# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=147 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 148 --- ## [The "Christian Nation" and the war with Islam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-christian-nation-and-the-war-with-islam/766694)
**Author:** [@opinionator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/opinionator)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2016, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-christian-nation-and-the-war-with-islam/766694 "2016-10-03T01:45:00Z")
As if it isn’t bad enough that many Americans are condemning all Muslims for what a few are doing, you have Christians mixed in with this fine group as well. I take issue with what Americans are saying, but I have to tak… --- ## [Hillary 2008/Obama 2016](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-2008-obama-2016/767442)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-2008-obama-2016/767442 "2016-10-02T22:25:59Z")
This isn’t so much a debate as a hypothetical, but I was one of those people in 2008 who thought Obama was too inexperienced and should have waited a couple of election cycles. He’s made some missteps, but overall I’m … --- ## [Who has been the most influencial leader/king for human rights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-the-most-influencial-leader-king-for-human-rights/767517)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-has-been-the-most-influencial-leader-king-for-human-rights/767517 "2016-10-02T22:16:44Z")
My immediate first thought is the first king of persia cyrus. Which was the first person in position of power to promote human rights on a large scale. Mainly being the freedom of belief, and the natural rights of man. I… --- ## [Do we need friends?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-friends/767434)
**Author:** [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-friends/767434 "2016-10-02T03:46:40Z")
I have heard the many sugary stories about how we “need” them but is it true? I mean obviously humans have to socialize with each other and cooperate but do we really need to take it further than that? --- ## [Bible Question - Matthew 6:1 vs Matthew 5:16](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-matthew-6-1-vs-matthew-5-16/767181)
**Author:** [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-question-matthew-6-1-vs-matthew-5-16/767181 "2016-10-02T01:50:18Z")
I’m not sure if I got the verses right, but I think so. In the first one, the bible quote is “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward fro… --- ## [Profiling based off of high per capita incidence of violent crime (gender, race and religion)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profiling-based-off-of-high-per-capita-incidence-of-violent-crime-gender-race-and-religion/767209)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/profiling-based-off-of-high-per-capita-incidence-of-violent-crime-gender-race-and-religion/767209 "2016-10-01T14:55:00Z")
In another thread, ZPG Zealot argued that, owing to the state of society with regards to crimes against women, men should be assumed to be potential rapists and sexual predators until proven otherwise. Which I felt raise… --- ## [How do we know such an amazing amount about "Alcibiades" who lived 2400 years ago?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-such-an-amazing-amount-about-alcibiades-who-lived-2400-years-ago/766389)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-know-such-an-amazing-amount-about-alcibiades-who-lived-2400-years-ago/766389 "2016-09-30T20:12:47Z")
This person was referenced by another doper so out of curiosity I took a look at the wiki. It was 2400 years ago but his entire life history and career is commented on down to the tiniest detail. The wiki list of sources… --- ## [A "Clean" Federal Funding Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-federal-funding-bill/767082)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-clean-federal-funding-bill/767082 "2016-09-30T17:13:35Z")
Over the past few years there were several attempts by the Republicans to get legislative priorities passed by attaching them to federal funding bills, threatening to shut down the government unless their legislation was… --- ## [Demonology- Are there demons who do whatever they want? Bad and good?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonology-are-there-demons-who-do-whatever-they-want-bad-and-good/766844)
**Author:** [@Ifill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ifill)\ **Replies:** 161\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demonology-are-there-demons-who-do-whatever-they-want-bad-and-good/766844 "2016-09-30T16:46:17Z")
Are there demons who do bad AND good things if they feel like it? 2)Let’s say you knew a demon in a past life, and they come to you in your currently life wanting to work with you. They show you their name and what the… --- ## [EEOC V. Catastrophe Management Solutions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eeoc-v-catastrophe-management-solutions/767199)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eeoc-v-catastrophe-management-solutions/767199 "2016-09-29T18:05:44Z")
Court case involving a company which rescinded a job offer to an African-American woman who refused to change her dreadlocks hairstyle. The EEOC argued that discriminating against people with dreadlocks amounted to discr… --- ## [Slut Shaming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slut-shaming/763882)
**Author:** [@anon12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon12)\ **Replies:** 237\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slut-shaming/763882 "2016-09-29T13:48:28Z")
I have a class assignment where I need to discuss the ethics/morals of a controversial issue. What do you think about slut shaming? --- ## [Incest laws are an example of "Big Government".](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incest-laws-are-an-example-of-big-government/766232)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2016, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incest-laws-are-an-example-of-big-government/766232 "2016-09-29T02:13:28Z")
So recently I saw a story about two adults who had consensual sex, but they were mother and son. Apparently there are laws against incest, remarkably in majority of the world. Maybe I shouldn’t be as surprised as I am, b… --- ## [How dangerous are refugees?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-are-refugees/766514)
**Author:** [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-are-refugees/766514 "2016-09-28T03:19:46Z")
Spinning this off of the main Trump thread in Elections, since it’s turning into a hijack. One of the Trumplings tweeted a refugees=Skittles meme which kicked off a debate over how dangerous refugees actually are. I fe… --- ## [Will Republicans actually repeal the Affordable Care Act?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republicans-actually-repeal-the-affordable-care-act/766377)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-republicans-actually-repeal-the-affordable-care-act/766377 "2016-09-27T17:43:44Z")
I know that Congressional Republicans have voted over 60 times to repeal the ACA. But in all those cases, they knew it would get vetoed by Obama. It could just be empty political posturing on their part. If Trump gets el… --- ## [What are the most stable democracies that have voted in a dictator?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-stable-democracies-that-have-voted-in-a-dictator/766494)
**Author:** [@DagNation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DagNation)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-stable-democracies-that-have-voted-in-a-dictator/766494 "2016-09-26T20:49:45Z")
Recent events have made me wonder, what are the longest lasting democratic governments that ended by empowering a dictator? I am aware that the US is at best a democratic republic, and there is no “perfect” democracy, b… --- ## [Any genuine Marxists on here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-genuine-marxists-on-here/763873)
**Author:** [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-genuine-marxists-on-here/763873 "2016-09-26T18:26:49Z")
Or even ex-marxists that went through a phase, or someone that studied it critically in depth? I was quite shocked to run into a genuine true believer Marxist in the wild recently, as far as I can tell he seems to be on… --- ## [Battleground states](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battleground-states/766614)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battleground-states/766614 "2016-09-24T01:15:16Z")
Why do Ohio, PA, and Florida, always decide presidential races? I think this is ridiculous and anti-democratic. Our entire constitution was set up to avoid giving too much power to any one state. Now it seems like a … --- ## [Low wages and Corporate America..do I have this right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-wages-and-corporate-america-do-i-have-this-right/766209)
**Author:** [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-wages-and-corporate-america-do-i-have-this-right/766209 "2016-09-23T19:44:45Z")
As we all know but are afraid to admit, employees only exist to make investors money. Workers are an asset, not a liability. It’s a cold look at corporate America. With the recent announcement of closings for Macy’s and … --- ## [Things hotting up between India and Pakistan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-hotting-up-between-india-and-pakistan/766370)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-hotting-up-between-india-and-pakistan/766370 "2016-09-23T15:35:23Z")
Its a long saga but this week after the death of 18 Indian soldiers following a terrorist attack, it all looks a bit shaky. They are bith nuclear powers. India has a no first use policy on nuclear. But Pakstan foreign m… --- ## [The 1001st nuclear strategy thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1001st-nuclear-strategy-thread/766407)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-1001st-nuclear-strategy-thread/766407 "2016-09-22T23:18:48Z")
Because I don’t have enough problems in my life, I like to terrify myself with the latest nuclear annihilation scenarios. Here is a recent and impressive sample of the genre. In the event of a crisis, I’ve no doubt Ru… --- ## [Government agents posing as journalists-right or wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-agents-posing-as-journalists-right-or-wrong/766342)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-agents-posing-as-journalists-right-or-wrong/766342 "2016-09-22T21:31:38Z")
On Thursday, a federal watchdog agency determined that an FBI agent posing as a reporter did not violate their undercover policies. Personally, I think such a ruling not only makes legitimate journalism harder, it make… --- ## [The War On Stupid People](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-stupid-people/763410)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-stupid-people/763410 "2016-09-22T16:03:12Z")
Here’s an article in The Atlantic that I think raises some very good points: David H. Freedman goes on to talk about the social stigma against people with below average IQs and their limited prospects today. He’s not t… --- ## [Come on now, isn't it rather unfair to blame cops when a "toy gun" looks exactly like a real gun?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-on-now-isnt-it-rather-unfair-to-blame-cops-when-a-toy-gun-looks-exactly-like-a-real-gun/766099)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2016, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-on-now-isnt-it-rather-unfair-to-blame-cops-when-a-toy-gun-looks-exactly-like-a-real-gun/766099 "2016-09-22T08:57:02Z")
Someone started a thread in the Pit, but I would like to have a non-Pitting discussion about the issue: If someone wants to argue that cops shouldn’t be shooting kids with guns, that’s one thing, but let’s look at the o… --- ## [Clowns, refugees, terrorists, bigotry, and fear.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-refugees-terrorists-bigotry-and-fear/766483)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clowns-refugees-terrorists-bigotry-and-fear/766483 "2016-09-21T20:28:05Z")
In this MPSIMS thread: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=803228 we’ve been discussing rather lightheartedly the current clown hysteria which has led to newspapers using phrases like “the alleged clow… --- ## [Housing vouchers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/housing-vouchers/766259)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/housing-vouchers/766259 "2016-09-20T21:08:34Z")
Are these really a good idea? I see them as leading to the same problem as federal student aid. Prices spiral out of control because someone else pays. In my town, many residents who make too much money to get voucher… --- ## [Who were the last soldiers to actually "Fight for my freedoms"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-last-soldiers-to-actually-fight-for-my-freedoms/766070)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-last-soldiers-to-actually-fight-for-my-freedoms/766070 "2016-09-19T22:38:46Z")
You’d be hard pressed to convince me that my freedoms were ever in any real danger over the past 40 or so years. So, when was the last time a soldier actually fought for American freedoms? WWII? --- ## [Why is the health of the president be an issue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-health-of-the-president-be-an-issue/765866)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-health-of-the-president-be-an-issue/765866 "2016-09-19T15:49:09Z")
This thread is for a general debate about the health of the POTUS and how it relates to how good a job they do. With all the latest about Clinton’s recent health issues, it occurred to me that some of our best presidents… --- ## [Does Capitalism Eventually Kill competition?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capitalism-eventually-kill-competition/617519)
**Author:** [@mac9891](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac9891)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-capitalism-eventually-kill-competition/617519 "2016-09-19T14:37:02Z")
Capitalism in its beginning breeds competition as people exploit any niche or demand there is and fight to do better than their competitors breeding more and better supply. But after a competitor has beat out all of its… --- ## [Do Immanuel Kant's racist opinions render the rest of his philosophy suspect?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-immanuel-kants-racist-opinions-render-the-rest-of-his-philosophy-suspect/580731)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-immanuel-kants-racist-opinions-render-the-rest-of-his-philosophy-suspect/580731 "2016-09-19T05:47:55Z")
In Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and the Sublime, Kant writes: Now, I have ranted long and boringly on my contempt for Kant in general, so for me this tidbit just gives me another reason to put him on my… --- ## [Is suicide on death row the same outcome as execution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-suicide-on-death-row-the-same-outcome-as-execution/765768)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-suicide-on-death-row-the-same-outcome-as-execution/765768 "2016-09-19T03:31:16Z")
I am aware that many if not most Dopers oppose capital punishment outright, but in order for this discussion to be engaged I will ask everyone to temporarily suspend their opposition to the death penalty: When Hermann G… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=146) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=148)