# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=109 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 110 --- ## [Pew Poll: 44 Percent of Liberal Democrats Say Churches Bad for America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pew-poll-44-percent-of-liberal-democrats-say-churches-bad-for-america/797699)
**Author:** [@Bruiser1036](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruiser1036)\ **Replies:** 268\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pew-poll-44-percent-of-liberal-democrats-say-churches-bad-for-america/797699 "2017-10-10T22:03:55Z")
From the article: You can read the entire Pew poll here. As a pretty conservative Republican, and a devout Baptist Christian, I find these results to be pretty disheartening. It looks like the Democratic Party has eve… --- ## ["Both sides are the same!" is a dogmatic position immune from facts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sides-are-the-same-is-a-dogmatic-position-immune-from-facts/793743)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 231\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2017, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/both-sides-are-the-same-is-a-dogmatic-position-immune-from-facts/793743 "2017-10-10T11:59:55Z")
I was going to respond to this in another thread but I realize it would be a hijack so instead I’m creating its own thread. My criticisms later in this post aren’t targeted at Iggy specifically - he was just trying to fo… --- ## [Unequal Pay for Equal Jobs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unequal-pay-for-equal-jobs/694494)
**Author:** [@Defective\_Detective](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defective_Detective)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unequal-pay-for-equal-jobs/694494 "2014-08-13T14:32:04Z")
People with families get paid more, and taxed less. Why? One of my coworkers gets paid 80% MORE than I do, and we both do similar jobs and have the same paygrade (I saw his paycheck). The difference is all in allowances… --- ## [Stopping a mere election regarding secession](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-a-mere-election-regarding-secession/797915)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2017, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-a-mere-election-regarding-secession/797915 "2017-10-10T07:18:38Z")
Watching Sunday’s scenes from Catalonia made me wonder: What if a US state, like Texas, actually held an election on the question of independence? It would seem that for the US the Civil War settled the question of whet… --- ## [How serious is gerrymandering in the US if at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-is-gerrymandering-in-the-us-if-at-all/782060)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2017, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-is-gerrymandering-in-the-us-if-at-all/782060 "2017-10-09T08:59:36Z")
Hi I don’t have any reliable information of whether gerrymandering is in fact a problem. I’d really welcome some hard facts on the matter. IO look forward to your feedback. “Gerrymandering has completely broken our p… --- ## [For Gun Control Advocates: What Are "Common Sense Gun Laws" and What Laws Would Go Too Far?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-gun-control-advocates-what-are-common-sense-gun-laws-and-what-laws-would-go-too-far/797971)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2017, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-gun-control-advocates-what-are-common-sense-gun-laws-and-what-laws-would-go-too-far/797971 "2017-10-09T07:28:59Z")
Very few gun control advocates will come out and SAY guns should be banned and confiscated. The great majority of them will say “We just want common sense gun laws.” Okay. I’m listening (honest and truly- I don’t own an… --- ## [BLM stops ACLU event: do they have a point?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-stops-aclu-event-do-they-have-a-point/797977)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blm-stops-aclu-event-do-they-have-a-point/797977 "2017-10-08T20:02:32Z")
One subject having to do with demographic change that I don’t think gets discussed much is just how much of our politics, and European politics of course, is defined by well, European sensibilities. It seems to me, ba… --- ## [Trump calls Bush the "Worst President Ever." Is he correct?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-bush-the-worst-president-ever-is-he-correct/396345)
**Author:** [@aluminumdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aluminumdisc)\ **Replies:** 175\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-calls-bush-the-worst-president-ever-is-he-correct/396345 "2017-10-08T19:14:08Z")
On CNN this week Donald Trump called George W. Bush the “Worst President Ever.” What do you think? Foreign policy, Domestic policy, what else will we judge our Presidents by. --- ## [Is the US the most litigious nation on Earth and if so is that a good thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-the-most-litigious-nation-on-earth-and-if-so-is-that-a-good-thing/798181)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-the-most-litigious-nation-on-earth-and-if-so-is-that-a-good-thing/798181 "2017-10-08T13:56:30Z")
I sometimes think half the population of the country is made up of lawyers. It seems that everything ends up in the courts. Pass a law? Off to the judges with it to see if they like it (they usually don’t.) Something bad… --- ## [Are we going to war with the norks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-going-to-war-with-the-norks/798194)
**Author:** [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2017, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-going-to-war-with-the-norks/798194 "2017-10-08T11:05:47Z")
Trump seems to have signalled that war is imminent. I didn’t see a thread about this so I will open the topic or ask to be directed to an active thread on the topic. Thanks! --- ## [Can you save someone's soul against their will?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-save-someones-soul-against-their-will/131528)
**Author:** [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-save-someones-soul-against-their-will/131528 "2017-10-08T03:24:10Z")
I was wondering something: I don’t love God, both because I see no reason to suppose his existence, and because he is a total bastard if he does exist. Now, should I be wrong, this view will certainly condemn me to ete… --- ## [Can anybody really know what believers believe deep down?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anybody-really-know-what-believers-believe-deep-down/797676)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anybody-really-know-what-believers-believe-deep-down/797676 "2017-10-08T00:52:33Z")
I’ve read an article in which Graham Lawton is convinced the concept of deity is such a preposterous idea that nobody really believes in god. And yet all human beings are endowed with a ‘God-shaped conceptual space waiti… --- ## [Mind transfer question: preservation of personal identity vs dichotomy between versions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-transfer-question-preservation-of-personal-identity-vs-dichotomy-between-versions/797731)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mind-transfer-question-preservation-of-personal-identity-vs-dichotomy-between-versions/797731 "2017-10-07T04:39:27Z")
I’m sure other people have thought of this dilemma before, but it is the unique abilities of the planarian flatworm and the mind uploading concept that got me musing about this particular personal identity problem. The … --- ## [Iran agreement and it's "spirit"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-agreement-and-its-spirit/796900)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-agreement-and-its-spirit/796900 "2017-10-06T14:52:32Z")
This morning on NPR they were discussing the Iran agreement. I can’t remember who (an administration official, I think) said something to the effect of “Well, they may be complying withe the agreement, technically, but n… --- ## [Prediction: North Korea will declare war on Trump personally and his personal property](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-north-korea-will-declare-war-on-trump-personally-and-his-personal-property/796929)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prediction-north-korea-will-declare-war-on-trump-personally-and-his-personal-property/796929 "2017-10-06T02:22:01Z")
In the escalating war of words between Trump and North Korea, I predict that North Korea will declare ‘war’ on Trump as an individual rather than do anything militarily to the US, South Korea or Japan. There is a line t… --- ## [DC Circuit Court of Appeals rules against "good cause" requirement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-circuit-court-of-appeals-rules-against-good-cause-requirement/792087)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-circuit-court-of-appeals-rules-against-good-cause-requirement/792087 "2017-10-06T00:41:29Z")
Alan Gura is still kicking ass and taking names on the RKBA front: Grace v. DC What are the odds that this case makes it to the Supreme Court? Do you think the District will appeal? --- ## [How do you argue with someone who refuses to value evidence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-argue-with-someone-who-refuses-to-value-evidence/797988)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-argue-with-someone-who-refuses-to-value-evidence/797988 "2017-10-05T23:34:27Z")
How do you deal with someone in an argument that refuses to accept your evidence as being correct? Let’s say you show them a wiki article, their immediate response is “it’s false information”. You show them cite, they r… --- ## [The end of the oil era: The fall of civilization, or just a bump in the road?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-oil-era-the-fall-of-civilization-or-just-a-bump-in-the-road/184075)
**Author:** [@Alien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien)\ **Replies:** 555\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-the-oil-era-the-fall-of-civilization-or-just-a-bump-in-the-road/184075 "2017-10-05T23:02:54Z")
I’m opening this new thread to continue the discussion in this thread, in which the OP was about something else. We’ve heard it before. Oil will run out, and we will have to find other resources and methods to fuel our… --- ## [When is NOT voting justified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-not-voting-justified/797869)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-not-voting-justified/797869 "2017-10-05T22:44:27Z")
We’ve seen consequences of not voting. In many close elections non-voters could’ve changed the result if they had been voters. In that situation, not voting cannot be morally or ethically justified. Please make a case, i… --- ## [What effect would the repeal of the 2nd Amendment have on this country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-would-the-repeal-of-the-2nd-amendment-have-on-this-country/797871)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-would-the-repeal-of-the-2nd-amendment-have-on-this-country/797871 "2017-10-05T20:53:26Z")
Premise: The 2nd Amendment is repealed using proper measures. Would you accept such a repeal, or deny its legality? How do you think various factions will react? What about sort range and/or long range results of such… --- ## [Reparations for Jim Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reparations-for-jim-crow/474252)
**Author:** [@Jesus\_Harold\_Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesus_Harold_Christ)\ **Replies:** 232\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reparations-for-jim-crow/474252 "2017-10-05T13:44:22Z")
The government should compensate any person who suffered under Jim Crow. The compensation should come from the state, local, and federal levels. Any person that can show he was affected by these racist policies should r… --- ## [Do other countries dehumanize criminals like we do in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-dehumanize-criminals-like-we-do-in-the-us/795653)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-countries-dehumanize-criminals-like-we-do-in-the-us/795653 "2017-10-05T12:10:03Z")
In the US, it is common for people to believe that criminals are beneath dignity. They believe it is OK, or at least a very low priority problem, that people sent to prison are often sexually assaulted. It is a common jo… --- ## [Let's assume you actually are in a simulation...how big of a Truman Show set do they need?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-assume-you-actually-are-in-a-simulation-how-big-of-a-truman-show-set-do-they-need/796825)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-assume-you-actually-are-in-a-simulation-how-big-of-a-truman-show-set-do-they-need/796825 "2017-10-04T20:36:18Z")
There is already a similar thread, but as I am taking a very different take on the matter, I didn’t want to hijack it. How does one deal with not being 100% certain? Let’s assume for argument’s sake, your world is actu… --- ## [What separates successful protest movements from unsuccessful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-separates-successful-protest-movements-from-unsuccessful/797519)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2017, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-separates-successful-protest-movements-from-unsuccessful/797519 "2017-10-04T17:47:09Z")
I’d argue that successful protest movements have these features: A sympathetic group that is mistreated Demands that are entirely achievable through direct means, such as changes to laws. Protest tactics that do not tu… --- ## [Trump & Cuba](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-cuba/789150)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 219\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-cuba/789150 "2017-10-03T22:21:21Z")
No, not this Cuba; this Cuba. Today Mr. Trump announced that he was abandoning and/or altering various aspects of the previous administration’s stance, including re-instituting a people-to-people travel ban and other sa… --- ## [Did Obama violate the Logan Act?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-violate-the-logan-act/790602)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2017, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-obama-violate-the-logan-act/790602 "2017-10-02T09:14:55Z")
According to my Facebook feed, he did (and Trump has a nasty surprise for him when he gets back :rolleyes:). I tried to Google: “Obama Logan Act” but all I’m getting is a bunch of Right Wing sites. Does anyone know if … --- ## [Disagreement over meaning of the flag](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disagreement-over-meaning-of-the-flag/797478)
**Author:** [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disagreement-over-meaning-of-the-flag/797478 "2017-10-02T02:51:15Z")
Why does the right equate what they see as disrespect for the flag as disrespect for the troops, while the left does not? --- ## [Reagan good or bad POTUS? The Will-O'Reilly feud resurrects the question of his legacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reagan-good-or-bad-potus-the-will-oreilly-feud-resurrects-the-question-of-his-legacy/737495)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 174\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reagan-good-or-bad-potus-the-will-oreilly-feud-resurrects-the-question-of-his-legacy/737495 "2017-10-02T00:12:32Z")
The feud is discussed in this CS thread. In a nutshell, in his new book, Killing Reagan (why is the man so death-obsessed?!), Bill O’Reilly asserts that Reagan was effectively senile for much of his presidency, and spec… --- ## [Is it "too early to tell" whether South Africa will turn out like Zimbabwe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-tell-whether-south-africa-will-turn-out-like-zimbabwe/622495)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-early-to-tell-whether-south-africa-will-turn-out-like-zimbabwe/622495 "2017-10-02T00:11:45Z")
Meant to get to this a month ago, it slipped my mind . . . In this thread on a “one-state solution” for Israel/Palestine, brazil84 posted the following: The notion SA might follow Zimbabwe’s path (dispossession and su… --- ## [Best examples of clearly-successful governmental social programs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-examples-of-clearly-successful-governmental-social-programs/797250)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-examples-of-clearly-successful-governmental-social-programs/797250 "2017-10-01T23:28:08Z")
I’m having a Facebook debate with someone right now. He’s strongly libertarian, and he claims that the past 50 years prove that governmental programs which spend money to help increasing social mobility (ie, on things li… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=108) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=110)