# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=101 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 102 --- ## [2020 US Census Race and Ethnicity Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-us-census-race-and-ethnicity-questions/808726)
**Author:** [@Bassman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bassman)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-us-census-race-and-ethnicity-questions/808726 "2018-02-14T18:01:49Z")
The US Census Bureau considered making some changes to the race and ethnicity questions for the 2020 census. Past censuses have required responses to both questions on race and Hispanic origin and specifically stated His… --- ## [Why should we need a head of state?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-we-need-a-head-of-state/360080)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-we-need-a-head-of-state/360080 "2018-02-11T15:28:48Z")
Speaking from the perspective of a modern, egalitarian, freedom-loving, secularist, liberal democrat and republican who believes that national sovereignty derives from the will and dignity of the individuals who make up … --- ## [US government will borrow almost $1 trillion this year](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-government-will-borrow-almost-1-trillion-this-year/808137)
**Author:** [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-government-will-borrow-almost-1-trillion-this-year/808137 "2018-02-11T02:57:30Z")
Per this article in the Washington Post, the US will borrow almost $1 trillion this year, which is 84% increase over last year. The entire article is interesting, but I’ll focus here on the pieces that are relevant to th… --- ## [Have Europeans done the most damage throughout human history?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-europeans-done-the-most-damage-throughout-human-history/807913)
**Author:** [@BloodStalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BloodStalk)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-europeans-done-the-most-damage-throughout-human-history/807913 "2018-02-11T02:55:10Z")
In regards to issues such as Native American/Australian genocide, residential schooling, African-American Slavery, institutional racism today, experiments on non Europeans subjects such as Tuskeegee sylphis or J.Marion s… --- ## [Prerequisites for the Presidency](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prerequisites-for-the-presidency/806197)
**Author:** [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prerequisites-for-the-presidency/806197 "2018-02-10T14:23:00Z")
The Presidency of the US is not the type of job that you want to hand to someone who is a complete amateur at politics and statecraft. We’ve all seen how the current occupant of the White House is fumbling, and now ther… --- ## [Cloning a Neandertal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloning-a-neandertal/648098)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 252\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloning-a-neandertal/648098 "2018-02-10T14:15:58Z")
This has been in the news lately. Assuming it becomes technically feasible, is it ethical to clone a Neandertal (or a group of Neandertals) to be raised to adulthood? --- ## [American flag = military?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-military/807840)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-military/807840 "2018-02-10T00:10:15Z")
When NFL anthem protests started I would hear stuff like “they are dishonoring our troops” and “our troops died for that flag” Is that the only meaning of the flag? Seems like it stands for the country, not just the … --- ## [Where would you find information to support or reject the \[relative productivity of poor vs rich\]?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-find-information-to-support-or-reject-the-relative-productivity-of-poor-vs-rich/807873)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-find-information-to-support-or-reject-the-relative-productivity-of-poor-vs-rich/807873 "2018-02-09T23:17:11Z")
(Seeking factual information and hoping like hell that this does not become a debate.) Came across this Norman Mailer assertion, and I’m wondering if there’s any way I could find relevant information that could come clo… --- ## [Gauge The North Korean Threat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gauge-the-north-korean-threat/805670)
**Author:** [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Replies:** 193\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gauge-the-north-korean-threat/805670 "2018-02-09T19:01:24Z")
Well…I looked around the Dope and didn’t really find anything about the escalating tensions between the US and the DPRK. I just read a pretty alarming article from CNN that quotes the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs … --- ## [Trump's economic plan working](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-economic-plan-working/807133)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-economic-plan-working/807133 "2018-02-06T19:28:48Z")
I work for Walmart. Many of you may have already heard the news, but for those of you who haven’t… Walmart made an announcement the other day that because of changes to tax laws and reduction of regulations, they have d… --- ## [Legal question re obstruction of justice (Trump-related)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-question-re-obstruction-of-justice-trump-related/807445)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-question-re-obstruction-of-justice-trump-related/807445 "2018-02-05T15:34:46Z")
I’m hoping to get a answer to the question of whether something would legally constitute obstruction of justice, without getting bogged down in arguing the question of whether that something is actually what happened. Fo… --- ## [How expensive to buy out Kurdistan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-expensive-to-buy-out-kurdistan/807485)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2018, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-expensive-to-buy-out-kurdistan/807485 "2018-02-05T09:32:23Z")
If one wanted to bribe the politicians and/or people of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran to forget about wasting energy trying to maintain hold on the Kurds, about how much would that likely cost? --- ## [Bonuses and Pay raises? Really?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonuses-and-pay-raises-really/807388)
**Author:** [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bonuses-and-pay-raises-really/807388 "2018-02-02T12:40:21Z")
Just heard that another corporation, due to the changes in the tax laws, is passing the benefits on to their employees. Does this sound logical? Because I would think that once the corp boosted your pay or gave you a bon… --- ## [Trump's State Department won't carry out sanctions against Russia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-state-department-wont-carry-out-sanctions-against-russia/807800)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-state-department-wont-carry-out-sanctions-against-russia/807800 "2018-02-02T05:36:56Z")
This has been brought up in other threads, but I thought it deserved its own. The State Department sent a message to Congress yesterday informing them that they wouldn’t be imposing any sanctions as authorized in last ye… --- ## [Tariff on imported solar panels -- a veritable smorgasbord of ignorance!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tariff-on-imported-solar-panels-a-veritable-smorgasbord-of-ignorance/807447)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2018, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tariff-on-imported-solar-panels-a-veritable-smorgasbord-of-ignorance/807447 "2018-02-01T06:49:22Z")
Golly. Strap on your jackboots, Dopers, and prepare to stomp the hooey outta some of my ignorance (thoughtfully wrapped for you in parentheses, but feel free to tear apart whatever else I seem to be certain of)! The na… --- ## [What if native Americans weren't so nice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-native-americans-werent-so-nice/806706)
**Author:** [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-native-americans-werent-so-nice/806706 "2018-01-31T20:12:38Z")
I was wondering what the world would’ve been like if Europeans hadn’t been able to found colonies in North and South America. For example, suppose all of the indigenous peoples of the Americas were more like the North S… --- ## [He Shall From Time to Time (SOTU 2018)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-shall-from-time-to-time-sotu-2018/807261)
**Author:** [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-shall-from-time-to-time-sotu-2018/807261 "2018-01-31T20:06:14Z")
One week from now, President Donald J. Trump delivers his first state of the union address to the nation. You may recall that he addressed a joint session of Congress back in February and surprised many with a relative… --- ## [Presidents' Club bacchanalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-club-bacchanalia/807505)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 175\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2018, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-club-bacchanalia/807505 "2018-01-31T07:47:01Z")
So there was something called The Presidents’ Club. The only thing it seems to have done in its thirty-three years is to host annual parties in London. Sports cars, nights of the town and whatnot were auctioned off and t… --- ## [It's the year 2100: What is the punishment for harming an artificial "person"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-year-2100-what-is-the-punishment-for-harming-an-artificial-person/807648)
**Author:** [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2018, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-year-2100-what-is-the-punishment-for-harming-an-artificial-person/807648 "2018-01-31T04:34:40Z")
Let’s suppose that our technology becomes so sophisticated to the point where artificial bots take on many characteristics we would label “human”. Suppose further that an artificial human somehow offends a real person, w… --- ## [How far does contempt of court go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-does-contempt-of-court-go/807513)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-does-contempt-of-court-go/807513 "2018-01-30T15:08:53Z")
How far can a single person’s opinion go to make the claim someone has been disobedient or disrespectful? I’ve seen cases like this before, that seem borderline absurd. Here’s the specific one I’m talking about. … --- ## [Why isn't "Sadie Hawkins" feminism a thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-sadie-hawkins-feminism-a-thing/807221)
**Author:** [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2018, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-sadie-hawkins-feminism-a-thing/807221 "2018-01-30T14:44:05Z")
The #metoo movement has me thinking: why is there no such thing as “Sadie Hawkins” feminism? Some single women will wear a fake wedding ring if they do not want to be hit on. How about if women start wearing a ring on a … --- ## [The ethics of cloning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-cloning/807477)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2018, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-cloning/807477 "2018-01-30T09:30:43Z")
I was watching a video where they were discussing cloning technology, ranging from the technology (used today) to clone, say, a favored pet, or technologies to bring back extinct species (or use of technology to recreate… --- ## [Drug dogs at airport nose bumping your front and back goods](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-dogs-at-airport-nose-bumping-your-front-and-back-goods/807574)
**Author:** [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-dogs-at-airport-nose-bumping-your-front-and-back-goods/807574 "2018-01-29T17:43:21Z")
Serious Q… at DIA while you are still standing in line the drug dogs bump their noise against your crotch and butt while you are standing in line. Isn’t that like, a violation of your civil liberties? That dog is under t… --- ## [What should we be doing about the heroin crisis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-be-doing-about-the-heroin-crisis/796079)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-we-be-doing-about-the-heroin-crisis/796079 "2018-01-29T16:02:38Z")
If you have not yet been personally touched by the rapidly expanding human tragedy of opiate addiction, I suggest reading this. It seems a moral and policy shame that the companies who helped create this crisis–marketin… --- ## [Trump may be starting a Trade War to deflect away Mueller hot on his trail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-may-be-starting-a-trade-war-to-deflect-away-mueller-hot-on-his-trail/807302 "2018-01-28T18:34:34Z")
It appears that the President is attempting to start a Trade War with China by slapping steep Tariffs on Solar Panels and Washing Machines. Trump says that the tariffs are aimed at protecting American companies from chea… --- ## [Does income inequality in one nation have global consequences, or is it localized](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-income-inequality-in-one-nation-have-global-consequences-or-is-it-localized/807479)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-income-inequality-in-one-nation-have-global-consequences-or-is-it-localized/807479 "2018-01-28T13:30:56Z")
I was reading some articles today about how China wants to start addressing income inequality. Good for them. However, even if China does that will that have any effect on income inequality in the rest of the world, or … --- ## [Rescue Cats, Contract Conditions, Houdini, Declawing, Pet Custody, It's All Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-cats-contract-conditions-houdini-declawing-pet-custody-its-all-here/807322)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2018, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-cats-contract-conditions-houdini-declawing-pet-custody-its-all-here/807322 "2018-01-28T05:51:11Z")
I anticipate no contentious interaction in this thread, since it involves the topics of cats, law, and social media norms, upon which there is near-universal agreement as to norms. This is the story of a Maine Coon name… --- ## [Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's Capital; a Proud Moment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-jerusalem-as-israels-capital-a-proud-moment/803854)
**Author:** [@JBGUSA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBGUSA)\ **Replies:** 453\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recognizing-jerusalem-as-israels-capital-a-proud-moment/803854 "2018-01-27T21:00:06Z")
Notwithstanding the decidedly mixed views I have on President Trump, yesterday was one of America’s finest hours. The President recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2… --- ## [Would "totin' chips" work in schools?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-totin-chips-work-in-schools/807245)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 137\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2018, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-totin-chips-work-in-schools/807245 "2018-01-27T03:27:48Z")
Right now its illegal for a student to carry a knife in a public school. Even a small folding pocket knife one carries for small tasks such as cutting open a package. One idea: In the Boy Scouts they have what’s called … --- ## [What would be wrong with a norm of explicit, enthusiastic consent to every sex act?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-wrong-with-a-norm-of-explicit-enthusiastic-consent-to-every-sex-act/806734)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 156\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2018, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-wrong-with-a-norm-of-explicit-enthusiastic-consent-to-every-sex-act/806734 "2018-01-23T11:56:50Z")
“I’m going to do X now.” “Cool do it!” “Okay now I’m going to Y” “Alright! I’m into it.” “Can I do Z now?” “Yes, please do!” “I suggest now we do A, B, and then C.” “I’m down!” Suppose things evolved into a state… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=100) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=102)