# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=236 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 237 --- ## ["Crash the Justice System": actual consequences?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-the-justice-system-actual-consequences/685222)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2014, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crash-the-justice-system-actual-consequences/685222 "2014-04-11T06:03:22Z")
This NYTimes article examined how our justice system is dependent on plea-bargaining, and raises the speculation of what would happen if a large percentage of defendants insisted on their right to trial. Seriously, wh… --- ## [American Civil War/When/how would the south have abolished slavery without it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-civil-war-when-how-would-the-south-have-abolished-slavery-without-it/683359)
**Author:** [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Replies:** 206\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-civil-war-when-how-would-the-south-have-abolished-slavery-without-it/683359 "2014-04-11T02:39:22Z")
What if Lincoln had lost the election and the Confederacy had never been formed, and the Civil War had never occurred? How long would slavery have continued? --- ## [What is the name for the desire to believe humans are more important than we really are](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-the-desire-to-believe-humans-are-more-important-than-we-really-are/684488)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-for-the-desire-to-believe-humans-are-more-important-than-we-really-are/684488 "2014-04-10T12:52:06Z")
Watching Cosmos last night they talked about this logical fallacy humans are prone to. We want to believe we are unique, that everything exists to serve us, that we are a lot more important and central to existence than … --- ## [The morality of coercion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-morality-of-coercion/684730)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-morality-of-coercion/684730 "2014-04-10T11:32:29Z")
Most, if not all societies have endorsed the idea of forcing people to do things against their will, to some extent or another. At one end of the spectrum you have totalitarian political or theocratic doctrines, which ca… --- ## [Attawapiskat - Solutions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attawapiskat-solutions/605344)
**Author:** [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)\ **Replies:** 159\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2014, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attawapiskat-solutions/605344 "2014-04-10T03:54:07Z")
For those not in the know, Attawapiskat is a fly-in and -out native reserve in northern Ontario that has declared a state of emergency due to inadequate housing/infrastructure in their community of approximately 2,000 pe… --- ## [Global Warming progressing far faster than previously thought](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-progressing-far-faster-than-previously-thought/679056)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 529\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-progressing-far-faster-than-previously-thought/679056 "2014-04-09T15:18:18Z")
So basically, even though the “no warming in 16 years” crowd was wrong before, now they’re really wrong - the data doesn’t even look like there’s been “no warming”. Hell, 1998 doesn’t even seem to be the hottest year … --- ## [Will Russia invade the Ukraine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-russia-invade-the-ukraine/685281)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-russia-invade-the-ukraine/685281 "2014-04-08T21:30:48Z")
We have a number of threads concerning the tense situation between Russia, the Ukraine and the Crimea. Peripherally the question in this OP has been touched on, but I don’t think anyone has really explored it in depth. … --- ## [For The Religious: What about other gods?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 209\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-religious-what-about-other-gods/682442 "2014-04-08T21:28:04Z")
What do you believe about deities other than your own? Are you atheistic about them, believing that they do not exist? Are you unsure about their existence? Do you believe that they are just avatars of your own deity?… --- ## [Why do Christians — America’s most populous religious group — feel so victimized?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-america-s-most-populous-religious-group-feel-so-victimized/685012)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 294\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-america-s-most-populous-religious-group-feel-so-victimized/685012 "2014-04-08T17:54:52Z")
Here are some excerpts from a recently published opinion piece by Chase Madar, an attorney in New York and the author of “The Passion of \[Chelsea\] Manning: The Story Behind the Wikileaks Whistleblower,” in Al Jazeera Ame… --- ## [Why the persistent political apathy over NSA surveillance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-persistent-political-apathy-over-nsa-surveillance/682632)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-persistent-political-apathy-over-nsa-surveillance/682632 "2014-04-08T16:23:41Z")
Yes, on the one hand there does seem to be a lot of pathy, if that’s a word. People rant against NSA surveillance, they blog about it, editors get letters, pundits click their tongues, editorial cartoonists draw anti-NS… --- ## [Should Christians Be Forced to Photograph Gay Weddings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-christians-be-forced-to-photograph-gay-weddings/624847)
**Author:** [@GEEPERS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GEEPERS)\ **Replies:** 865\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-christians-be-forced-to-photograph-gay-weddings/624847 "2014-04-07T16:56:10Z")
And the slipper slope to lack of religious freedom continues. Now in NM, it is against the law for a Christian photographer to refuse services to a gay couple. Otherwise, it is discrimination. This is pretty outrageo… --- ## [Why do blacks and hispanics have such low net worths compared with whites?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-blacks-and-hispanics-have-such-low-net-worths-compared-with-whites/681108)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-blacks-and-hispanics-have-such-low-net-worths-compared-with-whites/681108 "2014-04-07T12:48:20Z")
According to this CNN article from 2012: While I’ve been well aware of the income gap between whites and minorities, I wasn’t aware that the net worth disparity is even more striking. According to this source, the med… --- ## [My Philosophy of Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-philosophy-of-life/685507)
**Author:** [@Philosofer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosofer)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-philosophy-of-life/685507 "2014-04-07T01:08:26Z")
Over the past few years, I have formulated my philosophy of life, a 13-page document that may be found at either of the following links: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Byh6JnTg3RMecHhxV0pYeklqV0U/edit?usp=sharing In… --- ## [We should go back to the good ol' days, when we weren't afraid to call people stupid...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-the-good-ol-days-when-we-werent-afraid-to-call-people-stupid/684412)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-the-good-ol-days-when-we-werent-afraid-to-call-people-stupid/684412 "2014-04-06T18:36:32Z")
A remark on Slashdot inspired this: What happened to change this state of affairs? Is this person right in that the way things were were more knowledge and science friendly? Would everyone be better off if we were les… --- ## [Mila Kunis: bourbon and/or baby?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mila-kunis-bourbon-and-or-baby/684895)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mila-kunis-bourbon-and-or-baby/684895 "2014-04-06T14:27:17Z")
Jim Beam has rolled out a new ad series for their bourbon that feature Mila Kunis. It now appears that Ms. Kunis is expecting a child with her fiancée. Should Jim Beam stop running the ads now? (I prefer Maker’s Mark,… --- ## [Does Mississippi's "religious freedom" bill open the door to gay marriage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mississippis-religious-freedom-bill-open-the-door-to-gay-marriage/685310)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-mississippis-religious-freedom-bill-open-the-door-to-gay-marriage/685310 "2014-04-06T05:25:33Z")
Mississippi has passed their so-called “religious freedom” bill, SB 2681 and the governor says that he will sign it. This Blog speculates that Unitarian Universalist’s can use this bill to perform legal same sex marri… --- ## [If the Enterprise, Lexington and Saratoga were at Pearl Harbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-enterprise-lexington-and-saratoga-were-at-pearl-harbor/683932)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-enterprise-lexington-and-saratoga-were-at-pearl-harbor/683932 "2014-04-05T23:06:50Z")
It’s one of the fortunate accidents of history that all three Pacific Fleet carriers were away from Pearl Harbor on the 7th December, 1941 - and thus entered the war against Imperial Japan without a scratch. But what if… --- ## [Medical Data \[US Based\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-data-us-based/685298)
**Author:** [@Farin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farin)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-data-us-based/685298 "2014-04-05T01:40:43Z")
I was reading the debate about mandated vaccinations, and WhyNot made a remark in furtherment of his argument “without a national health records database, we just don’t know for sure what percent of our population is bei… --- ## [Is there any good reason not to mandate national vaccination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-reason-not-to-mandate-national-vaccination/684447)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 254\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-reason-not-to-mandate-national-vaccination/684447 "2014-04-04T11:59:02Z")
So let’s just clarify three premises right off the bat: Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and effective. Antivaccine sentiment is leading to an increase in infectious diseases. Lowered vaccination rates lead to more dis… --- ## [legalize marijuana or Not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legalize-marijuana-or-not/684382)
**Author:** [@canman23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canman23)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legalize-marijuana-or-not/684382 "2014-04-04T01:45:48Z")
Forgive me if this has already been debated. I wanted to see what all of you thought about this subject. I am not in favor of making it legal. Here are some of the reasons why. It’s a gateway drug. It can be extremely … --- ## [Iran: More sanctions now or wait?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-more-sanctions-now-or-wait/674300)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 993\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iran-more-sanctions-now-or-wait/674300 "2014-04-03T17:55:41Z")
Congress is considering imposing additional sanctions on Iran. The Obama administration wants more time to negotiate. What to do? My thoughts are that we should let Obama do his job and hold off on new sanctions for n… --- ## [BitCoin - Good Idea or Disastrous Failure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitcoin-good-idea-or-disastrous-failure/676175)
**Author:** [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitcoin-good-idea-or-disastrous-failure/676175 "2014-04-03T17:45:04Z")
For the uninitiated, Bitcoin is a popular peer-to-peer payment network that works as an on-line form of currency. I’ve spent some time recently looking at it because, quite frankly, I had a hard time believing any such … --- ## [military spending](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-spending/684212)
**Author:** [@Ranger26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger26)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-spending/684212 "2014-04-03T03:25:02Z")
I am wondering just how many Americans are favorable of the idea of cutting military spending and then re-investing that money in America’s infrastructure. I came across a petition on moveon.org titled that very thing (w… --- ## [When do contacts become nepotism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-contacts-become-nepotism/684826)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-contacts-become-nepotism/684826 "2014-04-02T23:51:34Z")
Mary is a very successful businesswoman. One day she hears from a friend that a large cooperation is looking for a contractor to do some work. She mentions that her son Bill runs a small company which might fill the bil… --- ## [How have propaganda networks of the past fared over the long term?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-propaganda-networks-of-the-past-fared-over-the-long-term/683706)
**Author:** [@IMfez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMfez)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-propaganda-networks-of-the-past-fared-over-the-long-term/683706 "2014-04-02T21:20:19Z")
Because of the recent Talk of Russia Today, I’m very interested in seeing how propaganda networks fare over the long term. Are they naturally instable and prone to failure at the first major sign of deception? Or by th… --- ## [Evolution and Modern Medicine.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-and-modern-medicine/684602)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-and-modern-medicine/684602 "2014-04-02T03:44:04Z")
What effect is modern medicine having on human evolution? Good or bad? It would seem to me (although I could be wrong), that more defective people are just passing on more of their defective dna. As to what is the solu… --- ## [Would this kind of religious persecution be allowed in college?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-kind-of-religious-persecution-be-allowed-in-college/683724)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 260\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-kind-of-religious-persecution-be-allowed-in-college/683724 "2014-04-01T18:47:15Z")
There a movie coming out soon, God’s Not Dead, that has as a premise a philosophy class where the students are told to write down on a piece of paper “God is dead” and hand it forward, and that failure to do so is an aut… --- ## [Why do Christian Fundies denounce their enemies as "humanists"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christian-fundies-denounce-their-enemies-as-humanists/684817)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christian-fundies-denounce-their-enemies-as-humanists/684817 "2014-04-01T02:56:22Z")
I mean, think about it: In the Christian world-view, what is the most important thing in the Universe? Hint: Not God. God is, in the Christian world-view, the best and wisest and most powerful thing in the Universe. B… --- ## [Noah Millman's three-dimensional political spectrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noah-millmans-three-dimensional-political-spectrum/684903)
**Author:** [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noah-millmans-three-dimensional-political-spectrum/684903 "2014-03-31T15:49:23Z")
This may be the wrong forum for this, so if you want, feel free to move it. Noah Millman is a writer at the American Conservative, which I quite like, and a few years ago he penned this. It purports to be an alternative,… --- ## [Should churches that refuse to perform gay marriages lose tax exempt status?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-churches-that-refuse-to-perform-gay-marriages-lose-tax-exempt-status/681742)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 655\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-churches-that-refuse-to-perform-gay-marriages-lose-tax-exempt-status/681742 "2014-03-31T15:24:55Z")
After all, “marriage” is a civil right now. I think they should but I oppose their tax exempt status anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=235) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=237)