# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=32 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 33 --- ## [Revisiting Topic: It's Intellectually Dishonest to 'Like' a Philosophical Stance Just for its Immediate Fallout](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revisiting-topic-its-intellectually-dishonest-to-like-a-philosophical-stance-just-for-its-immediate-fallout/955564)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revisiting-topic-its-intellectually-dishonest-to-like-a-philosophical-stance-just-for-its-immediate-fallout/955564 "2021-12-11T15:48:19Z")
Quick illustrative example: Jerry is against the filibuster and think it should be ended. Because Jerry wants to see the Democrats get things done in Congress without being derailed in the Senate via the filibuster, an… --- ## [Which country (culture, empire, etc.) has the most effective anti-corruption laws?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-culture-empire-etc-has-the-most-effective-anti-corruption-laws/955022)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-culture-empire-etc-has-the-most-effective-anti-corruption-laws/955022 "2021-12-10T14:41:34Z")
I’m a huge advocate of enacting laws making corruption (of government officials, primarily, but also of anyone interacting with them–i.e., bribetakers and bribegivers alike) illegal. If this discourages people from publ… --- ## [Oxford Shooter's Parents Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-shooters-parents-charged-with-involuntary-manslaughter/955493)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 562\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2021, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxford-shooters-parents-charged-with-involuntary-manslaughter/955493 "2021-12-09T23:40:15Z")
So the sequence of events seems to be: They bought their (mentally disturbed) son a gun. The son was caught searching for ammunition on his phone. The mom texted him “LOL, I’m not gonna get mad at you, you have to lear… --- ## [Article on inflation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-on-inflation/955732)
**Author:** [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-on-inflation/955732 "2021-12-08T20:20:39Z")
If you are concerned about inflation (economic, not tire or belly) this article suggests we can all chill out about it. --- ## [Can You Make Any Sense Of This Domestic Terrorism Recruitment Flier?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-any-sense-of-this-domestic-terrorism-recruitment-flier/955576)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-any-sense-of-this-domestic-terrorism-recruitment-flier/955576 "2021-12-07T18:56:40Z")
This is stapled to a tree by the side of the road near my house, in a conservative county in a red state (Iron County, Missouri). https://ibb.co/XpjL6PR The “12th” reference seems to be to the 12th Amendment, which lays… --- ## [Are social media's recent bannings a freedom of expression issue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-social-medias-recent-bannings-a-freedom-of-expression-issue/930330)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 596\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2021, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-social-medias-recent-bannings-a-freedom-of-expression-issue/930330 "2021-12-06T06:02:07Z")
Starting a new thread because I think the other one (OK Let's do this: who thinks social media's recent bannings are first amendment violations?) asked the wrong question, but there was interesting discussion developing … --- ## [Michigan school shooter charged with terrorism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-school-shooter-charged-with-terrorism/955326)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-school-shooter-charged-with-terrorism/955326 "2021-12-05T15:22:06Z")
Edit: Rats; this doesn’t belong in Factual questions. I’ve reported it to be moved. I believe the line of thinking is that the students in the school were terrified as part of the commission of this crime. What preven… --- ## [Pharmacies at least partially responsible for opioid problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacies-at-least-partially-responsible-for-opioid-problem/954885)
**Author:** [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pharmacies-at-least-partially-responsible-for-opioid-problem/954885 "2021-12-03T15:43:46Z")
Ohio jury has found that pharmacies Walgreens, CVS and Walmart are partially responsible for the opioid problem. Apparently, they should have done more to slow the flow of pills. So, now pharmacies get to weigh in on y… --- ## ["America was founded as a Christian nation," a guest preacher at my church claimed. Please help me dispute that](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-was-founded-as-a-christian-nation-a-guest-preacher-at-my-church-claimed-please-help-me-dispute-that/954769)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-was-founded-as-a-christian-nation-a-guest-preacher-at-my-church-claimed-please-help-me-dispute-that/954769 "2021-12-01T00:03:38Z")
UGH, I know this topic has already been done, but I’m hoping The Dope will be able to speak to the points the guest preacher at yesterday’s church service made about his thesis that America was founded as a Christian nat… --- ## [Which do you consider to be the main "adversary nation?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-do-you-consider-to-be-the-main-adversary-nation/920370)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-do-you-consider-to-be-the-main-adversary-nation/920370 "2021-11-30T20:00:58Z")
Over the course of the past few years, a pattern has generally emerged: Democrats generally consider Russia to be the main ‘villain adversary’ nation (since Russia helped out Trump in 2016), Republicans generally conside… --- ## [Why do some people believe racism by liberals is the worst kind?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-racism-by-liberals-is-the-worst-kind/855296)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-believe-racism-by-liberals-is-the-worst-kind/855296 "2021-11-30T18:33:31Z")
A spinoff of the Malcolm X thread. I don’t get why some people, whether blacks or whites or any other race, seem to believe that the racism that comes from liberal whites is the worst kind, supposedly even worse when co… --- ## [Religious/Secular holidays in America (mostly Christmas, split from the Columbus Day thread)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-secular-holidays-in-america-mostly-christmas-split-from-the-columbus-day-thread/954138)
**Author:** [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Replies:** 459\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-secular-holidays-in-america-mostly-christmas-split-from-the-columbus-day-thread/954138 "2021-11-29T02:06:13Z")
Christmas, as the majority of society celebrates it, is now entirely secular, on a par with Thanksgiving. There’s no real rationale for objecting to it as a holiday on the grounds of its religious roots. And I say this a… --- ## ["The Brownshirts are coming! The Brownshirts are coming!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-brownshirts-are-coming-the-brownshirts-are-coming/954907)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-brownshirts-are-coming-the-brownshirts-are-coming/954907 "2021-11-26T15:04:38Z")
To hear some tell it, you’d think we were one step away from being 1905 Alabama again, which is ridiculous. The occasion of this thread is a rather polemical AP opinion piece making the rounds, “2 Trials, 1 Theme: White … --- ## [Is the Apocalypse upon us?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-apocalypse-upon-us/282331)
**Author:** [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2021, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-apocalypse-upon-us/282331 "2021-11-26T11:47:37Z")
I don’t know much about interpreting the symbolism in Revelation, but I have heard a few theories about it being applied to the current time – SSNs being the Mark of the Beast, and something about AIDS, IIRC. And with th… --- ## [Columbus Day v Indigenous People's Day v Leif Erikson Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-day-v-indigenous-peoples-day-v-leif-erikson-day/952323)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 347\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2021, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-day-v-indigenous-peoples-day-v-leif-erikson-day/952323 "2021-11-23T06:39:07Z")
I am surprised nobody has said anything about it. Possibly one of the greatest debates of today (literally) is what Americans should be celebrating. Should Americans celebrate Columbus Day, Indigenous People’s Day, Leif … --- ## [Do You Fear Your Death?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fear-your-death/951525)
**Author:** [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2021, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-fear-your-death/951525 "2021-11-22T05:05:11Z")
I live in constant existential dread that every heartbeat will be my last. How about you? See, I gave religion a try, but just didn’t buy into the blind faith aspect. And while I feel there may be a creator, I don’t thin… --- ## [Reconciling Imperial Japan's Reverence for Beauty and Harmony and Its Internal/External Violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reconciling-imperial-japans-reverence-for-beauty-and-harmony-and-its-internal-external-violence/953998)
**Author:** [@Caribbean\_cruiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caribbean_cruiser)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2021, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reconciling-imperial-japans-reverence-for-beauty-and-harmony-and-its-internal-external-violence/953998 "2021-11-22T00:06:54Z")
Imperial Japan seemed of two distinct minds. One mind locked in a Zen-like trance that exalted stillness and the beauty of nature. Another mind rooted in centuries of conquest and machismo. I realize old Japan was highly… --- ## [Bible: Did Jacob (aka Israel) wrestle with God or an angel? (Genesis 32:24)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-did-jacob-aka-israel-wrestle-with-god-or-an-angel-genesis-32-24/953081)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bible-did-jacob-aka-israel-wrestle-with-god-or-an-angel-genesis-32-24/953081 "2021-11-18T14:23:05Z")
In Genesis 32:24 it is implied that Jacob wrestled with God and was winning until God cheated near the end. It seems crazy that God would come on earth to wrestle some guy and then lose to that guy. But I looked and ma… --- ## [Why were Afghanis who wanted to leave still there at the end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-afghanis-who-wanted-to-leave-still-there-at-the-end/952083)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-afghanis-who-wanted-to-leave-still-there-at-the-end/952083 "2021-11-16T16:52:19Z")
Not sure if GD is the correct forum, but I found myself asking this when the news reported all of the stories about people wishing to get out of Afghanistan in the weeks before/after the US pulled out. It shouldn’t have… --- ## [Asian American groups accuse Harvard of racial bias in admissions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asian-american-groups-accuse-harvard-of-racial-bias-in-admissions/720183)
**Author:** [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Replies:** 541\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2021, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asian-american-groups-accuse-harvard-of-racial-bias-in-admissions/720183 "2021-11-13T05:07:21Z")
A coalition of Asian American groups filed a federal complaint against Harvard University Friday alleging the school engaged in “systemic and continuous discrimination” against Asian Americans during its admissions pro… --- ## [Socialism(or at least, a version thereof) Vs Capitalism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socialism-or-at-least-a-version-thereof-vs-capitalism/927389)
**Author:** [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Replies:** 145\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socialism-or-at-least-a-version-thereof-vs-capitalism/927389 "2021-11-12T18:25:36Z")
We were asked to move this discussion to a new thread. I had already put a fair amount of work into my responses, so I’ll go ahead and start it here. Right, they could just self actualize. The training, the tools, the … --- ## [What can we learn about immigration?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-we-learn-about-immigration/932917)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-we-learn-about-immigration/932917 "2021-11-11T02:13:22Z")
Immigration is, and will continue to be, a very hot button issue in the years to come as people seek to flee violence and poverty and find opportunity. Canada has long accepted its small population benefits from skilled… --- ## [Taxation of religious institutions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxation-of-religious-institutions/953884)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxation-of-religious-institutions/953884 "2021-11-10T16:07:08Z")
There is much talk of taxing the rich, but it’s mostly concerning wealthy individuals and corporations. But religious institutions remain untaxed. How much would the government net if they were taxed? How would that comp… --- ## [Is the upcoming domination of the electric car going to be a good thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-upcoming-domination-of-the-electric-car-going-to-be-a-good-thing/953438)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2021, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-upcoming-domination-of-the-electric-car-going-to-be-a-good-thing/953438 "2021-11-09T10:21:29Z")
I mean, if the electric power that charges the vehicles comes from non-clean sources, is it going to make a dent in helping combat climate change? I’m also a little concerned about the lack of range on these things. --- ## [The societal ramifications of an indisputable miracle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-societal-ramifications-of-an-indisputable-miracle/945858)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2021, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-societal-ramifications-of-an-indisputable-miracle/945858 "2021-11-05T05:27:07Z")
Suppose that, someday, a miracle took place that had indisputable evidence for it - videorecording by multiple cameras, a large audience of eyewitnesses (including not only religious adherents but also skeptics and athei… --- ## [Does our society value education?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-our-society-value-education/953574)
**Author:** [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-our-society-value-education/953574 "2021-11-03T19:25:51Z")
Spinning this conversation off from another thread, because I think it’s interesting, but I also think that @Fretful\_Porpentine is right that this is a hijack… Quotes of prior conversation that inspired this thread...It… --- ## [If the US goes into full decline, what were the main causes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-goes-into-full-decline-what-were-the-main-causes/920616)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-goes-into-full-decline-what-were-the-main-causes/920616 "2021-11-03T13:10:25Z")
In a number of threads on the dope, the topic of the US’ relative status comes up, usually in the context of whether the US is still the A Number 1 bestest country (and, my opinion remains that US hegemony was only ever … --- ## [At what point would you consider dictatorship to be better than democracy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-would-you-consider-dictatorship-to-be-better-than-democracy/950997)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-would-you-consider-dictatorship-to-be-better-than-democracy/950997 "2021-11-02T17:11:40Z")
Say you have one or more of the following situations: A democracy in which many voters are dangerously ignorant/uneducated and cannot be trusted on to vote for the right anything, or worse yet, malevolent and keep voti… --- ## [Should religion really be a protected class? Should political orientation be one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-really-be-a-protected-class-should-political-orientation-be-one/950478)
**Author:** [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-really-be-a-protected-class-should-political-orientation-be-one/950478 "2021-10-29T15:21:56Z")
So my understanding is that in the US and Canada, there are a number of groups that are defined that explicitly protected by law against certain forms of discrimination - eg. employer discrimination against people based … --- ## [What is the true threshold level it would take for a civil war to break out in today's America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-true-threshold-level-it-would-take-for-a-civil-war-to-break-out-in-todays-america/953341)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-true-threshold-level-it-would-take-for-a-civil-war-to-break-out-in-todays-america/953341 "2021-10-29T13:17:40Z")
IMHO, the true threshold for what it would take to trigger a real civil war in America today is far, far beyond what most people casually say on the Internet. Prior to the election last year, many people said, “If (oppo… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=33)