# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=804 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 805 --- ## [If natural disasters occurred more frequently would humans be less prone to war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-natural-disasters-occurred-more-frequently-would-humans-be-less-prone-to-war/348559)
**Author:** [@MessyPaint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MessyPaint)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-natural-disasters-occurred-more-frequently-would-humans-be-less-prone-to-war/348559 "2006-03-17T17:33:04Z")
Are there any statistical correlations regarding a grouping of people who reside in an area prone to frequent natural disaster and the number of wars they have participated in throughout their history? For example, Two… --- ## [Logical morality.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-morality/347821)
**Author:** [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2006, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logical-morality/347821 "2006-03-17T10:23:04Z")
From this thread. \[QUOTE=clairobscur\] Show to me “logically”, since you like this word so much why your own opinion on which legal sentences are morally acceptable, whatever it could be, is justified. Once again tell m… --- ## [Correlation between education funding and performance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-education-funding-and-performance/347881)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2006, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correlation-between-education-funding-and-performance/347881 "2006-03-17T08:13:48Z")
Convetional wisdom is that education is one of the few problems you really can solve by throwing money at it. (In the old Soviet Union, the literacy rate was nearly 99%, or so I’ve read.) But in this thread – http://bo… --- ## [Senator Russ Feingold moves to censure Bush over NSA wiretaps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-russ-feingold-moves-to-censure-bush-over-nsa-wiretaps/348377)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senator-russ-feingold-moves-to-censure-bush-over-nsa-wiretaps/348377 "2006-03-17T05:11:17Z")
Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin – the only senator to vote against the USA PATRIOT Act in 2005 – has introduced a resolution to censure Bush for violating FISA in authorizing NSA to conduct warrantless domestic survei… --- ## [Alternatives to socialized health care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-socialized-health-care/348216)
**Author:** [@tombigbee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tombigbee)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2006, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternatives-to-socialized-health-care/348216 "2006-03-17T00:09:29Z")
I think we should try reforming our health care system before going to a government-run system. However, what I really want is to engage my fellow classmates in a discussion on this issue. It’s a distance class and we ha… --- ## [Is it true that most college graduates are democrats?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-most-college-graduates-are-democrats/345720)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-most-college-graduates-are-democrats/345720 "2006-03-16T20:47:40Z")
Not long ago, one of my teachers (in my logic design class) said that better educated people tend to be democrats. He claimed that most of the academia are liberals for that reason. The same went for college graduates. … --- ## [Can anyone recommend a good PC graphics card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-recommend-a-good-pc-graphics-card/348640)
**Author:** [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-recommend-a-good-pc-graphics-card/348640 "2006-03-16T19:55:03Z")
I want to upgrade my current one (128mb) and not sure what to get. I have an AGP graphics card slot , 2gig of ram and a pentium 4 3ghz processor. I’m inclined to nvidia but I’m a bit blinded by the options from their sit… --- ## [What role will the Iraq War play in the 2006 Congressional elections?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-will-the-iraq-war-play-in-the-2006-congressional-elections/348076)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-role-will-the-iraq-war-play-in-the-2006-congressional-elections/348076 "2006-03-16T14:49:26Z")
The Iraq War is the most divisive new issue to hit America since the Vietnam War. Yet, as with Vietnam (during most phases, with the exception of the 1972 presidential election), there is no clear partisan policy divide… --- ## [Common Sense Budget Act](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-sense-budget-act/347802)
**Author:** [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-sense-budget-act/347802 "2006-03-16T14:33:37Z")
This bill sure sounds great to me! Short version: It would take $60 billion from the $442 billion defense budget, all from programs that are arguably obsolete. It would spend the money on things like public education, … --- ## [Danish cartoons and journalistic responsibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danish-cartoons-and-journalistic-responsibility/344606)
**Author:** [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2006, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/danish-cartoons-and-journalistic-responsibility/344606 "2006-03-16T09:52:27Z")
On Feb. 9, the Daily Illini, the student newspaper of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ran six of the 12 Danish cartoons depicting Mohammad. These were accompanied by a column from the editor-in-chief of th… --- ## [U.S. postal rate increases: why not just a nickel each time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-postal-rate-increases-why-not-just-a-nickel-each-time/348142)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2006, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-postal-rate-increases-why-not-just-a-nickel-each-time/348142 "2006-03-16T08:06:31Z")
I’d rather have the price of stamps go up five cents each time, and presumably less frequently, than to have the little dribs-and-drabs rate hikes which have been inflicted on us in recent years. And it’s not even the s… --- ## [This Slate author's thesis is that New Orleans is doomed. Do you agree?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-slate-authors-thesis-is-that-new-orleans-is-doomed-do-you-agree/347085)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-slate-authors-thesis-is-that-new-orleans-is-doomed-do-you-agree/347085 "2006-03-16T05:05:39Z")
He does make some fairly compelling points re the historical perception of New Orleans vs the economic and demographic reality. Why New Orleans Won’t Recover An economic explanation based on the Chicago Fire, the Kobe … --- ## [US, UK, Religion and Politics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-uk-religion-and-politics/347026)
**Author:** [@Pjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pjen)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-uk-religion-and-politics/347026 "2006-03-15T23:53:16Z")
Leading BBC News and some press today: Tony Blair believes in God and trusts him to judge him over the Iraq war decisions. As you will see, this is being reported as an unusual event- a British leader saying he bel… --- ## [How will public opinion of the use of torture...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-public-opinion-of-the-use-of-torture/348392)
**Author:** [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-public-opinion-of-the-use-of-torture/348392 "2006-03-15T23:30:37Z")
…change if Moussaui gets off on technicality? The recent witness tampering scandal in the only trial to occur in the wake of the attacks of the 11th of September allows the possibility that the case could be thrown out … --- ## [Bird flue and chicken futures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-flue-and-chicken-futures/348493)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-flue-and-chicken-futures/348493 "2006-03-15T20:04:55Z")
I’m just wondering if bird flu wil create an investment opportunity. Suppose the chicken industry is hit by bird flu: jillions of chickens are killed and disposed of. That should make poultry prices rise? Or, altenativel… --- ## [Women and mixed martial arts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-and-mixed-martial-arts/347969)
**Author:** [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2006, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-and-mixed-martial-arts/347969 "2006-03-15T08:08:33Z")
G/f and I are both big fans of MMA events (UFC, Pride and so on) and we went to the Strikeforce event at HP Pavilion in San Jose last night. Great show. All of the fighters were male. -Do you think that women should b… --- ## [Life Elsewhere in our Solar System –Surprised or Not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-elsewhere-in-our-solar-system-surprised-or-not/347831)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2006, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-elsewhere-in-our-solar-system-surprised-or-not/347831 "2006-03-15T08:08:26Z")
If the day comes when we find life elsewhere in our solar system, How surprised should we really be? Considering the relatively close proximity to a planet that is teeming with life, shouldn’t we be surprised NOT to find… --- ## [Coercion as a Crime: Is it Realistic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coercion-as-a-crime-is-it-realistic/347885)
**Author:** [@spazattak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spazattak)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coercion-as-a-crime-is-it-realistic/347885 "2006-03-15T04:36:23Z")
I’ve been enthralled by the whole concept of the Libertarion philosophy of having anti-coercion be the end-all be-all purpose of government. It is a very elegant and sexy proposition. The question that I have though - I… --- ## [The Military should allow open homosexuals to serve.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-should-allow-open-homosexuals-to-serve/347870)
**Author:** [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-should-allow-open-homosexuals-to-serve/347870 "2006-03-15T01:45:00Z")
I think the military should repeal it’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and allow open homosexuals to serve in the military. I’m not exactly sure why this policy is in place in the first place but I can’t see any real log… --- ## [Did Hauptmann really kidnap the Lindbergh baby?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-hauptmann-really-kidnap-the-lindbergh-baby/348158)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2006, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-hauptmann-really-kidnap-the-lindbergh-baby/348158 "2006-03-14T07:08:45Z")
From what I’ve heard of the case, I’ve always thought that he did. Is there any real evidence to suggest either that he didn’t or that someone else did? I also thought that the baby might have died in the fall, and was… --- ## [Should the attorney who leaked transcripts be disbarred?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-attorney-who-leaked-transcripts-be-disbarred/348271)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-attorney-who-leaked-transcripts-be-disbarred/348271 "2006-03-14T03:23:31Z")
Cite. I believe that she has violated every spirit ( and, god knows if she’s violated laws ) under which a member of the bar should operate. I think she should be disbarred just as fast as the state where she practices … --- ## [Jews for Jesus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-for-jesus/347649)
**Author:** [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-for-jesus/347649 "2006-03-14T00:22:57Z")
Are they Jewish, or are they Christian? I hadn’t heard of them before but I just got given a brochure by a bloke from the \*Jews for Jesus \* group and it’s not terribly clear. Neither is their Australian website. --- ## [Iran threatens "harm & pain" to U.S. if UN imposes sanctions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-threatens-harm-pain-to-u-s-if-un-imposes-sanctions/347751)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-threatens-harm-pain-to-u-s-if-un-imposes-sanctions/347751 "2006-03-13T23:19:26Z")
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/14051902.htm?source=rss&channel=inquirer\_nation Should we worry about this? I mean, what can Iran do, besides not selling the U.S. oil? And if they do that, so wha… --- ## [Attacking soldiers are murderers & get the death penalty-Sustainable ethical posture?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-soldiers-are-murderers-get-the-death-penalty-sustainable-ethical-posture/348053)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attacking-soldiers-are-murderers-get-the-death-penalty-sustainable-ethical-posture/348053 "2006-03-13T21:41:53Z")
Lets say Nation X is in armed conflict with US military forces and tells the US that if any of it’s soldiers are captured they will treated as incipient murderers and summarily tried and killed by lethal injection within… --- ## [Is it true that gay bashers are secretly gay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-gay-bashers-are-secretly-gay/347578)
**Author:** [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-gay-bashers-are-secretly-gay/347578 "2006-03-13T21:10:48Z")
Please understand I’m not trying to stir up any anti-gay sentiment here. It’s a common tactic for gays and gay advocates to call gay bashers “secretly homosexual,” many times asserting that it’s a known fact. I’ve sear… --- ## [al-Askari Mosque bombed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-askari-mosque-bombed/345633)
**Author:** [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-askari-mosque-bombed/345633 "2006-03-13T20:39:52Z")
bbc report Well, at least it wasn’t us that did it. And it takes their minds off cartoons. Are we in the last stages before an all-out civil war? If cartoons cause such uproar how much worse of a provocation is th… --- ## [Why is it that the more murderous Muslims become the more the more liberals complain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-more-murderous-muslims-become-the-more-the-more-liberals-complain/348077)
**Author:** [@Jeffr062](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffr062)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-more-murderous-muslims-become-the-more-the-more-liberals-complain/348077 "2006-03-13T20:36:29Z")
The title says it all. I’ve noticed this in conversations on this board and others. Is this a case of misplaced anger? Are liberals afraid that if they express anger or disgust at Muslim behavior they might somehow be co… --- ## [S.D. Bans Abortions...Good for GOP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-d-bans-abortions-good-for-gop/347387)
**Author:** [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-d-bans-abortions-good-for-gop/347387 "2006-03-13T14:52:31Z")
As is now widespread news, the State of South Dakota has passed a ban on almost all abortions. Link . How will this affect the Republican Party, especially in an election year? Will it make any difference at all? Do Ame… --- ## [Abe's Atheventures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abes-atheventures/348140)
**Author:** [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2006, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abes-atheventures/348140 "2006-03-13T11:35:53Z")
What do you think of Abe’s Atheventures? He is up to episode 15, all of which are available on this message board forum: Abe’s Atheventure’s, Ep 15: Terrorism (Is it OK to link like that?) I think it’s a little bit ju… --- ## [Have there been major breakthroughs in physics in the last 25ish years](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-major-breakthroughs-in-physics-in-the-last-25ish-years/347271)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-major-breakthroughs-in-physics-in-the-last-25ish-years/347271 "2006-03-12T23:30:55Z")
I was talking to my roommate last night while watching a physics documentary and he lamented that no groundbreaking discoveries have been made in physics in his lifetime (he is 21). I am not sure if this is true or not b… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=803) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=805)