# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=829 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 830 --- ## [On voting in Venezuela vs America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-voting-in-venezuela-vs-america/334762)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-voting-in-venezuela-vs-america/334762 "2005-12-08T22:15:01Z")
Voting record comparison --- ## [Why would anyone want to be Jehovah's Witness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-want-to-be-jehovahs-witness/333343)
**Author:** [@yukionna78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yukionna78)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-anyone-want-to-be-jehovahs-witness/333343 "2005-12-08T21:52:47Z")
Seriously…from what I’ve seen with my own family’s experience, it seems to be a hateful religion… My perspective comes from my now sister-in-law, a former Jehovah’s Witness. When she first started dating my brother (she … --- ## [Human Nature](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-nature/334526)
**Author:** [@Trust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trust)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-nature/334526 "2005-12-08T21:06:55Z")
What is the scientific explanation for why we have an almost evil-like nature? When we tell my girlfriends little brother not to touch something, he will almost always go back to the exact thing we tell him not to touch.… --- ## [Does America have the world's oldest constitution/government? If so, why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-america-have-the-worlds-oldest-constitution-government-if-so-why/334396)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-america-have-the-worlds-oldest-constitution-government-if-so-why/334396 "2005-12-08T20:50:08Z")
Whatever you might think of the United States Constitution, the Framers certainly get points for durable workmanship. The U.S. is probably the only country on Earth that still has the same fundamental system of governme… --- ## [Juvenile delinquency and small families](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquency-and-small-families/334651)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juvenile-delinquency-and-small-families/334651 "2005-12-08T19:48:17Z")
In the pub yesterday we were talking about the relationship between the rise in juvenile delinquency and the lack of parenting skills. One of us pointed out that until relatively recently large (6+ children) families wer… --- ## [Go Away Yanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-away-yanks/334685)
**Author:** [@dandrews02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dandrews02)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-away-yanks/334685 "2005-12-08T19:34:11Z")
I am a Virginian with deep rooted southern roots, and I am distressed by the continued migration of northerners into our southern communities. It smells of carbetbags, a stench upon my nostrils. There is a scourge upon… --- ## [AD 1,000,000: Who Will Make the Cut?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-1-000-000-who-will-make-the-cut/334254)
**Author:** [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-1-000-000-who-will-make-the-cut/334254 "2005-12-08T16:13:51Z")
Which human being(s) up to this point in our history do you believe is the odds-on favorite to be included in history books (or other media) into the far distant future? Think of your choice before reading spoiler: W… --- ## [How far should we go to get Usama?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-should-we-go-to-get-usama/334572)
**Author:** [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-should-we-go-to-get-usama/334572 "2005-12-08T14:11:05Z")
What if we obtain reliable info on Usama whereabouts? Suppose he’s not in Afghanistan… What if he’s hiding in Kashmere? Should we demand Indians to get him, and if they fail, demand permission to put our own troops in… --- ## [What are things like (economically) in Iraq these days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-things-like-economically-in-iraq-these-days/333479)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-things-like-economically-in-iraq-these-days/333479 "2005-12-08T13:37:59Z")
In this thread – http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6849216#post6849216 – smiling bandit asserted, “And in fact, things have gotten better there over most of the country \[Iraq\], statistically and materi… --- ## [Student loans, bankruptcy, and public policy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loans-bankruptcy-and-public-policy/334317)
**Author:** [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/student-loans-bankruptcy-and-public-policy/334317 "2005-12-08T05:48:51Z")
Before I start, I want to note that I claim no special expertise on this subject. Bankruptcy law is not my area, even though IAAL. I’m interested in debating policy about what the law should be, and not the fine point… --- ## [Dying for our sins...for three days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-for-our-sins-for-three-days/332939)
**Author:** [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dying-for-our-sins-for-three-days/332939 "2005-12-08T03:56:37Z")
I may be wrong, but I understand it to be that supposedly Christ died for our sins. He then rose from his grave three days later. I’m confused as to what part of this was sacrifice. I mean, yes, he was tortured horribly… --- ## [Rebuttal of "The Truth About Torture" by C. Krauthammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuttal-of-the-truth-about-torture-by-c-krauthammer/334435)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebuttal-of-the-truth-about-torture-by-c-krauthammer/334435 "2005-12-08T03:34:28Z")
Link to original article, “The Truth About Torture.” Charles Krauthammer, columnist for The Weekly Standard and rather eloquent for a right wingnut, thinks the McCain legislation against torture is bad and that torture … --- ## [Gays now excluded from Catholic priesthood -- WTnonF?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gays-now-excluded-from-catholic-priesthood-wtnonf/333614)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gays-now-excluded-from-catholic-priesthood-wtnonf/333614 "2005-12-08T01:33:15Z")
The Vatican recently decreed that homosexuals cannot be considered for the priesthood. (The American bishops are interpreting this liberally if not heretically – see http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2… --- ## [What's the point of the Nuclear Option?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-the-nuclear-option/334428)
**Author:** [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-the-nuclear-option/334428 "2005-12-08T00:18:07Z")
There’s a lot of threads going on at the moment as to how various country’s military groups operate, and some of them are getting into the area of how acceptable innocent deaths, or the putting at risk of innocents, are.… --- ## [Why aren't touch screen voting systems designed to work like this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-touch-screen-voting-systems-designed-to-work-like-this/333775)
**Author:** [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-touch-screen-voting-systems-designed-to-work-like-this/333775 "2005-12-07T22:27:31Z")
You walk into the polling place. They check your name on the list and give you an access card. You walk up to the touch screen system, swipe the card to activate it, and make your selections. When you’re finished you … --- ## [Eternity lasts Forever](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eternity-lasts-forever/333910)
**Author:** [@dandrews02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dandrews02)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eternity-lasts-forever/333910 "2005-12-07T22:23:35Z")
Religions (The Big Three) guarantee eternal life after death Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, whatever Some get virgins, some don’t To become included in some eternal stream, whouldn’t one have needed to be there already? I… --- ## [Is progress the exception and degeneration the rule in evolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-progress-the-exception-and-degeneration-the-rule-in-evolution/334147)
**Author:** [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-progress-the-exception-and-degeneration-the-rule-in-evolution/334147 "2005-12-07T22:02:54Z")
JBS Haldane thought so, writing in his Causes of Evolution: “Degeneration is a far commoner phenomenon than progress. It is less striking because a progressive type, such as the first bird, has left many different specie… --- ## [American media sensationalism, is this new?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-media-sensationalism-is-this-new/334188)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-media-sensationalism-is-this-new/334188 "2005-12-07T20:22:37Z")
I’m young, 23, but my political side is still only a toddler. It was born about 4 years ago, so I’ve been playing a lot of catch-up. One thing I got to thinking the last couple of weeks is about the sensationalism in t… --- ## [Fundamental Misunderstanding of the Nature of God](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamental-misunderstanding-of-the-nature-of-god/330885)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 180\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fundamental-misunderstanding-of-the-nature-of-god/330885 "2005-12-07T16:56:56Z")
People believe in God without evidence. This is simply not the case. People believe in God even though they cannot repeat their results in a lab. That is completely different from lacking proof for themselves. It may… --- ## [Why Hasn't SETI Found Anything Yet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-seti-found-anything-yet/333492)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-seti-found-anything-yet/333492 "2005-12-07T16:21:31Z")
They’ve been in existence for years now. And outside of a few minor blips on the radar screen (posters please feel free to fill in this part), SETI \[the search for extraterrestrial intelligence\] has yet to find anything.… --- ## [Bias Clock: Conspiracy and the Illuminati](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-clock-conspiracy-and-the-illuminati/334051)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bias-clock-conspiracy-and-the-illuminati/334051 "2005-12-07T13:47:10Z")
Ok, so in the vein of the political compass threads, I have decided to start a series called the Bias Clock. The reason I chose the term Bias Clock is because I like the way it sounds, and because nothing relieves human… --- ## [Would American forefathers want us to overthrow the government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-american-forefathers-want-us-to-overthrow-the-government/289228)
**Author:** [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-american-forefathers-want-us-to-overthrow-the-government/289228 "2005-12-07T02:12:24Z")
From CNN As it has been discussed many times on this board it looks like the US, well Bush Co. , is itiching for a war against Iran. The war against Iraq while demonstrated against still was supported by a majority of … --- ## [Protecting U.S. gun manufacturers from lawsuits, good or bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-u-s-gun-manufacturers-from-lawsuits-good-or-bad/327189)
**Author:** [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Replies:** 191\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-u-s-gun-manufacturers-from-lawsuits-good-or-bad/327189 "2005-12-07T01:26:06Z")
Congress has passed sweeping legislation which protects the U.S. gun industry from lawsuits. Worthing discussing, I think. Leaving aside whether or not any businesses should be protected from civil lawsuits when their… --- ## [Ramsey Clark--Supporter of Saddam??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ramsey-clark-supporter-of-saddam/333026)
**Author:** [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ramsey-clark-supporter-of-saddam/333026 "2005-12-06T21:33:34Z")
Is Ramsey Clark a supporter of Sadam Hussein (as he has seemed to have joined Saddam Hussein’s defence team?) --- ## [Implications/aftermath of Venezuelan election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/implications-aftermath-of-venezuelan-election/334236)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/implications-aftermath-of-venezuelan-election/334236 "2005-12-06T21:04:49Z")
In yesterday’s parliamentary elections in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez’ Fifth Republic Movement won an overwhelming majority – more than 2/3 of the seats, enough to change the constitution to allow Chavez to stand fo… --- ## [Ten Marines died today. What exactly did they die for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790 "2005-12-06T17:31:11Z")
Ten more Marines died today and it gave me pause to think that these are ten more young lives in Iraq snuffed out …for what? Service to country seems kind of an abstract, bureaucratic reason to die. In a real pollitik s… --- ## [Indiana House of Representative forbidden to open sessions with Christian prayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-house-of-representative-forbidden-to-open-sessions-with-christian-prayer/333560)
**Author:** [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indiana-house-of-representative-forbidden-to-open-sessions-with-christian-prayer/333560 "2005-12-06T17:23:22Z")
Chicago Tribune link I’m surprised this hasn’t made GD yet. A federal judge has just ruled that the Indiana House of Representatives can’t open sessions with overtly Christian prayers. The case was brought by the India… --- ## [Is equivalence a fallacy? Libby/Clinton](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-equivalence-a-fallacy-libby-clinton/328415)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-equivalence-a-fallacy-libby-clinton/328415 "2005-12-06T17:09:07Z")
I’ve heard an argument quite a bit from leftward leaning posters. It goes like this, and please excuse me if I paraphrase it poorly. Feel free to restate it: “While Bill Clinton may have lied under oath and committed … --- ## [Should the Ontario Crown Prosectur apply to extradite the two US bounty hunters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-ontario-crown-prosectur-apply-to-extradite-the-two-us-bounty-hunters/333995)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-ontario-crown-prosectur-apply-to-extradite-the-two-us-bounty-hunters/333995 "2005-12-06T16:28:53Z")
According to this story in the Globe & Mail, two US bounty hunters came to Ontario, grabbed a guy who was wanted in the US for a drug possession charge, and forcibly took him back across the border. The Crown prosecutor… --- ## [Mistaken Impression: You don't have to carry ID?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-impression-you-dont-have-to-carry-id/333206)
**Author:** [@KAndre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KAndre)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistaken-impression-you-dont-have-to-carry-id/333206 "2005-12-06T15:15:17Z")
I was sent this link and thought to myself, “Those can’t be all the facts” and did a little more looking here. My initial gut feeling was that this is wrong. I though about it some more and it still seems wrong. It ha… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=828) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=830)