# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=857 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 858 --- ## [Iraq is starting to look a lot like . . . Yugoslavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-is-starting-to-look-a-lot-like-yugoslavia/318480)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-is-starting-to-look-a-lot-like-yugoslavia/318480 "2005-08-31T04:32:40Z")
To invoke the “V-word” to characterize the current situation in Iraq has been a hoary cliche almost since before the war started – and in Vietnam the U.S. was trying to defend an established government threatened by inte… --- ## [Is it time for those in common hurricane paths to fend for themselves?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-those-in-common-hurricane-paths-to-fend-for-themselves/318873)
**Author:** [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-those-in-common-hurricane-paths-to-fend-for-themselves/318873 "2005-08-31T02:51:24Z")
Up in my neck of the woods, flooding happened about once every two years, FEMA would be called and people would get help rebuilding. Finally FEMA or whomever decided it would be in the best interest of the people and the… --- ## [How are sobriety checkpoints legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-sobriety-checkpoints-legal/318807)
**Author:** [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-sobriety-checkpoints-legal/318807 "2005-08-31T01:45:43Z")
Just reading in my local paper about another sobriety checkpoint that netted 14 DUI’ers. While I am definitely not in favor of drunk drivers I am not all that enamoured with law inforcement trapping people and forcing t… --- ## [Math Folks: Set Theory Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-folks-set-theory-question/318608)
**Author:** [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-folks-set-theory-question/318608 "2005-08-31T00:20:24Z")
Have a question (or two-ish, as it turns out) about set theory: I didn’t get a lot of post-high-school mathematical training (I know, my fault), so I’m going on memory here, but if I recollect correctly… Every set has … --- ## [Which is more valuable, the 1st or the 2nd amendment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-valuable-the-1st-or-the-2nd-amendment/319215)
**Author:** [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-more-valuable-the-1st-or-the-2nd-amendment/319215 "2005-08-30T20:51:55Z")
I heard a short comedy clip on The Daily Show and it proposed a great question in one of its skits. Are the First and Second Amendments Equal? I had never thought that much about it, but its plaguing my mind. I have a… --- ## [So dose civilization improved the quality of human life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-dose-civilization-improved-the-quality-of-human-life/308358)
**Author:** [@Lear\_s\_fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lear_s_fool)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-dose-civilization-improved-the-quality-of-human-life/308358 "2005-08-30T16:13:50Z")
I can remember my senior English teacher first day of school giving us a bit of the philosophy we were going to be given. The one line I remember clearly “There are two things that don’t empress me the first is technical… --- ## [Happiness and the Perfect Drug?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happiness-and-the-perfect-drug/319134)
**Author:** [@Corporate\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corporate_Hippie)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happiness-and-the-perfect-drug/319134 "2005-08-30T05:55:44Z")
Okay, this is based on a debate me and my friends once had that started with a discussion of some experiments we learned about in an introductory psychology class. The experiments involved lab rats in little cages with e… --- ## [What if Saddam hadn't invaded Kuwait?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-saddam-hadnt-invaded-kuwait/319058)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-saddam-hadnt-invaded-kuwait/319058 "2005-08-29T23:49:14Z")
What if? If Saddam had kept it in his pants back in 1991, how would it have affected the history of the last two decades? No Gulf War I, no UN sanctions against Iraq, no Gulf War II (?), no American troops in the Middle… --- ## [traditional Jewish view on Satan, the Serpent, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-jewish-view-on-satan-the-serpent-etc/319125)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traditional-jewish-view-on-satan-the-serpent-etc/319125 "2005-08-29T19:17:42Z")
Christian lore on Satan & demons & such is pretty well set in the popular mind- Archangel Lucifer fell to become Satan, who then came as the Serpent to tempt our first parents. Lucifer’s fellow angelic rebels became the… --- ## [Crack heroin - national emergency](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crack-heroin-national-emergency/318858)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crack-heroin-national-emergency/318858 "2005-08-29T00:39:43Z")
Crack heroin has replaced tradional heroin on the East Coast. It creates a quicker habit, stronger habit, more needle sharing, more AIDS, and more overdoses. In 1978, crack heroin first appeared in New York City. Quic… --- ## [Should the Queen veto a bill sometime, just to show she still can?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-queen-veto-a-bill-sometime-just-to-show-she-still-can/318690)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-queen-veto-a-bill-sometime-just-to-show-she-still-can/318690 "2005-08-28T22:56:55Z")
Under Britain’s unwritten constitution, the Queen is supposed to act only on the advice of her ministers. The legal scholar Bagehot wrote, as I recall, that the sovereign has the power only to listen, advise and warn. … --- ## [What if McGovern had beat Nixon in 1972?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mcgovern-had-beat-nixon-in-1972/318902)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mcgovern-had-beat-nixon-in-1972/318902 "2005-08-28T20:32:32Z")
What if George McGovern (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George\_McGovern), the Democratic candidate for president in 1972, had won? What would a McGovern presidency have been like? How would he have dealt with Vietnam? O… --- ## [univ. of W. ..pays jailed child molester's salary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709)
**Author:** [@OliverTwistofLime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OliverTwistofLime)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/univ-of-w-pays-jailed-child-molesters-salary/318709 "2005-08-28T19:28:20Z")
On O’Reilly this evening, it was noted that the University of Wisconsin is paying a convicted professors’ salary while he is in jail. He is in jail because of 3 young female molestations. He pled no contest to the cha… --- ## [What's the current Bush Administation explanation for why we are in Iraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-current-bush-administation-explanation-for-why-we-are-in-iraq/318871)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-current-bush-administation-explanation-for-why-we-are-in-iraq/318871 "2005-08-28T13:23:29Z")
One thing I really haven’t tracked over time is what the current Bush adminstration expanation is for why we are in Iraq. IIRC as the Iraq invasion began it was probable Iraqi support of Al Queda terrorists + WMD stock… --- ## [Do video games and movies perpetuate violence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-video-games-and-movies-perpetuate-violence/318711)
**Author:** [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-video-games-and-movies-perpetuate-violence/318711 "2005-08-28T09:37:35Z")
This argument has been made by many more eloquent than I but it’s still worth talking about. Is our popular culture resulting in a propensity towards violence? I sincerely wish that the answer could be a definitive no, b… --- ## [They're already attacking Israel again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-already-attacking-israel-again/318585)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-already-attacking-israel-again/318585 "2005-08-28T03:47:59Z")
Militants Threaten To Renew Attacks On Israel I’m kind of confused here. I thought they had come to a peace settlement over the dis-engagement from the Gaza Strip. I could understand them wanting to resume attacks on Is… --- ## [Who was the most generaly hated U.S. President from 1969-2005?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-generaly-hated-u-s-president-from-1969-2005/317780)
**Author:** [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Replies:** 163\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-generaly-hated-u-s-president-from-1969-2005/317780 "2005-08-28T00:53:11Z")
I was just thinking, what with all the current Pressiential headaches, who was the most despised President in my lifespan so far, is George W. Bush the most hated President in my time? i mean in general overall impressi… --- ## [Could we have built a coalition with Iran?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-built-a-coalition-with-iran/318240)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-have-built-a-coalition-with-iran/318240 "2005-08-28T00:52:16Z")
Would this have been possible if we’d chosen to put our weight behind supporting President Khatami and the Reformist revolution that was brewing in Iran when we went after Iraq? If we hadn’t labelled Iran the “Axis of E… --- ## [Nationalize Canada's Petroleum Industry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationalize-canadas-petroleum-industry/318434)
**Author:** [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationalize-canadas-petroleum-industry/318434 "2005-08-28T00:41:15Z")
Canada is the largest importer of oil to the United States, we have (arguably) the largest reserve of oil in the Alberta Tar Sands, but we have allowed massive amounts of foreign ownership in our petroleum industry. This… --- ## [Rising Oil Prices and the Cost of Goods?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rising-oil-prices-and-the-cost-of-goods/318877)
**Author:** [@What\_Is\_Schwa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Is_Schwa)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rising-oil-prices-and-the-cost-of-goods/318877 "2005-08-27T21:00:23Z")
It seems everyone is grumbling about filling up their gas tanks nowadays. However, I hear little discussion about the effects higher gas prices will have on the cost of goods. Many of the basic ingredients of life are … --- ## [Robertson: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent king?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-will-no-one-rid-me-of-this-turbulent-king/318476)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robertson-will-no-one-rid-me-of-this-turbulent-king/318476 "2005-08-27T18:53:47Z")
On Monday, 7/22/05, on the 700 Club, televangelist Pat Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez – http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/23/robertson.chavez.1534/index.html: I heard a spokesman… --- ## [Price fixing and free markets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/price-fixing-and-free-markets/318600)
**Author:** [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/price-fixing-and-free-markets/318600 "2005-08-27T16:52:32Z")
Inspired by this thread. Should price fixing be legal in a free market? (By price fixing I mean the agreement between suppliers to sell at an artificially inflated price). --- ## [Two-Tiered Amusement Parks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tiered-amusement-parks/317678)
**Author:** [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tiered-amusement-parks/317678 "2005-08-27T12:57:13Z")
I was recently at an amusement park in Montreal, Canada, called La Ronde, a division of Six Flags. Anyone that has ever been at any amusement park should be familiar with the standard 45min line for the better rides. T… --- ## [Nonpartisan Iraq Questions for Bush](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpartisan-iraq-questions-for-bush/318367)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonpartisan-iraq-questions-for-bush/318367 "2005-08-27T06:20:04Z")
This thread is inspired by a discussion with CosmicBob in another thread. Assume for a moment that you get to have a meeting with Bush and ask him whatever questions you want concerning Iraq and he will listen and answ… --- ## [The New Segregation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-segregation/317672)
**Author:** [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-segregation/317672 "2005-08-27T02:22:18Z")
So I’ve been dropping off my 16-year-old, 2-grades-behind-in-school biracial nephew at the new Career Center where he’s supposed to study for a “Standard High School Diploma” (read GED) at his own pace while learning a … --- ## [Say a beloved author is racist. What then?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-a-beloved-author-is-racist-what-then/318328)
**Author:** [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-a-beloved-author-is-racist-what-then/318328 "2005-08-27T01:02:15Z")
I’m not even going to link the thread that inspired this question, lest I ressurect a trainwreck. Here’s the premise: Some author whose work you find worthy of praise for many reasons is, in the final analysis, racist … --- ## [How could the US become a more perfect democracy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-us-become-a-more-perfect-democracy/318675)
**Author:** [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-us-become-a-more-perfect-democracy/318675 "2005-08-26T20:26:56Z")
IMHO the US is possibly the greatest democracy ever, but still not perfect. If I could change a few things they would be: Get rid of gerrymandering. I believe that there is some move to do this now in California, bu… --- ## [Assembly by Race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assembly-by-race/318654)
**Author:** [@XP39C\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XP39C_2)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assembly-by-race/318654 "2005-08-26T16:27:07Z")
The other day I saw a picture of a group of students in a Jewish day school. I got me thinking – people are allowed to make Jewish schools, Christian schools, Islamic schools. Presumably the reasoning is that the schools… --- ## [Why Hasn't Viagra (Apparently) Stopped Idiotic "Natural" (Endangered) "Aphrodisiacs?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-viagra-apparently-stopped-idiotic-natural-endangered-aphrodisiacs/318622)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-viagra-apparently-stopped-idiotic-natural-endangered-aphrodisiacs/318622 "2005-08-26T15:33:35Z")
For centuries there were no really effective aphrodisiacs. Well, I suppose there still aren’t, in the sense of some sort of Spanish Fly that will get someone all hot and bothered. But . . . for the first time, there … --- ## [Should we support the mutant registration act?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-support-the-mutant-registration-act/309249)
**Author:** [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Replies:** 255\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-support-the-mutant-registration-act/309249 "2005-08-26T12:00:07Z")
All ready passed in the congress, the Mutant Registration Act is now up for debate in the senate. As many of you know the country is quite polarized on the issue with many leftist groups comparing it to the forced regist… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=856) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=858)