# Could you be trusted with Nuclear Weapons? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944 "2014-11-07T01:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/1 "2014-11-07T01:45:08Z")
In order to reduce the concentration of power in the hands of the Prime Minister or President, the government has decided to pass the nuclear football to a random citizen. If you accept, then you’ll have total anonymity. You’ll be allocated the best medical care, physical and mental you desire. You’ll be provided with a free house with a bunker (Competition winner!) If you decline, they’ll give the option to another random citizen. If your country doesn’t or hasn’t admitted to having nukes, then they are given 200 warheads, spread between ICBMs and submarines. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/2 "2014-11-07T02:05:41Z")
I’m more than mature enough… …some jerk tailgating me? …not anymore… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/3 "2014-11-07T02:08:14Z")
Wadda you mean trusted? I’d be trusted to use them. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/4 "2014-11-07T02:16:13Z")
I would solve this Texas problem once and for all, I’ll clue ya. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/5 "2014-11-07T02:38:34Z")
I have been in the past… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/6 "2014-11-07T02:51:47Z")
Given how I used them in _Civilization_… uh, no, not even close. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/7 "2014-11-07T03:31:00Z")
I’d have to ask for discreet security; while I might be theoretically anonymous, things come out. If the security couldn’t be discreet enough that I could live a more or less normal life, I’d have to say no. Other than that, I don’t see much of an issue here. It’s not like I’m going to get drunk one night and nuke Estonia, and so far as being trusted to actually use them if so authorized by the President, I don’t think I’d have much trouble w/ that either. It’s actually a bit easier now that a large-scale, civilization-ending nuclear exchange between the US and the USSR/Russia is practically unthinkable; while I nuclear weapons are by no means to be used lightly, the side effects of a limited use of nuclear weapons are, IMO, vastly overblown. So yeah, if Barry tells me to authorize a nuclear strike on, say, the Islamic State, I’ll toss that football no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/8 "2014-11-07T03:47:27Z")
Would I push the Big Red Button and end the world as we know it? Probably not. But would I want that kind of power in my hands? _Hell_ no. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/9 "2014-11-07T03:51:01Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Given how I used them in _Civilization_… uh, no, not even close. 🙂 [Are you Gandhi by any chance?](http://kotaku.com/why-gandhi-is-such-an-asshole-in-civilization-1653818245) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/10 "2014-11-07T04:08:01Z")
Apparently enough to lug them elsewhere at the [Pyramids](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740068). ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/11 "2014-11-07T04:42:57Z")
And here I was just thinking today if there are people on the planet who believe in God, and have suffered a terrible loss (say, a child from cancer) and having had their prayers denied have decided to get revenge on God by destroying his creation, The Earth. Needless to say, I don’t think this random citizen thing is a great idea. Oh…and could _I_ be trusted with it? Sure. Could I be trusted to respond in kind to a massive nuclear strike? Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/12 "2014-11-07T04:46:13Z")
Sure you could trust me with nuclear weapons. I’m getting a free house and medical care. Why would I want to screw that up? ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/13 "2014-11-07T04:47:25Z")
I hallucinate and am easily startled. Where did the Earth go? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/14 "2014-11-07T05:19:20Z")
Hell naw. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/15 "2014-11-07T05:39:35Z")
I think a bit of responsibility would be good for me. And it would certainly ease our financial burden here as I would develop that certain reputation for, while being fair, also quite likely to fly off the handle if I see some injustice like no pickles/extra onions when I ask explicitly for the opposite on my delivered Chik Fila sandwich and waffle fries. They best keep those prayers to themselves too. I wouldn’t take advantage of my position. Well, I’m sure there would be occasional cases where I’d have to practice compassion and self-control. You know, like some body trying to steal my parking spot. I wouldn’t actually hurt anyone… just put the fear of CYNDI in them. It’s not like I’m going to lose this sweet deal with the free house and health care and whatever I start feeling the need to demand later on down the line on a whim like that. Oh I’ll ask sweetly, of course.But one thing must be clear. In addition to the house and free healthcare I want a bottomless bag of dro to smoke away the day. Trust me, it’s a VERY good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/16 "2014-11-07T05:39:52Z")
I worked with nukes for 4 years, so sure. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/17 "2014-11-07T07:53:54Z")
It’s on my Bucket List. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/18 "2014-11-07T15:32:43Z")
Depends on what you mean by “trusted with.” Never use them? No point in passing the football, then. I’ve often thought that a number of the world’s problems could be solved by turning endlessly-disputed regions into a sea of green glass. Say, “Okay, you assholes have been murdering each other and making life generally unpleasant for about 20 generations, and no one really gives a shit what his grandfather did to your great-uncle and so forth. You have 30 days to clear the area, then we’re taking it away from all of you. Good luck in your next bid for civilzation.” So I guess the answer in my case would be, “No.” ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/19 "2014-11-07T16:07:35Z")
No. I routinely fantasize about installing a rocket launcher under my hood. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944/20 "2014-11-07T16:37:22Z")
You are asking “If you had power, would you abuse it?” And the answer is Yes, of course, everyone would. Why else would anyone aspire to to have power, any kind of power, even the power to put up a memo on the bulletin board. Or the power to have their post read in a forum. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-be-trusted-with-nuclear-weapons/703944.md?page=2)