# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=745 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 746 --- ## [Scientology and Psychiatry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientology-and-psychiatry/384639)
**Author:** [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientology-and-psychiatry/384639 "2006-12-23T04:10:21Z")
How central is a belief in the inefficacy of Psychiatric practices to Scientology? Is it possible to be a Scientologist and still believe that psychiatric drugs have a place in the treatment of psychiatric disorders? W… --- ## [Make Presidential Candidates Academic Records Public](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-presidential-candidates-academic-records-public/385133)
**Author:** [@sctrojan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sctrojan)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-presidential-candidates-academic-records-public/385133 "2006-12-23T00:23:01Z")
:smack: If I remember correctly, GWB gave a speech at Yale wherein he lauded the fact that an alum who had passed through Yale with Gentlemen’s C’s could, nevertheless, be elected President. (One of his few truthful sta… --- ## [Do we need the Senate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-the-senate/384528)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-the-senate/384528 "2006-12-22T22:20:43Z")
Plenty of countries get by with a single house. Since the senate is our legacy of the moribund House of Lords, does it serve any purpose other that to represent smaller states disproportionately? And is that even a valid… --- ## [What would an America First America be like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-an-america-first-america-be-like/384822)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-an-america-first-america-be-like/384822 "2006-12-22T22:07:25Z")
The America First Party was formed in 2002 by Pat Buchanan supporters who left the Reform Party. The wikipedia gives a good neutral overview of its politics and policies: See also Buchanan’s weekly magazine, The Ameri… --- ## [Do we really have an interest in a democratic government in Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-have-an-interest-in-a-democratic-government-in-iraq/385097)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-really-have-an-interest-in-a-democratic-government-in-iraq/385097 "2006-12-22T12:28:25Z")
Since most of our allies in the region don’t seem that democratic, what’s the point? Maybe they aren’t ready for that, and a ruling clique would be good enough for now. --- ## [Do we need referendum reform?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-referendum-reform/384395)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2006, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-referendum-reform/384395 "2006-12-22T08:55:45Z")
I think referendums are permitted in most states, since they came into vogue early in the last century. But now, instead of a way for plain folks to get things done when the legislature drags their feet, it has become a… --- ## [Dennis Kucinich announces for president (again)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-kucinich-announces-for-president-again/383877)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2006, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-kucinich-announces-for-president-again/383877 "2006-12-22T05:50:48Z")
Congressman Dennis Kucinich has announced his candidacy for the Dem presidential nomination in 2008. Which, if I’m not mistaken, would make him the first Dem to formally announce. Any chance this will be less of a qui… --- ## [What would a Constitution Party (religious-right) America be like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-constitution-party-religious-right-america-be-like/385101)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-constitution-party-religious-right-america-be-like/385101 "2006-12-22T02:40:07Z")
I’ve already started threads on: What would a Libertarian America be like? What would a Green America be like? What would an America First America be like? (Pat Buchanan’s paleoconservative America First Party) As yo… --- ## [Is really a public debate that Israel practices a form of apartheid in Israel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-really-a-public-debate-that-israel-practices-a-form-of-apartheid-in-israel/384990)
**Author:** [@Ammonius\_Saccus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ammonius_Saccus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-really-a-public-debate-that-israel-practices-a-form-of-apartheid-in-israel/384990 "2006-12-22T02:28:46Z")
This might be a factual question, but in Jimmy correct that there is an open debate about Israel practicing a form of apartheid in the Israeli public sphere? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16240761/site/newsweek/ --- ## [Body language experts - Quacks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-language-experts-quacks/384860)
**Author:** [@Ammonius\_Saccus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ammonius_Saccus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-language-experts-quacks/384860 "2006-12-21T21:56:51Z")
Are body language experts quacks? This woman is on TV a lot and I wonder if her body language analysis is just bullshit. --- ## [Eliz. Smart kidnapping suspect too disturbed for trial](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliz-smart-kidnapping-suspect-too-disturbed-for-trial/384773)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliz-smart-kidnapping-suspect-too-disturbed-for-trial/384773 "2006-12-21T21:10:24Z")
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/18/smart.suspect.ap/index.html This guy is evil. I doubt he’s malingering; he probably really is nuts. And if it takes drugs to make him fit for trial, I say get out the needles. --- ## [Missing Mountain Climbers - suicidal or just stupid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-mountain-climbers-suicidal-or-just-stupid/384163)
**Author:** [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-mountain-climbers-suicidal-or-just-stupid/384163 "2006-12-21T19:36:00Z")
If they are suicidal, why not choose some other way to do it that wouldn’t endanger the lives of would-be rescuers, cost thousands of dollars and put their families through prolonged anticipation until their bodies are f… --- ## [More Child Molestation Today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-child-molestation-today/384809)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2006, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-child-molestation-today/384809 "2006-12-21T10:13:47Z")
It seems to me that sexual predation and child molestation are more prevalent today than ever before. At least I don’t recall hearing as many news stories about this 20 and 30 years ago as I do today. So, which of thes… --- ## [If evolution is not true why are there different races.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-evolution-is-not-true-why-are-there-different-races/384537)
**Author:** [@Viper2308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viper2308)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-evolution-is-not-true-why-are-there-different-races/384537 "2006-12-21T01:29:43Z")
I am just wondering if any religions give reasons to why there are people with different skin colors if we all came from two people without the process of evolution? --- ## [A high IQ helps protect against Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-high-iq-helps-protect-against-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/384814)
**Author:** [@CheeringElvi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeringElvi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-high-iq-helps-protect-against-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/384814 "2006-12-20T21:16:33Z")
In this month’s Scientific American (On-line version) there’s an article about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and it’s relationship to how a person might interpret the triggering event. In that article a study is cited … --- ## [How would the British Empire have developed if it had not lost the American colonies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-british-empire-have-developed-if-it-had-not-lost-the-american-colonies/384029)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-british-empire-have-developed-if-it-had-not-lost-the-american-colonies/384029 "2006-12-20T19:37:41Z")
The Two Georges, by Harry Turtledove and Richard Dreyfuss, is set in an alternate history where the American colonial leaders worked out their differences with the British crown amicably. In 1999, the British Empire inc… --- ## [Are we headed for a mortgage default induced real estate crash?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-headed-for-a-mortgage-default-induced-real-estate-crash/382740)
**Author:** [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-headed-for-a-mortgage-default-induced-real-estate-crash/382740 "2006-12-20T19:01:00Z")
Many financial experts, from Greenspan on down, decried the trend toward nevative amortization loans. And many of those written a couple of years ago are set to get massive interest adjustments when the low-low come-on t… --- ## [What would a Green America be like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-green-america-be-like/384636)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-green-america-be-like/384636 "2006-12-20T17:09:35Z")
Follow-up on this thread: What would a Libertarian America be like? Suppose the Green Party somehow won a majority in Congress and all state legislatures, plus the presidency and all governorships – or, even without tha… --- ## [Iran election goes against Ahmadinejad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-election-goes-against-ahmadinejad/384857)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-election-goes-against-ahmadinejad/384857 "2006-12-20T15:50:48Z")
Story here. Will this make any difference in Iran, or to Iran-U.S. relations? --- ## [Hope for democracy in Iraq vs. Europe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-democracy-in-iraq-vs-europe/384851)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-democracy-in-iraq-vs-europe/384851 "2006-12-19T23:52:18Z")
It seems like the must-have book for neocons this season is America Alone by Mark Steyn. With the disclaimer that I’ve not read the book, but I have read an article by Steyn in New Criterion, here’s the synopsis. Accor… --- ## [Spider Brains and Knowledge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spider-brains-and-knowledge/384028)
**Author:** [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spider-brains-and-knowledge/384028 "2006-12-19T22:38:24Z")
In the linked thread, Contrapuntal challenged my post regarding spiders and “knowledge”. I’ve opened up a new thread as it’s really a seperate debate. On the word “knowledge” which I used in the previous thread: I ba… --- ## [Is bottled water immoral?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bottled-water-immoral/384331)
**Author:** [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bottled-water-immoral/384331 "2006-12-19T17:52:56Z")
Just ran across this article, which speaks of religious groups who believe that bottled water is an improper use of a natural resource. So, what do you all think? Is bottled water immoral? It’s an interesting question… --- ## [Is piracy the same as stealing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-piracy-the-same-as-stealing/379781)
**Author:** [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-piracy-the-same-as-stealing/379781 "2006-12-19T17:20:39Z")
I’m saw this quote in Argent Tower’s thread How did “Piracy” come to mean "copyright violations? which really got to me, and rather than hijack that thread any more, I decided to start one here, where it was more appropr… --- ## [So, Was Heraclitus Righ? Each Moment Unique?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-was-heraclitus-righ-each-moment-unique/384401)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-was-heraclitus-righ-each-moment-unique/384401 "2006-12-19T16:01:38Z")
The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus posutaletd that nothing in the universe is permanent-except for change. he discussed the parable of a man walking into a river=the water flows past, and the event is unique=nothin… --- ## [Is fear of Terrorism the new McCarthyism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fear-of-terrorism-the-new-mccarthyism/384594)
**Author:** [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fear-of-terrorism-the-new-mccarthyism/384594 "2006-12-19T11:45:08Z")
I read this article and was astounded at some of the lunacy Gingrich was spouting. He made a call to limit free speech in order to combat Terrorism and now is defending it with gems like and We’ve already had peopl… --- ## [Proper "partying ethics"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-partying-ethics/384008)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-partying-ethics/384008 "2006-12-19T09:41:27Z")
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/12/13/spears.paris.reut/index.html Clearly, this field of ethics has been tragically unexplored. What would Crick, Kohlberg, Laing, Maslow and Epicurus have to say? Did Jesus, Muhamm… --- ## [What happens to the US economy if General Motors goes belly up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-us-economy-if-general-motors-goes-belly-up/384500)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-us-economy-if-general-motors-goes-belly-up/384500 "2006-12-19T03:03:36Z")
Lets say the rate of failure for GM can’t be stopped and it all comes crashing down sometime in the next few years. Is this going to seriously impact he US economy, or is the US economy so big that even GM’s crash will b… --- ## [Hillary Clinton - generally hated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clinton-generally-hated/384431)
**Author:** [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clinton-generally-hated/384431 "2006-12-18T23:56:50Z")
I keep hearing this a lot but I don’t know if a) it’s true and b) if true, why? From a guy sitting in tropical heat here in the Philippine islands ;), she seems decent enough. What gives? --- ## [Can Congress declare peace?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congress-declare-peace/384482)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-congress-declare-peace/384482 "2006-12-18T21:53:35Z")
The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war. But is it an irrevocable decision? Or is it something that Congress can give and then take back? Suppose for example that Congress had passed a declaration … --- ## [Under Bill O'Reilly's logic should I be able to rape woman?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-bill-oreillys-logic-should-i-be-able-to-rape-woman/384548)
**Author:** [@Ammonius\_Saccus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ammonius_Saccus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/under-bill-oreillys-logic-should-i-be-able-to-rape-woman/384548 "2006-12-18T20:04:53Z")
I can’t find a transcript of the show, but Bill O’Reilly stated that when looking a moral issues especially in regard to pregnancy we should look to nature. He used this to argue that maybe Mary Cheney should not have ch… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=744) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=746)