SodaHead - MT Chris's Questions

Are you concerned about a terrorist attack during Barack Obama's inauguration?

2009-01-04T05:35:33Z

Are you concerned about a terrorist attack during Barack Obama's inauguration?

18 answers, +3 raves

I apologize if this has been asked earlier, as it seems a likely consideration. I am attending the inauguration, but it is not without the fear of something potentially terrible happening. There seems to be many vulnerabilities including potential terrorists toting in bombs, dirty bombs, suitcase nukes, chemical weapons, etc. into a crowd of millions and much of our entire federal government. How concerned are you? For example, I'm not the only one concerned. See this article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-obama-in...

I am highly concerned about a terrorist attack at the inauguration event in Washington DC.	22% (4 answers)
I am concerned about a terrorist attack somewhere else to distract from the events of Washington DC.	0% (0 answers)
I'm not concerned about a terrorist threat, but another threat to persons at the inauguration (please explain)	6% (1 answers)
Dude! You worry way too much Madtown Chris. Take a chill pill.	56% (10 answers)
All of the above	17% (3 answers)

How concerned are you about the deteriorating relationship between the US/NATO and Russia?

2008-12-19T18:05:53Z

How concerned are you about the deteriorating relationship between the US/NATO and Russia?

8 answers, +1 raves

A lot has happened in NATO/Russian relations in the last year, but this is really the manifestation of continuing Cold War tensions related to regional geopolitical and energy dominance for major world players. To name just a few, we've seen a lot of low-key interactions between the US/NATO and Russian in Caucasus countries, with the hottest conflict in South Ossetia and Georgia this last summer. We are seeing the likely membership of Ukraine and Georgia into NATO. Missile defense shields about to crop up surrounding Russian borders as the Russians threaten to respond in kind. Russia is beefing up military relationships counter to ours all across the world. So not only how concerned are you about this, how should diplomatic and strategic efforts change in order to prevent catastrophic nuclear war in our future?

I'm currently staking out local fall out shelters, or may move to a remote location in the southern hemisphere.	0% (0 answers)
I'm pretty nervous about it. I follow foreign policy related to Russia quite closely and cautiously hope things will be ok.	38% (3 answers)
I am nervously biting my nails, but Wii is distracting me right now.	13% (1 answers)
What's NATO and what cold war?	13% (1 answers)
Undecided	38% (3 answers)

Has George W. Bush ended his presidency on a high note?

2008-11-08T15:52:21Z

Has George W. Bush ended his presidency on a high note?

18 answers, +4 raves

Yes and this is why ...	44% (8 answers)
No and this is why ...	44% (8 answers)
Undecided	11% (2 answers)

What is the most likely October surprise to knock Obama out of the race?

2008-10-07T17:19:24Z

What is the most likely October surprise to knock Obama out of the race?

23 answers, +4 raves

As an Obama supporter and with history on my side, I'm genuinely worried. While this election looks like Obama's to lose, I still suspect that there is a good chance for an October Surprise that could give this election to McCain. What would the most likely (successful) October surprise be? (I'm afraid to put the "unthinkable" as an option, but I'm honestly worried there's a finite probability of that as well. I'll leave that to "other")

More intense swift-boating (false or misleading slams on Obama's character)	17% (4 answers)
An Israeli and/or US attack on Iran	0% (0 answers)
A terrorist attack on US interests	0% (0 answers)
Osama Bin Laden is captured	4% (1 answers)
Other (please state)	22% (5 answers)
A combination of the above factors (please name them)	9% (2 answers)
There will be no October surprise that successfully displaces Obama's trajectory to the White House	48% (11 answers)

Which is more elitist: Describing why poor people are bitter or taking away services from the poor and putting more money in the pockets of the wealthy?

2008-04-20T14:40:46Z

Which is more elitist: Describing why poor people are bitter or taking away services from the poor and putting more money in the pockets of the wealthy?

17 answers, +3 raves

This perhaps provocative question was obviously inspired by the two likely November presidential contenders of Barack Obama vs. John McCain

Describing the bitterness of less fortunate people is most elitist.	35% (6 answers)
Making policies that further the divide between rich and poor is most elitist.	65% (11 answers)

To succeed, how much risk are you willing to take?

2008-04-11T05:05:21Z

To succeed, how much risk are you willing to take?

7 answers, +2 raves

As an (esoteric) example, today I made a forecast for tornadoes to occur in southern Iowa and northern Missouri. I almost left this morning (and almost took a day off of work) to drive 5 hours to get there and chase the storms, but backed out at the last minute because I felt the forecast was a bit risky and I had important work to get done at work. Unfortunately, many tornadoes formed where predicted, and it turned out to my decision to avoid risk was a big mistake. However, considering my overall hobby of storm chasing, my cautiousness has allowed me to have a low likelihood of failure in finding tornadoes when I do decide to go out, thus probably saving me much money in the long run. But sometimes not taking risks when it would have led to a big reward makes me ambivalent about the two primary choices I provide below. What are your general philosophies on risk? (Please be honest to which degree you take risks in your own life to find success.)

I value a low likelihood of failure over taking big risks for success.	14% (1 answers)
I value taking big risks for success over a low likelihood of failure.	29% (2 answers)
I have a more sophisticated statistical algorithm than the choices alotted above. (Please explain)	57% (4 answers)

Who would win in a fight? A Siberian tiger or a grizzly bear?

2008-03-16T05:05:13Z

Who would win in a fight? A Siberian tiger or a grizzly bear?

64 answers, +5 raves

An age old question. A difficult one to imagine. A fight I'd never want to witness. BUT! In the interest of science ...

Siberian Tiger	63% (40 answers)
Grizzly Bear	38% (24 answers)

Do you like severe weather?

2008-03-04T16:58:30Z

Do you like severe weather?

27 answers, +4 raves

None

Yes, tornadoes are best	7% (2 answers)
Yes, large hail is the best	0% (0 answers)
Yes, storm structure is the best	0% (0 answers)
Yes, hurricanes are the best	4% (1 answers)
Yes, lightning is the best	30% (8 answers)
Any severe weather is great	22% (6 answers)
None of the above	33% (9 answers)
All of the above	4% (1 answers)

Let's suppose taxes are spent effectively toward the goals the electorate want. In that ideal situation, how much should the government tax us?

2008-02-12T22:41:28Z

Let's suppose taxes are spent effectively toward the goals the electorate want. In that ideal situation, how much should the government tax us?

11 answers, +1 raves

As a scientist, my career depends on your tax dollars, but I think I provide a lot of results that are useful for society. Furthermore, I hear a lot of talk about cutting taxes. Surely no one ever wants to raise them. But if we sit down and think about all the government services that corporations and our society benefit from, do we still have the opinion that all taxes are bad? Can capitalism succeed without some tax services?

The goverment should increase taxes in order to increase our services	9% (1 answers)
The government should keep the level of taxes and services where they are currently at	18% (2 answers)
The goverment should decrease taxes and services	18% (2 answers)
There should be no taxes, whatsoever	0% (0 answers)
Other (explain)	55% (6 answers)