# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=700 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 701 --- ## [Cheney pushes Bush to take military action v. Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-pushes-bush-to-take-military-action-v-iran/411976)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-pushes-bush-to-take-military-action-v-iran/411976 "2007-07-20T23:05:09Z")
According to The Guardian, the intra-WH balance of power between Rice (who favors dealing with Iran via diplomatic pressure) and Cheney (who favors a military attack) has been tipping in Cheney’s favor. “Not until next… --- ## [Michael Moore tears CNN a new one](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-tears-cnn-a-new-one/411143)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 257\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-moore-tears-cnn-a-new-one/411143 "2007-07-20T23:02:14Z")
In response to this “fact-checking” piece by Sanjay Gupta on Sicko, Michael Moore appeared today on Wolf Blitzer’s show and delivered a diatribe directed not only at the piece, but at CNN and the MSM in general. Who has… --- ## [Why Do Americans pay more for Healthcare than Canadians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-pay-more-for-healthcare-than-canadians/411554)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2007, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-americans-pay-more-for-healthcare-than-canadians/411554 "2007-07-20T16:43:37Z")
This always comes up in threads about universal healthcare-- that the US pays “X” times more than \. So, let’s break it down and let’s use Canada as our example. Americans and Canadi… --- ## [Kristol: "Why Bush Will Be a Winner" -- let's debate his statements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kristol-why-bush-will-be-a-winner-lets-debate-his-statements/412018)
**Author:** [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kristol-why-bush-will-be-a-winner-lets-debate-his-statements/412018 "2007-07-19T20:53:30Z")
Ok, there’s always way more then enough Bush debating, but the reason I am starting this one is because William Kristol has written a much better than average defense of the Bush presidency (note: requires free registrat… --- ## [English as a Romance Language.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-as-a-romance-language/411812)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-as-a-romance-language/411812 "2007-07-19T20:11:05Z")
As many of you may already know, in 1066, William of Normandy invaded England, bringing the French language with him. Because of this, about half the words in the English language are of French origin. Yet whenever I see… --- ## [Barack Obama solution to violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama-solution-to-violence/411984)
**Author:** [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barack-obama-solution-to-violence/411984 "2007-07-19T18:29:15Z")
My opinion of Barak Obama changed radically over the weekend after hearing about this speech, where he proposes a solution to the epidemic of violent crime we’ve seen in the past few years. \[QUOTE=Barack Obama\] Our pl… --- ## [Remind me: Why am I supposed to hate Cuba?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remind-me-why-am-i-supposed-to-hate-cuba/412118)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remind-me-why-am-i-supposed-to-hate-cuba/412118 "2007-07-19T14:21:37Z")
We’ve always been told that Castro and his Cuba are to be hated, if not feared. But I seem to have forgotten why. Oh yeah, they were going to let the Russians point their missiles at us. But that was 45 years ago. Wh… --- ## [Try, try again . . . House votes for most troops to be out of Iraq by 4/1/08](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/try-try-again-house-votes-for-most-troops-to-be-out-of-iraq-by-4-1-08/411594)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/try-try-again-house-votes-for-most-troops-to-be-out-of-iraq-by-4-1-08/411594 "2007-07-19T00:39:02Z")
Story here. Of course, last time they tried this Bush vetoed it. Any chance they can override a veto this time? And did they have to specify April Fool’s Day?! --- ## [Can nuclear power reduce carbon emissions -- without causing weapons proliferation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nuclear-power-reduce-carbon-emissions-without-causing-weapons-proliferation/410514)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nuclear-power-reduce-carbon-emissions-without-causing-weapons-proliferation/410514 "2007-07-18T20:41:59Z")
A new study casts doubt on the hope that greenhouse-gas emissions can be significantly reduced by construction of more nuclear power plants. Now, the Oxford Research Group was founded in 1982 to advocate nuclear disarm… --- ## [Suppose Global Warming is real but AGW is not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-global-warming-is-real-but-agw-is-not/411903)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-global-warming-is-real-but-agw-is-not/411903 "2007-07-18T19:34:29Z")
Just suppose that it is demonstrated that we’re in a long-term uptick in global temperature but that man has nothing to do with it. If you need a limit, say not enough to melt the Antarctic or Greenland icecaps. What co… --- ## [Crusades: Legit Response to Muslim Aggression?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusades-legit-response-to-muslim-aggression/411502)
**Author:** [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crusades-legit-response-to-muslim-aggression/411502 "2007-07-18T19:02:33Z")
Let me start this post by saying that I’m an athiest, so religiously I have no dog in this fight other than being a product of European heritage and western civilization. In college, I had a professor who argued that th… --- ## [Who's stopping the electric/solar car?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-stopping-the-electric-solar-car/409820)
**Author:** [@Ambski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambski)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-stopping-the-electric-solar-car/409820 "2007-07-18T18:28:22Z")
Hi all, Daft question huh? Not really. Scratch beneath the surface of the oil underworld and there’s all sorts of murky goings on. There’s a slick food chain here and ultimately (like all chains) there a link at the en… --- ## [Kamikaze attacks 'not about terror'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamikaze-attacks-not-about-terror/411067)
**Author:** [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamikaze-attacks-not-about-terror/411067 "2007-07-18T14:38:07Z")
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070708/ap\_on\_re\_as/kamikaze\_glorified This article discussed a Kamikaze museum and film in Japan, and the different attitudes about each. Takanobu Kikunaga says Kamikazes weren’t about ‘Terr… --- ## [Iraq Government Misses All Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-government-misses-all-targets/411165)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-government-misses-all-targets/411165 "2007-07-18T03:20:11Z")
The headline says it all. At the start of this year, Bush and his various mouthpieces explained that the surge would coincide with certain targets for progress by the Iraq government. They promised that this time they … --- ## [Why are so many Americans interested in politics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-americans-interested-in-politics/411817)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-americans-interested-in-politics/411817 "2007-07-18T01:26:49Z")
A quick perusal of GD and The Pit on any given day shows a huge number of posts related to American politics or scandals, many of which no-one outside the US (or even the state concerned) has ever heard of. Why are so m… --- ## [Rove linked to DoJ prosecution of Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman during disputed election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rove-linked-to-doj-prosecution-of-alabama-gov-don-siegelman-during-disputed-election/406423)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rove-linked-to-doj-prosecution-of-alabama-gov-don-siegelman-during-disputed-election/406423 "2007-07-18T01:06:55Z")
From Time: Who’s telling the truth, Simpson or Canary & Butts? Assuming Simpson is, did Rove or the DoJ do anything illegal or improper here? Is Siegelman really guilty or innocent? --- ## [Pope Benny is on a Roll: "Other Christians not true churches"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-benny-is-on-a-roll-other-christians-not-true-churches/411312)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-benny-is-on-a-roll-other-christians-not-true-churches/411312 "2007-07-17T17:57:54Z")
Fresh from upseting the Jewish community by approving a prayer calling for their conversion , Pope Benny has turned his benevolent attention to so-called Christians who misguidedly think they go to church every Sunday. … --- ## [Why does the U.S. have so much more retail space (per capita) than other countries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-u-s-have-so-much-more-retail-space-per-capita-than-other-countries/412004)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-u-s-have-so-much-more-retail-space-per-capita-than-other-countries/412004 "2007-07-17T16:24:08Z")
Click on James Howard Kunstler’s Clusterfuck Nation column and scroll down to the 6/25/07 entry. There’s a bar graph showing the U.S. has 20.2 square feet of retail space per person – compared to 3.3 square feet for the… --- ## [Study: Climate change not caused by increasing output from the Sun](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/study-climate-change-not-caused-by-increasing-output-from-the-sun/411418)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/study-climate-change-not-caused-by-increasing-output-from-the-sun/411418 "2007-07-17T15:23:14Z")
From the BBC: Will this be sufficient to kill the “Mars has global warming too!” meme? --- ## [Seriously, annex Mexico?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-annex-mexico/411802)
**Author:** [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seriously-annex-mexico/411802 "2007-07-17T14:39:54Z")
The goofy immigration thread was rightfully closed, but I never got a chance to pose a serious question that applied to it. Would most, or even many, Mexican citizens want to be part of a Mexican-US government? There’s… --- ## [North Korea to close nuclear facility in "three weeks"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-to-close-nuclear-facility-in-three-weeks/409148)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2007, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-to-close-nuclear-facility-in-three-weeks/409148 "2007-07-17T12:56:34Z")
From Radio Netherlands: So, will they or won’t they? If they really do it, how does that affect NK’s relations with the U.S. and others? --- ## [1967 Israel attack against USS Liberty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1967-israel-attack-against-uss-liberty/412067)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Ryle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Ryle)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2007, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1967-israel-attack-against-uss-liberty/412067 "2007-07-17T07:21:48Z")
I would like to know the straight dope on the USS Liberty incident, in the news again on its 40th anniversary. Why did Israel attack this ship in the Six Day War? Did LBJ and the world media cover it up? Why? This seem… --- ## [Why should I care about global warming?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-care-about-global-warming/410903)
**Author:** [@Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_British_Shop_Owner)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-care-about-global-warming/410903 "2007-07-17T02:21:54Z")
Please don’t address this topic in isolation. In comparison to global poverty, terrible sanitation, AIDS, gradual erosion of freedoms worldwide… Why on earth should I care, or do, anything about global warming? --- ## [What's the future like for Internet radio?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-future-like-for-internet-radio/411972)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-future-like-for-internet-radio/411972 "2007-07-16T22:26:31Z")
According to this article, Internet radio will soon be no more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-radio0716,0,4306738.story?coll=bal-business-headlines Basically, the once-affordable royalty payments have been … --- ## [Anorexia and Obesity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anorexia-and-obesity/411409)
**Author:** [@Small\_British\_Shop\_Owner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_British_Shop_Owner)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anorexia-and-obesity/411409 "2007-07-16T19:36:54Z")
Think out loud here: I wonder if it might be better for the population as a whole for there to be a lot more pressure from magazines, etc, for women to be unrealistically thin. My reasoning being that the problems of an… --- ## [Terminator 3, I, Robot & Hal 2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-3-i-robot-hal-2000/411399)
**Author:** [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terminator-3-i-robot-hal-2000/411399 "2007-07-16T17:07:29Z")
In all of these films robots are shown as developing awareness and turning against humans. Given that robots are now capable of thinking for themselves and making correct decisions (Fritz and Deep Blue being examples) i… --- ## [Now, how many senses do we have?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-how-many-senses-do-we-have/411792)
**Author:** [@neorxnawange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neorxnawange)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2007, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-how-many-senses-do-we-have/411792 "2007-07-16T16:49:34Z")
In grade school we are taught about the five: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch. Upon further learning we see that there are several different types of touch, at least two different types of sensing happening in what w… --- ## [1000 + speeding tickets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1000-speeding-tickets/411921)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1000-speeding-tickets/411921 "2007-07-16T16:31:15Z")
Well if you love the idea of cutting taxes because you think the government will go away ,think again. Yep, 1000 to 3000 dollars if you fight the ticket. Why would you dare to fight them.? Because the ticket can be wro… --- ## [Are we doing ANY good in Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-doing-any-good-in-iraq/411173)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2007, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-doing-any-good-in-iraq/411173 "2007-07-16T06:41:28Z")
Or, perhaps, the better question: are we doing any good in Iraq, either immediate or long term, that justifies the cost to our nation? Going into Iraq was a bad idea, but I have this visceral feeling that, now that we’v… --- ## [Destroying produce rather than giving it away: rationale?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroying-produce-rather-than-giving-it-away-rationale/411024)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2007, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destroying-produce-rather-than-giving-it-away-rationale/411024 "2007-07-16T06:25:05Z")
There’s an incident in The Grapes of Wrath where fruit growers, faced with a harvest they can’t sell, burn the excess rather than give it away to the hungry poor. The book portrays this as sheer heartless greedy capitali… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=699) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=701)