# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=793 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 794 --- ## [Moussaoui gets life, not death...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moussaoui-gets-life-not-death/355301)
**Author:** [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moussaoui-gets-life-not-death/355301 "2006-05-08T21:25:13Z")
…what’s your take? I think this is fine. Considering that Moussaoui belongs, and is a hero, to a group of people who think dying for their cause is a shortcut to paradise, I’m all for letting him rot for the next 60 ye… --- ## [Are the expectations we have for the accuracy of covert US Intelligence unrealistic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-expectations-we-have-for-the-accuracy-of-covert-us-intelligence-unrealistic/355524)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-expectations-we-have-for-the-accuracy-of-covert-us-intelligence-unrealistic/355524 "2006-05-08T17:13:13Z")
A lot of people think the morass in Iraq is partially due to a failure of the US intelligence infrastructure to accurately gauge the threat posed by Saddam, and (among other things) that huge amounts of stock were put in… --- ## [Caution, Precaution, and the Precautionary Principle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caution-precaution-and-the-precautionary-principle/355204)
**Author:** [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caution-precaution-and-the-precautionary-principle/355204 "2006-05-08T16:15:13Z")
I’m getting increasingly frustrated by the confusion going around regarding the “precautionary principle”. People seem to think it means being cautious, or in many cases super cautious, to the point of ridiculous action … --- ## [Public protection of personal safety, is it always a good thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-protection-of-personal-safety-is-it-always-a-good-thing/355855)
**Author:** [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-protection-of-personal-safety-is-it-always-a-good-thing/355855 "2006-05-08T14:54:57Z")
I just listened to a TV news report about the Portland, Or. school district, they are removing playground equipment that we all grew up w/ and enjoyed. The list includes swings, teeter-toters, merry-go-rounds and, believ… --- ## [Does "Hoodia" Work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hoodia-work/346080)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2006, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hoodia-work/346080 "2006-05-08T05:44:52Z")
If it does, this stuff ought to sell like hotcakes. supposedly, I kills your apetite (so you can lose weight by fasting). Anybody have personal experience with it? Is it dangerous? --- ## [How big a hit are the Republicans going to take in the 2006 House & Senate elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-hit-are-the-republicans-going-to-take-in-the-2006-house-senate-elections/354864)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-hit-are-the-republicans-going-to-take-in-the-2006-house-senate-elections/354864 "2006-05-08T03:58:07Z")
I think it’s going to be bigger than anyone imagines. If the Democrats aren’t competent enough to capitalize on the public frustration with the Bush Administration now, there’s just no hope for them. I’ve voted Democra… --- ## [Are those who leak product information pre-release serving the public good?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-who-leak-product-information-pre-release-serving-the-public-good/355742)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-who-leak-product-information-pre-release-serving-the-public-good/355742 "2006-05-07T23:38:45Z")
Someone on an IRC channel I frequent thinks so. He argues that informed choice is the foundation of the free market and capitalism. Ergo, someone who leaks inside information on unreleased products is not necessarily m… --- ## [Recovering ex-Catholics share your strategies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-ex-catholics-share-your-strategies/355519)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-ex-catholics-share-your-strategies/355519 "2006-05-07T15:34:14Z")
Another thread on this board started an interesting discussion, about whether you can in fact “resign” from the Catholic Church. It seems to me that this departure should be viewed in two ways. From THEIR point of view … --- ## [Is liberalized, market based education the way forward for developing nations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-liberalized-market-based-education-the-way-forward-for-developing-nations/355429)
**Author:** [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-liberalized-market-based-education-the-way-forward-for-developing-nations/355429 "2006-05-07T04:31:19Z")
From The Heritage Foundation, a conservative (I think) think tank: The Failures of State Schooling in Developing Countries and the People’s Response From the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. Private Education… --- ## [If terrorists got an atomic bomb, what would they do with it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-terrorists-got-an-atomic-bomb-what-would-they-do-with-it/355566)
**Author:** [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-terrorists-got-an-atomic-bomb-what-would-they-do-with-it/355566 "2006-05-07T00:37:00Z")
Everyone’s afraid of a terrorist organization acquiring an atomic bomb, and rightly so. But if Al Qaeda or someone similar actually got one, what would be their best course of action? The common scenario is that they wou… --- ## [So...who likes Mark Warner in 2008?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-likes-mark-warner-in-2008/349231)
**Author:** [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-likes-mark-warner-in-2008/349231 "2006-05-06T23:55:25Z")
I’ve checked quite a few resources on the Internet, but I can’t seem to find any dirt on former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, other than references to a few who think he is a bit too inexperienced to be President. He left … --- ## [Is the reliability of Wikipedia.org "debatable" here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-reliability-of-wikipedia-org-debatable-here/354517)
**Author:** [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-reliability-of-wikipedia-org-debatable-here/354517 "2006-05-06T22:22:55Z")
Discussion friends: Recently in that newletter some of you may remember me writing about, I submitted an article on the Iranian New Year upon the Vernal Equinox. At the end of the article I waxed enthusiastic and wrote… --- ## [Immigrant boycott day May 1: Good idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrant-boycott-day-may-1-good-idea/354861)
**Author:** [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrant-boycott-day-may-1-good-idea/354861 "2006-05-06T22:10:12Z")
Tomorrow May 1 there are going to be a number of demonstrations and work boycotts by immigrants. At my Catholic Church in suburban Cleveland, which is not exactly a hotbed for this issue, the preacher today even made a p… --- ## [Love It Or Leave It... OK then, who's paying and where are we supposed to go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-it-or-leave-it-ok-then-whos-paying-and-where-are-we-supposed-to-go/355374)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/love-it-or-leave-it-ok-then-whos-paying-and-where-are-we-supposed-to-go/355374 "2006-05-06T17:37:54Z")
I often see Ultra-Nationalist (“Patriotic”) signatures on many forums expressing sentiments along the lines that the USA/Australia/Wherever is the best country on Earth, and if you don’t love it, then don’t let the door … --- ## [Global Warming stopped in 1998, now 8 years of NO global warming.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-stopped-in-1998-now-8-years-of-no-global-warming/355238)
**Author:** [@Beechnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beechnut)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-stopped-in-1998-now-8-years-of-no-global-warming/355238 "2006-05-06T16:57:28Z")
The below referenced graph shows the monthly global temperature variance from January 1998 through March 2006. (References are provided on the graph.) This is consistent with the data of the East Anglia Climate unit. The… --- ## [Does the 14th amendment really give citizenship to "anchor babies"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-14th-amendment-really-give-citizenship-to-anchor-babies/355028)
**Author:** [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-14th-amendment-really-give-citizenship-to-anchor-babies/355028 "2006-05-06T01:38:32Z")
According to this wiki article, citizenship for anchor babies is really a pratice based on the misinterpretation of the 14th amendment. It this true? --- ## [25% of college women get raped? 10% of all men get raped?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-of-college-women-get-raped-10-of-all-men-get-raped/354098)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-of-college-women-get-raped-10-of-all-men-get-raped/354098 "2006-05-06T01:06:16Z")
I walked by an anti-rape bulletin board in one of the college residence halls here that had the following statistics on it: 1 out of every 4 women in college will be RAPED. (Emphasis theirs.) 1 in 10 men will be sexual… --- ## [Is there anybody else here who just cannot make up their mind on illegal immigrants?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anybody-else-here-who-just-cannot-make-up-their-mind-on-illegal-immigrants/355459)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anybody-else-here-who-just-cannot-make-up-their-mind-on-illegal-immigrants/355459 "2006-05-05T23:35:05Z")
I don’t know why it’s such an “I can’t figure out how I feel” issue with me. I’ve gone over a zillion times: POINT: They’re here because they’re fleeing poverty and or opression and wanting to make a better life for th… --- ## [Do you think the press is too easily spun by the likes of Moussaoui?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-press-is-too-easily-spun-by-the-likes-of-moussaoui/355402)
**Author:** [@marginal\_prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marginal_prophet)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-the-press-is-too-easily-spun-by-the-likes-of-moussaoui/355402 "2006-05-05T17:27:49Z")
What do you think he would have said if he’d received the death penalty? ::open secret:: The same thing “America, you lost…I won” ::open secret:: He spun life in solotary confinement into a propaganda headline. And ma… --- ## [What do CTs really want?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cts-really-want/351718)
**Author:** [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-cts-really-want/351718 "2006-05-05T15:45:52Z")
I don’t get it. Well I do understand the allure of a nice mystery involving sinister men planning covert sinister things. It makes for great fiction, but what I don’t understand is what exactly CTs (conspiracy theorist… --- ## [Cheney finally gets something right \[criticizes Russia\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-finally-gets-something-right-criticizes-russia/355396)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheney-finally-gets-something-right-criticizes-russia/355396 "2006-05-04T20:01:48Z")
Vice President Dick Cheney finally found himself on the correct side of an issue, criticizing Russia’s energy blackmail of its neighbors and the erosion of liberty within Russia: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/… --- ## [how many NATO soldier died in the war against Serbia i 1999?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-nato-soldier-died-in-the-war-against-serbia-i-1999/355147)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-nato-soldier-died-in-the-war-against-serbia-i-1999/355147 "2006-05-04T19:54:31Z")
not exactly a debate, but more of a question I seam to remember that the causality was very low (under 10) but some serbian claim that the causality was up to 100 I know that “the truth is the first causality of war” b… --- ## [Ignoring people in need, a crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-people-in-need-a-crime/355220)
**Author:** [@Snakes\_on\_a\_Plane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snakes_on_a_Plane)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignoring-people-in-need-a-crime/355220 "2006-05-04T17:02:37Z")
Let’s say that it is dark outside and you are walking down a lonely road when you witness a hit and run. The driver hauls ass leaving the victim in severe pain and distress on the road. If this person does not get to the… --- ## [Immigration: Mr. President, I have a question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigration-mr-president-i-have-a-question/355108)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigration-mr-president-i-have-a-question/355108 "2006-05-04T15:27:29Z")
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060424-2.html \[QUOTE=President Bush\] Secondly, I believe that a person should never be granted automatic citizenship. And let me tell you why I believe that, that if yo… --- ## [Is morality better with or without religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-morality-better-with-or-without-religion/355184)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-morality-better-with-or-without-religion/355184 "2006-05-04T15:23:36Z")
I know due to the social leanings a good deal of this board most will pick the latter, but I’m hoping some will pick the former philosophy and explain their reasoning. I pick the latter because I like reading about natu… --- ## [had USA plans to invade Canada in the 1930's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-usa-plans-to-invade-canada-in-the-1930s/354847)
**Author:** [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/had-usa-plans-to-invade-canada-in-the-1930s/354847 "2006-05-03T22:42:24Z")
I heard that not too long a go, but im unsure if this was a joke or not - that the US government had plans drawn up in the 1930s to invade Canada. WW2 got in the way however. --- ## [9/11 - Loose Change](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-loose-change/354887)
**Author:** [@Cyril77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyril77)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-11-loose-change/354887 "2006-05-03T18:37:24Z")
Hi everybody ! I’ve been following the Great Debates for some time now, and always enjoyed the quality of some insights in many, many topics on this board. So it felt like a natural place to come to when in need of a c… --- ## [Vatican begins research into theological acceptance of condoms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vatican-begins-research-into-theological-acceptance-of-condoms/353957)
**Author:** [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vatican-begins-research-into-theological-acceptance-of-condoms/353957 "2006-05-03T15:39:24Z")
About time… … let’s hope that sanity prevails and condom use is seen as the “lesser of two evils” (well, it’s a start anyway). Do you think it’s likely that we’ll see a fundamental shift in official church policy any… --- ## [What is the connection between oneness, meditation & religious values](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-connection-between-oneness-meditation-religious-values/354499)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-connection-between-oneness-meditation-religious-values/354499 "2006-05-03T15:30:39Z")
I have been reading the God Gene and there is a chapter talking about meditation. Apparently under meditation buddhists tend to deactivate the parts of the brain that draw a distinction between self vs. non-self. This ev… --- ## [Newbie philosphy question here. I'm just going to jump right in.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbie-philosphy-question-here-im-just-going-to-jump-right-in/354115)
**Author:** [@noblebaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noblebaron)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2006, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newbie-philosphy-question-here-im-just-going-to-jump-right-in/354115 "2006-05-03T09:52:37Z")
Newbie Warning: Ok, I’m not schooled in philosophy or math or physics, so please don’t roast me too badly on this. I have a kind of theory on re-birth, and the best way I can express it is written below. I’m not talki… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=792) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=794)