# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=685 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 686 --- ## [Illegal Immigration Amnesty Idea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-idea/421654)
**Author:** [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2007, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-idea/421654 "2007-10-08T12:56:42Z")
Given: -We have millions of illegal immigrants here. -It’s not feasible/reasonable to ‘send them back’. -It’s better for society to recognize them & naturalize them in some manner; basically immoral to insist they liv… --- ## [Would the world be better if all political leaders were castrated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2007, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-world-be-better-if-all-political-leaders-were-castrated/421559 "2007-10-08T12:02:47Z")
At least the male ones. Sounds crazy on the surface, but consider the pros: Only the most motivated of individuals would undergo voluntary castration. So, you would have fewer selfish power-hungry egomaniacs running… --- ## [The Battle of The Bulge-Who Took The Blame?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-battle-of-the-bulge-who-took-the-blame/421311)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-battle-of-the-bulge-who-took-the-blame/421311 "2007-10-08T02:45:48Z")
I was watching the PBS show about WWII-specifically the battle of the Bulge. It seems like a MAJOR breakdown in the US Army command-the ermans attacked (giving plenty of warning); the US troops holding the area were und… --- ## [Paying off the national debt is a \*bad\* idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-off-the-national-debt-is-a-bad-idea/421687)
**Author:** [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-off-the-national-debt-is-a-bad-idea/421687 "2007-10-08T02:44:19Z")
I stunbled across this articles in the Globe and Mail today: Pay off the national debt?: The federal Conservatives propose to lower taxes slowly as they pay off the Canadian (federal) national debt with each year’s sur… --- ## [Ed Brown Raid - Tax Evasion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-brown-raid-tax-evasion/407766)
**Author:** [@bobsled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsled)\ **Replies:** 171\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-brown-raid-tax-evasion/407766 "2007-10-06T15:36:22Z")
I don’t know if anybody has been following this story. Ed Brown and his wife, living in NH, have not paid their income tax for some years. They were recently charged for tax evasion. The Browns asked the judge to show th… --- ## [Dear parapsychologists, I invite you to convince me that you are scientists.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parapsychologists-i-invite-you-to-convince-me-that-you-are-scientists/419924)
**Author:** [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Replies:** 301\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2007, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-parapsychologists-i-invite-you-to-convince-me-that-you-are-scientists/419924 "2007-10-06T07:21:08Z")
Parapsychology is “the field of study that deals with paranormal phenomena in psychology.” (OED). Paranormal is defined as “supposed psychical events and phenomena such as clairvoyance or telekinesis whose operation is o… --- ## [Free trade is bad for the economy, right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-trade-is-bad-for-the-economy-right/421511)
**Author:** [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2007, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-trade-is-bad-for-the-economy-right/421511 "2007-10-06T03:47:07Z")
It must be. I just read that two thirds of Reps and two thirds of Dems think so: http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119144942897748150.html?mod=blog So, what am I missing here? No sarcasm intended at all. I jus… --- ## [The housing bust: will Los Angeles ever become affordable again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-housing-bust-will-los-angeles-ever-become-affordable-again/421195)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-housing-bust-will-los-angeles-ever-become-affordable-again/421195 "2007-10-06T01:42:35Z")
I’m seeing a growing number of posts on message boards throughout the Internet expressing a sense of schadenfreude towards the current real estate market. “Those poor fools who bought $700K tract houses in the Bay Area! … --- ## [Natural science is so successful because…](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-science-is-so-successful-because/421618)
**Author:** [@coberst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coberst)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-science-is-so-successful-because/421618 "2007-10-06T00:14:09Z")
Natural science is so successful because… ‘Normal science’, as described by Thomas Kuhn in his book “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions”, is the science of means, controlled generally by a paradigm. We normally us… --- ## [Blind can't see Target: questions about the lawsuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blind-cant-see-target-questions-about-the-lawsuit/421441)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blind-cant-see-target-questions-about-the-lawsuit/421441 "2007-10-05T21:58:09Z")
Target (the megastore) is being sued by the National Federation for the Blind for not making their web-site compatible with software for the visually impaired and thus (according to the suit) violating the Americans With… --- ## [McCain says US Constitution establishes "Christian Nation"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-says-us-constitution-establishes-christian-nation/421207)
**Author:** [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-says-us-constitution-establishes-christian-nation/421207 "2007-10-05T19:02:26Z")
Story here: CNN The article also notes that “55 percent of Americans believe the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation” (no cite given in the article). Note that he isn’t saying that “most Americans then an… --- ## [Pelosi is a hypocrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pelosi-is-a-hypocrite/421478)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pelosi-is-a-hypocrite/421478 "2007-10-05T17:59:36Z")
Mrs. Cad is watching The View and SOTH Pelosi is spouting off about the war. I hate to tell the most powerful person in the legislative branch this but the Constitution gives sole power to declare war to Congress and … --- ## [Other ways to Support Life besides Water and Air(Space)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-ways-to-support-life-besides-water-and-air-space/421480)
**Author:** [@Gus\_Handsome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Handsome)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2007, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-ways-to-support-life-besides-water-and-air-space/421480 "2007-10-05T11:32:05Z")
I’m not the sharpest cookie in the jar, so forgive me if I don’t articulate my question properly, but feel free to help or offer a suggestion if you see fit. Fish live in the water, that’s their environment, man lives o… --- ## [How many people take Global Warming totally on faith?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-take-global-warming-totally-on-faith/416356)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 771\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-take-global-warming-totally-on-faith/416356 "2007-10-05T01:25:53Z")
A carry over from a religious thread LA Times religion reporter ends up losing faith http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=432821&page=3 There was a exchange between how taking things on faith distorts … --- ## [Can a completely honest man ever get elected to be president of the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-completely-honest-man-ever-get-elected-to-be-president-of-the-u-s/398792)
**Author:** [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2007, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-completely-honest-man-ever-get-elected-to-be-president-of-the-u-s/398792 "2007-10-05T00:24:57Z")
So, awhile back there were quite a few threads on whether an atheist, woman, black person, homosexual, etc. could ever become president. I wanted to know if an honest man could become president. First, let me set the s… --- ## [Is this the best we can rule ourselves?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-best-we-can-rule-ourselves/420944)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2007, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-best-we-can-rule-ourselves/420944 "2007-10-04T22:46:38Z")
I’ve heard many complaints about the way the United States govern themselves . Of the top of my head, here are a few of the most reasonables I remember: Uneducated voters, too easily swayed by soundbites and base propag… --- ## [How is Hillary keeping her momentum?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-hillary-keeping-her-momentum/421239)
**Author:** [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-hillary-keeping-her-momentum/421239 "2007-10-04T17:36:35Z")
It’s been a long time since an early frontrunner in the primaries has kept their momentum for as long as Hillary has, and it’s disappointing me a bit. I’d much rather see Obama win the nomination, and I think he’s a muc… --- ## [Japan's new PM, Yasuo Fukuda](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japans-new-pm-yasuo-fukuda/421140)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japans-new-pm-yasuo-fukuda/421140 "2007-10-04T16:13:00Z")
Just took office last week. What should we expect of him? Is he a good guy? Where does he stand on the great issues of the day? Will there be much, if any, of a break with past Japanese policies? --- ## [Ontario Election Referendum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-election-referendum/419769)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-election-referendum/419769 "2007-10-04T12:58:01Z")
So, here’s the scoop. On October 10th, Ontarians will be going to the polls to elect a provincial government. On the ballot will be a referendum question proposed by the Ontario Citizens’ Assembly. Basically the quest… --- ## [Should the Tories dump Cameron?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-tories-dump-cameron/420803)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2007, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-tories-dump-cameron/420803 "2007-10-04T12:38:16Z")
\[Since this is politics, I’m puting this in GD rather than the Pit. Mods, feel free to move if you deem it fit.\] The Tories are a complete shambles, aren’t they? ‘Dave’ Cameron has come completely unstuck. But with a Ge… --- ## [Iran, post 9/11](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-post-9-11/420524)
**Author:** [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2007, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-post-9-11/420524 "2007-10-04T08:53:49Z")
I’ve heard references to Iran having offered to help against Al Queda in the wake of 9/11. What were the details of this and what other communication was there with Iran in the early stages of the War on Terrorism? I g… --- ## [Would time travel save us from religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-time-travel-save-us-from-religion/419396)
**Author:** [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-time-travel-save-us-from-religion/419396 "2007-10-03T17:07:08Z")
It seems that religion was invented to explain away a lot of mysteries for earlier civilizations. If you could go back about 2000 years, say, and explain the real scientific nature of the universe, would we have still ne… --- ## [America: Freedom to Fascism- the legality of the income tax](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-freedom-to-fascism-the-legality-of-the-income-tax/420172)
**Author:** [@RedRosesForMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedRosesForMe)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-freedom-to-fascism-the-legality-of-the-income-tax/420172 "2007-10-03T14:59:23Z")
OK, my friend is making me watch this movie right now, about how the income tax in the U.S. is illegal, unconstitutional, etc. I searched for previous threads on this topic, but obviously couldn’t include words like tax … --- ## [Iraq Debacle could have been avoided for $1 billion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-debacle-could-have-been-avoided-for-1-billion/420651)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2007, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-debacle-could-have-been-avoided-for-1-billion/420651 "2007-10-03T07:49:45Z")
\*"Saddam Hussein offered to step down and go into exile one month before the invasion of Iraq, it was claimed last night. Fearing defeat, Saddam was prepared to go peacefully in return for £500million ($1billion). The … --- ## [How possible is it that science could be seriously wrong about some things?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-possible-is-it-that-science-could-be-seriously-wrong-about-some-things/420904)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2007, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-possible-is-it-that-science-could-be-seriously-wrong-about-some-things/420904 "2007-10-03T07:10:40Z")
Could any of the things that we now consider almost certainly true turn out to be false? I mean major paradigm-breaking revisions of currently accepted fact. Like, maybe the dinosaurs were big because gravity actually wa… --- ## [Top Republicans snub Morgan State: Big deal or tempest in a tea pot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-republicans-snub-morgan-state-big-deal-or-tempest-in-a-tea-pot/420881)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-republicans-snub-morgan-state-big-deal-or-tempest-in-a-tea-pot/420881 "2007-10-03T03:55:52Z")
From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-nagraj/the-huckabee-high\_b\_66343.html From http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article\_9612.shtml From http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/09/25/gingrich\_sk… --- ## [Necessity of the Military and Moral Responsibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-the-military-and-moral-responsibility/420837)
**Author:** [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-the-military-and-moral-responsibility/420837 "2007-10-02T23:14:26Z")
Currently this thread in the Pit is re-hashing the age-old ‘are soldiers morally responsible for the wars in which they participate’ question. It seems to me that the folks who say “yes” are asserting that a soldier, wh… --- ## [Von Stauffenberg kills Hitler in '44 - would it have made a difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/von-stauffenberg-kills-hitler-in-44-would-it-have-made-a-difference/412618)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/von-stauffenberg-kills-hitler-in-44-would-it-have-made-a-difference/412618 "2007-10-02T23:13:47Z")
Inspired by the Tom Cruise is a Nazi! thread. Von Stauffenberg came very close to killing Hitler in 1944. According to the Wiki article on Von Stauffenberg, if he had been able to arm the second bomb, or even if he had… --- ## [Iran scared? Am I missing something?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-scared-am-i-missing-something/420922)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-scared-am-i-missing-something/420922 "2007-10-02T22:09:45Z")
Linky. This guy say’s Iran’s scared. I’m not so sure. They’ve called Bush’s bluff before. America’s not going to attack Iran unless the Iranians do something particularly stupid, and for the Israelis to attack Iran’s nu… --- ## [Why is southeast Asia so advanced?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-southeast-asia-so-advanced/418601)
**Author:** [@megas\_alexandros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/megas_alexandros)\ **Replies:** 260\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-southeast-asia-so-advanced/418601 "2007-10-02T19:27:39Z")
Why do you think Korea/Japan/Taiwan so outpaced West when it comes to technology, computers, and gadgets over the last few decades. I read somewhere that it was because of the 1973 oil crisis, which made those countries… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=684) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=686)