# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=776 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 777 --- ## [What is the value of Fuck you Money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-value-of-fuck-you-money/365438)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-value-of-fuck-you-money/365438 "2006-07-31T03:42:09Z")
I was thinking today about the concept of “Fuck You Money.” This is the value of dollars that you need as a minimum to be able to say “Fuck you” to anybody, or any situation and not sweat it. It means you can live wher… --- ## [Is Corsica really the siesta paradise it's made out to be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-corsica-really-the-siesta-paradise-its-made-out-to-be/366563)
**Author:** [@yelimS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yelimS)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-corsica-really-the-siesta-paradise-its-made-out-to-be/366563 "2006-07-31T02:33:19Z")
Basis for assumption: Asterix in Corsica, which is highly recommended. Can I leave my worries and go there, to live off the land and sleep a whole lot? Or, expanding the question to a more serious one, what’s the straig… --- ## [Would it be "better" to send a man to the Middle East?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-better-to-send-a-man-to-the-middle-east/366549)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-it-be-better-to-send-a-man-to-the-middle-east/366549 "2006-07-31T02:13:06Z")
It’s my understanding, albeit limited, that the cultures of Saudia Arabia and others in the area are fairly paternalistic. They may be used to operating in places with diffirent views, but that idea would still be there,… --- ## [Chicago Math - What is the deal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-math-what-is-the-deal/366488)
**Author:** [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-math-what-is-the-deal/366488 "2006-07-31T01:19:25Z")
My kids are in a school district that is quite good - except for math. This school system uses “Chicago Math”. Instead of teaching these kids facts and building on concepts in a progressing manner, they jump from one top… --- ## [Venezuela, Belarus gang up on USA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venezuela-belarus-gang-up-on-usa/365972)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venezuela-belarus-gang-up-on-usa/365972 "2006-07-30T20:14:59Z")
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/07/25/belarus.chavez.reut/index.html Chavez being Chavez… and now he has a buddy. :rolleyes: In light of this grave threat to U.S. national security, there’s all the more reason to… --- ## [Talk Radio/TV Shows' shared "Talking Points"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-radio-tv-shows-shared-talking-points/366511)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-radio-tv-shows-shared-talking-points/366511 "2006-07-30T00:25:45Z")
As is well known, it seems all the talk shows on radio and TV talk about, for the most part, exactly the same thing on a given day as all the other shows do. I can think of a couple of theories to account for this: Th… --- ## [Most pro-choicers have it all wrong.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-pro-choicers-have-it-all-wrong/365118)
**Author:** [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Replies:** 505\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-pro-choicers-have-it-all-wrong/365118 "2006-07-29T23:37:05Z")
I am pro-choice. That said, I find the vast majority of the rhetoric employed by the American pro-choice movement fallacious at best, and rather indefensible. It is these equivocations, in my opinion, that have partial… --- ## [Iran vs Israel - How does it stack up if Israel goes after Iran militarily?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-vs-israel-how-does-it-stack-up-if-israel-goes-after-iran-militarily/365996)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-vs-israel-how-does-it-stack-up-if-israel-goes-after-iran-militarily/365996 "2006-07-29T22:56:09Z")
Country vs country if Israel starts bombing Iran what can Iran do? Can it go toe to toe with Israel militarily? If Israel does this will they be biting off more than they can chew? --- ## [Russia offers condolences to Estonia on anniversary of mass deportations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-offers-condolences-to-estonia-on-anniversary-of-mass-deportations/365852)
**Author:** [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-offers-condolences-to-estonia-on-anniversary-of-mass-deportations/365852 "2006-07-29T22:35:11Z")
Russia Ambassador to Estonia, Konstantin Prova, offers condolences to Estonia on anniversary of mass deportations of Estonians to Siberia. However Estonia has (backed by the Danish PM) for some years been demanding an ap… --- ## [Pharma industry - Pure profit, or actually trying to cure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharma-industry-pure-profit-or-actually-trying-to-cure/365625)
**Author:** [@Constipated\_Mathematician](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Constipated_Mathematician)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharma-industry-pure-profit-or-actually-trying-to-cure/365625 "2006-07-29T20:56:25Z")
I was recently hit up for a fundraiser for cancer research. Which started me thinking (bad idea). Is there any incentive to actually cure any terminal disease? Unless it’s a pandemic (like the much-publicized bird flu… --- ## [Was it a mistake for Israel to ally with UK/France on Suez?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-israel-to-ally-with-uk-france-on-suez/365930)
**Author:** [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-a-mistake-for-israel-to-ally-with-uk-france-on-suez/365930 "2006-07-29T17:49:16Z")
A BBC article revisiting the 1956 Suez Canal crisis contends Was there really a chance for Israel to cozy up to Egypt and its other Arab neighbors? Or was there little to lose by supporting the Anglo-French position o… --- ## [Free Speech Buffer Zones](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-speech-buffer-zones/366195)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-speech-buffer-zones/366195 "2006-07-29T14:29:11Z")
I’m watching Sean Hannity do his usual job of bullying his guests with piss poor arguments. But god help me, this time, though the way he’s arguing for it sucks, I think I’m sympathetic with his conclusion, or at least … --- ## [What are the arguments for and against school vouchers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-arguments-for-and-against-school-vouchers/365655)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2006, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-arguments-for-and-against-school-vouchers/365655 "2006-07-29T07:04:46Z")
What are the arguments for and against school vouchers? I got nine pages worth of threads about this when I searched the boards, but I didn’t see any in GQ. I would like this discussion to remain abstract if possible. … --- ## [Israel's tacticial situation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israels-tacticial-situation/364758)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israels-tacticial-situation/364758 "2006-07-28T21:08:45Z")
Israel has been armed, trained, and funded by the US for decades now, and have developed technologies and intelligence that the US may not even possess or be aware of. Just like US military strength is impossible to ov… --- ## [Even conservatives have a problem with Bush's "signing statements"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-conservatives-have-a-problem-with-bushs-signing-statements/364613)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-conservatives-have-a-problem-with-bushs-signing-statements/364613 "2006-07-28T21:06:11Z")
Mickey Edwards, former Congressman from Oklahoma, was a member of the House Republican leadership, national chair of the Conservative Union, and a founding trustee of the Heritage Foundation; for 11 years he taught at Ha… --- ## [A rational discussion about the latest crisis in the middle east?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rational-discussion-about-the-latest-crisis-in-the-middle-east/365642)
**Author:** [@Caparazon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caparazon)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rational-discussion-about-the-latest-crisis-in-the-middle-east/365642 "2006-07-28T17:29:45Z")
For once I would like to read a great debate involving Israel that doesn’t develop in a train crash in the first couple of posts. Thank God I am mostly a lurker. The situation in the middle east is a bit complicated. Th… --- ## [Recycling a bad thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-a-bad-thing/366238)
**Author:** [@LeftFootRightFoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeftFootRightFoot)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-a-bad-thing/366238 "2006-07-28T17:09:20Z")
I came upon anecdotal evidence (no cite) that stated recycling costs triple what normal garbage does. The whole conserving trees thing also doesn’t fly with me. Trees are grown and harvested on tree farms, and there wi… --- ## [What does "minimize civilian casualties" mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-minimize-civilian-casualties-mean/365000)
**Author:** [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-minimize-civilian-casualties-mean/365000 "2006-07-28T16:53:59Z")
This is NOT a thread to discuss the rights and wrongs of the current conflicts in the Middle East. There are other active threads for that. Over in another thread, WeirdDave said: Googling the phrase reveals reference… --- ## [The Coming Economic Depression](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coming-economic-depression/365748)
**Author:** [@TheFonz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFonz)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coming-economic-depression/365748 "2006-07-28T16:21:40Z")
I just want to see how much people know about this before I go posting different things. Anybody heard about the economic troubles our country is undergoing? The underlying problems, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? D… --- ## [Tax supported conspiracy theory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-supported-conspiracy-theory/366048)
**Author:** [@Biblical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biblical)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-supported-conspiracy-theory/366048 "2006-07-28T13:31:55Z")
Since I’m new here it’s only fair that I admit up front to being libertarian. So, I’m not exactly a big fan of publicly funded anything. However, I have mixed feelings about the follow story. It seems a college teache… --- ## [Debating debating: is it always possible to determine who is arguing the affirmative?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debating-debating-is-it-always-possible-to-determine-who-is-arguing-the-affirmative/365404)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debating-debating-is-it-always-possible-to-determine-who-is-arguing-the-affirmative/365404 "2006-07-28T11:47:37Z")
Anyone making an affirmative argument is expected to support that argument with factual evidence, etc. The burden of proof rests with the person bringing an assertion, there is no ‘burden of disproof’ for those who hear… --- ## [To win the War. If I were Olmert](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-win-the-war-if-i-were-olmert/366341)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-win-the-war-if-i-were-olmert/366341 "2006-07-28T02:33:06Z")
If I were Olmert, I’d be rushing to Washington and begging Bush to get the hell out of Iraq. Why? To start with, Israel is fighting Hezbollah, supported by both Syria and Iran. But this is only a battle. Does anyone see… --- ## [On what basis should lawmakers make laws?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-what-basis-should-lawmakers-make-laws/365842)
**Author:** [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-what-basis-should-lawmakers-make-laws/365842 "2006-07-28T01:19:35Z")
This is inspired by a side exchange in the Pit, where I made a comment to the effect of "But if I were a lawmaker, I’d pass laws forbiding immoral actions, rather than say “that’s immoral, but it’s between you and your G… --- ## [Historical myths?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-myths/359940)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-myths/359940 "2006-07-27T20:50:50Z")
Historical myths are sometimes hard to shake. They seem to creep in to the history books, and get repeated (by later historians). These are two I’ve always wondered about: (1) In the 1920’s an Italian general named Giul… --- ## [Been Reading about Lisa McPherson and the Introspection Rundown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/been-reading-about-lisa-mcpherson-and-the-introspection-rundown/366118)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/been-reading-about-lisa-mcpherson-and-the-introspection-rundown/366118 "2006-07-27T20:35:13Z")
From this link The Lisa McPherson Clause There’s no way this is enforceable, right? At the site linked to, it says Lisa McPherson’s case was “delayed until 2004.” What more recent developments have taken place? What… --- ## [World Trade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade/366157)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-trade/366157 "2006-07-27T16:00:01Z")
So while the cable news guys continue to explore the intricacies of the Andrea Yates case and the sexual orientation of N’Sync members, there are a few minor issues going on elsewhere in the world, including the collapse… --- ## [Soldiers on trial for murder claim orders to 'kill all military aged males'.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-on-trial-for-murder-claim-orders-to-kill-all-military-aged-males/365885)
**Author:** [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2006, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-on-trial-for-murder-claim-orders-to-kill-all-military-aged-males/365885 "2006-07-27T10:01:20Z")
There are some gaping holes in this story, the way I’m reading it. I don’t understand why they are making this claim, when they are also making a claim of self-defense. Also, it bugs me that they make no mention of how… --- ## [Calderon wins in Mexico - a good result for the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calderon-wins-in-mexico-a-good-result-for-the-us/363069)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calderon-wins-in-mexico-a-good-result-for-the-us/363069 "2006-07-26T22:12:18Z")
It’s beginning to look as if Calderon, the Conservative candidate, has won the Mexican election. “Mexico’s conservative presidential candidate Felipe Calderon declared victory on Monday in a bitterly contested election … --- ## [Illegal Immigration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration/365792)
**Author:** [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration/365792 "2006-07-26T19:17:52Z")
Let’s go ahead and call the immigration debate what it is, even though nobody seems to want to say what it is. It’s Mexican illegal immigration. Nobody is worried about some British nanny that didn’t fill out her I-9. … --- ## [Masturbate-a-thon - is this licensed vulgarity or a genuine charity event?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbate-a-thon-is-this-licensed-vulgarity-or-a-genuine-charity-event/365481)
**Author:** [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masturbate-a-thon-is-this-licensed-vulgarity-or-a-genuine-charity-event/365481 "2006-07-26T12:58:00Z")
I’ve spent most of the day with my mind boggling about this event coming to London soon. Personally, as a liberal with no religious code of morality to follow, this seems as good a way for money to be raised for good ca… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=775) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=777)