# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=834 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 835 --- ## [Are US papers & networks gutless when it comes to taking on the politically powerful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-papers-networks-gutless-when-it-comes-to-taking-on-the-politically-powerful/332501)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-us-papers-networks-gutless-when-it-comes-to-taking-on-the-politically-powerful/332501 "2005-11-23T23:59:49Z")
I have to admit I’m kind of surprised (overall) by how low key a lot of the big media response to the White House Iraq spin has been. The Craig’s list founder said this Is there a kernel of truth to this? Most of the… --- ## [Iran may resume uranium enrichment; U.S. says no](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-may-resume-uranium-enrichment-u-s-says-no/315197)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-may-resume-uranium-enrichment-u-s-says-no/315197 "2005-11-23T22:22:24Z")
Iran is planning to resume production of enriched uranium (which can be used as power-plant fuel or, in higher concentrations, in nuclear weapons) at its Isfahan nuclear fuel plant, unless the European countries come up … --- ## [Diversity is random](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diversity-is-random/332154)
**Author:** [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diversity-is-random/332154 "2005-11-23T19:15:07Z")
Forcing a university to have equally x number of students from each of the following: race, ethncity, religion, geographic location, ect. is not a good argument for affirmative action because it would cause you to think … --- ## [Just how big a problem is online solicitation of minors for sex?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-big-a-problem-is-online-solicitation-of-minors-for-sex/331671)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-big-a-problem-is-online-solicitation-of-minors-for-sex/331671 "2005-11-23T14:41:59Z")
We’ve all seen the TV ads warning parents of the dangers of their children being solicited for sex by adult strangers online. But how big of a problem is this, really? How often does it actually happen? And are the vi… --- ## [Asserted: a fantasy, even a disgusting one, is morally neutral.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asserted-a-fantasy-even-a-disgusting-one-is-morally-neutral/331799)
**Author:** [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2005, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asserted-a-fantasy-even-a-disgusting-one-is-morally-neutral/331799 "2005-11-23T06:57:00Z")
In this thread, the assertion was made that fantasies were moral events. I disagree. Any fantasy, no matter how detailed and repugnant, is simply a fantasy. It does not affect others in any way (as long as you’re not… --- ## [Is economic patriotism a good idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-economic-patriotism-a-good-idea/332285)
**Author:** [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-economic-patriotism-a-good-idea/332285 "2005-11-23T01:16:48Z")
People like Pat Buchanan, Ralph Nader, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (who presumably agree on little else) have argued that we need to engage in economic patriotism in order to slow the trade deficit and outsourcing to other… --- ## [Where are the extremist Jews? And what are they doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-extremist-jews-and-what-are-they-doing/331910)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-the-extremist-jews-and-what-are-they-doing/331910 "2005-11-23T00:18:08Z")
Everyone in the world is aware of the actions of extremist Muslims and everyone in America (if not the world) is aware of the actions of extremist Christians. I am unaware of any movements from their Jewish counterparts… --- ## [Does the general public care how many guns were found in the home?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-general-public-care-how-many-guns-were-found-in-the-home/331787)
**Author:** [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-general-public-care-how-many-guns-were-found-in-the-home/331787 "2005-11-22T19:53:29Z")
OK- I’m a gun nut. I love going out every Saturday afternoon and shooting with my friends. I will own guns until the day I die because they are so much fun for me. I want to ask to all y’all who weren’t raised around … --- ## [Is Atheism protected by the Establishment Clause?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-atheism-protected-by-the-establishment-clause/330868)
**Author:** [@Noctolator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noctolator)\ **Replies:** 169\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-atheism-protected-by-the-establishment-clause/330868 "2005-11-22T16:36:04Z")
Taking only the italicized portion of the First Amendment, known as the establishment clause, the question is whether legal pushes to remove non-denominational\* mention of God from American practices such as the Pledge … --- ## [Eliminating the bridges to nowhere - questions about the press and the GOP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-bridges-to-nowhere-questions-about-the-press-and-the-gop/331499)
**Author:** [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-the-bridges-to-nowhere-questions-about-the-press-and-the-gop/331499 "2005-11-22T00:23:13Z")
The “bridges to nowhere” have been axed. Link. But the money hasn’t. Alaska is still getting the money, but now with no strings on it. When I first read about it in today’s NYT (sorry, no link - not registered), I wa… --- ## [Why would one smoke in the first place?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-one-smoke-in-the-first-place/331467)
**Author:** [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-one-smoke-in-the-first-place/331467 "2005-11-21T22:49:21Z")
No, this isn’t pitting anyone or abomishing anyone who does. : p I’m just seriously mystified why anyone would ever smoke anyway. To look cool? To be in the “in” crowd? Just curious about it? Fine. Smoke one. Stop. Wh… --- ## [The case of the spontaneously generating lotto tickets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-spontaneously-generating-lotto-tickets/332102)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-case-of-the-spontaneously-generating-lotto-tickets/332102 "2005-11-21T21:24:55Z")
The other day I found two lottery tickets in my car. Neither my husband nor I play the lottery. I have no idea where the tickets came from. A coworker looked up the tickets online where we discovered, to no one’s surp… --- ## [Walmart - Good or bad for America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-good-or-bad-for-america/331197)
**Author:** [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/walmart-good-or-bad-for-america/331197 "2005-11-21T20:59:08Z")
I have yet to see this movie: but I am very interested in going to see it. I’m really of two minds when it comes to Walmart. I consider myself to be somewhat libertarian (a/k/a a liberal without the baggage) so I’m … --- ## [MacArthur vs. Truman: was the Constitution in peril?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-vs-truman-was-the-constitution-in-peril/331636)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macarthur-vs-truman-was-the-constitution-in-peril/331636 "2005-11-21T20:48:29Z")
In his book “Colossus,” Niall Ferguson states that during the brouhaha between MacArthur and Truman, the structure of the United States government and the Constitution itself were in jeopardy, and were saved only by the … --- ## [War Powers, Congress, and the Executive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-powers-congress-and-the-executive/331631)
**Author:** [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-powers-congress-and-the-executive/331631 "2005-11-21T18:43:57Z")
So I was reading. And thinking. Ok, it was slow at work and I was bored. But anyways, John Woo, the former Deputy AG, concluded in his findings on behalf of the Executive post 9-11, that the President in responding to a… --- ## [American military needs to take Lessons from the IDF](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-military-needs-to-take-lessons-from-the-idf/332076)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-military-needs-to-take-lessons-from-the-idf/332076 "2005-11-21T18:25:13Z")
The body count of US military fatal casualties in Iraq continues to mount. US soldiers are dying at a rate of 66 per month since the occupation started . Iraqi citizens are taking an even bigger toll every month. Yet th… --- ## [What do you think of this proposal for withdrawal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-proposal-for-withdrawal/331848)
**Author:** [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-proposal-for-withdrawal/331848 "2005-11-21T17:56:00Z")
I think we can all agree that we’d like to have our soldiers home out of harms way. We would all like to see an end to the terrorits blowing up innocent Iraqis. Ideally, some of us would also like to have accomplished so… --- ## [Justice, Georgia, and Mr. Gonzales](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justice-georgia-and-mr-gonzales/331714)
**Author:** [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justice-georgia-and-mr-gonzales/331714 "2005-11-21T17:42:39Z")
It’s an old joke. Colored gentleman shows up at a polling station in Georgia, circa 1958, says he’s there to vote. Having registered to vote by mail, he asks for his ballot. “Well, now, just a moment!” says a cracker … --- ## [How would American human rights abuses of the early 20th century look today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-american-human-rights-abuses-of-the-early-20th-century-look-today/332039)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-american-human-rights-abuses-of-the-early-20th-century-look-today/332039 "2005-11-21T14:59:23Z")
In the early 20th century the US had alot of human rights abuses that are usually only reserved for the worst countries of today’s standards. Torture by police and prison officials was common. Carl Panzram’s biography t… --- ## [Is there such a thing as consciousness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-consciousness/331018)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-consciousness/331018 "2005-11-21T05:25:40Z")
Can someone prove to me that consciousness exists? --- ## [New kid on the block: Pajamas Media](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kid-on-the-block-pajamas-media/331392)
**Author:** [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kid-on-the-block-pajamas-media/331392 "2005-11-21T01:56:37Z")
A group of bloggers, mostly centered around the right-wing blogs which brought down the CBS in the Memo-Gate - but supposedly they’ll cover all political wings, have launched a new media group called Open Source Media (f… --- ## ['Promise Broken': N.Y. to Lose 9/11 Aid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promise-broken-n-y-to-lose-9-11-aid/331431)
**Author:** [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promise-broken-n-y-to-lose-9-11-aid/331431 "2005-11-20T14:45:05Z")
Link Fiscal prudence or a broken promise, or both ? --- ## [Is this Message Board left-leaning or right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377 "2005-11-20T14:07:34Z")
I’m new in these parts but I’ve been reading a lot trying to decide if the place is worth taking a flyer on and I’ve come to the conclusion that I cannot come to a conclusion. :smack: I’m reasonably sure that there is… --- ## [Man cures himself of HIV?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-cures-himself-of-hiv/331393)
**Author:** [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-cures-himself-of-hiv/331393 "2005-11-20T13:24:15Z")
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4432564.stm So, Andrew Stimpson may have beaten the HIV virus, and so studies of his immune system may lead to a cure, or at least some kind of understanding, of the virus. Two things t… --- ## [The Motives of the Many vs. the Motives of the Few](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-motives-of-the-many-vs-the-motives-of-the-few/331900)
**Author:** [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2005, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-motives-of-the-many-vs-the-motives-of-the-few/331900 "2005-11-20T08:46:01Z")
Which is (or should) be used to judge the morality of the actions of nations – the motives (actual or presumed) of that nation’s leaders, or the motives of the majority of its citizens? For example, it is often stated t… --- ## [Is it fair to arraign prisoners in jail clothing? Chains?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-fair-to-arraign-prisoners-in-jail-clothing-chains/331332)
**Author:** [@ProTem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProTem)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-fair-to-arraign-prisoners-in-jail-clothing-chains/331332 "2005-11-20T02:28:53Z")
For example It seems to me that when you have someone in an orange suit that he has already lost the battle for a fair trial. This never happens to wealthy defendents, but only those with public defenders, who don’t bo… --- ## [So which religious laws are Christians supposed to follow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-religious-laws-are-christians-supposed-to-follow/331491)
**Author:** [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-religious-laws-are-christians-supposed-to-follow/331491 "2005-11-19T23:58:44Z")
This is more of a GQ, really, but I put it here because it obviously has no single, absolute answer and might be controversial. So what biblical or similar laws are Christians supposed to follow? What kind of schools o… --- ## [Insurgency in America - What would you do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgency-in-america-what-would-you-do/330450)
**Author:** [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurgency-in-america-what-would-you-do/330450 "2005-11-19T21:23:33Z")
Let’s set the stage: The world watches with bemused interest during the 2000 US election. And reacts with cynicism, contempt and anger; first when the popular vote is overturned by the electoral college, and then again… --- ## [Judy Miller-Bob Woodward question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-miller-bob-woodward-question/331404)
**Author:** [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-miller-bob-woodward-question/331404 "2005-11-19T20:04:26Z")
Judy goes to prison because she wouldn’t reveal a condifential source regarding the Plame outing. Bob Woodward won’t reveal his confidential source about the Plame outing and he’s walking around, happy as a lark, and n… --- ## [What happened to our "crumbling natl. infrastructure," c. 1985?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-our-crumbling-natl-infrastructure-c-1985/331602)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-our-crumbling-natl-infrastructure-c-1985/331602 "2005-11-19T15:42:03Z")
In the mid-to-late 1980s, there were many stories about bridges falling apart, roads crumbling into dust, water and sewer systems overburdened, etc. Massive public spending was predicted to be necessary to fix it all, p… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=833) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=835)