# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=717 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 718 --- ## [Senator Harry Reid says Iraq War is already lost](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-harry-reid-says-iraq-war-is-already-lost/400991)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-harry-reid-says-iraq-war-is-already-lost/400991 "2007-04-29T04:38:35Z")
Story here. Is he right? --- ## [Texas removing statute of limitations & adding death penalty for child sexual abuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-removing-statute-of-limitations-adding-death-penalty-for-child-sexual-abuse/401589)
**Author:** [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-removing-statute-of-limitations-adding-death-penalty-for-child-sexual-abuse/401589 "2007-04-28T20:12:49Z")
"AUSTIN — The Texas Senate passed its long-awaited “Jessica’s Law” Tuesday to protect children from sexual predators, but it reserved the death penalty for those twice convicted of the most heinous child rapes. The bill… --- ## [Is the CIA making America safer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-cia-making-america-safer/400839)
**Author:** [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-cia-making-america-safer/400839 "2007-04-28T19:21:40Z")
Kidnapping. Torture. Secret prisons. Overthrowing other countries’ governments. Assassination. Backing dictators, backing criminals, terrorists, backing and/or training death squads. These are all crimes. We hav… --- ## [How would history be different if the participants were sober?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-history-be-different-if-the-participants-were-sober/401754)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-history-be-different-if-the-participants-were-sober/401754 "2007-04-28T12:52:51Z")
In the Alamo thread Doug Bowe linked Cecil’s column. So we can assume liquor was involved in the decision process. Not surprising considering the breakfast through nightcap liquor consumption in former times. I wonde… --- ## [How much longer would slavery have lasted if the South won the Civil War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-would-slavery-have-lasted-if-the-south-won-the-civil-war/401398)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Hildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Hildo)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-would-slavery-have-lasted-if-the-south-won-the-civil-war/401398 "2007-04-28T03:42:11Z")
Timeframe-wise, at what point would the South have freed the slaves on their own? Before 1900? After? --- ## [Driving over the speed limit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-over-the-speed-limit/400458)
**Author:** [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Replies:** 159\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-over-the-speed-limit/400458 "2007-04-27T02:50:17Z")
My practice is that on most roads I try to avoid exceeding the speed limit. I’ll admit that if I am in an unusually big rush (like I’m already late for work) or if the posted limit seems unusually low (like many exit ram… --- ## [First commandment - suggestion of polytheism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-commandment-suggestion-of-polytheism/401238)
**Author:** [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-commandment-suggestion-of-polytheism/401238 "2007-04-26T21:51:39Z")
I was glancing at the ten commandments the other day in front of the local city offices and it occured to me that it says “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” not “Thou shalt have ho other gods.” This to me suggest… --- ## [Europe's shrinking population](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-shrinking-population/401357)
**Author:** [@gatorman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorman)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europes-shrinking-population/401357 "2007-04-26T20:10:11Z")
I find it incredibly odd that many western european (and many eastern as well) have this problem. What is it about this current generation of europeans that seem hostile towards the idea of having children? I was in Ger… --- ## [What will be the most important technological development in the next 50 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-most-important-technological-development-in-the-next-50-years/401278)
**Author:** [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-most-important-technological-development-in-the-next-50-years/401278 "2007-04-26T19:47:39Z")
I think it will safe, sustained, efficient nuclear fusion. You? --- ## [1.7 million Iraqis now refugees -- should the U.S. admit more than 500 of them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-7-million-iraqis-now-refugees-should-the-u-s-admit-more-than-500-of-them/387952)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-7-million-iraqis-now-refugees-should-the-u-s-admit-more-than-500-of-them/387952 "2007-04-26T17:41:42Z")
Most of them wind up in Syria or Jordan. At present, 500 is the maximum number the State Department is planning to resettle in the U.S. Story here. --- ## [Resolved: We abolish the apostrophe in English.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-abolish-the-apostrophe-in-english/401383)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-abolish-the-apostrophe-in-english/401383 "2007-04-26T17:36:24Z")
I cannot get over how difficult some otherwise literate people find it to distinguish between “it’s” and “its”, “your” and “you’re”. I have even seen a Hallmark card that said “Sorry your sic” (sic). I mean, this thing … --- ## ["Partial-birth" abortion ban: What does it accomplish for pro-lifers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partial-birth-abortion-ban-what-does-it-accomplish-for-pro-lifers/400670)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2007, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partial-birth-abortion-ban-what-does-it-accomplish-for-pro-lifers/400670 "2007-04-26T03:31:05Z")
Ok, so the Supreme Court has upheld the ban on so-called “partial-birth” abortions. I don’t want this to be a deabte on the decision itself, on the Constitutionality of the law or on abortion in general. I just want to … --- ## [Are there really 10 commandments? And whose do we hang?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-10-commandments-and-whose-do-we-hang/401544)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-10-commandments-and-whose-do-we-hang/401544 "2007-04-25T23:59:39Z")
One of the things that really amuses me about the efforts of fundies to “hang ten” (i.e. hang up the 10 Commandments in courts, schools and other public buildings in violation of the separation of church and state) is th… --- ## [Which city would do best in a Jericho/End Of The World Type deal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-city-would-do-best-in-a-jericho-end-of-the-world-type-deal/401660)
**Author:** [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-city-would-do-best-in-a-jericho-end-of-the-world-type-deal/401660 "2007-04-25T23:43:38Z")
Let’s say there is some big catastrophe like a nuclear war and the end of the world, for the US at least is in a de facto state of being. There is Anarchy everywhere and what national government is left is ignored. Assum… --- ## [Open-Source War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-source-war/401527)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-source-war/401527 "2007-04-25T21:49:44Z")
The Open-Source War The Superempowered Competition Hollow States Security: Power to the People I have been reading the book “Brave New War: The Next Stage of Terrorism and the End of Globalization” by John Robb. I… --- ## [Religious Violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-violence/400847)
**Author:** [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-violence/400847 "2007-04-25T16:40:31Z")
Why is there so much violence based on religious differences? I’ve been thinking, for all of the mainstream world religions I can think of, they teach peace. Or, at least, they don’t advocate violence. Certainly there… --- ## [If Canada broke down, what new divisions would coalesce?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-canada-broke-down-what-new-divisions-would-coalesce/400578)
**Author:** [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-canada-broke-down-what-new-divisions-would-coalesce/400578 "2007-04-25T14:29:08Z")
If Canada ceased existing as a nation, which provinces would group together to form new nations and which would go solo, and why? Would any join the US? My very limited guess: Quebec: Solo Alberta: Solo, but maybe uni… --- ## [Define God](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-god/398222)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 518\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2007, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-god/398222 "2007-04-25T12:05:20Z")
I’d like to hear and discuss definitions of God. If you wouldn’t mind a preemptive strike, I’d like to avoid drive-by potshot definitions from either extreme. Neither from one extreme — I define God as a figment of your … --- ## [Which is the US military's most elite special operations force?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-us-militarys-most-elite-special-operations-force/401033)
**Author:** [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2007, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-us-militarys-most-elite-special-operations-force/401033 "2007-04-25T08:02:36Z")
Of these groups, which is the most elite? Which is the most specialized? Which has the most difficult entry/training program? This is all subjective, of course, but i’d like to hear people’s opinions. Navy Seals Gre… --- ## [On the need for direct personal action in emergencies.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-need-for-direct-personal-action-in-emergencies/400783)
**Author:** [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-need-for-direct-personal-action-in-emergencies/400783 "2007-04-24T19:52:10Z")
As I look at the Virginia Tech tragedy, and reflect too on other recent events, it becomes clear to me that it is imperative that we all be prepared to act ourselves when emergencies happen. Panic and inaction only gets… --- ## [Another Global Warming Debate...where are are efforts best focused?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-global-warming-debate-where-are-are-efforts-best-focused/401415)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-global-warming-debate-where-are-are-efforts-best-focused/401415 "2007-04-24T16:30:07Z")
Ok, so this is yet another Global Warming: What can we do? type debate. I’m watching Green: The new Red, White and Blue and they have talked about some of the things America and American companies are currently doing… --- ## [Would Al Gore have invaded Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-al-gore-have-invaded-iraq/401109)
**Author:** [@h.ergaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.ergaster)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-al-gore-have-invaded-iraq/401109 "2007-04-24T13:27:44Z")
If Al Gore had won the election instead of George Bush would Iraq be occupied today? --- ## [Iraq: How can we win?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-how-can-we-win/401055)
**Author:** [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2007, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-how-can-we-win/401055 "2007-04-24T03:44:29Z")
After reading the thread about how a Senator said that we’ve already lost Iraq, I’m interested in hearing from you guys about the possibility of winning in Iraq. Now I realize this is a bit of a difficult thing to imagin… --- ## [How do you change the nation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-nation/400637)
**Author:** [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-nation/400637 "2007-04-24T03:41:44Z")
Okay, I’m usually one that stays away from GD, because, well, I’m pretty non-confrontational. However, this was an issue that burned me this morning, and I had to put it somewhere where I hoped it would spark some ration… --- ## [Does Maryland Really Need To Approve Retrocession?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-maryland-really-need-to-approve-retrocession/400819)
**Author:** [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2007, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-maryland-really-need-to-approve-retrocession/400819 "2007-04-24T03:24:14Z")
With the recent push to the forefront of the issue of DC’s (lack of) Congressional representation, I was thinking about the matter of retrocession. Retrocession is the idea that Congress would reduce the size of the Fed… --- ## [what would a third party platform be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-third-party-platform-be/401250)
**Author:** [@enigm4tic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigm4tic)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-third-party-platform-be/401250 "2007-04-24T00:33:54Z")
Inspired by this thread , and indeed I’ve been thinking about a thread like this for a while: What platform would it take for a third party to make a solid showing in a presidential election? Would a very articulate ca… --- ## [Easier to buy a machine gun or get driver's licence in US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easier-to-buy-a-machine-gun-or-get-drivers-licence-in-us/400494)
**Author:** [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easier-to-buy-a-machine-gun-or-get-drivers-licence-in-us/400494 "2007-04-23T22:42:39Z")
This site claims that it is often easier to get a machine gun than a driver’s license in the US. Comments? --- ## [V.Tech massacre](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-tech-massacre/401354)
**Author:** [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/v-tech-massacre/401354 "2007-04-23T20:36:42Z")
\[Note: don’t know if this belongs in GD\] Had the killer not ended his life and had been detained by the authorities, what would have happened? I’m not up to speed on his background (ie was he an american citizen or not)… --- ## [Do socialized health care systems hinder competition and innovation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-socialized-health-care-systems-hinder-competition-and-innovation/401045)
**Author:** [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-socialized-health-care-systems-hinder-competition-and-innovation/401045 "2007-04-23T17:37:04Z")
A friend of mine argued the point that a nationalized health care system would end medical advances in the world as we know it. He claims that the only reason medical advances have been as rapid as we have seen in the la… --- ## [Should the U.S. grant asylum to Cuban terrorist Luis Posada Carriles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-grant-asylum-to-cuban-terrorist-luis-posada-carriles/401318)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-u-s-grant-asylum-to-cuban-terrorist-luis-posada-carriles/401318 "2007-04-23T15:16:30Z")
Luis Posada Carriles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis\_Posada\_Carriles) is an anti-Castro Cuban exile. In 1976 he bombed a Cuban airliner over Venezuela, killing 76 people. He was convicted of the crime in Venezuela, … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=716) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=718)