# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=60 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 61 --- ## [Presidents and the economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-and-the-economy/845181)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidents-and-the-economy/845181 "2019-12-23T17:13:01Z")
I’m not sure if this is the correct forum but here goes: On oft-cited reason for re-electing Trump is the state of the economy. I’ve always thought that Presidents get way too much credit or blame for how the economy is… --- ## [UK democracy - the new government policy is announced](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-democracy-the-new-government-policy-is-announced/845087)
**Author:** [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-democracy-the-new-government-policy-is-announced/845087 "2019-12-20T14:10:43Z")
So, now the election is over, although the polemic and partisan views will keep on going, we are now in that period where the Tory program for the next year has been announced. Obviously that ties into election manifest… --- ## [Did the Page FISA applications omit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-page-fisa-applications-omit/818620)
**Author:** [@Jim\_Peebles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Peebles)\ **Replies:** 262\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2019, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-page-fisa-applications-omit/818620 "2019-12-19T05:59:45Z")
There are two sides arguing in mainstream and alternative media. One side says the FISA applications to surveil Carter Page omitted the fact that the “Dirty Dossier” was paid for, in part, by the Clinton campaign. The ot… --- ## [What prompted IG Michael Horowitz to investigate FISA abuse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prompted-ig-michael-horowitz-to-investigate-fisa-abuse/845053)
**Author:** [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-prompted-ig-michael-horowitz-to-investigate-fisa-abuse/845053 "2019-12-19T04:43:33Z")
Who knows what prompted IG Michael Horowitz to investigate FBI and DOJ FISA abuse? I’m asking because I don’t know. If you have cites they would be greatly appreciated. --- ## [What lifestyle should the least advantaged expect?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-lifestyle-should-the-least-advantaged-expect/844754)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-lifestyle-should-the-least-advantaged-expect/844754 "2019-12-18T20:51:23Z")
I was speaking with a couple of very impoverished people the other day who were seeking disability benefits. And I got to wondering about, even if they got the benefits (\>$12k a year), what would their lives be like? T… --- ## [The Price of Peace - Stinson Jarvis (1921)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-price-of-peace-stinson-jarvis-1921/844969)
**Author:** [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-price-of-peace-stinson-jarvis-1921/844969 "2019-12-17T16:55:27Z")
The Price of Peace by Stinson Jarvis (1921) is a fascinating book on the history of religion, with zero citations (ie nary a reference to it in printed literature). It traces the history of religion using a linguistic an… --- ## [The rise of the populist weakman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rise-of-the-populist-weakman/844807)
**Author:** [@Toffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toffe)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rise-of-the-populist-weakman/844807 "2019-12-16T17:43:55Z")
With the Tory landslide win in Britain yesterday, we have another firmly elected example of what I call the “populist weakman”. As opposed to strongman. Populist weakmen are people like Trump, Johnson, and Brazil’s Bol… --- ## [If it wasn't for the NRA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-it-wasnt-for-the-nra/844645)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-it-wasnt-for-the-nra/844645 "2019-12-15T22:50:37Z")
Would the private ownership of guns in the USA be banned like they are in other countries or would liberal politicians leave gun ownership alone? I’m asking this because at work we saw the new Micheal Bloomberg ad where… --- ## [No common ground left to stand on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-common-ground-left-to-stand-on/843639)
**Author:** [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Replies:** 212\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-common-ground-left-to-stand-on/843639 "2019-12-14T23:29:53Z")
In an interesting thread exploring why straight, white, males in particular, support Trump, (link) the following two posts struck me as both honest and at once disturbing. I hope that the two posters quoted below will n… --- ## [10 years after the "looming crisis in human genetics"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-years-after-the-looming-crisis-in-human-genetics/844236)
**Author:** [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-years-after-the-looming-crisis-in-human-genetics/844236 "2019-12-13T18:10:54Z")
It might be hard to remember, but there was a time when the SDMB was struggling with a racism problem. Perhaps it is better to say, a “race-realist” problem. From about late 2008-2010 there existed a consistent weekly s… --- ## [Silent Sam is down!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silent-sam-is-down/819960)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 294\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silent-sam-is-down/819960 "2019-12-13T15:13:49Z")
In 1898, the Wilmington massacre–a murderous coup against a democratically elected government–heralded the return of violent white supremacy in North Carolina. Fifteen years later, Silent Sam–a monument to violent white… --- ## [NATO 'brain dead'...what should Europe do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-brain-dead-what-should-europe-do/844314)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nato-brain-dead-what-should-europe-do/844314 "2019-12-11T04:54:02Z")
It’s been in the news quite a bit lately. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has called NATO basically ‘brain dead’. What he seems to mean by that (beside the obvious dig at the US and, specifically Trump) is th… --- ## [Climate Reparations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-reparations/844059)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-reparations/844059 "2019-12-10T23:18:45Z")
So at this point it is well-known that major contributors to climate change, most notably Exxon, knew about climate change back in the 1970s, and were aware of the consequences. Instead of moving away from oil and gas, t… --- ## [Science Fiction Debate: Reviving Extinct Species](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-fiction-debate-reviving-extinct-species/844594)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-fiction-debate-reviving-extinct-species/844594 "2019-12-10T20:32:00Z")
The scenario: We’ve done it. We’ve advanced genetics - and other fields - sufficiently that we can revive extinct species. Go humanity! First up as a test: The Dusky Seaside Sparrow, poor little fella. Then the thyl… --- ## [Should we decriminalize or legalize sex work/prostitution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-decriminalize-or-legalize-sex-work-prostitution/844294)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-decriminalize-or-legalize-sex-work-prostitution/844294 "2019-12-10T20:27:35Z")
Okay so the immediate conversation goes like this. Hey lets decriminalize or legalize prostitution. Then someone responds with either, no cuz bible, or it’ll increase human trafficking. Now looking at the response we can… --- ## [Why is outright lying by the President, in public, over and over, ok but quid pro quo isn't?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-outright-lying-by-the-president-in-public-over-and-over-ok-but-quid-pro-quo-isnt/843399)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-outright-lying-by-the-president-in-public-over-and-over-ok-but-quid-pro-quo-isnt/843399 "2019-12-10T17:20:26Z")
I’m kind of wondering how a government official can possibly perform their role if they lie over and over again. Yes, in the case of protecting known secret information, I can see that a government official making an of… --- ## [Am I missing something? (re: supposedly racist comment on Reddit)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-missing-something-re-supposedly-racist-comment-on-reddit/844272)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2019, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-missing-something-re-supposedly-racist-comment-on-reddit/844272 "2019-12-10T10:38:00Z")
So over the break, there was a Reddit thread that was basically taking all these accomplishments that Norway has, and by comparison, throwing shade at the US for not having these things, as we’re the most wealthy country… --- ## [Climate Denialists, by and large, know that they are lying](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-denialists-by-and-large-know-that-they-are-lying/844054)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-denialists-by-and-large-know-that-they-are-lying/844054 "2019-12-09T18:43:16Z")
Note: this thread is not about any individual on this forum. Rather, it’s about media figures, most notably on the right, who push climate denialism talking points. In a recent thread on climate change, Sam Stone had th… --- ## [There Are Better Ways To Count - An Easy Vocab Change to Help Our Kids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-better-ways-to-count-an-easy-vocab-change-to-help-our-kids/843996)
**Author:** [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-better-ways-to-count-an-easy-vocab-change-to-help-our-kids/843996 "2019-12-09T01:28:26Z")
Learning numbers in a European language has probably affected your early maths ability For the sake of our children, the new 11 to 99: oneteen twoteen threeteen fourteen fiveteen sixteen seventeen eightteen ni… --- ## [What should be the standard of proof in a Senate impeachment trial?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-standard-of-proof-in-a-senate-impeachment-trial/843141)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 156\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-standard-of-proof-in-a-senate-impeachment-trial/843141 "2019-12-05T00:15:05Z")
When the Senate undertakes a trial of impeachment, what standard of proof should apply, and why? If your answer is whatever standard the Senate wants to use, the followup question is this: what would you use, if you had … --- ## [White supremacists are the biggest ideological threat to American lives, by far](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-supremacists-are-the-biggest-ideological-threat-to-american-lives-by-far/838449)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 394\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-supremacists-are-the-biggest-ideological-threat-to-american-lives-by-far/838449 "2019-12-04T21:44:11Z")
White supremacists have murdered 73 people since the Charlottesville march. I don’t believe any other ideology, including extremist versions of Islam, comes close. I’ve thought that the thread title has been accurate f… --- ## ['dopers, has your view of China changed (positive or negative) in the last 10 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-has-your-view-of-china-changed-positive-or-negative-in-the-last-10-years/843973)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-has-your-view-of-china-changed-positive-or-negative-in-the-last-10-years/843973 "2019-12-02T14:20:55Z")
I’m wondering where 'dopers are with respect to their view of China. Has your view of China changed at all in the last decade (say, since 2010), and if so, how? I guess to flesh this OP out, what are your thoughts abou… --- ## [The 2014 Scottish independence referendum showed that Scotland needs England more than vice versa](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2014-scottish-independence-referendum-showed-that-scotland-needs-england-more-than-vice-versa/839629)
**Author:** [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2014-scottish-independence-referendum-showed-that-scotland-needs-england-more-than-vice-versa/839629 "2019-12-01T13:14:29Z")
I have been enjoined to start this thread as a spin-off from page 3 of the pit thread here: https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=881136, to avoid continuing a hijack. I’m not sure it qualifies as a great… --- ## [is it immoral to keep trying to have children if you keep having miscarriages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-immoral-to-keep-trying-to-have-children-if-you-keep-having-miscarriages/844061)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-immoral-to-keep-trying-to-have-children-if-you-keep-having-miscarriages/844061 "2019-11-29T23:24:06Z")
I was reading a story where one of the jersey shores wife participants had a miscarriage and they said they were going to try again… and there was a story about another celeb “finally having a child after so many miscar… --- ## [Science Fiction Debate: Ethics and best practices of contacting other, less-developed civilizations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-fiction-debate-ethics-and-best-practices-of-contacting-other-less-developed-civilizations/843573)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-fiction-debate-ethics-and-best-practices-of-contacting-other-less-developed-civilizations/843573 "2019-11-24T23:20:00Z")
So I thought I might curate some Great Debates that have nothing to do with current events but are more ethics and science fictional in nature. If it goes well, I have more. Situation: Humanity has achieved faster tha… --- ## [The things that each side fears losing (on a given political issue)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-things-that-each-side-fears-losing-on-a-given-political-issue/843367)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-things-that-each-side-fears-losing-on-a-given-political-issue/843367 "2019-11-24T19:20:06Z")
There is an aphorism that people are motivated far more by fear of loss, than desire for gain. So I wanted to ask what each side fears losing (whether the fear is rational or not is irrelevant; just wanted to ask what ea… --- ## [ABC hiding Epstein's story](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-hiding-epsteins-story/843137)
**Author:** [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Replies:** 142\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2019, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-hiding-epsteins-story/843137 "2019-11-20T22:41:55Z")
Project Veritas published a hot-mic speech given by Amy Robach complaining that they new about it three years ago and that ABC canned the story, apparently, because (on top of other things) prince Andrew was part of the … --- ## [The Will of the People](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-will-of-the-people/843305)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-will-of-the-people/843305 "2019-11-20T04:25:32Z")
On a Wednesday, the White House issues a national vote to decide whether to murder Leonard, a grocer in Louisville. There is no crime that Leonard has committed - he was randomly selected - they simply want to prove that… --- ## [WaPo editorial "Why America needs a hate speech law"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wapo-editorial-why-america-needs-a-hate-speech-law/842699)
**Author:** [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Replies:** 513\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2019, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wapo-editorial-why-america-needs-a-hate-speech-law/842699 "2019-11-19T12:44:14Z")
The editorial is by Richard Stengel, MSNBC analyst and former Time magazine editor and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Problems with attempts to control hate speech always begin wi… --- ## [Improve school curriculum, introduce programming at early age, cognitive biases, philosophy, etc...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improve-school-curriculum-introduce-programming-at-early-age-cognitive-biases-philosophy-etc/843392)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improve-school-curriculum-introduce-programming-at-early-age-cognitive-biases-philosophy-etc/843392 "2019-11-17T23:26:16Z")
I think we should start having kids learn basic coding in elementary school, have them very familiar with computers. Maybe have them in higher grades do reverse engineering, and more advance stuff. The future is going to… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=59) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=61)