# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=822 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 823 --- ## [The US should annex Mexico now!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-should-annex-mexico-now/336222)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-should-annex-mexico-now/336222 "2006-01-09T22:49:16Z")
Mexican nationals in our country, illegally. There is virtually no one who does not see this as a problem: Even if their being here is of benefit to the economy, it most certainly is a bad thing for the rule of law and i… --- ## [DeLay gets one charge out of three dismissed, is this really a victory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-gets-one-charge-out-of-three-dismissed-is-this-really-a-victory/334508)
**Author:** [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delay-gets-one-charge-out-of-three-dismissed-is-this-really-a-victory/334508 "2006-01-09T19:04:23Z")
Conspiracy charge dismissed and: Id. But wait. Obviously, Mr. Madden’s spin is a bit strong. If anything the ruling underscores that two of the three charges were actually good. That’s not what has me thinkin’ though… --- ## [Atheists vs theists: How come there are smart people on both sides?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-vs-theists-how-come-there-are-smart-people-on-both-sides/338148)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-vs-theists-how-come-there-are-smart-people-on-both-sides/338148 "2006-01-09T18:26:07Z")
There are people with high IQ’s on both sides of the issue: belief in God vs lack of belief in God What does it mean to be smart? Given a question and certain inputs, you get to decide on the answer to the question. And… --- ## [Top 5 battles that changed the course of history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-battles-that-changed-the-course-of-history/337822)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-5-battles-that-changed-the-course-of-history/337822 "2006-01-09T15:36:24Z")
Was watching a show on the History Channel tonight where they discussed the top 5 battles that changed the course of modern Western History (I think they chose a post-Roman time frame, though nearly every battle was ‘mod… --- ## [Amir Taheri, Benador and the Neocons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amir-taheri-benador-and-the-neocons/339147)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amir-taheri-benador-and-the-neocons/339147 "2006-01-09T13:35:42Z")
Being a great admirer of Ariel Sharon, I came across a new (to me) Iranian writer named Amir Taheriwho wrote this opinion. I may have seen him on CNN, but I can’t place the face. He presents a very interesting analysis … --- ## [Why do people still believe in God?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-still-believe-in-god/336228)
**Author:** [@Floyd\_Remora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floyd_Remora)\ **Replies:** 272\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2006, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-still-believe-in-god/336228 "2006-01-09T07:45:45Z")
Well? --- ## [How effective would cavalry in modern barding be in urban warfare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-effective-would-cavalry-in-modern-barding-be-in-urban-warfare/338923)
**Author:** [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2006, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-effective-would-cavalry-in-modern-barding-be-in-urban-warfare/338923 "2006-01-09T05:20:48Z")
Let’s say that instead of 4-door metallic vehicles with some armor patrolling the streets, we had mounted patrols consisting of men with heavy body armor mounted on horses with light body armor (of course, all bullet-res… --- ## [Tom DeLay throws in half a towel (house leader)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-delay-throws-in-half-a-towel-house-leader/338934)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-delay-throws-in-half-a-towel-house-leader/338934 "2006-01-08T23:41:41Z")
Apparently in response to a groundswell of squirming from within his own party, DeLay has announced he will not seek reinstatement as house majority leader. The White House is retroactively in favor of that, although th… --- ## [AP Poll Oversamples Democrats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-poll-oversamples-democrats/339026)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ap-poll-oversamples-democrats/339026 "2006-01-08T21:24:49Z")
by 52 to 40. Here’s a link …http://newsbusters.org/node/3496 Why do they do that? Is there a legitimate rationale? (Please resist the temptation to attack the source for a little while anyway. The link above has a l… --- ## [Are Republicans Machiavellian?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-republicans-machiavellian/338784)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-republicans-machiavellian/338784 "2006-01-08T13:22:53Z")
This may sound like a ridiculous question, but I’ve been on a role lately. I just saw a video of a speech that Congressman Rob Paul gave a couple of years ago. It’s an interesting speech about the patriot act, but wha… --- ## [Ceramic Body Armor, privately bought. Ass for Glass?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceramic-body-armor-privately-bought-ass-for-glass/338985)
**Author:** [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceramic-body-armor-privately-bought-ass-for-glass/338985 "2006-01-08T06:33:23Z")
(Disclaimer:This thread was an outgrowth of a recent post in a “companion” pit thread, which I made in a burst of (unaccustomed) hyperbole… On further reflection, I have concluded that what first seemed to me absurd an… --- ## ["You have zero privacy anyway. Get over it."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-zero-privacy-anyway-get-over-it/338680)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-zero-privacy-anyway-get-over-it/338680 "2006-01-08T04:15:15Z")
The NSA wiretapping story reminded my of this quote from Scott McNealy. Was he right about the practical effects of the Information Age? And, if he was, does it really matter whether our government is spying on us or n… --- ## [Sharon's critical, power to Olmert -- consequences for Mid-east peace?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharons-critical-power-to-olmert-consequences-for-mid-east-peace/338532)
**Author:** [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharons-critical-power-to-olmert-consequences-for-mid-east-peace/338532 "2006-01-08T03:38:30Z")
As much as I didn’t like Sharon and his family, obviously nobody should wish this on him or his family. His moves over the past year could be seen as crass politicization, but he did withdraw from Gaza. His incapacitat… --- ## [Culture, War, the Internet, and Globalization, are we making history? am I naive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-war-the-internet-and-globalization-are-we-making-history-am-i-naive/338594)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-war-the-internet-and-globalization-are-we-making-history-am-i-naive/338594 "2006-01-07T14:35:58Z")
Okay, I haven’t slept in two days (the French put the last week of the semester AFTER Christmas vacation, which sort of denegrates the idea of the “vacation”). I’ve got a pretty complex question that I think is crutial … --- ## [Chicagoans, let's start a Revolution...seriously](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicagoans-lets-start-a-revolution-seriously/338879)
**Author:** [@Idealistic\_Realist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idealistic_Realist)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2006, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicagoans-lets-start-a-revolution-seriously/338879 "2006-01-07T12:07:17Z")
Let’s change the world. Or at least Chicago, in hopes that what we accomplish will catch on elsewhere. Some say racism, sexism and poverty will never cease to exist, so we shouldn’t bother doing anything about those thin… --- ## [Goodfellas' Government: Mob Bust-Out in DC; Fat Freddy Hayek, Godfather](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodfellas-government-mob-bust-out-in-dc-fat-freddy-hayek-godfather/338299)
**Author:** [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2006, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodfellas-government-mob-bust-out-in-dc-fat-freddy-hayek-godfather/338299 "2006-01-07T06:32:56Z")
http://robertdfeinman.com/society/debt\_wealth.html “As a rough measure, we can say that the rise of wealth of the super rich account for about 80% of the rise in the combined debt and the rest can be attributed to the w… --- ## [What religious/spiritual label should I use?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religious-spiritual-label-should-i-use/336949)
**Author:** [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-religious-spiritual-label-should-i-use/336949 "2006-01-07T04:17:54Z")
I got stuck trying to answer the question in this thread “What religion are you?” (I acknowledge that atheism is not a religion, but it is a label that falls under the religious heading). I honestly couldn’t answer con… --- ## [Would this plan work for taking over the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-plan-work-for-taking-over-the-world/338782)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-plan-work-for-taking-over-the-world/338782 "2006-01-07T03:42:30Z")
Say some aliens wanted to enslave humanity. Instead of launching a War of the Worlds type invasion, they want a minimalist approach. Besides, there’s simply not a whole lot of the aliens to stage a military takeover. … --- ## [could to-the-death gladiatorial combat be done in the modern western world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-to-the-death-gladiatorial-combat-be-done-in-the-modern-western-world/338678 "2006-01-06T21:45:26Z")
I was watching a docu-drama last night about Roman gladiators and it got me wondering whether there’s any way western society could permit it to be revived. Supposing: -The contestants have no living relatives (so no l… --- ## [Original Sin and Procreation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-sin-and-procreation/338324)
**Author:** [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-sin-and-procreation/338324 "2006-01-06T12:05:41Z")
I’m sure this has been addressed somewhere before, but I couldn’t find it in a fairly thorough search of the archives. So… Though I could be mistaken, my impression is that, according to Christianity, the idea of sex w… --- ## [Going to Mars...a proposal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-mars-a-proposal/337549)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2006, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-mars-a-proposal/337549 "2006-01-06T10:08:26Z")
Was discussing a theoretical trip to Mars with some buddies of mine tonight over drinks and thought I’d see what others think. Basically my thought was that the trip to Mars would be a hybrid mission combining manned an… --- ## [Giving alcohol to the chronically alcoholic homeless. Good idea or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-alcohol-to-the-chronically-alcoholic-homeless-good-idea-or-not/338582)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2006, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-alcohol-to-the-chronically-alcoholic-homeless-good-idea-or-not/338582 "2006-01-06T08:51:21Z")
Per the story below, while it’s “safer” it does give me pause, because it essentially (possibly quite realistically) concludes that these people will never be cured and saf(er) maintenance of their addiction is the best … --- ## [Swingers Clubs Ruled Legal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swingers-clubs-ruled-legal/336730)
**Author:** [@Jotun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jotun)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swingers-clubs-ruled-legal/336730 "2006-01-06T00:08:37Z")
From this article- http://www.torontosun.com/News/2005/12/21/1363093.html Swingers clubs are now legal in Canada. What do you think will be the long term effects of this judgement? --- ## [Let's debate "plural voting" (Mark Twain's "Curious Republic of Gondour")](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-plural-voting-mark-twains-curious-republic-of-gondour/338275)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-plural-voting-mark-twains-curious-republic-of-gondour/338275 "2006-01-05T23:09:21Z")
In Mark Twain’s 1875 short story “The Curious Republic of Gondour” – http://www.nitrosyncretic.com/rah/gondour.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondour – a fictional republic has solved the problem of the overwhelming … --- ## [Conversion or just deluded?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversion-or-just-deluded/337828)
**Author:** [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversion-or-just-deluded/337828 "2006-01-05T21:51:16Z")
Brightpenny provided a link to an interesting article about the conversion to Christianity of science fiction author and former atheist John C. Wright I found the article pretty interesting for a couple of reasons. His… --- ## [How Probable does Cause have to be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-probable-does-cause-have-to-be/337613)
**Author:** [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-probable-does-cause-have-to-be/337613 "2006-01-05T20:29:20Z")
Discussing the NSA debacle with a friend, I came up with the following scenario. Police:“Open the door. We have a search warrant.” Citizen:“How did you get a search warrant? On what grounds?” Police:“We did a statisti… --- ## [Doe not being attracted to a certain race make one a racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doe-not-being-attracted-to-a-certain-race-make-one-a-racist/332471)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doe-not-being-attracted-to-a-certain-race-make-one-a-racist/332471 "2006-01-05T20:24:14Z")
I was at work and went on a coffee run. One co-worker said she wanted her coffee black and I made the usual joke “like your men” and her nose crinkled in a most disapproving way. I thought she found the comment either … --- ## [Do you vote and why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-vote-and-why/337766)
**Author:** [@kelvinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelvinator)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-vote-and-why/337766 "2006-01-05T20:13:07Z")
After reading this thread , it got me wondering about the SDMB crowd. According to some news reports, approximately 70% of the registerd voters in Iraq made it to the polls. They went despite distance, danger and death. … --- ## [Are neoconservatives really linked to Strauss?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-neoconservatives-really-linked-to-strauss/338387)
**Author:** [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-neoconservatives-really-linked-to-strauss/338387 "2006-01-05T19:07:48Z")
Last semester, I started reading Leo Strauss when I was writing a paper on Heidegger, and to this day I’m trying to figure out what Strauss had to do with neoconservatives. I bring it up because someone recently told me… --- ## [Drug Testing and the Right to Privacy.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-and-the-right-to-privacy/338555)
**Author:** [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-testing-and-the-right-to-privacy/338555 "2006-01-05T18:57:53Z")
While I am not a constitutional scholar, many people seem to imply that \*Roe v. Wade \* and similar court cases outline a “Right to Privacy”. This Right to Privacy seems to suggests that individuals are immune to undue in… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=821) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=823)