# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=303 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 304 --- ## [Chances for Puerto Rican statehood?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-for-puerto-rican-statehood/640283)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chances-for-puerto-rican-statehood/640283 "2012-11-13T17:02:07Z")
For most Americans, I’d guess that the story of a referendum in Puerto Rico wouldn’t have much chance to get through all the election hoopla. Yesterday the Puerto Ricans voted for statehood by a good-sized margin. Oddl… --- ## [When will prostitution start to be mainstream legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-prostitution-start-to-be-mainstream-legal/640710)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-prostitution-start-to-be-mainstream-legal/640710 "2012-11-13T16:47:56Z")
Yes it is already legal in some counties in Nevada. Now that more and more states are starting to review antiquated victimless laws by legalizing marijuana in one form or another, when will some jurisdictions start expl… --- ## [Ben Bernanke is without question the greatest Fed Chair in US history.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-bernanke-is-without-question-the-greatest-fed-chair-in-us-history/640847)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-bernanke-is-without-question-the-greatest-fed-chair-in-us-history/640847 "2012-11-13T15:45:37Z")
We have only had one worse financial crisis since 1913 - the Great Depression. The Fed famously blundered that one by tightening and thereby exacerbating the liquidity crisis at the time. Interest rates rose dramatic… --- ## [Arrested and charged with inciting hatred for pictures of poppy burning posted to facebook.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-and-charged-with-inciting-hatred-for-pictures-of-poppy-burning-posted-to-facebook/602571)
**Author:** [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-and-charged-with-inciting-hatred-for-pictures-of-poppy-burning-posted-to-facebook/602571 "2012-11-13T14:09:33Z")
Three teenagers in Northern Ireland have been up in court for burning poppies. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1103/breaking37.html They were arrested and charged with incitement to hatred by the PSNI … --- ## [Why is the Federal Reserve a talking point for Ron Paul types?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-federal-reserve-a-talking-point-for-ron-paul-types/640802)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-federal-reserve-a-talking-point-for-ron-paul-types/640802 "2012-11-13T01:56:29Z")
I hear this a lot. I see it a lot. Ron Paul supporters and other types prone to screaming fits against government and for conspiracy theories yelling that the Federal Reserve is unconstitutional, does a lot of nefarious… --- ## [Would this be Constitutional?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-constitutional/640426)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-be-constitutional/640426 "2012-11-13T00:51:06Z")
In another thread, there was some discussion of congressional reapportionment and it got me wondering. The only rules the Constitution has are “Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to … --- ## [Let's debate the future of Social Security and Medicare](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-the-future-of-social-security-and-medicare/640489)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-debate-the-future-of-social-security-and-medicare/640489 "2012-11-12T17:10:36Z")
Well, the splendid little election is now over. Next up comes the debates about how to handle the “fiscal cliff”. In the grand scheme of things, though, that’s minor. The fiscal cliff only deals with income taxes and … --- ## [Why didn't Romney Count as a "White Protestant"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-romney-count-as-a-white-protestant/640368)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-romney-count-as-a-white-protestant/640368 "2012-11-12T12:10:12Z")
This thread may sound as if it belongs in the “Elections” forum but I see it more as an identity/religion debate. We were constantly told that the recent American election was the first that did not include a white Prot… --- ## [Will South Africa go the way of Zimbabwe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-south-africa-go-the-way-of-zimbabwe/581248)
**Author:** [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Replies:** 403\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-south-africa-go-the-way-of-zimbabwe/581248 "2012-11-12T07:50:51Z")
Recently, a prominant South African politician has said that white people are criminals for stealing the land from black people, and that white owned land will be expropiated with no compensation and given to black peopl… --- ## [Polticial Alignment of Big and Small Government](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polticial-alignment-of-big-and-small-government/640277)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polticial-alignment-of-big-and-small-government/640277 "2012-11-12T05:48:07Z")
What is the liberal foundation for support of - generally speaking - larger government? I certainly understand why conservatives want to see smaller government and more power to the states, but unlike many other politic… --- ## [Civics classes - rights and responsibilities. Do we teach this stuff anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civics-classes-rights-and-responsibilities-do-we-teach-this-stuff-anymore/640392)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civics-classes-rights-and-responsibilities-do-we-teach-this-stuff-anymore/640392 "2012-11-12T03:11:10Z")
In another thread, I snarked that the rise of the ME ME ME Libertarian movement (in that thread’s case, a poster claimed that he was enslaved by the Federal government because he was forced to pay income taxes) is at lea… --- ## [Are we "Lambs heading to Slaughter"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-lambs-heading-to-slaughter/639077)
**Author:** [@Back\_to\_basics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Back_to_basics)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-lambs-heading-to-slaughter/639077 "2012-11-11T22:00:51Z")
Presidential executive orders grant a significant degree of emergency power to divisions of the executive branch. These powers are centered in an agency of the federal government known as the Federal Emergency Management… --- ## [How do you improve your logic/reasoning skills?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-improve-your-logic-reasoning-skills/234331)
**Author:** [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-improve-your-logic-reasoning-skills/234331 "2012-11-11T21:33:33Z")
(Preface: I wasn’t sure where to put this, so I put it in GD because it is not so factual). I’d like to know how a person could improve their logic and reasoning skills. I’ve been exposed to a lot of logic problems rece… --- ## [The President's second term: to the Left or to the Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidents-second-term-to-the-left-or-to-the-right/640318)
**Author:** [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidents-second-term-to-the-left-or-to-the-right/640318 "2012-11-11T13:21:52Z")
I walk in fairly conservative circles, and I think many of my friends don’t give Mr Obama enough credit for being more center than they assumed 4 years ago. I wonder if the sentiment out there in SDMB liberal land leans… --- ## [Romney and +$2 trillion for the military. Talking in code?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-and-2-trillion-for-the-military-talking-in-code/640618)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-and-2-trillion-for-the-military-talking-in-code/640618 "2012-11-11T04:26:39Z")
Maybe this has been discussed and maybe this belongs in the election forum. If so, sorry. It occurs to me that when Romney proposed an extra $2 trillion to the military that is above their budget request he may have bee… --- ## [Is the 27th Amendment part of the Bill of Rights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-27th-amendment-part-of-the-bill-of-rights/640553)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-27th-amendment-part-of-the-bill-of-rights/640553 "2012-11-11T03:22:21Z")
A little background. When the Constitution was written and sent out for ratification, several ratifying conventions insisted that a Bill of Rights be added to the original text as amendments. So when the Constitution wa… --- ## [Are there any prominent activists or political critics on the far left that are generally pro-US or](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-prominent-activists-or-political-critics-on-the-far-left-that-are-generally-pro-us-or/638515)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-prominent-activists-or-political-critics-on-the-far-left-that-are-generally-pro-us-or/638515 "2012-11-11T01:59:41Z")
Listening to the local community radio station in town, which plays a lot of Pacifica Radio programming, one gets the feeling that there’s a direct correlation between disdain towards the US and Israel, and far left/prog… --- ## [Response to Right-Wing Screed Setting out the Futility of Raising Taxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/response-to-right-wing-screed-setting-out-the-futility-of-raising-taxes/640603)
**Author:** [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/response-to-right-wing-screed-setting-out-the-futility-of-raising-taxes/640603 "2012-11-11T00:55:36Z")
I’ve seen the bit, excerpted below, in a couple of places on the internet now. This gist is that there’s not enough money out there to tax to cover expenses, or more specifcially, taxing the rich won’t balance the budget… --- ## [Congressional apportionament question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressional-apportionament-question/640623)
**Author:** [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congressional-apportionament-question/640623 "2012-11-10T22:03:59Z")
Inspired by this thread. Is there any requirement that a state divide itself into as many approximately equal districts as it has seats in the House? Could a state with two or three seats elect two or three at-large rep… --- ## [If you can't remember it then it didn't matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-remember-it-then-it-didnt-matter/640265)
**Author:** [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-cant-remember-it-then-it-didnt-matter/640265 "2012-11-10T01:24:44Z")
In a thread on AI rights and the ability to ‘back-up’ persons minds discussed here some time ago (which I unfortunately can’t locate) an interesting point was raised regarding a moral question concerning the ability to w… --- ## [Is America's political divide caused by its political process?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-americas-political-divide-caused-by-its-political-process/640016)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-americas-political-divide-caused-by-its-political-process/640016 "2012-11-10T01:24:14Z")
Republicans and Democrats seem to be permanently slinging mud at each other. I’m talking about going well beyond the usual political sniping. The Presidential election has been going on for at least 18 months and gets re… --- ## [Are Conservatives Right To Be Demeaning Obama as a Factionalist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-conservatives-right-to-be-demeaning-obama-as-a-factionalist/640423)
**Author:** [@MaximumC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaximumC)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-conservatives-right-to-be-demeaning-obama-as-a-factionalist/640423 "2012-11-10T00:02:43Z")
There appears to be a steady narrative coming out of the punditry that Obama’s win, convincing though it was, doesn’t mean anything because Obama didn’t run on his record. He just scared people, or so the story goes. M… --- ## [Please evaluate this claim about the unemployment rate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-evaluate-this-claim-about-the-unemployment-rate/640352)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-evaluate-this-claim-about-the-unemployment-rate/640352 "2012-11-09T18:43:36Z")
“Our unemployment \[during Obama’s term\] went down only AFTER the house became R and there was a stalemate in the govt, providing some measure of security that no further regulations would be passed.” I have to go, but I… --- ## [Court upholds outdoor smoking ban on govt. property](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-upholds-outdoor-smoking-ban-on-govt-property/640398)
**Author:** [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2012, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/court-upholds-outdoor-smoking-ban-on-govt-property/640398 "2012-11-09T08:16:43Z")
As noted in the opinion, indoor smoking bans are a no brainer, but the question presented to the District and Appeals Court was, is an outdoor smoking ban permissable under the Constitution? Answer, YES. http://www.ca8… --- ## [Let's go over the fiscal cliff](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-go-over-the-fiscal-cliff/639874)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-go-over-the-fiscal-cliff/639874 "2012-11-09T04:02:15Z")
General CBO analysis of the fiscal cliff here. Sometimes you just have to take your medicine. Simply coming together and hashing out an agreement in our paralyzed Congress is not going to work- if it could, we would no… --- ## [The psychology of the nations of the world](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-the-nations-of-the-world/639785)
**Author:** [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-the-nations-of-the-world/639785 "2012-11-09T00:58:42Z")
I want to have a discussion about the different nations of the world and how they interact with each other. I can only speak for the USA because this is where I was born and raised and have spent the majority of my time… --- ## [Should Paramount obscure the Budweiser logo in the movie 'Flight'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-paramount-obscure-the-budweiser-logo-in-the-movie-flight/640034)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-paramount-obscure-the-budweiser-logo-in-the-movie-flight/640034 "2012-11-08T00:47:12Z")
Even tho this is a question pertaining to a film, I think it’s actually more of a debate, so I’m posting in GD; of course, Mods, if you think it’s more appropriate for CS, please move it. Denzel Washington’s latest film… --- ## [WWII: Was Poland always screwed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-was-poland-always-screwed/639657)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-was-poland-always-screwed/639657 "2012-11-07T14:42:34Z")
Whenever I read about World War 2, I always feel sympathy and admiration for plucky Poland, the little nation that could. They get invaded by two vastly more powerful neighbours, lose a huge proportion of their populatio… --- ## [Should young children be taught about racism (Black History day)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-young-children-be-taught-about-racism-black-history-day/639116)
**Author:** [@SomeBodyUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeBodyUK)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-young-children-be-taught-about-racism-black-history-day/639116 "2012-11-07T13:35:14Z")
I called my UK based 8 year old niece and asked her about school. She said that her school had a “black history day”. She was taught about Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and Martin Luther King. She was also tau… --- ## [How would history remember Hitler/Nazism if anti-Jewish actions/crimes never took place?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-history-remember-hitler-nazism-if-anti-jewish-actions-crimes-never-took-place/639936)
**Author:** [@andrew\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrew_1)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-history-remember-hitler-nazism-if-anti-jewish-actions-crimes-never-took-place/639936 "2012-11-07T06:09:27Z")
(Note: I realized while spell-checking this thread in preview some people may misinterpret - this thread does not in any way, shape or form have anything to do with Holocaust denial, and please leave any comments related… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=302) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=304)