# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=722 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 723 --- ## [Global Warming - solar radiation changes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-solar-radiation-changes/394766)
**Author:** [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Replies:** 177\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-solar-radiation-changes/394766 "2007-04-04T22:06:46Z")
Now that Global Warming is an accepted fact, the deniers have switched their argument saying that natural variance in the Sun’s output could be the cause, not greenhouse gas trapping of heat. I was thinking about this, … --- ## [U.S. sponsoring Kurdish guerrilla attacks inside Iran](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-sponsoring-kurdish-guerrilla-attacks-inside-iran/397717)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-sponsoring-kurdish-guerrilla-attacks-inside-iran/397717 "2007-04-04T20:53:06Z")
Story here. Why do this? We have enough tension with Iran as it is. Is this simply turnabout? Payback for Iran encouraging/funding insurgents in Iraq? Won’t anything that encourages Kurdish nationalism alienat… --- ## [Barstool Tax Policy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barstool-tax-policy/398743)
**Author:** [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barstool-tax-policy/398743 "2007-04-04T19:36:23Z")
What do you think of this parable about taxes and tax cuts? Is it a fair representation of how things work? \*\*Note to mods: I’m pasting the whole thing here since there appear to be no settled author of the piece. If … --- ## [What can we do, now, to prevent Pubs from suppressing Dem votes in 2008?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-we-do-now-to-prevent-pubs-from-suppressing-dem-votes-in-2008/397621)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-we-do-now-to-prevent-pubs-from-suppressing-dem-votes-in-2008/397621 "2007-04-04T19:21:13Z")
I’m very disturbed by this story, which suggests one of the principal motivations for the U.S.-attorneys-purge was to facilitate suppression of “voter fraud” in 11 key states in 2008. “Voter fraud,” for those of you not… --- ## [Free Palestine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-palestine/396880)
**Author:** [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Replies:** 165\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2007, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-palestine/396880 "2007-04-04T12:47:29Z")
I had a chance to watch the Mike Wallace interview with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He posed an interesting question that begs to be answered: Why should the Palestinian peoples suffer if they had no hand in the atro… --- ## [Another Iranian incident...is there a pattern forming here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-iranian-incident-is-there-a-pattern-forming-here/398311)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2007, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-iranian-incident-is-there-a-pattern-forming-here/398311 "2007-04-04T11:40:39Z")
I was reading this article today. Granted, it happened a while ago…but it still seems (in light of the recent dust up with British sailors) to be part of a larger pattern involving Iran and their possible actions. Not… --- ## [Is the Universe aware of itself? Without us?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519)
**Author:** [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2007, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519 "2007-04-04T07:14:49Z")
That’s about it. If we humans were to blink out all of a sudden, would there even BE a Universe? If so, what for? --- ## [Guantanamo: minority report?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-minority-report/398145)
**Author:** [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-minority-report/398145 "2007-04-03T20:59:14Z")
From an article on CBS : So… are they to be incarcerated for life because of a threat that they have yet to carry out? And why does it have to be addressed in a special law? Don’t you have good laws for prosecuting peo… --- ## [Richard Dawkins' Brand of Atheism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-dawkins-brand-of-atheism/396838)
**Author:** [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Replies:** 534\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-dawkins-brand-of-atheism/396838 "2007-04-03T19:45:49Z")
Inspired by this thread. Richard Dawkins with his book “The God Delusion” has been at the forefront of the atheism movement that has recently taken form. Atheists are becoming increasingly outspoken about their (lack o… --- ## [Most Moderate Democratic Pres. Candidate.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-moderate-democratic-pres-candidate/398409)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2007, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-moderate-democratic-pres-candidate/398409 "2007-04-03T05:21:18Z")
I have wondered for some time now, who exactly is the most politically moderate of our current list of Democratic presidential candidates? I suspect it might be Hillary Clinton or John Edwards, but am unsure, so someone … --- ## [Do We Really Need the Equal Rights Amendment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-the-equal-rights-amendment/397875)
**Author:** [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-need-the-equal-rights-amendment/397875 "2007-04-03T02:20:36Z")
I saw in the Washington Post today that, yet again, the ERA has been introduced in Congress. This time, however, supporters think they can get it through the new Democratic Congress. I was born in 1982, so the ERA has al… --- ## [Iran: Russians and Chinese say back off](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-russians-and-chinese-say-back-off/398106)
**Author:** [@Elsie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elsie)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-russians-and-chinese-say-back-off/398106 "2007-04-03T00:17:37Z")
""Worth starting another thread on this particular point\*\* So the arrest of the 15 UK military people seems to have resulted in not just one but both of the Russians and the Chinese being finally smoked out. Thanking Re… --- ## [Is it OK to Make Fun of Religion Now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-make-fun-of-religion-now/398240)
**Author:** [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-make-fun-of-religion-now/398240 "2007-04-02T21:41:18Z")
The latest on religious beliefs in America from here. So this means a majority of American religionists reject evolution. The article goes on to say: Un-frickin believeable. --- ## [Iran: Whoa, is this true?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-whoa-is-this-true/397591)
**Author:** [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-whoa-is-this-true/397591 "2007-04-02T18:31:22Z")
I was reading the transcript for the adoption of Resolution 1747 regarding sanctions against Iran. The representative of Iran said some interesting things, that I just can’t believe are true. Here are some excerpts. … --- ## [The demographic collapse of the Republican Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demographic-collapse-of-the-republican-party/397248)
**Author:** [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demographic-collapse-of-the-republican-party/397248 "2007-04-02T17:25:49Z")
There’s a fascinating new study out by The Pew Research Center showing a major shift in support for the two political parties. The study itself is over 100 pages long, but a lot of the most interesting findings are in t… --- ## [What is the difference between the Democratic and Republican Parties?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-the-democratic-and-republican-parties/397889)
**Author:** [@zeno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeno)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2007, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-the-democratic-and-republican-parties/397889 "2007-04-02T12:25:52Z")
They both spend like crazy, they both get funded by the same corporations, and we’d be in Iraq no matter who might be in power. Except for a couple of hot button issues like abortion, I just don’t see that much differenc… --- ## [Would you hand over your guns in a Katrina situation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hand-over-your-guns-in-a-katrina-situation/397625)
**Author:** [@benny73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benny73)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2007, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hand-over-your-guns-in-a-katrina-situation/397625 "2007-04-02T08:08:10Z")
I stumble on a video that lasted for several minutes at a pretty cool web site called LiveLeak.com. The video showed several people being interviewed on account of their experiences with having police drop by their homes… --- ## [Does one need faith in inductive reasoning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-one-need-faith-in-inductive-reasoning/397313)
**Author:** [@WamBam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WamBam)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2007, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-one-need-faith-in-inductive-reasoning/397313 "2007-04-02T06:42:23Z")
Does one need faith that a ball will drop to the ground because they’ve deduced that it will through inductive reasoning? The problem of induction says that past results can’t be relied upon to be accurate, so it must ta… --- ## [Al Qaeda suspect says CIA tortured him into making false confessions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaeda-suspect-says-cia-tortured-him-into-making-false-confessions/398223)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaeda-suspect-says-cia-tortured-him-into-making-false-confessions/398223 "2007-04-01T22:42:46Z")
Story here. Who should we believe – Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, or the CIA? Anybody still believe American authorities are not torturing prisoners? Anybody still think it’s a good way to get information? --- ## [Sex with zombies: rape, necrophilia, or okey-dokey?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-with-zombies-rape-necrophilia-or-okey-dokey/398192)
**Author:** [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-with-zombies-rape-necrophilia-or-okey-dokey/398192 "2007-04-01T18:30:12Z")
Hey everyone, For the sake or argument, let us pretend that zombies exist. I dont mean the voodoo-style witch doctor kind, although we can debate the ethical ramifications of sex with them too if people so desire. My … --- ## [Shouldn't ghetto folks be given a break?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-ghetto-folks-be-given-a-break/397642)
**Author:** [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-ghetto-folks-be-given-a-break/397642 "2007-04-01T15:06:08Z")
Ok. This is hard for me, because I am pretty new. I have been lurking for 2 years, and I have posted only once…(in the Las Vegas thread…to give a shout out to the Luxor, my favorite hotel.) I am a bit nervous, because… --- ## [Why not just tax unclean energy production?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-tax-unclean-energy-production/397847)
**Author:** [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-tax-unclean-energy-production/397847 "2007-03-31T14:55:02Z")
With increased awareness of global warming, various governments have been putting forth all kinds of schemes that attempt to combat it - increasing minimum fuel efficiency standards, outlawing incandescent light bulbs, g… --- ## [Vietnamese Flag](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vietnamese-flag/397743)
**Author:** [@The\_Spirit\_of\_Radio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Spirit_of_Radio)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vietnamese-flag/397743 "2007-03-31T01:33:42Z")
My school has the flags of almost all of the nations of the world hanging in its main hall. I noticed one day that the flag of Vietnam was hanging with all the others. But I noticed something else, too. The Vietnamese fl… --- ## [Should a sex change for an ex-wife end ex-husband's alimony payments?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-sex-change-for-an-ex-wife-end-ex-husbands-alimony-payments/397878)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-sex-change-for-an-ex-wife-end-ex-husbands-alimony-payments/397878 "2007-03-30T22:26:52Z")
Regarding this article it got me ta thinkin’, I don’t think this guy should get out of having to pay. His ex wife is now a man, she’s now a he, but “he” still spent 18 years with the guy. “He” gave up any career to tak… --- ## [Fred Dalton Thompson for POTUS? Educate me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-dalton-thompson-for-potus-educate-me/397321)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-dalton-thompson-for-potus-educate-me/397321 "2007-03-30T20:39:52Z")
Kim du Toit (a right-wing blogger who writes well) is plugging Fred Thompson for POTUS. I’ve seen Sam Stone mention him favourably a time or two here, but being on the wrong side of the Pond, and not a great TV watcher, … --- ## [What can and what cannot the POTUS properly do to help his party win elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-what-cannot-the-potus-properly-do-to-help-his-party-win-elections/398045)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-and-what-cannot-the-potus-properly-do-to-help-his-party-win-elections/398045 "2007-03-30T19:51:53Z")
It would be unreasonable to say, “Nothing.” A sitting POTUS is the acknowledged leader of his political party. In a sense, everything he does is intended to help his party win elections; a stronger party is a president… --- ## [Was The late George Adamski Insane?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-late-george-adamski-insane/398052)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-late-george-adamski-insane/398052 "2007-03-30T16:25:21Z")
Or just deluded? For those of you unfamiliar with him, ne was a publicist of “flying saucers” in the 1950’s. I saw a filmed interview of him, in which he claimed to have travelld (in a flying saucer) to Mars and Venus. Q… --- ## [legalize marijuana?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legalize-marijuana/396096)
**Author:** [@drboomhauer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drboomhauer)\ **Replies:** 141\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legalize-marijuana/396096 "2007-03-30T13:54:03Z")
I have followed this for about a year, after Denver passed a city ordinance to legalize marijuana for adults. to date I have really seen no viable argument against legalization. the ‘gateway theory’ has finally been reb… --- ## [Can one be "good" and still think of doing bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-be-good-and-still-think-of-doing-bad/397475)
**Author:** [@benny73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benny73)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-be-good-and-still-think-of-doing-bad/397475 "2007-03-30T02:46:08Z")
I don’t know about you, but during my life I’ve met people that are just the rottenist, crummmiest SOBs on two legs. I’m talking about people that treat others like crap; people that lie in order to get what they want (u… --- ## [Gore: Green Party Candidate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-green-party-candidate/397988)
**Author:** [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-green-party-candidate/397988 "2007-03-30T02:37:10Z")
Flipping through Phoenix radio last night, I came across a local program in which they were discussing the odds of Gore as a third-party candidate, specifically the Green Party. The claim was made that Nader and the par… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=721) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=723)