# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=132 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 133 --- ## [Evangelical/Fundamentalist/non-denominational Christians and no commitments to helping others.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203)
**Author:** [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203 "2017-02-15T16:03:46Z")
While they are not always perfect about it the various types of Christianity I have been exposed to in childhood typically have strong commitments to helping others in their canon. I am mostly familiar with the Episcopa… --- ## [Are Americans losing it with Muslims?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-americans-losing-it-with-muslims/741553)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 654\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-americans-losing-it-with-muslims/741553 "2017-02-15T15:09:21Z")
The other day while Christmas shopping at WalMart a Muslim couple was there. The husband was dressed fairly normal but the wife had the full length black outfit and had her head covered and her face partially covered. Th… --- ## [Why didn't trump ban countries that actually committed terrorist attacks that resulted in US deaths?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-trump-ban-countries-that-actually-committed-terrorist-attacks-that-resulted-in-us-deaths/778599)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-trump-ban-countries-that-actually-committed-terrorist-attacks-that-resulted-in-us-deaths/778599 "2017-02-15T14:36:34Z")
Why didn’t he ban muslims from Saudi arabia, egypt, or even pakistan? This makes literally no sense, is it completely politically-ignorant driven? On the basis that people believe folks from these countries are terrorist… --- ## [Trump vs Nordstrom: Ethics Violation or Father Defending Daughter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-nordstrom-ethics-violation-or-father-defending-daughter/779386)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-vs-nordstrom-ethics-violation-or-father-defending-daughter/779386 "2017-02-15T13:38:00Z")
https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/Financial+Conflicts+of+Interest Short version of the article. Nordstrom dept store dropped Ivanka Trump’s product line. They claim this was due to sagging sales. It is worth noting it … --- ## [If Abraham Lincoln Had Never Been Assassinated.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-abraham-lincoln-had-never-been-assassinated/779334)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-abraham-lincoln-had-never-been-assassinated/779334 "2017-02-15T11:04:46Z")
True story. When I was back in grade school, there was always this same girl, who always posed the same, sometimes frightening, question. “But what if the US didn’t win the American Revolution?” “What if we didn’t defeat… --- ## [How did all this "gerrymandering" happen to us?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-all-this-gerrymandering-happen-to-us/778879)
**Author:** [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-all-this-gerrymandering-happen-to-us/778879 "2017-02-15T01:19:38Z")
It’s now a given that the Democratic Party will NEVER CONTROL THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AGAIN, due to Republican gerrymandering. All of the voting districts have been twisted into jigsaw puzzles that favor Republican… --- ## [Should the default assumption discussing Trump be success w/o consequence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-default-assumption-discussing-trump-be-success-w-o-consequence/779432)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-default-assumption-discussing-trump-be-success-w-o-consequence/779432 "2017-02-15T00:34:55Z")
When discussing the future of the current administration, and by extension the Republican Party and conservatism in general, whenever someone brings up the id a of popular revolt or popularity decreasing, there’s always … --- ## [Rolling back government regulations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-back-government-regulations/779749)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-back-government-regulations/779749 "2017-02-14T18:47:32Z")
Good article on this (and source of that quote): “Trump undertakes most ambitious regulatory rollback since Reagan” http://wapo.st/2kIbjyk Simple question: is this true? I’m guessing the answer is not so simple. Wha… --- ## [Did Trump acquire interest in Russia's largest oil company?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-acquire-interest-in-russias-largest-oil-company/779828)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-trump-acquire-interest-in-russias-largest-oil-company/779828 "2017-02-14T17:56:15Z")
According to this article Trump may have acquired a significant stake in Rosneft, the largest oil company in Russia, which is partially privatized. It goes on to describe the meetings between Carter Page, of Trump’s U… --- ## [Hypothetical: Should the military overthrow Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-should-the-military-overthrow-trump/778874)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-should-the-military-overthrow-trump/778874 "2017-02-14T02:32:16Z")
Back during the campaign, and during his Cabinet nominee announcements, the Left seemed very concerned that Trump was too cozy with the military, and doing things to undermine the principle of civilian control over the m… --- ## [What's wrong with the EPA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-epa/778414)
**Author:** [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-the-epa/778414 "2017-02-13T22:51:15Z")
It would be hard not to notice the right’s disdain for the EPA and I want to know why. Is there any logical, factual evidence that the EPA is corrupt or not making policies based on evidence? Of all of Trump’s EOs, the … --- ## [If Trump were to open the US borders to all](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-were-to-open-the-us-borders-to-all/779672)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-were-to-open-the-us-borders-to-all/779672 "2017-02-13T20:46:39Z")
What if Trump plays a game of extreme brinkmanship and passes an order to open all USA borders to all of humankind. ie no visa or passports required for anyone. what will or can the left do? what will or can the right… --- ## [Presidential abuse of power](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-abuse-of-power/779329)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-abuse-of-power/779329 "2017-02-13T18:42:17Z")
President Trump on Tuesday casually offered to “destroy” the career of a state senator who a Texas sheriff said he had problems with. Nixon said. ‘\[W\]hen the president does it, that means it is not illegal.’ But isn’t … --- ## [The Silencing of Elizabeth Warren](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-silencing-of-elizabeth-warren/779322)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-silencing-of-elizabeth-warren/779322 "2017-02-13T14:56:47Z")
This is all over the news this morning – Elizabeth Warren was ordered silence by McConnell because of statements she made about Jeff Sessions during debate about his selection as Attorney General. I gather that the immed… --- ## [Federal judge blocks President's executive order: how?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-judge-blocks-presidents-executive-order-how/778953)
**Author:** [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Replies:** 253\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-judge-blocks-presidents-executive-order-how/778953 "2017-02-12T20:43:52Z")
OK, the actual news headline is “Federal judge in Seattle blocks Trump’s travel ban” but that isn’t the point of the question. Please make this nonpartisan. What is the legal process (or precedent) by which a judge can… --- ## [High Speed Rail from New York to San Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-speed-rail-from-new-york-to-san-francisco/442736)
**Author:** [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-speed-rail-from-new-york-to-san-francisco/442736 "2017-02-12T20:18:29Z")
In the 'Your dinner with Obama–what would you ask him? ’ thread, I said I would ask him about public works projects, such as a possible rail from New York to San Francisco in order to help revitalize the rust belt and co… --- ## [Trump signs "Make one reg, you gotta dump 2" executive order.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-signs-make-one-reg-you-gotta-dump-2-executive-order/778610)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-signs-make-one-reg-you-gotta-dump-2-executive-order/778610 "2017-02-12T19:31:03Z")
Link to story and full version of the executive order. As the story says, since there is no easy way to just dump regs you don’t like, this makes it next to impossible to get anything passed. There is also the added st… --- ## [Pre-life and post-life non-being. Is there a difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-life-and-post-life-non-being-is-there-a-difference/779560)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-life-and-post-life-non-being-is-there-a-difference/779560 "2017-02-12T16:02:36Z")
For instance was I dead in the year 1000, as dead as I will be in the year 3000? What is the difference between the two states, if any? One could say I suppose that there’s a difference in potentiality, that I had the po… --- ## [Am I Losing My MIND or Trump the only Administration that Holds A Press Briefing Everyday](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-losing-my-mind-or-trump-the-only-administration-that-holds-a-press-briefing-everyday/779426)
**Author:** [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-losing-my-mind-or-trump-the-only-administration-that-holds-a-press-briefing-everyday/779426 "2017-02-12T03:02:29Z")
I just turned 30 years old, so I’m not particularly old. However I don’t seem to recall any administration which has held a press briefing everyday single, freaking day since coming into office.!! Everyday Sean Spicer a… --- ## [Russia may return Snowden as gift to Trump. Good move or bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-may-return-snowden-as-gift-to-trump-good-move-or-bad/779527)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2017, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-may-return-snowden-as-gift-to-trump-good-move-or-bad/779527 "2017-02-11T08:59:17Z")
Russia Considers Returning Snowden to U.S. to ‘Curry Favor’ With Trump: Official The Official is typical journalistic oversell, this seems to be just the usual scuttlebutt but if there is anything to it would it be a g… --- ## ["The Viability of Moral Dissent by the Military"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-viability-of-moral-dissent-by-the-military/779423)
**Author:** [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-viability-of-moral-dissent-by-the-military/779423 "2017-02-10T22:20:05Z")
The Journal "Joint Force Quarterly has published the winning entry in an essay contest. It was written by Lee M. Turcotte. (caution, pdf link) In the essay, he posits a time when the government has ordered the internm… --- ## [The left should back off Ivanka Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-left-should-back-off-ivanka-trump/779441)
**Author:** [@Salvor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salvor)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-left-should-back-off-ivanka-trump/779441 "2017-02-10T19:54:55Z")
I am a proud liberal just like most of you here, but I think it is a mistake for people on our general team on the farther left wing side to go after Ivanka because of her familial association with Trump. Based on what … --- ## [What is the best style of debate for persuasion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-style-of-debate-for-persuasion/779413)
**Author:** [@Salvor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salvor)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-style-of-debate-for-persuasion/779413 "2017-02-10T19:14:13Z")
This was a question that came up in another post, but it seems like a hard problem and I don’t have the answer. What style and form of debate is the best at persuading people, and potentially the debaters themselves? I… --- ## [Are debates inadequate to change minds? (Bernie/Cruz Debate)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-debates-inadequate-to-change-minds-bernie-cruz-debate/779362)
**Author:** [@Salvor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salvor)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-debates-inadequate-to-change-minds-bernie-cruz-debate/779362 "2017-02-10T18:56:24Z")
I watched the debate between Bernie and Ted Cruz over healthcare, and the thing that struck me was that even though this delved far more into some policy ideas compared to what we saw in the general campaign, it often se… --- ## [Who would be in contempt, if travel ban continued?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-in-contempt-if-travel-ban-continued/779459)
**Author:** [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-in-contempt-if-travel-ban-continued/779459 "2017-02-10T15:49:26Z")
If immigration officials continued to refuse entry to passengers according to the Trump travel ban, exactly who would be the individuals who could be held in contempt of court? And who would arrest them? And what if … --- ## [Who are the Republican members of Congress capable of being independent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-republican-members-of-congress-capable-of-being-independent/779393)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-republican-members-of-congress-capable-of-being-independent/779393 "2017-02-10T14:23:56Z")
This is the real thread title: are there any Republican members of the Senate or House who have the personal integrity and \[del\]balls\[/del\] courage to break the chokehold of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan? I don’t mean g… --- ## [Is media objectivity still taught these days? (No, not a pro-Trump or anti-Trump thread)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-media-objectivity-still-taught-these-days-no-not-a-pro-trump-or-anti-trump-thread/779422)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-media-objectivity-still-taught-these-days-no-not-a-pro-trump-or-anti-trump-thread/779422 "2017-02-10T13:47:24Z")
ISTM that one of the first casualties of the Trump phenomenon is that media objectivity is going away, perhaps forever. Now, there was never, of course, a truly unbiased media network, but in the past few weeks and month… --- ## [Is "tax base" now a trump card in lawsuits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tax-base-now-a-trump-card-in-lawsuits/779439)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tax-base-now-a-trump-card-in-lawsuits/779439 "2017-02-10T05:33:08Z")
In Kelo v New London we learned a state can seize private property under eminent domain provided that it increases the tax base of the locality. And now in the State of Washington’s lawsuit fighting the travel-ban they … --- ## [Can Donald Trump ban Muslims from entering the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-donald-trump-ban-muslims-from-entering-the-us/779428)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-donald-trump-ban-muslims-from-entering-the-us/779428 "2017-02-10T04:07:54Z")
How would you write an Executive Order for Donald Trump refusing Muslims entry to the US that would pass Constitutional muster? --- ## [What Should Be the Role of the Press in a Trump Presidency](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-role-of-the-press-in-a-trump-presidency/777397)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-role-of-the-press-in-a-trump-presidency/777397 "2017-02-10T00:52:48Z")
According to Margaret Sullivan of the Washington Post, the next four years are going to be hell for reporters. How should reporters cover the Trump presidency? “Just the facts” in articles and then point-by-point criti… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=131) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=133)