# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=123 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 124 --- ## [What's the matter with Venezuela?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-matter-with-venezuela/775789)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-matter-with-venezuela/775789 "2017-05-19T15:12:36Z")
The conservative line is that socialism (as is its habit) wrecked Venezuela. Is this true? Is something else to blame? Or have I bought into #FakeNews and Venezuela is actually doing great? This Boston Globe article out… --- ## [Should the NSA be held responsible for the Wannacry ransomware attack?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-nsa-be-held-responsible-for-the-wannacry-ransomware-attack/786632)
**Author:** [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2017, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-nsa-be-held-responsible-for-the-wannacry-ransomware-attack/786632 "2017-05-19T06:11:06Z")
It seems the NSA knew of a security hole in Windows. The NSA apparently wrote the code that the current Wannacry is based on, and didn’t info Microsoft of this vulnerability, until after they found out the code was stole… --- ## [Tax the rich and save the poor.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-the-rich-and-save-the-poor/786790)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 162\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-the-rich-and-save-the-poor/786790 "2017-05-19T03:25:43Z")
The way things are now we’re taxing every pleb then turning around and letting single wealthy individuals keep billions by not taxing them. This has happen because money gives you influence. People with large amounts of … --- ## [Merrick Garland for FBI Director](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merrick-garland-for-fbi-director/786624)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merrick-garland-for-fbi-director/786624 "2017-05-18T16:25:30Z")
A great idea? Nonsense juxtaposition? I like it, but I’m sure there’s lots of issues I’m not seeing. So: resolved that Trump appointing Garland as FBI Director is a net positive for the nation. --- ## [Should People of Color trust the police?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-of-color-trust-the-police/786433)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-people-of-color-trust-the-police/786433 "2017-05-18T13:34:09Z")
I don’t think so. Yes, here we go again. Another county where the police are terrorizing and brutalizing people of color. No, I’m not going to bother with “allegedly”. We’ve seen this enough to know this probably isn’t… --- ## [Why didn't the DC police handle the situation with ergodans bodyguards assaulting US citizens better](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-dc-police-handle-the-situation-with-ergodans-bodyguards-assaulting-us-citizens-better/786834)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-dc-police-handle-the-situation-with-ergodans-bodyguards-assaulting-us-citizens-better/786834 "2017-05-17T16:57:52Z")
https://www.google.com/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/17/erdogans-bodyguards-violent-clash-protesters-washington-leaving/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/heavy.com/news/2017/05/erdogan-bodyguard-video-assault-turke… --- ## [Valerie Plame and NSA Surveillance.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valerie-plame-and-nsa-surveillance/336726)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2017, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valerie-plame-and-nsa-surveillance/336726 "2017-05-17T08:50:49Z")
Many of our members on the left were justifiably concerned with the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity to the press for what looked liked political purposes. The fact that Valerie Plame was not undercover or… --- ## [Trump & the WaPo (& various leakers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-the-wapo-various-leakers/786744)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2017, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-the-wapo-various-leakers/786744 "2017-05-17T05:00:20Z")
This relates to the latest revelations about Trump casually compromising US intelligence gathering in a conversation with the Russians. This is not to in any way minimize what Trump did (or is alleged to have done, at an… --- ## [Does incarcerating drug dealers do any good?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-incarcerating-drug-dealers-do-any-good/784851)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-incarcerating-drug-dealers-do-any-good/784851 "2017-05-17T03:20:27Z")
There is a proposed bill in the Maine Legislature to for up to a 30 year prison sentence for a drug dealer if one of their customers dies of an overdose. This seems to me like a terribly expensive feel-good measure that… --- ## [How Do We Falsify Abiogenesis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-falsify-abiogenesis/785971)
**Author:** [@Great\_White\_Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_White_Dope)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-falsify-abiogenesis/785971 "2017-05-16T21:49:13Z")
First, let’s make it clear what we mean by abiogenesis. If you Google the term, you’ll see an adequate definition at the top of the search results: This works for me. So, how do we falsify this notion that inanimate s… --- ## [What's the best argument to refute this FB post (on Trump giving out classified info)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-argument-to-refute-this-fb-post-on-trump-giving-out-classified-info/786755)
**Author:** [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-argument-to-refute-this-fb-post-on-trump-giving-out-classified-info/786755 "2017-05-16T16:00:48Z")
Someone I know on Facebook, who is always posting “the REAL facts”, posted the following: I think this is BS (he could have alerted them without, you know, giving them classified info) but I suspect you guys can supply… --- ## [The term "People of Color"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-term-people-of-color/786688)
**Author:** [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2017, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-term-people-of-color/786688 "2017-05-16T13:53:56Z")
Does anyone find this term both a little ignorant and offensive? In the 1960s, did not the African Americans and such of the time take umbrage at being called “colored people” and fought to be called “Black” - not Negro,… --- ## [Why are drug laws so severe everywhere?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-drug-laws-so-severe-everywhere/786156)
**Author:** [@Warm\_blood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Warm_blood)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2017, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-drug-laws-so-severe-everywhere/786156 "2017-05-16T11:45:32Z")
It seems that in just about every nation penalties for possessing/trafficking drugs are severe at best and downright barbaric at worst, especially in contrast to crimes that have more devastating consequences on society … --- ## [Not having sex on the first date](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-having-sex-on-the-first-date/786177)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-having-sex-on-the-first-date/786177 "2017-05-15T21:24:51Z")
Anna Akana posted a YouTube video on this subject (warning: Akana uses a NSFW word to describe having sex). As a man, I feel I’m on the outside looking in on this issue. I have never worried that a woman would lose resp… --- ## [Grassley confirms Comey told him that Trump is not being investigated](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grassley-confirms-comey-told-him-that-trump-is-not-being-investigated/786463)
**Author:** [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grassley-confirms-comey-told-him-that-trump-is-not-being-investigated/786463 "2017-05-15T16:41:56Z")
Mar 20 tweet: "@ChuckGrassley FBI Dir Comey needs to be transparent + tell the public what he told me about whether he is or is not investigating @POTUS" followed up by yesterday’s press release "\*\*Mr. Comey did brie… --- ## [Is the US creating pedophiles by its laws?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-creating-pedophiles-by-its-laws/786342)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-creating-pedophiles-by-its-laws/786342 "2017-05-15T16:39:32Z")
How many kids, 18 or 19, have been charged with statutory rape for sex with their 16/17 year old girlfriends? Then upon release they have to register as sex offenders and their photo and address is publicly circulated. T… --- ## [Christian T-shirt company refuses to do gay pride T-shirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-t-shirt-company-refuses-to-do-gay-pride-t-shirts/786504)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-t-shirt-company-refuses-to-do-gay-pride-t-shirts/786504 "2017-05-15T02:57:20Z")
And they won in court. The link above is to an older story, can’t find news reports on the latest victory for the company involved, but a link to the actual Court of Appeals decision is here: But the interesting pa… --- ## [Trump committed obstruction of justice by threatening Comey.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-committed-obstruction-of-justice-by-threatening-comey/786501)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-committed-obstruction-of-justice-by-threatening-comey/786501 "2017-05-14T23:51:42Z")
“James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!” - https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/863007411132649473 This is obstruction of justice and witness … --- ## [At what point will the national debt trigger a default?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-will-the-national-debt-trigger-a-default/785974)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-will-the-national-debt-trigger-a-default/785974 "2017-05-14T23:16:17Z")
We’ve already reached the point where we can’t stop borrowing money; if government borrowing stopped tomorrow, the lack of funds would trigger chaos. But logically the national debt cannot rise forever- eventually at 30 … --- ## [What is and isn't a "pre-existing condition"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-and-isnt-a-pre-existing-condition/786210)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-and-isnt-a-pre-existing-condition/786210 "2017-05-14T13:04:57Z")
What is considered a pre-existing condition and how far does that term go? Is having a c section considered a pre-existing condition? Is depression considered a pre-existing condition? I’m confused on what is defined as… --- ## [We are going to war. Mark my words.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-going-to-war-mark-my-words/786326)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-going-to-war-mark-my-words/786326 "2017-05-13T03:42:02Z")
All the signs are pointing to a war. Trump is under fire so “Wag the Dog” is an obvious strategy. I have a friend that lives close to Luke AFB in Arizona. They have a wing of F-35’s and a wing of F-16’s, I’ve been there… --- ## [Kamau Bell and Racist Five Year Olds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamau-bell-and-racist-five-year-olds/785729)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 229\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamau-bell-and-racist-five-year-olds/785729 "2017-05-12T15:04:52Z")
Mods: Not sure where this should go. Here in CS? IMHO? Pit? I caught the end of an interview with comedian A. Kamu Bell hosted by Terry Gross yesterday. Having not seen his act and only bits on TV, I didn’t have much of… --- ## [Climate Models: Inaccurate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-models-inaccurate/786141)
**Author:** [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2017, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-models-inaccurate/786141 "2017-05-12T08:46:20Z")
A dear friend is a hardcore Climate Change Denier and forwarded me a link to this wattsupwiththat.com link. I’d done some preliminary searching around TSDMB and Reddit and found no straightforward debunking of these spe… --- ## [Using The Climate Alarmists' Logic To Prove God](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-climate-alarmists-logic-to-prove-god/786056)
**Author:** [@Great\_White\_Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_White_Dope)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-climate-alarmists-logic-to-prove-god/786056 "2017-05-12T00:30:14Z")
Climate Change Alarmists: Premise I: 97% of climate scientists accept climate change. Premise II: Climate scientists are the experts on climate change. Conclusion: The overwhelming majority of those who most understan… --- ## [Any Reason Not To Have Alcohol Sensor/Ignition Interlock In All Cars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-have-alcohol-sensor-ignition-interlock-in-all-cars/498386)
**Author:** [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-not-to-have-alcohol-sensor-ignition-interlock-in-all-cars/498386 "2017-05-12T00:17:18Z")
I’m rarely the one advocating a nanny state solution, and I am no Puritan as far as my history of responsible decisionmaking regarding alcohol. But in the course of a defensive driving program I did to lower my insuranc… --- ## [Has universal access to porn changed society at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-universal-access-to-porn-changed-society-at-all/785769)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-universal-access-to-porn-changed-society-at-all/785769 "2017-05-11T22:42:51Z")
When I was a kid in the 50s porn was not easily obtained. Oh you saw the occasional grimy b&w photos passed around between kids like something rare and precious, which in a way I guess it was. But in our wildest fantasie… --- ## [Can Trump fire Comey when Comey is conducting an investigation against Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-fire-comey-when-comey-is-conducting-an-investigation-against-trump/782641)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-trump-fire-comey-when-comey-is-conducting-an-investigation-against-trump/782641 "2017-05-10T21:21:52Z")
The breaking news that is the root of this question is thisarticle. TLDR, Comey has announced there is an ongoing FBI investigation that is investigating whether Russia actually meaningfully interfered with the election… --- ## [How big a military does the USA really need?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-military-does-the-usa-really-need/783101)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-military-does-the-usa-really-need/783101 "2017-05-10T03:07:57Z")
The proposed large increase to the military budget seems like a huge waste of money to me. There are much better things we could be spending that money on, and I think the majority of military spending ultimately does n… --- ## [Are 1 in 4 women depressed? What can be done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-1-in-4-women-depressed-what-can-be-done/785770)
**Author:** [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-1-in-4-women-depressed-what-can-be-done/785770 "2017-05-09T21:58:01Z")
No jokes in this thread please. 1 in 4 women in the USA is a lot of people. Why is this happening and what can be done? --- ## [Explain to me what is wrong with school vouchers as an idea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-what-is-wrong-with-school-vouchers-as-an-idea/784941)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 341\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-to-me-what-is-wrong-with-school-vouchers-as-an-idea/784941 "2017-05-09T14:04:27Z")
First, I saw the John Oliver segment. I am well aware that sloppily regulated private schools are no better than public schools and often much worse. However, that’s a failure of the state to properly regulate those sc… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=122) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=124)