# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=780 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 781 --- ## [Why conservatives can't get what they want](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-conservatives-cant-get-what-they-want/362582)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-conservatives-cant-get-what-they-want/362582 "2006-07-09T12:14:16Z")
Conservatives can’t get what they want. I read Sullivan, Bainbridge, Reason, and the Weekly Standard, and they all agree the Republican Party simply isn’t delivering the changes that it should be delivering. The same c… --- ## [Celebrities who get diseases and then seek cures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-get-diseases-and-then-seek-cures/363555)
**Author:** [@Gene\_Frenkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gene_Frenkle)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-get-diseases-and-then-seek-cures/363555 "2006-07-09T11:43:57Z")
This is something that I have always agrued with friends about. I am of the opinion that famous people like Christopher Reeve, Magic Johnson, Micheal J. Fox, et. al., who attempt to raise money to find cures for diseases… --- ## [End Run Around Electoral College](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-run-around-electoral-college/360116)
**Author:** [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-run-around-electoral-college/360116 "2006-07-09T06:18:23Z")
In the US, the President is elected by the Electoral College (“EC”) system. Essentially, each state gets a certain number of EC votes based primarily upon the population of the state. Each state decides how its EC vote… --- ## [If pacifists are attacked, are onlookers obliged to help?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-pacifists-are-attacked-are-onlookers-obliged-to-help/363526)
**Author:** [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-pacifists-are-attacked-are-onlookers-obliged-to-help/363526 "2006-07-09T05:05:59Z")
I base this question on a related debate, although that debate deals with neutrality and not pacifism. I say no, onlookers are not obliged to help. I’m sure pacifists are nice people, but I am not interested in defendin… --- ## [Voter Turn-out Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-turn-out-question/363636)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voter-turn-out-question/363636 "2006-07-08T20:54:03Z")
Looking forward to the 2008 presidential election, which party do you think would suffer more from low voter turn-out … The Dems if they nominated a candidate who was more moderate on the war than the left-wing would li… --- ## [Is Demand for Gasoline Elastic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-demand-for-gasoline-elastic/363622)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-demand-for-gasoline-elastic/363622 "2006-07-08T14:52:07Z")
Gasoline prices don’t seem to have reached the point yet (where people will cut back on driving). WE are now over $3.00/gallon in most places, and yet the roads are as crowded as ever. How high would it have to get befor… --- ## [You hate the police. What's your remedy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-hate-the-police-whats-your-remedy/362047)
**Author:** [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-hate-the-police-whats-your-remedy/362047 "2006-07-08T14:21:51Z")
I’ve heard from several people, both online and in real life, that cops aren’t good. This argument takes several branches, which I don’t feel I need to outline. Basically, lots of people don’t like police officers. So, l… --- ## [Hamdan vs Rumsfeld: SCOTUS decision](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamdan-vs-rumsfeld-scotus-decision/362599)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamdan-vs-rumsfeld-scotus-decision/362599 "2006-07-08T06:09:38Z")
Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will announce its decision in the case of Hamdan vs Rumsfeld. I’m openning this thread to debate not just the rulling, but what it tells us about the Roberts court. Roberts has recused himse… --- ## [Handicapping the Mexican election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-mexican-election/362570)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handicapping-the-mexican-election/362570 "2006-07-07T20:26:10Z")
On Sunday, July 2, the Mexicans will elect a new president and Chamber of Deputies. Leading presidential candidates: Felipe Calderon (PAN) Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (Alliance for the Welfare of All (PRD,PT, Converge… --- ## [If Switzerland were attacked, would anyone help?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-switzerland-were-attacked-would-anyone-help/363461)
**Author:** [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-switzerland-were-attacked-would-anyone-help/363461 "2006-07-07T18:05:40Z")
Switzerland had been neutral during wartime for centuries. Their geographic isolation makes invasion difficult, so they’ve managed to stay out of trouble. However, everyone’s number comes up eventually. So, if Switzerlan… --- ## [Why did Bush say, "We're not into nation building"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bush-say-were-not-into-nation-building/363379)
**Author:** [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bush-say-were-not-into-nation-building/363379 "2006-07-07T15:16:41Z")
It may have been Rumsfeld and/or Cheney who actually articulated this sentiment, but it seems to fly in the face of the central theme of Bush’s foreign policy and the neocon agenda of spreading democracy around the world… --- ## [Moderate Democrat defeats traditional liberal in VA primary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderate-democrat-defeats-traditional-liberal-in-va-primary/360689)
**Author:** [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Replies:** 159\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderate-democrat-defeats-traditional-liberal-in-va-primary/360689 "2006-07-07T14:54:51Z")
Former Reagan Navy Secretary (and former Republican) James Webb beat “traditional liberal” candidate Harris Miller in the Virginia U.S. Senate primary yesterday. link The primary was referred to as “brutal” by CNN. … --- ## [What if the Duke of Wellington led the British in the War of 1812?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-duke-of-wellington-led-the-british-in-the-war-of-1812/363120)
**Author:** [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-duke-of-wellington-led-the-british-in-the-war-of-1812/363120 "2006-07-07T14:01:34Z")
Watching the fireworks, I recalled reading that the Duke of Wellington thought Congreve Rockets were silly and didn’t use them, so if the British had sent him over the America to lead their forces, we’d be sitting in fol… --- ## [Community of Christ practice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/community-of-christ-practice/363463)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2006, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/community-of-christ-practice/363463 "2006-07-07T13:42:38Z")
I don’t remember if there are any Dopers who’re still active members of the Community of Christ (which used to be referred to as the Rorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). If anyone’s familiar with the… --- ## [Why have Communist revolutions happened only in industrially backward countries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-communist-revolutions-happened-only-in-industrially-backward-countries/362966)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-have-communist-revolutions-happened-only-in-industrially-backward-countries/362966 "2006-07-07T13:25:23Z")
Marx expected Communist revolution would result from crises of fully developed industrial capitalism. The first countries to go Communist would be the most advanced – Britain and Germany. As it worked out, Communist mo… --- ## [Lesbian Golf Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbian-golf-questions/363073)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbian-golf-questions/363073 "2006-07-06T20:24:19Z")
Is the percentage of lesbians that are LPGA members measurably greater than the percentage of lesbians in the US’s general population? Why? In the past, I’ve explored the question of why gay men seem more drawn to … --- ## [Anti-USA Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-usa-question/362567)
**Author:** [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-usa-question/362567 "2006-07-06T19:34:02Z")
How many places in the world outside the USA, do people rejoice (either publicly or privately) when there is, say, a natural disaster resulting in the loss of many American lives and in the ruin and desolation of so many… --- ## [What would the U.S. do if another civil war in Mexico broke out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-u-s-do-if-another-civil-war-in-mexico-broke-out/363102)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-u-s-do-if-another-civil-war-in-mexico-broke-out/363102 "2006-07-06T15:02:47Z")
I am NOT saying I expect anything like that to happen anytime soon. But the border is far more developed and populated than it was 1915, and the economic ties much closer. So what would the US do if chaos broke loose in … --- ## [Why is there so much crime in South Africa?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-much-crime-in-south-africa/363060)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2006, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-so-much-crime-in-south-africa/363060 "2006-07-06T12:47:23Z")
18,000 murders a year! (I’d have to do some math to see how that compares to the U.S. adjusting for population difference, but it still seems awfully high.) --- ## [World Jump Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-jump-day/362973)
**Author:** [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2006, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-jump-day/362973 "2006-07-06T11:00:56Z")
July 20th is World Jump Day. I am certain the website’s claim of 562,000,000 registrants is baloney, but what do you think of the whole idea? ( I vaguely remember Cecil talking about this a long time ago, but I couldn’… --- ## [Can you legislate morality?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-legislate-morality/362799)
**Author:** [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-legislate-morality/362799 "2006-07-05T22:52:25Z")
A local newspaper columnist has taken issue with something one of our radio personalities said on the air the other day; specifically, that you cannot legislate morality. Now, this is an old saw repeated by lawmakers and… --- ## [Does moral obligation = enforcable civic duty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-moral-obligation-enforcable-civic-duty/362682)
**Author:** [@Sweet\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Mercury)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-moral-obligation-enforcable-civic-duty/362682 "2006-07-05T20:12:55Z")
Inspired in part by this thread and some posts about the question in the title. If we were to reduce this to a specific idea, I will use charity as an example. I do feel, as most others did in that thread and as I would… --- ## [Germans are not patriotic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germans-are-not-patriotic/362797)
**Author:** [@EverLearner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EverLearner)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germans-are-not-patriotic/362797 "2006-07-05T03:41:24Z")
I was listening to the BBC after the match between Germany and Argentina. The reporter was describing the German fan’s celebrations and he said that the Germans for the first time are not afraid of bein patriotic and the… --- ## [had the American government something to do with 9-11?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-the-american-government-something-to-do-with-9-11/363084)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2006, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-the-american-government-something-to-do-with-9-11/363084 "2006-07-04T22:23:30Z")
According to these witness: http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=4131 the question will be: had the American government (or an American organization) something to do with 9-11? Is there events around 9-1… --- ## [Is prohibition of vice constitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-prohibition-of-vice-constitutional/360979)
**Author:** [@rwjefferson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rwjefferson)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-prohibition-of-vice-constitutional/360979 "2006-07-04T22:17:55Z")
The court of justice is in session. Liberty is on trial for alleged crime of vice. Liberty pleads innocent of crime and claims peaceful pursuit of happiness as an inalienable right that is retained by the people. Jus… --- ## [Cuba - what happens after Castro dies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-what-happens-after-castro-dies/359996)
**Author:** [@kurahee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kurahee)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-what-happens-after-castro-dies/359996 "2006-07-04T21:49:43Z")
I’m not sure he’ll EVER die, but for the sake of argument, what are the prevailing theories of what Cuba’s future will be? Cuba remains controlled by communists, limping along until it limps out. Cuba goes to some … --- ## [Could Guy Fawkes' plot have succeeded?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-guy-fawkes-plot-have-succeeded/363118)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-guy-fawkes-plot-have-succeeded/363118 "2006-07-04T17:27:01Z")
Guy Fawkes was not exactly a “terrorist” as we now use the term, but a revolutionary. His plan was to blow up the king and parliament, not to sow fear among the people, but to open the way for a Catholic takeover of Eng… --- ## [Problem with US Politics = Politicians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-us-politics-politicians/362550)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-us-politics-politicians/362550 "2006-07-04T17:18:17Z")
After reading this quote: in this thread , I got to wondering just how much of today’s (and in the past) problems with the way the country’s run are due to the nature of being a politician instead of particular politic… --- ## [Is THIS The End of GM?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-end-of-gm/360743)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-end-of-gm/360743 "2006-07-04T14:25:56Z")
Just saw the ad on TV-something called chevysurplus.com-apparently, GM is now bypassing their dealers to sell direct to the public. Aside from pissing of their dealers, this isn’t likely to generate a lot of money for GM… --- ## [General Patton-The Man and the Movie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-patton-the-man-and-the-movie/362552)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-patton-the-man-and-the-movie/362552 "2006-07-04T13:45:26Z")
I just saw the George W. Scott movie, and it was well done. However, how accurate is it? The movie shows Gen. Patton taking Messina in Sicily (ahead of Montgomery-was this what happened? The movie suggets that Patton w… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=779) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=781)