# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=764 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 765 --- ## [Health and Education- Why the difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-and-education-why-the-difference/373924)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-and-education-why-the-difference/373924 "2006-09-26T21:00:50Z")
If the goal of the state is: Mens sana in corpore sano A sound mind in a sound body should the state not provide universal education and universal health care. I believe strongly that the State should intervene in hu… --- ## [Some "clarity" for the President re: interrogations and torture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-clarity-for-the-president-re-interrogations-and-torture/373183)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-clarity-for-the-president-re-interrogations-and-torture/373183 "2006-09-26T16:19:45Z")
The President said last week that the CIA and military interrogators need “clarity” as to what they can and can’t do while questioning prisoners. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted in favor of a bill reiterating … --- ## [Why doesn't hunger make me want to munch wild animals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-hunger-make-me-want-to-munch-wild-animals/373641)
**Author:** [@FrantzJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrantzJ)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2006, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-hunger-make-me-want-to-munch-wild-animals/373641 "2006-09-26T14:26:31Z")
So, human instincts were forged over the course of millions of years of evolution. For almost all of human history, the way that we have gotten food has been to go out into the wild, find some, and eat it. We might coo… --- ## [Insight into "Coalition of the Willing" - Join or we'll bomb you into the Stone Age](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insight-into-coalition-of-the-willing-join-or-well-bomb-you-into-the-stone-age/373627)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insight-into-coalition-of-the-willing-join-or-well-bomb-you-into-the-stone-age/373627 "2006-09-26T12:11:12Z")
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south\_asia/5369198.stm "The United States threatened to bomb Pakistan “back to the stone age” unless it joined the fight against al-Qaeda, President Pervez Musharraf says. General Musha… --- ## [One crucial link between Iraq and 9/11](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-crucial-link-between-iraq-and-9-11/373491)
**Author:** [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-crucial-link-between-iraq-and-9-11/373491 "2006-09-25T23:42:01Z")
The same people who misinterpreted and cherry picked intelligence about Iraq are handling the intelligence and its analysis in terrorism. The same people who have so badly mismanaged the Iraq invasion are managing anti … --- ## [Veronica and Simon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veronica-and-simon/374066)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veronica-and-simon/374066 "2006-09-25T19:23:38Z")
(half-remembered from catholic school education) As Jesus carried his cross, Veronica leapt forward and wiped His face, leaving the Image of Christ on the linen. After Christ fell the third time, the Romans grabbed som… --- ## [A few thoughts on being an extremely liberal Xtian](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-thoughts-on-being-an-extremely-liberal-xtian/373535)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-thoughts-on-being-an-extremely-liberal-xtian/373535 "2006-09-25T19:05:31Z")
Inspired by this thread, but hopefully less rancorous given the forum. badchad, in my post in the pit thread I’ve stated the conditions under which I am willing to discuss this topic with you outside the pit. I call mys… --- ## [On taking blind offense](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-taking-blind-offense/373438)
**Author:** [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-taking-blind-offense/373438 "2006-09-25T18:49:03Z")
I’ve been having trouble with this concept for a while, but that could be partially because I am not easily offended. I tend to shrug off insults and let most things roll off my back, like water off some sort of large d… --- ## [How to recruit anti-Bush voters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-recruit-anti-bush-voters/372990)
**Author:** [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-recruit-anti-bush-voters/372990 "2006-09-25T15:47:24Z")
There are two subtopics here. One is persuading likely voters to vote Democratic instead of Republican, and the other is convincing people who don’t usually vote to get off of their asses, stop making excuses and do it. … --- ## [Are we living in a Uni or a Multi-Verse, and what is the physics to describe it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-living-in-a-uni-or-a-multi-verse-and-what-is-the-physics-to-describe-it/373956)
**Author:** [@Stalky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stalky)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-living-in-a-uni-or-a-multi-verse-and-what-is-the-physics-to-describe-it/373956 "2006-09-25T13:01:07Z")
I’m starting this thread to prevent further hijacking of the thread on free will and omniscience. I’m curious about the philisophical and scientific opinions of dopers on ideas like the many worlds interpertation of QM … --- ## [More Atheists Than I Thought!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470)
**Author:** [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470 "2006-09-25T05:41:06Z")
I needed some hopeful news today. This is from the Tribune-Herald coverage of Baylor University’s new study on religion in America: Five percent atheists! That’s a lot more than I’d though; I’d have figured maybe 2%. N… --- ## [When They Stand Up, We Will Stand Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-stand-up-we-will-stand-down/373879)
**Author:** [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-stand-up-we-will-stand-down/373879 "2006-09-25T04:23:17Z")
This Los Angeles Times story would seem to indicate that without a deadline the Iraqis are not going to stand up for quite some time. 4000 troops were requested by the US Baghdad command and 1000 showed up. One of the … --- ## [Could Bush actually be a puppet ruler?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-bush-actually-be-a-puppet-ruler/373021)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-bush-actually-be-a-puppet-ruler/373021 "2006-09-25T00:07:43Z")
Sorry if the premise sounds like Bush-bashing, but I mean it seriously: Could George W. Bush actually be a not-terribly-bright figurehead whose major decisions are made for him by his “advisors”? Or to ask the question a… --- ## [Chinese billionaire/murderer pays gov't 6 billion$ not to execute him](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-billionaire-murderer-pays-govt-6-billion-not-to-execute-him/337205)
**Author:** [@BrightSmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightSmite)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-billionaire-murderer-pays-govt-6-billion-not-to-execute-him/337205 "2006-09-24T18:52:34Z")
This Link Tells about Yuan Baojing, a 39 year old real estate tycoon (worth about 50 billion$) in China. He was convicted of murder by Chinese courts and sentenced to die. He got his wife to sign over about six billion d… --- ## [Do people who cross into USA from Mexico understand US Citizenship rules?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-who-cross-into-usa-from-mexico-understand-us-citizenship-rules/373664)
**Author:** [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-who-cross-into-usa-from-mexico-understand-us-citizenship-rules/373664 "2006-09-23T23:25:18Z")
A lot of people who are comming into the US from mexico, when pressed on the issue on not going through legal channels, simply state that they are not criminal / “How can being Human be against the law?” Do these people… --- ## [Ahmadinejad: Hidden Imam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahmadinejad-hidden-imam/373645)
**Author:** [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahmadinejad-hidden-imam/373645 "2006-09-23T19:41:28Z")
"I emphatically declare that today’s world, more than ever before, longs for just and righteous people with love for all humanity; and above all longs for the perfect righteous human being and the real savior who has bee… --- ## [Does the new pope play a high game?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-new-pope-play-a-high-game/373355)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-new-pope-play-a-high-game/373355 "2006-09-23T12:40:34Z")
I’m thinking about the latest speech of Pope Benedict XVI that was interpreted as an attack against Islam by many muslims. The controversial part was actually a quote from an unknown Byzantine emperor Was this an att… --- ## [Evidence of a Global Flood?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-of-a-global-flood/372425)
**Author:** [@Interest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interest)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-of-a-global-flood/372425 "2006-09-23T05:21:31Z")
If sea floor fossils are in the high mountains in every part of the world, then all parts of the world were under water in time past. Doesn’t this that flood water was global? --- ## [There is no proof of evolution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-no-proof-of-evolution/370007)
**Author:** [@Interest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interest)\ **Replies:** 210\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-no-proof-of-evolution/370007 "2006-09-23T05:14:23Z")
I’ve seen enough to disagree with the assumption that all the ideas that surround and support the theory of evolution may not point to evolution at all. Truth is truth - if it was true yesterday then it would be true to… --- ## [What is child abuse and why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-child-abuse-and-why/373754)
**Author:** [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-child-abuse-and-why/373754 "2006-09-23T03:50:06Z")
I have a little book on my shelf about the history of Africa–not an exhaustive study or anything, just enough to make the point that folks weren’t running around like wild savages until white Europeans rescued them. Tha… --- ## [Osama bin Laden - wanted by the FBI, but not for 911](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-wanted-by-the-fbi-but-not-for-911/373705)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-wanted-by-the-fbi-but-not-for-911/373705 "2006-09-23T03:40:41Z")
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/fugitives/laden.htm So why is that ? --- ## [Should pedophilic sex offenders ever be released?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pedophilic-sex-offenders-ever-be-released/371954)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-pedophilic-sex-offenders-ever-be-released/371954 "2006-09-23T03:26:35Z")
In your opinion, do you feel people who commit sex crimes against children should ever be released from prison once convicted? --- ## [The pope's speech: in the name of reason?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popes-speech-in-the-name-of-reason/373391)
**Author:** [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-popes-speech-in-the-name-of-reason/373391 "2006-09-22T23:29:56Z")
First, I should probably state my own position here. In short, I think the Pope made a provocative step knowingly, and should have realized what it would cause. For that, IMHO, he acted irresponsibly. OTOH, the Muslims’… --- ## [Ethanol. It seems so simple now.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-it-seems-so-simple-now/373120)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-it-seems-so-simple-now/373120 "2006-09-22T22:08:02Z")
Published today in the Grand Forks Herald, Thomas Friedman had an interesting piece. The bastion of free access to all ideas, you can subscribe to the The New York Times, The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, Worl… --- ## [Who will - or should - replace Kofi Annan as UN Secretary-General?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-or-should-replace-kofi-annan-as-un-secretary-general/373561)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-or-should-replace-kofi-annan-as-un-secretary-general/373561 "2006-09-22T21:22:44Z")
From Wikipedia: \*On December 13, 1996, Annan was selected by the United Nations Security Council to be Secretary-General and was confirmed four days later by the General Assembly. Annan took the oath of office without d… --- ## [Does the current Child Support System need reform?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-current-child-support-system-need-reform/373549)
**Author:** [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-current-child-support-system-need-reform/373549 "2006-09-22T18:40:27Z")
Long read: To make a long story short(er), my brother pays so much in child support that he has had to sell his house, one of his vehicles and move back in with my parents. He currently pays almost 1/2 of his income to… --- ## [Ordering Pizza in 2010](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-pizza-in-2010/373457)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-pizza-in-2010/373457 "2006-09-22T17:17:08Z")
So, is this wild speculation, or the shape of things to come? http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf Has privacy become obsolete? I know that when I call for delivery, most places have caller ID and a customer da… --- ## [Is it unethical for a gay entertainer to lie about their sexuality to sell stuff?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-gay-entertainer-to-lie-about-their-sexuality-to-sell-stuff/373314)
**Author:** [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unethical-for-a-gay-entertainer-to-lie-about-their-sexuality-to-sell-stuff/373314 "2006-09-22T15:16:52Z")
I was inspired by this thread about Clay Aiken. Would it be considered fraud, or unethical for a closeted entertainer to explictely state they were heterosexual in order to sell records? Take Lance Bass for example. Bef… --- ## [Military Coup in Thailand?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-coup-in-thailand/373316)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-coup-in-thailand/373316 "2006-09-22T12:23:14Z")
Not sure if this is better than GQ for this but figured there would be a lot of speculation so here it is. Easier to just read the story here to get the low down (or pick a news agency of your choice). I can read the t… --- ## [Would you deport this woman?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-deport-this-woman/373468)
**Author:** [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-deport-this-woman/373468 "2006-09-21T18:56:43Z")
“Nice, Sweet Lady”, 83, Deported For Nazi Past I’m a bit torn, but on balance I would say no. After 60+ years it should be dropped for all but the larger war criminals. But then… What do you think? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=763) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=765)