# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=104 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 105 --- ## [WAS Trump actually mocking that disabled reporter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-trump-actually-mocking-that-disabled-reporter/803851)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-trump-actually-mocking-that-disabled-reporter/803851 "2017-12-14T19:06:51Z")
Let me just start off by making it clear that I fucking hate Donald Trump and I think he’s a horrendous president in every way. (I also think he legitimately won the election, and that the Democrats dropped the ball, but… --- ## [lies of omission, transgendered persons, dating profiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lies-of-omission-transgendered-persons-dating-profiles/804203)
**Author:** [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lies-of-omission-transgendered-persons-dating-profiles/804203 "2017-12-14T18:20:18Z")
Within the currently running thread on transgendered persons and mental illness, a side debate has broken out about the interaction between transgenderism and online dating profiles. Viz.: positing that a transgendered p… --- ## [Why not Vote for Roy Moore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-vote-for-roy-moore/804261)
**Author:** [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-vote-for-roy-moore/804261 "2017-12-14T15:34:23Z")
To play devil’s advocate for a minute… Lets say I’m an Alabama Republican (I’m not, on either count), and lets concede that everything about Moore is true, for purposes of argument…he creeped on all the young girls when… --- ## [Partisanship at the ABA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partisanship-at-the-aba/801722)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partisanship-at-the-aba/801722 "2017-12-14T03:06:35Z")
There has recently been a spate of articles alleging partisan influences on the ABA’s ratings of Trump’s judicial nominees. Here is one example. Previously, I had regarded the ABA as rather non-partisan and impartial, bu… --- ## [The Rohingya, the Pope, Myanmar, and saying the name.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rohingya-the-pope-myanmar-and-saying-the-name/803248)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rohingya-the-pope-myanmar-and-saying-the-name/803248 "2017-12-13T00:45:04Z")
Pope Francis was advised to not say the name of “the Rohingya” in the context of his trip to Myanmar lest it result in retaliation against the Catholic minority there. The other side of the coin of course, was in the con… --- ## [The Republican Party needs to Pay Attention](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-needs-to-pay-attention/803442)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-republican-party-needs-to-pay-attention/803442 "2017-12-12T21:57:49Z")
One question for the Republican party is where to go after Tax Reform and, unfortunately, I feel like they might go back to working on killing ObamaCare. The thing is, though, if they do that, then it means that the lea… --- ## [Why Should Guns Be Legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-guns-be-legal/798154)
**Author:** [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Replies:** 295\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-guns-be-legal/798154 "2017-12-12T03:29:09Z")
In the wake of the recent Las Vegas shooting, I’m left asking this question… Why should people be allowed to own ANY guns? I don’t have anything against guns, and I don’t think guns are inherently evil or anything like t… --- ## [Service, therapy and emotional support animals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-therapy-and-emotional-support-animals/804044)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-therapy-and-emotional-support-animals/804044 "2017-12-12T03:15:13Z")
We’ve had a few, usually very brief threads about dubious “service animals” in the past. And I remember a little feature (I think on VICE, although I can’t find it at the moment) where a lady used different animals and … --- ## [Problem with healthcare and why Obamacare in principle was a good idea.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-healthcare-and-why-obamacare-in-principle-was-a-good-idea/804087)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-healthcare-and-why-obamacare-in-principle-was-a-good-idea/804087 "2017-12-11T19:20:33Z")
This is my opinion and I want toe xpress it and see what others have to contradict it with. The private sector will exploit and make as much money as they want. Right now we have private health insurance companies which… --- ## [FBI/DOJ agents - completely apolitical? (Peter Strzok)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-doj-agents-completely-apolitical-peter-strzok/803825)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-doj-agents-completely-apolitical-peter-strzok/803825 "2017-12-11T13:53:51Z")
That’s what I’m getting from the Peter Strzok story. (Random link.) For those not following it or inclined to read links, that’s the FBI guy who played a crucial role in both the Clinton email and Trump-Russia investigat… --- ## [The Penatagon Papers vs Wikileaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-penatagon-papers-vs-wikileaks/804139)
**Author:** [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-penatagon-papers-vs-wikileaks/804139 "2017-12-10T20:21:55Z")
Rather than bumping this 7 yo thread (or others like it) I thought I’d start a new one. because of the upcoming movie The Post which will retell the story of the pentagon papers, the comparisons fo the PP and wikileaks… --- ## [Public Lands, National Monuments, Antiquities Act, and States' Rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-lands-national-monuments-antiquities-act-and-states-rights/785316)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-lands-national-monuments-antiquities-act-and-states-rights/785316 "2017-12-10T08:34:56Z")
Today President Trump signed an executive order that called for a review of major designations (100,000+ acres) of national monuments in the last 21 years. The impetus for this order appears to mostly be my Utah Congress… --- ## [It will be difficult to stamp out unwanted sex advances, because they (sometimes) work](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-will-be-difficult-to-stamp-out-unwanted-sex-advances-because-they-sometimes-work/803567)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-will-be-difficult-to-stamp-out-unwanted-sex-advances-because-they-sometimes-work/803567 "2017-12-09T17:05:41Z")
Stats not available. But this is based on an enormous amount of empirical evidence. IMO, there are two reasons why this is so. Firstly, many women deliberately play hard to get, for a number of reasons. (I believe this… --- ## [Does being physically attractive offer benefits for meaningful romantic relationships](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-physically-attractive-offer-benefits-for-meaningful-romantic-relationships/803239)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-being-physically-attractive-offer-benefits-for-meaningful-romantic-relationships/803239 "2017-12-09T12:58:48Z")
Being physically attractive has a lot of benefits both in and outside of romantic relationships. Within romantic relationships, being physically attractive will increase the quality and quantity of dates, quality and qu… --- ## [Assassinating the President of the United States, the Debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states-the-debate/803207)
**Author:** [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2017, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assassinating-the-president-of-the-united-states-the-debate/803207 "2017-12-08T11:40:22Z")
Haven been given the go-ahead to start this thread here, I’d like to start a frank and (mostly) open discussion. Seriously, go back and read that thread, Bone’s statements in particular. We’ll wait. When is assassinat… --- ## [Iraq before and after US intervention](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-before-and-after-us-intervention/800720)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2017, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-before-and-after-us-intervention/800720 "2017-12-08T07:22:24Z")
I was thinking about Iraq today, the Iraq of the 1990s and the Iraq of today. Back then Iraq was ruled by the ruthless Saddam Hussein and his sons and relations, mostly from Tikrit. The minority Sunnis held sway over the… --- ## [4chan trolls - It's OK to be White](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4chan-trolls-its-ok-to-be-white/800496)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4chan-trolls-its-ok-to-be-white/800496 "2017-12-08T00:14:11Z")
Sample story here. Background here (alt-right link, you’ve been warned). What’s the best way to deal with these douchebags? --- ## [What would a "moon shot" solution to gun violence look like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-moon-shot-solution-to-gun-violence-look-like/801076)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-moon-shot-solution-to-gun-violence-look-like/801076 "2017-12-07T23:30:59Z")
So, I was reading an article on CNN, Facebook, or someplace about the current ongoing debate about guns in America. In it, the author suggested that we need a “moon shot” moment along with the associated national effort… --- ## [Why is Birtherism racist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-birtherism-racist/803443)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-birtherism-racist/803443 "2017-12-06T22:12:32Z")
A bunch of dumb people insist Obama was born in Kenya. There is a ton of evidence that is wrong. I also know a lot of racists did not like Obama. But I don’t get that really stupid people thinking he was born in… --- ## [Is there any legitimacy to the Sovereign Citizen argument?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-legitimacy-to-the-sovereign-citizen-argument/786097)
**Author:** [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Replies:** 390\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-legitimacy-to-the-sovereign-citizen-argument/786097 "2017-12-04T17:11:10Z")
So, I’ve been browsing through a series of fascinating Sovereign Citizen-themed videos on YouTube. SC’s keep citing things like “Black’s Law Dictionary”, “Maritime Admiralty Law”, “Common Law”, “Corporate Law”, etc. I … --- ## [Is conservatism more in touch with human nature than liberalism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-conservatism-more-in-touch-with-human-nature-than-liberalism/803352)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-conservatism-more-in-touch-with-human-nature-than-liberalism/803352 "2017-12-04T16:59:15Z")
There are too many issues to be included or fully discussed, but ISTM one of the issues liberalism is constantly fighting an uphill slog on is that liberalism is not as much in touch with human nature as conservatism is. … --- ## [WaPo OpEd by former doper: "We don’t need to save endangered species"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wapo-oped-by-former-doper-we-don-t-need-to-save-endangered-species/802413)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wapo-oped-by-former-doper-we-don-t-need-to-save-endangered-species/802413 "2017-12-03T19:02:50Z")
My friend Alex Pyron, a former doper, is the Robert F. Griggs Associate Professor of Biology at the George Washington University. He published an OpEdin today’s Washington Post suggesting that, on a geological time scale… --- ## [If the evidence strongly says that vaping is safer, should the FDA ban cigarettes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-evidence-strongly-says-that-vaping-is-safer-should-the-fda-ban-cigarettes/803082)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2017, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-evidence-strongly-says-that-vaping-is-safer-should-the-fda-ban-cigarettes/803082 "2017-12-03T07:17:18Z")
Cigarettes are the most deadly and destructive consumer product currently in use. When used normally, they cause more illness and death than any other preventable cause. And the awful thing is, the nicotine itself is j… --- ## [Net neutrality: now what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-neutrality-now-what/802370)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 238\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/net-neutrality-now-what/802370 "2017-12-02T22:33:45Z")
A total United States nightmare where major ISPs charge for every website you visit no matter the size or traffic, serve as untouchable de facto censors for any information or opinion their board doesn’t like, and drivin… --- ## [Why do so many people believe that Affirmative Action hurts Asians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-believe-that-affirmative-action-hurts-asians/802423)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-people-believe-that-affirmative-action-hurts-asians/802423 "2017-12-02T17:57:33Z")
Judging from the comments from both sides of the aisle, the alleged cap on Asian admissions seems to be inextricably tied to affirmative action as if Affirmative action only takes away from Asian admissions. Affirmati… --- ## [Is solar powered energy reaching maturity or is it in its infancy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-solar-powered-energy-reaching-maturity-or-is-it-in-its-infancy/794505)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2017, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-solar-powered-energy-reaching-maturity-or-is-it-in-its-infancy/794505 "2017-12-02T09:47:49Z")
I thought of putting a bunch of charts and statistics in this, but decided not to. My question is basically this. Is solar energy reaching a point of maturity a few years down the road, where growth in solar installati… --- ## [Does trophy hunting get a bad rap?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trophy-hunting-get-a-bad-rap/802376)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trophy-hunting-get-a-bad-rap/802376 "2017-12-02T03:11:50Z")
I can’t remember any time in the past when there was as much public discourse about trophy (“big game”) hunting as there is now. The fact that Trump’s sons like to do it has put it in the spotlight recently, and Trump ju… --- ## [Kate's Law (Do you support it)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kates-law-do-you-support-it/775977)
**Author:** [@Donpeyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donpeyote)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kates-law-do-you-support-it/775977 "2017-12-01T21:50:49Z")
Its almost a sure thing that the House will move it to the Senate again (And only 2 Democrats are needed to pass it normally) and without nuclear option … --- ## [Societal benefit of trusts to avoid asset spend down for health care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-benefit-of-trusts-to-avoid-asset-spend-down-for-health-care/802874)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/societal-benefit-of-trusts-to-avoid-asset-spend-down-for-health-care/802874 "2017-12-01T19:58:50Z")
Read an article in the paper today about ways to protect your assets rather than spending them on longterm aged care. Can anyone explain to me why that is a good idea for society? Why ought wealthy folk be able to pass… --- ## [Murderers are not crazy people](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murderers-are-not-crazy-people/802583)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2017, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murderers-are-not-crazy-people/802583 "2017-12-01T10:21:09Z")
In general a murderer is not a crazy person. When encountering the scandalous, the barbaric, the offensive and preposterous, people often react by naming such acts ‘crazy’ or ‘insane’. They don’t attempt to diagnose the… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=103) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=105)