# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=682 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 683 --- ## [Senator Larry Craig is staying!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-larry-craig-is-staying/421546)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-larry-craig-is-staying/421546 "2007-10-27T19:16:02Z")
Senator Craig has decided to stay in the Senate. Is this a good move? A bad one? If he was your Senator, would you want him to resign? --- ## [What can Californians do to avoid another Superdome situation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-californians-do-to-avoid-another-superdome-situation/423757)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-californians-do-to-avoid-another-superdome-situation/423757 "2007-10-27T18:36:45Z")
So we’ve got half a million, I think it is now, people evacuated from their homes. A great many homes do not exist any more. Qualcomm Stadium has been established as a temporary refuge. And now what? What can FEMA and l… --- ## [Turkish parliament authorizes military operations in Iraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkish-parliament-authorizes-military-operations-in-iraq/423085)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkish-parliament-authorizes-military-operations-in-iraq/423085 "2007-10-27T17:55:42Z")
Story here. The ostensible targets, of course, are the PKK, Turkish-Kurdish separatists who are using Iraqi Kurdistan as a refuge. And, of course, it might be difficult under some circumstances for the Turkish troops t… --- ## [Telecom Amnesty: Where's the outrage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telecom-amnesty-wheres-the-outrage/423173)
**Author:** [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telecom-amnesty-wheres-the-outrage/423173 "2007-10-27T04:38:45Z")
The facts: \[ul\] \[li\]Several US Telecom companies complied with a blanket request from the Bush administration to hand over private records of customers in violation of their fourth amendment rights.\[/li\] \[li\]As an exa… --- ## [Why is Bush starting to act like a real president?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-bush-starting-to-act-like-a-real-president/422423)
**Author:** [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2007, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-bush-starting-to-act-like-a-real-president/422423 "2007-10-27T01:20:16Z")
This is weird. The first six years of his presidency were full of “oh my god I can’t believe he’s getting away with this” actions. Valerie Plame, signing statements, Alberto Gonzalez, etc. But lately, he’s actually ac… --- ## [The limits of liability for objects you no longer own](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limits-of-liability-for-objects-you-no-longer-own/423872)
**Author:** [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-limits-of-liability-for-objects-you-no-longer-own/423872 "2007-10-26T22:34:53Z")
I caught this little item on Overlawyered, which got it from Jack Bog’s blog . A company called May Trucking owned a Paccar tractor-trailer for six years, driving it about half a million miles. They then sold the Pacca… --- ## [Is Myanmar (Burma) on the brink of a "Saffron Revolution"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-myanmar-burma-on-the-brink-of-a-saffron-revolution/420485)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-myanmar-burma-on-the-brink-of-a-saffron-revolution/420485 "2007-10-26T21:59:44Z")
The ruling military junta has cracked down hard on previous protests. But the current round is led by Buddhist monks, who have enormous social and moral prestige in that country. Will the government dare crack down on t… --- ## [Just WHAT is Satan's Role?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-satans-role/422958)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-is-satans-role/422958 "2007-10-26T21:39:02Z")
I mean, Satan hasn’t had much to do, since around 30 AD or so-Christ admonished him, and told he off. Events are now dictated by human free will (yeah, I know, we do evil sometimes)-but we don’t need satan to corrupt us… --- ## [Should there be a stigma on masturbation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-stigma-on-masturbation/421789)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-there-be-a-stigma-on-masturbation/421789 "2007-10-26T18:36:16Z")
The insults “jerk off” and “wanker” seems to suggest there is a social stigma against masturbators. But isn’t masturbation a \*good \*thing? Doesn’t spread STDs, no pregnancy risks, and dammit, it’s something I’m actuall… --- ## [Can a Sin produce a Pleasure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sin-produce-a-pleasure/423967)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sin-produce-a-pleasure/423967 "2007-10-26T17:01:58Z")
The Seven Deadly Sins are: Lust Gluttony Freed Sloth Wrath Envy Pride (more at Vanity IMHO) In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis opines that no sin can produce a true pleasure. I suspect he is right, or mostly right. … --- ## [Could President Bush get away with Iraqi genocide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-president-bush-get-away-with-iraqi-genocide/423467)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-president-bush-get-away-with-iraqi-genocide/423467 "2007-10-26T16:03:35Z")
Supposing Bush gets it into his head that the easiest solution to his pesky Iraq problems is to get rid of all the Iraqis. Since his administration has been the Teflon Don of administrations, could Bushco trump somethin… --- ## ["All Nixon has to do is show a little firmness . . ."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-nixon-has-to-do-is-show-a-little-firmness/423629)
**Author:** [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2007, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-nixon-has-to-do-is-show-a-little-firmness/423629 "2007-10-26T01:29:52Z")
I’ve been reading Hedrick Smith’s fascinating 1976 book The Russians, an in-depth account of life in Russia in the era of Brezhnev and détente. Smith says that even well-informed Russian officials had a hard time unders… --- ## [Will we ever colonise other worlds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-colonise-other-worlds/423521)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 186\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-colonise-other-worlds/423521 "2007-10-25T23:36:52Z")
Do you think in the 21st century there will be a significant human presence on either the moon, Mars or some other planet/moon/asteroid/? Will there really ever be moon bases or Mars colonies? --- ## [Terrorism Chart](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-chart/423881)
**Author:** [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrorism-chart/423881 "2007-10-25T22:43:05Z")
You may have seen this chart making the rounds on the internet recently. It’s been getting a good deal of attention, most of it negative because it’s an oversimplification of a complex problem. But, I don’t think it’s en… --- ## [It is time for Jamaica to answer for its barbaric human rights record.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-time-for-jamaica-to-answer-for-its-barbaric-human-rights-record/423205)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-is-time-for-jamaica-to-answer-for-its-barbaric-human-rights-record/423205 "2007-10-25T17:47:42Z")
Today, I got an offer from my Mazda dealer to buy their snow tires and to get a chance to win a trip to . . . . . Jamaica! In other words, they are offering me and my same-sex spouse a chance to travel to one of the w… --- ## [Why is protecting gun rights a right wing philosophy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-protecting-gun-rights-a-right-wing-philosophy/423507)
**Author:** [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-protecting-gun-rights-a-right-wing-philosophy/423507 "2007-10-25T17:36:16Z")
It seems inconsistent with the left wing views to protect individual freedoms that they would not embrace individual gun rights. Is it because southerners really like their guns that the left decided it was against thei… --- ## [Does privatizing lotteries make any sense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-privatizing-lotteries-make-any-sense/423617)
**Author:** [@Malachi\_Throne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malachi_Throne)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-privatizing-lotteries-make-any-sense/423617 "2007-10-25T01:15:56Z")
News clip: "The temptation for states to cash in also cuts across political lines. In the last 18 months, governors in Democratic strongholds like Illinois as well as Republican-dominated states like Indiana and Texas h… --- ## [Clarified residency rules would help the political process.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarified-residency-rules-would-help-the-political-process/423572)
**Author:** [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarified-residency-rules-would-help-the-political-process/423572 "2007-10-24T20:15:43Z")
News today is that Bobby Jindal has won the governor’s race in Louisiana. And while I’m happy about this, I am disturbed that Senator Breaux sat out of the race because his residency would have been questioned should he… --- ## [Zogby poll: 50% say they would never vote for Hillary Clinton as POTUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zogby-poll-50-say-they-would-never-vote-for-hillary-clinton-as-potus/423511)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zogby-poll-50-say-they-would-never-vote-for-hillary-clinton-as-potus/423511 "2007-10-24T13:41:03Z")
That’s up from 46% in March. The breakdown was: Does this mean she’s unelectable in the general? Or does it mean nothing? N.B.: Unlike the telephone poll Zogby conducted in March, this was an online poll – which doe… --- ## [Practical end to the intelligence debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/practical-end-to-the-intelligence-debate/423308)
**Author:** [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/practical-end-to-the-intelligence-debate/423308 "2007-10-23T18:14:24Z")
Superficially, it seems to me that all current debate about intelligence boils down to a lot of words, time, and money wasted on saying that blacks are stupid. Is there anything more to it than this? I have yet to hear… --- ## [James Watson, Nobel Prize Recpient: racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-watson-nobel-prize-recpient-racist/423120)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 176\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2007, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-watson-nobel-prize-recpient-racist/423120 "2007-10-23T17:48:29Z")
This article explains that James Watson, who received the Nobel Prize in 1962 for his work on DNA, is being considered by some to be racist. Now I do not know what tests he is referring to, but I would not be surprised… --- ## [Evidence for the Bible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-for-the-bible/421587)
**Author:** [@land185](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/land185)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-for-the-bible/421587 "2007-10-23T16:11:09Z")
The accuracy of biblical prophecy is amazing. Take a look for yourself at all the prophecies that were fulfilled. How could it be by chance? http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/ “I am the way, the truth and the life: no o… --- ## [Agnosticism is goofy.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agnosticism-is-goofy/422352)
**Author:** [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Replies:** 375\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agnosticism-is-goofy/422352 "2007-10-23T12:34:00Z")
What’s the difference between an agnostic and an atheist? They both answer the question of god in the same way, “there is insufficient evidence to conclude the existence of God, or make any assertions about the likely n… --- ## [Another Bobbies with guns question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bobbies-with-guns-question/423371)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-bobbies-with-guns-question/423371 "2007-10-23T04:23:55Z")
I know that most British police officers do not carry guns. I recently saw a BBC show (it was Torchwood, not a show I watch for accuracy) in which a British police officer is shown to have absolutely no knowledge of how … --- ## [YAGWT - Yet Another Global Warming Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yagwt-yet-another-global-warming-thread/418930)
**Author:** [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yagwt-yet-another-global-warming-thread/418930 "2007-10-22T04:44:17Z")
Every couple days we see another thread about Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW).”It’s real!” “It’s pseudo-science!” “Conservatives are destroying the planet!” “Environmentalists will destroy the economy!” “Tastes great!… --- ## [What if narcotics no longer relevant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-narcotics-no-longer-relevant/422722)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-narcotics-no-longer-relevant/422722 "2007-10-22T02:42:13Z")
Inspired by this thread. What if governments the world over suddenly made narcotics legal? What would be the economic effects world-wide? --- ## [So we're in Iraq to seize control of their oil??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-in-iraq-to-seize-control-of-their-oil/423236)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-were-in-iraq-to-seize-control-of-their-oil/423236 "2007-10-21T21:54:42Z")
(In GD for obvious reasons). OK, to begin with, I do agree that we’re over there because of oil, and if the region weren’t oil-rich, we wouldn’t bother with it. Even if we accept the argument that the U.S. is involved… --- ## [Bush Admin planning post-Labor-Day "product rollout" of war-with-Iran hysteria?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-planning-post-labor-day-product-rollout-of-war-with-iran-hysteria/417520)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 321\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-planning-post-labor-day-product-rollout-of-war-with-iran-hysteria/417520 "2007-10-21T20:35:17Z")
The thread title ends with a question mark because, at present, this is based solely on a blog quoting an unnamed inside source. Mods, move this to the Pit or MPSIMS or IMHO if you think it belongs there for that reason… --- ## [Mowaffak Al-Rubaie says "NO, N, O," to permanent US bases in Iraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mowaffak-al-rubaie-says-no-n-o-to-permanent-us-bases-in-iraq/423318)
**Author:** [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2007, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mowaffak-al-rubaie-says-no-n-o-to-permanent-us-bases-in-iraq/423318 "2007-10-21T06:48:38Z")
Well, it’s about bloody time an Iraqi with an actual chance to be heard invokes Iraq’s sovereignty and stands up to U.S. plans for permanent bases in Iraq I’d like to hear other’s opinions, but I don’t believe there’s a… --- ## [Why good people turn bad - the Stanford Prison Experiment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-good-people-turn-bad-the-stanford-prison-experiment/398214)
**Author:** [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2007, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-good-people-turn-bad-the-stanford-prison-experiment/398214 "2007-10-21T05:20:58Z")
Fascinating interview with Dr. Zimbardo here He’s just written a new book about his experiment and has a website here to discuss the work he’s been doing on heroism. About his book, he says [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=681) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=683)