# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=284 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 285 --- ## [Civil War: Two What-Ifs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-two-what-ifs/653538)
**Author:** [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-two-what-ifs/653538 "2013-03-26T01:52:40Z")
There were many events during the run-up to the outbreak of the Civil War that contributed to its length and bloodiness. And there are tons of what-ifs regarding, e.g., the dispatch wrapping the cigars at Gettysburg. Bu… --- ## ["October Surprise": Did the Reagan campaign deal with Iran in 1980 or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-did-the-reagan-campaign-deal-with-iran-in-1980-or-not/653918)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/october-surprise-did-the-reagan-campaign-deal-with-iran-in-1980-or-not/653918 "2013-03-25T21:17:29Z")
Spinoff from this Pit thread, which is based on this story, which is really two stories, both based on documents recently brought to light: Nixon in 1968 used such influence as he had (even out of office) to sabotage … --- ## [Abortion from a Veil of Ignorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-from-a-veil-of-ignorance/264075)
**Author:** [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-from-a-veil-of-ignorance/264075 "2013-03-25T19:05:12Z")
As someone who is pro-choice I have come up against a problem that make we question this stance. If we look at abortion from a time before we are conceived, do we want this option available for non-life threatening reas… --- ## [Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, his ego, and peace with Israel and the Turkish Kurds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erdogan-the-turkish-prime-minister-his-ego-and-peace-with-israel-and-the-turkish-kurds/653661)
**Author:** [@Inbred\_Mm\_domesticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inbred_Mm_domesticus)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erdogan-the-turkish-prime-minister-his-ego-and-peace-with-israel-and-the-turkish-kurds/653661 "2013-03-25T15:02:18Z")
This has been an exceptional week for Mideast peace: 1) The jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, called for a ceasefire and embrace of solely a political solution to Turkish Kurd problems, and 2) Israeli PM Netanya… --- ## [Make sense with the Syria situation...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-sense-with-the-syria-situation/643894)
**Author:** [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-sense-with-the-syria-situation/643894 "2013-03-25T14:59:46Z")
This is playing out on a world stage…tens of thousands of people killed, a massive civil war, a rebellion on one hand, a dictatorship on the other… I am trying to find the path the US is taking here. We are sending Patr… --- ## [The Bible and the Trinity: What did Jesus have to say about the Trinity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-and-the-trinity-what-did-jesus-have-to-say-about-the-trinity/652771)
**Author:** [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Replies:** 171\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-and-the-trinity-what-did-jesus-have-to-say-about-the-trinity/652771 "2013-03-25T11:36:38Z")
For those who are Christians, most have had at least a casual relationship with the Church from birth. While doctrinal issues are often studied, questioned or even challenged, the question of who God is, is rarely questi… --- ## [Does war stimulate scientific progress?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-war-stimulate-scientific-progress/653346)
**Author:** [@Qwertol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertol)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-war-stimulate-scientific-progress/653346 "2013-03-25T08:09:07Z")
It may look like it does. With most wars there go magnificent inventions - rockets, nuclear energy and so on … on the other hand it may be just an illusion - it is possible they would exist even if there was no war, it i… --- ## [What are the pros and cons of a very high inheritance tax.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-very-high-inheritance-tax/653483)
**Author:** [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-a-very-high-inheritance-tax/653483 "2013-03-24T18:53:19Z")
I am following a certain blogger who holds the view that inheritance tax should be raised to 90-100%. If one cannot pay the tax, the assets will go to the state. According to him, society will be better off in the long r… --- ## [Did a government search take place?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-government-search-take-place/653774)
**Author:** [@MuleSkinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MuleSkinner)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-government-search-take-place/653774 "2013-03-24T13:48:16Z")
In the above thread, several posters are claiming that a search took place according to the accounts given in the two links posted in the OP. Two posters have claimed that the police searched the home for firearms. I u… --- ## [Mandatory legislative "cool off" periods after terrible events](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-legislative-cool-off-periods-after-terrible-events/653477)
**Author:** [@Atakapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atakapa)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-legislative-cool-off-periods-after-terrible-events/653477 "2013-03-24T02:41:25Z")
Over the years, we’ve had many cases of tragedies and atrocities leading to over-reactions and bad decisions being made before the initial shock and hysteria have worn off. For example, the anger and grief generated by … --- ## [Whence American exceptionalism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-american-exceptionalism/653554)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-american-exceptionalism/653554 "2013-03-23T18:41:53Z")
I often hear politicians and commentators refer to America and Americans as exceptional. Do people actually believe that, or is it merely an jingoistic excuse for various positions/policies? If folk do believe it, why … --- ## [Is having an exploitative job better or worse than having no work at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-having-an-exploitative-job-better-or-worse-than-having-no-work-at-all/653387)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-having-an-exploitative-job-better-or-worse-than-having-no-work-at-all/653387 "2013-03-23T17:41:44Z")
This question seems to come up constantly in discussions of outsourcing and the minimum wage (and other wage-related domestic issues, but especially outsourcing), and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it discussed specifically… --- ## [Defining Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defining-irony/652842)
**Author:** [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defining-irony/652842 "2013-03-23T08:00:32Z")
My French girlfriend is trying to understand irony. She keeps reading examples that I maintain are NOT ironic. So she found this site… http://www.sarcasmsociety.com/irony.html I maintain these definitions are as bad as… --- ## [Does society need psychopaths and sociopaths?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-society-need-psychopaths-and-sociopaths/653072)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-society-need-psychopaths-and-sociopaths/653072 "2013-03-23T05:11:01Z")
This came up tangentially in another thread and the poster linked to this really interesting article which made wonder if it isn’t necessary that certain pathologies in general and these in particular be present in some … --- ## [evidence for god? some one said so.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-for-god-some-one-said-so/647896)
**Author:** [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Replies:** 830\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-for-god-some-one-said-so/647896 "2013-03-23T03:06:36Z")
the only evidence for gods existence is someone told you he does. well that and the part of our monkey mind that is too stupid to separate fact from fiction, truth from a well told lie, and reality from the world insid… --- ## [Is this Shia/Sunni divide a parallel to the 30 years war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-shia-sunni-divide-a-parallel-to-the-30-years-war/652933)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-shia-sunni-divide-a-parallel-to-the-30-years-war/652933 "2013-03-22T19:16:00Z")
For those who don’t know, the 30 years war was a religious conflict which centered around Germany and was fought by all the major European powers at that time, however, it was the last great religious war fought in Europ… --- ## [Treatment of Palestinians ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treatment-of-palestinians/653544)
**Author:** [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treatment-of-palestinians/653544 "2013-03-22T18:51:23Z")
… “is not fair,” Obama said in Jerusalem. Breaking news on CNN.com, no less. It takes balls to say something like this on a visit to Israel and their, and only theirs, Jerusalem. The overall symbolic is uncanny. Bu… --- ## [Army and Air Force suspend Military TA Suspended](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-and-air-force-suspend-military-ta-suspended/652813)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-and-air-force-suspend-military-ta-suspended/652813 "2013-03-22T18:44:47Z")
(Tuition Assistance) The Army suspended all TA apps on Friday until further notice, while hinting that it may never return. Yesterday, the AF followed suit. TA cost the DoD $542 million in 2010. That same year, total… --- ## [Were The Nazis a Puritanical Lot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-nazis-a-puritanical-lot/539201)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-the-nazis-a-puritanical-lot/539201 "2013-03-22T18:10:15Z")
Hitler and the Nazi hierarchy seemed to have a problem with sensuality. The “art” of the Nazi era is cold and sexless-actually (to me) pretty scarey. I think that it was frowned upon to talk about sex, or anything regar… --- ## [Why are there no more divine events?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-more-divine-events/653266)
**Author:** [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-no-more-divine-events/653266 "2013-03-22T07:01:24Z")
I was thinking about this the other day. To my knowledge, there haven’t been any large-scale divine events recorded since any of the holy books of the current religions of the world. People can argue that the Japanese t… --- ## [Israel in conflict for 65 years. How will it end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-in-conflict-for-65-years-how-will-it-end/651342)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 284\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-in-conflict-for-65-years-how-will-it-end/651342 "2013-03-22T01:10:34Z")
I’ve read about the Israeli Iron Wall strategy which has been implemented since its birth in 1948, but the bigger question is, how will this conflict, which is coming up to be on par with the 100 years war with England a… --- ## [Japan has figured out how to commercially extract offshore methane ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-has-figured-out-how-to-commercially-extract-offshore-methane-ice/653457)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-has-figured-out-how-to-commercially-extract-offshore-methane-ice/653457 "2013-03-22T00:54:25Z")
According to this Popular Science article, Japan has figured out how to extract offshore methane ice, and in theory be able to begin commercial extraction of significant methane in the next 5 years or so (‘hopefully’…I r… --- ## [Romney's 47% comment, why the big deal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romneys-47-comment-why-the-big-deal/652939)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romneys-47-comment-why-the-big-deal/652939 "2013-03-22T00:23:44Z")
Ok I’ve read a lot of newstories on this and not one has explained why it was such a big deal, the comment was not far from the truth and was not so outlandishly outrageous(like saying hey lets use poor kids for food!). … --- ## [Religion was invented to control the masses (?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-was-invented-to-control-the-masses/653341)
**Author:** [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-was-invented-to-control-the-masses/653341 "2013-03-21T20:54:46Z")
This is a common cliché. Are there any good examples supporting this claim? --- ## [Cigarette butts: a debate without hate for smokers (I hope)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-butts-a-debate-without-hate-for-smokers-i-hope/652946)
**Author:** [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-butts-a-debate-without-hate-for-smokers-i-hope/652946 "2013-03-21T19:34:15Z")
Littering is not socially acceptable. People do it anyway. Somehow, it is more acceptable (or less unacceptable) to dispose of cigarette butts on the ground than other items. I am curious how this situation came to be, b… --- ## [$200K/year isn't rich. Why aren't we taxing corporations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/200k-year-isnt-rich-why-arent-we-taxing-corporations/596110)
**Author:** [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Replies:** 541\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/200k-year-isnt-rich-why-arent-we-taxing-corporations/596110 "2013-03-21T18:56:32Z")
This has been bugging me, so feel free to educate me. I’m all for taxing the rich, so long as they’re actually rich. $200K/year doesn’t strike me as rich though. In some cities, I wouldn’t be that surprised to find a wa… --- ## [Nixon Puts America First and Derails Vietnamese Peace Process](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixon-puts-america-first-and-derails-vietnamese-peace-process/653318)
**Author:** [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nixon-puts-america-first-and-derails-vietnamese-peace-process/653318 "2013-03-21T17:39:12Z")
Tapes have just been declassified, confirming that Nixon deliberately derailed LBJ’s plan to end the Vietnam war in 1968, in order to win the election. Nixon convinced the South Vietnamese government to pull out of the … --- ## [Does the fact that so many people believe in God mean anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-fact-that-so-many-people-believe-in-god-mean-anything/653177)
**Author:** [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-fact-that-so-many-people-believe-in-god-mean-anything/653177 "2013-03-21T10:20:09Z")
Let me start by saying I’ve always thought of myself as an Agnostic. I don’t follow any religion but despite all the reading I’ve done, and knowing full well I have no evidence to back it up, I’ve always believed I have … --- ## [(Why) are teachers not respected?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-teachers-not-respected/652474)
**Author:** [@MrLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrLee)\ **Replies:** 156\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-teachers-not-respected/652474 "2013-03-21T00:36:59Z")
Hi all In the UK (and, I sense, the US), teaching is not normally seen as a particularly prestigious line of work. While some people might describe it as ‘noble’ or ‘rewarding’, essentially it doesn’t have the same leve… --- ## [What is your understanding of justice vs ethics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-understanding-of-justice-vs-ethics/652585)
**Author:** [@andstufflikethat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andstufflikethat)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-understanding-of-justice-vs-ethics/652585 "2013-03-21T00:28:27Z")
Do you think they have different relationships with what is legal? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=283) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=285)