006-01-25T08:55:33Z")
What would happen if SETI actually detected artificial signals from an extraterrestrial civilization? How would SETI verify them? Would we be able to know what’s in the transmission? What would be the effect on soc… --- ## [IS IT IMPEACHMAS YET?Surveillance reserved for overseas?This bug's for you...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-impeachmas-yet-surveillance-reserved-for-overseas-this-bugs-for-you/335882)
**Author:** [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Replies:** 378\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2006, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-impeachmas-yet-surveillance-reserved-for-overseas-this-bugs-for-you/335882 "2006-01-25T07:47:25Z")
"Mr. Bush’s executive order allowing some warrantless eavesdropping on those inside the United States including American citizens, permanent legal residents, tourists and other foreigners is based on classified legal o… --- ## [Feds After Google Data](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feds-after-google-data/340680)
**Author:** [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2006, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feds-after-google-data/340680 "2006-01-25T07:41:26Z")
Oh, yeah, these guys can surely be trusted with broad-ranging surveillance powers… :rolleyes: --- ## [benefits of a filibuster?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-a-filibuster/341514)
**Author:** [@Serket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serket)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/benefits-of-a-filibuster/341514 "2006-01-25T04:55:28Z")
Filibuster Why are filibusters allowed? They just seem like stall tactics for senators who can’t defend their positions. --- ## [Who is the leaker in the NSA and CIA prison stories?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-leaker-in-the-nsa-and-cia-prison-stories/338000)
**Author:** [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-leaker-in-the-nsa-and-cia-prison-stories/338000 "2006-01-25T01:05:16Z")
(I know that these topics are the subjects of other threads, but I haven’t seen this question specifically addressed. And even though it’s a poll of sorts, I was sure it would end up in GD anyway.) Two separate Justic… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=816) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=818)