# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=819 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 820 --- ## [Tracking "Extreme Left-Wing" Professors - Good or Bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-extreme-left-wing-professors-good-or-bad/340597)
**Author:** [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-extreme-left-wing-professors-good-or-bad/340597 "2006-01-21T03:14:01Z")
A UCLA alumni group is willing to pay for tapes and/or notes of UCLA profs espousing “extreme left-wing views” in class. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/01/18/state/n025132S91.DTL http://www.uclap… --- ## [Al Gore's speech on "the limits of executive power"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gores-speech-on-the-limits-of-executive-power/340296)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gores-speech-on-the-limits-of-executive-power/340296 "2006-01-21T01:12:39Z")
Al Gore gave an MLK Day speech on “the limits of executive power.” You can read the whole text here: http://www.algore04.com/ Discuss! --- ## [Feds want all online search data](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feds-want-all-online-search-data/340898)
**Author:** [@jeffh3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeffh3000)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feds-want-all-online-search-data/340898 "2006-01-20T22:38:01Z")
For those that don’t already know, the Dept of Justice is gathering data on all searches conducted online. This information comes out as a result of a battle between Google and the DOJ. See Privacy experts condemn subp… --- ## [History what if: Lincoln not assassinated.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-what-if-lincoln-not-assassinated/340311)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-what-if-lincoln-not-assassinated/340311 "2006-01-20T21:28:11Z")
I’m currently watching the History Channels series of shows on Lincoln (Half the time with tears in my eyes. Yeah, I know its the History Channel but its pretty damn emotional for personal reasons). They are talking ab… --- ## [What if the Information Age had started earlier?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-information-age-had-started-earlier/340545)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-information-age-had-started-earlier/340545 "2006-01-20T19:58:33Z")
Inspired by this thread: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=352830 What if computer/information technology had progressed faster, so that personal computers with Internet connections had been widely av… --- ## [Osama Asks for Truce - what is our response?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-asks-for-truce-what-is-our-response/340685)
**Author:** [@Gringo\_Miami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gringo_Miami)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-asks-for-truce-what-is-our-response/340685 "2006-01-20T16:51:09Z")
Today, according to CNN and other news sources - Osama Bin Laden has offered a truce to the US ENTIRE CNN STORY I quote part of the article: How would you answer this if you were President? My answer - No truce. F… --- ## [Is voting more important than personal freedom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-voting-more-important-than-personal-freedom/340406)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-voting-more-important-than-personal-freedom/340406 "2006-01-20T14:17:38Z")
In this thread Shakes talks about fining people for not voting. So what I want to know is, which is a higher ideal, participating in the democratic process or having personal freedom. I lean toward personal freedom. … --- ## [What can we say about the Supernatural](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-we-say-about-the-supernatural/338103)
**Author:** [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Replies:** 306\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-we-say-about-the-supernatural/338103 "2006-01-20T01:02:10Z")
Many recent threads about religion are turning towards a discussion of the supernatural, so I thought it might be useful to devote a thread to it. Some initial thoughts First, how would you define supernatural? Being ou… --- ## [Do we really want SCOTUS confirmations to go like this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-want-scotus-confirmations-to-go-like-this/339822)
**Author:** [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-want-scotus-confirmations-to-go-like-this/339822 "2006-01-19T23:15:20Z")
Recently, the confirmation hearings on Samuel Alito has been the subject of some debate. I am generally annoyed by the Demos in this proceeding. I have several objections to the kind of questioning going on. Non-quest… --- ## [BUSH:"Yer doin' uh heckuva job, Markie"(B. McLellan, Medicare Admin.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-yer-doin-uh-heckuva-job-markie-b-mclellan-medicare-admin/340197)
**Author:** [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-yer-doin-uh-heckuva-job-markie-b-mclellan-medicare-admin/340197 "2006-01-19T22:55:11Z")
“In an interview yesterday, Dr. Mark B. McClellan, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that “several hundred thousand beneficiaries who switched plans” in December may have had d… --- ## [What kind of spying program might this be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-spying-program-might-this-be/339899)
**Author:** [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-spying-program-might-this-be/339899 "2006-01-19T19:37:24Z")
First off, this isn’t exactly a Great Debate, but rather a question with a factual answer, but one which I reckon any doper might not know the answer to. Hence speculation is all there will be, and so this thread is in G… --- ## [New MD law forces Wal-Mart to provide health coverage - Fair or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-md-law-forces-wal-mart-to-provide-health-coverage-fair-or-not/339823)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-md-law-forces-wal-mart-to-provide-health-coverage-fair-or-not/339823 "2006-01-19T18:46:40Z")
I’m in Maryland, and while I’m not a Wal-Mart cheerleader, to target them simply because they employ over 10.000 workers seems a bit discriminatory. Is this law fair and reasonable? Is the point about the state’s picki… --- ## [Are there more UFO/Bigfoot photos now, what with camera phones being so popular?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-more-ufo-bigfoot-photos-now-what-with-camera-phones-being-so-popular/340284)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-more-ufo-bigfoot-photos-now-what-with-camera-phones-being-so-popular/340284 "2006-01-19T18:31:58Z")
Now that a lot more people carry cameras, what with them being built into many cell phones, are there a lot more UFO and/or Bigfoot pics? How about Nessie and Champie? Even though I don’t think aliens are visiting Eart… --- ## [Are ALL accidents preventable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-accidents-preventable/340369)
**Author:** [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-accidents-preventable/340369 "2006-01-19T17:40:38Z")
An Accident is defined (at least in Yahoo’s dictionary) as: IMHO, the common perception is “Accident’s happen, if they were planned or practiced they would not be called accidents”. However, at work we use a Behavior … --- ## [US defense: out of control? Can we change it? Why liberal/conservative?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-defense-out-of-control-can-we-change-it-why-liberal-conservative/340499)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-defense-out-of-control-can-we-change-it-why-liberal-conservative/340499 "2006-01-19T15:28:20Z")
Well, this is pretty self explainatory. Personally, I’m under the impression that the money spent on American defense is ridiculously high. I’m on campus right now, so I don’t have any of my sources with me, but Americ… --- ## [Is hell eternal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hell-eternal/340147)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hell-eternal/340147 "2006-01-19T15:04:35Z")
…or are souls simply consumed in a fiery lake? According to a friend with an evangelical background (specifically The Plain Truth operation), the saved were granted eternal life, while the damned were thrown into a lak… --- ## [What is your church doing to change public perception?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-church-doing-to-change-public-perception/339017)
**Author:** [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-church-doing-to-change-public-perception/339017 "2006-01-18T21:56:57Z")
In this thread, http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6974551#post6974551, we’re discussing how individual southern baptist churches can’t be painted with the same brush as the SBC because the SBC is the m… --- ## [Oregon Assisted Suicide Law Upheld by SCOTUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oregon-assisted-suicide-law-upheld-by-scotus/340427)
**Author:** [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oregon-assisted-suicide-law-upheld-by-scotus/340427 "2006-01-18T19:28:01Z")
The Supreme Court today upheld the Oregon law permitting doctors to prescribe lethal doses of painkillers to hasten death. In a 6-3 vote, with Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas dissenting, the court ruled that federal drug law… --- ## [Campaign Reform](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/campaign-reform/339847)
**Author:** [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/campaign-reform/339847 "2006-01-18T19:27:53Z")
Since we are reforming both the Democrats and Republicans, why not reform the electoral campaigning process? What would you do to change the media circus it has become? I’ve got a suggestion. Remove certain parts of th… --- ## [Conspiracy Theory and Truth Verification](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theory-and-truth-verification/339681)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theory-and-truth-verification/339681 "2006-01-18T17:07:48Z")
So I’ve been looking into the Carlyle Group, trying to learn more about the Carlyle Group and their activities. There of course is a wealth of information on the side of conspiracy theorists. Now, I fully understand th… --- ## [Personal privacy: a thing of the past](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-privacy-a-thing-of-the-past/338872)
**Author:** [@suezeekay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suezeekay)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personal-privacy-a-thing-of-the-past/338872 "2006-01-18T16:08:22Z")
I’ve posted before my concerns about loss of privacy. I last spoke about being able to locate people, along with all kinds of personal information, utilizing the numerous locator services available online. Now we find … --- ## [New poll: Majority of Americans support impeachment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-poll-majority-of-americans-support-impeachment/339978)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-poll-majority-of-americans-support-impeachment/339978 "2006-01-18T12:09:09Z")
From here. Two questions for debate. First, is this a legitimate way to frame the question and then the result? If X did Y then Z should happen? And second, even if the poll means what it says it means, does it mean… --- ## [Is there video footage of the 9/11 plane into the Pentagon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-video-footage-of-the-9-11-plane-into-the-pentagon/340308)
**Author:** [@The\_Blonde\_Bomber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Blonde_Bomber)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-video-footage-of-the-9-11-plane-into-the-pentagon/340308 "2006-01-18T05:16:25Z")
I was wondering (don’t know why) if the Pentagon’s security cameras, or any other video sources (like security, traffic and weather cameras perched on the top of buildings in the DC area) captured flight 77 and its crash… --- ## [Canadian Politics: Role of the Senate in a Harper Government](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-politics-role-of-the-senate-in-a-harper-government/340247)
**Author:** [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-politics-role-of-the-senate-in-a-harper-government/340247 "2006-01-18T04:24:41Z")
The recent polls about the Canadian federal election all indicate that Stephen Harper’s Conservatives hold an advance of many points on Paul Martin’s Liberals. Therefore, it is starting to become more and more certain th… --- ## [Would it be terribly wrong to fine people for NOT voting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-terribly-wrong-to-fine-people-for-not-voting/340343)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-terribly-wrong-to-fine-people-for-not-voting/340343 "2006-01-18T04:20:34Z")
I’m talking about for the presidential elections exclusively. Something like taxing 1% of a persons income. Would that be so terrible? Why or Why not? Personaly, I rather like the idea. Except I would stipulate that t… --- ## [Can women truly become lesbian by choice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-truly-become-lesbian-by-choice/339831)
**Author:** [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-women-truly-become-lesbian-by-choice/339831 "2006-01-18T03:50:09Z")
This is in IMHO because in the end I think we’ll only have opinions. But you hear about this all the time: Woman gets raped, begins to hate men. Decides she hates the entire male species, actually and only loves women. … --- ## [Driving Without Insurance: We Need Harsh Penalties](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-insurance-we-need-harsh-penalties/338140)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-insurance-we-need-harsh-penalties/338140 "2006-01-18T03:48:53Z")
There are too many uninsured drivers on the roads. Naturally, the call for tougher penalties always invites the race card. Poorer people, who are more likely to be Hispanic or Black, claim they can’t afford car insuranc… --- ## [How do you define sin? How do you define morality?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-sin-how-do-you-define-morality/340117)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-sin-how-do-you-define-morality/340117 "2006-01-18T03:24:21Z")
How do you define sin? (If you’re not of a religious bent, please feel free to insert “unethical behavior” or “immoral action” for the last word of that sentence.) In your answers, please state how you arrive at your d… --- ## [Why does the Turkish government deny the Armenian Genocide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-turkish-government-deny-the-armenian-genocide/340233)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-turkish-government-deny-the-armenian-genocide/340233 "2006-01-17T19:19:11Z")
Historians all over the world generally agree that, between 1914 and 1917, over a million Armenians in what is now Turkey were killed in a government campaign of what we now would call genocide or “ethnic cleansing.” Ye… --- ## [Africa gets its first female president before the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/africa-gets-its-first-female-president-before-the-us/339897)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/africa-gets-its-first-female-president-before-the-us/339897 "2006-01-17T18:02:53Z")
According to this Liberia gets the first female president in Africa. England had Thatcher India had Indira Gandhi Pakistan had Benazir Bhutto Germany has Angela Merkel And now Liberia has Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Why… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=818) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=820)