# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=68 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 69 --- ## [Suicide should be legalized](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-should-be-legalized/832609)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2019, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-should-be-legalized/832609 "2019-07-16T04:27:33Z")
I highly doubt having suicide technically illegal prevents anyone from killing themselves. In fact the lack of information people get on suicide results in their suffering. I imagine most people who are suicidal never re… --- ## [A Very Long Analysis of the Arguments Related to the Abortion Debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-long-analysis-of-the-arguments-related-to-the-abortion-debate/836527)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 438\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-long-analysis-of-the-arguments-related-to-the-abortion-debate/836527 "2019-07-15T00:52:58Z")
Abortion is a difficult and nuanced issue, society has been struggling with for some time. It’s not going to be solved here, and we are not going to try. Rather, the goal here is to have a dispassionate and agenda-less… --- ## [Is New Orleans more prepared for high water now compared to the Katrina days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-new-orleans-more-prepared-for-high-water-now-compared-to-the-katrina-days/836980)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-new-orleans-more-prepared-for-high-water-now-compared-to-the-katrina-days/836980 "2019-07-15T00:07:43Z")
Ready to evacuate poor people? Hospitals? Nursing homes? (Was anybody ever prosecuted for those nursing home deaths during Katrina???). We have had years to recover from Bush era incompetence and indifference to victims… --- ## [It's time (past time really) for the ERA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-past-time-really-for-the-era/836982)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-past-time-really-for-the-era/836982 "2019-07-15T00:06:07Z")
I was watching John Oliver , Last Week Tonight, and he made some excellent points on a issue I thought was dead- the Equal Rights Amendment. ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal\_Rights\_Amendment Yes, it’s true that many … --- ## [Radical idea for global trade and human rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radical-idea-for-global-trade-and-human-rights/836724)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radical-idea-for-global-trade-and-human-rights/836724 "2019-07-13T21:28:30Z")
I had this thought as a way to incentivize the free flow of information, which in my understanding tends to inevitably lead to increased freedom and better human rights. All the relatively wealthy and free-ish countries… --- ## [Watson v. United States, a U.S. citizen gets $0 after 3 1/2 years in ICE custody](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watson-v-united-states-a-u-s-citizen-gets-0-after-3-1-2-years-in-ice-custody/835826)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watson-v-united-states-a-u-s-citizen-gets-0-after-3-1-2-years-in-ice-custody/835826 "2019-07-12T16:05:41Z")
The short version, in 2007 a naturalized U.S. citizen named Davino Watson was convicted for selling cocaine, pleaded guilty, and served his time. He was an adult, but barely. Instead of being released in 2008 he was snat… --- ## [Racism against the Romani people](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-against-the-romani-people/836598)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2019, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-against-the-romani-people/836598 "2019-07-11T22:11:27Z")
Wanting to learn more about the Romani people, I came across this thread on Reddit. It just seems to be full of hate. Imagine if they had vern talking in the same way about black people. And this is from a mainstream … --- ## [Justified vigilantism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justified-vigilantism/835978)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 165\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/justified-vigilantism/835978 "2019-07-11T02:33:29Z")
Florida woman charged after giving husband’s guns to police.This is a little complicated and the story doesn’t lay it out succinctly, so I’ll try. Joseph and Courtney Irby had gone to the courthouse to negotiate their d… --- ## [Most direct democracy in the world today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-direct-democracy-in-the-world-today/836474)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-direct-democracy-in-the-world-today/836474 "2019-07-08T18:46:38Z")
A republic is often defined as a country where the government is only indirectly responsible to the people: the people vote for representatives, who then within the framework of their government’s constitution pass whate… --- ## [There are Nazis in Sweden?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-nazis-in-sweden/836491)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-nazis-in-sweden/836491 "2019-07-08T13:54:00Z")
Why in the hell do Swedes have a problem with Jews? --- ## [Secret Border Patrol Facebook Page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 271\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2019, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-border-patrol-facebook-page/836358 "2019-07-08T05:28:26Z")
9500 current and former Border Patrol agents, and the hatred they spew when they think no one can see them. How has this gone on for three years without one agent spilling the beans, and should they face recrimination? --- ## [2026: Year Zero for wildlife?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-year-zero-for-wildlife/836633)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-year-zero-for-wildlife/836633 "2019-07-07T17:04:08Z")
A friend recently told me about this; I’ll let them speak for themselves: And another site here: This seems unlikely to me, but this is the first I’ve given the matter any thought, so I don’t have much invested in it… --- ## [Israel Folau, freedom of speech, and employer rights.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-folau-freedom-of-speech-and-employer-rights/835954)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2019, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/israel-folau-freedom-of-speech-and-employer-rights/835954 "2019-07-07T12:23:33Z")
There is a major furore happening here in Aus at the moment, with a rugby player, Israel Folau mounting a court action to dispute his dismissal by Rugby Australia as a player. Succinct version, Folau is a fundamentalist… --- ## [Originalist Judicial Thought--Is it Inconsistent With Brown and Loving?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/originalist-judicial-thought-is-it-inconsistent-with-brown-and-loving/836278)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2019, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/originalist-judicial-thought-is-it-inconsistent-with-brown-and-loving/836278 "2019-07-07T11:50:56Z")
As many of you may know, I am an originalist, but one of the most vexing criticisms of our line of thought is that it is inconsistent with our support of some pretty basic cases that have brought our country into the mod… --- ## [1776 = noble forefathers! 2019 TX or CA secessionists= treasonous traitors! Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1776-noble-forefathers-2019-tx-or-ca-secessionists-treasonous-traitors-why/836413)
**Author:** [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2019, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1776-noble-forefathers-2019-tx-or-ca-secessionists-treasonous-traitors-why/836413 "2019-07-06T08:41:03Z")
Title pretty much sums it up. 1776 yes you had your “reasons” but pretty much the same as citizens of California or Texas might use in 2019- basically, our mother country doesnt have our specific best interests at heart,… --- ## [When did war stop being considered glorious and noble?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-war-stop-being-considered-glorious-and-noble/836182)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-war-stop-being-considered-glorious-and-noble/836182 "2019-07-05T20:40:53Z")
This may not have a hard and fast answer because doubtless it happened at different times in different places. But I would say that in the Napoleonic era it was considered grand and majestic, while by World War One (afte… --- ## [Why not just have Congress vote on 5-4 Supreme Court splits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-have-congress-vote-on-5-4-supreme-court-splits/834872)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-just-have-congress-vote-on-5-4-supreme-court-splits/834872 "2019-07-03T15:07:06Z")
Liberal here. I think the Supreme Court is pretty much discredited garbage as an institution at this point, at least insofar as it is the court that decides, often in arbitrary ways, what the law of the US is. The right … --- ## [Bad ideas that are bad, versus good ideas that are/were poorly executed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ideas-that-are-bad-versus-good-ideas-that-are-were-poorly-executed/835645)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ideas-that-are-bad-versus-good-ideas-that-are-were-poorly-executed/835645 "2019-07-02T14:32:35Z")
With regards to fascism and Nazism, the vast majority of people can agree that those are simply bad ideas that are inherently bad. With regards to socialism, though, there are a significant number of people who feel that… --- ## [Mega-Church to get its own police force](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mega-church-to-get-its-own-police-force/835869)
**Author:** [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2019, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mega-church-to-get-its-own-police-force/835869 "2019-07-01T03:33:13Z")
The governor of Alabama has signed a law allowing the Briarwood Presbyterian church to form its own police force. According to this article, the force would receive training through the police academy. The church claims … --- ## [Who does \*not\* deserve reparations? (a separate discussion)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-not-deserve-reparations-a-separate-discussion/835972)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-does-not-deserve-reparations-a-separate-discussion/835972 "2019-06-30T03:39:44Z")
So as to not derail the other ongoing reparations thread which is specifically about black Americans only - It is often argued that if we pay reparations to black Americans, that logically then opens up the door to many… --- ## [Trump executive order now requires transparency up-front in hospital billing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-executive-order-now-requires-transparency-up-front-in-hospital-billing/836033)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-executive-order-now-requires-transparency-up-front-in-hospital-billing/836033 "2019-06-27T21:13:18Z")
This might be the first Trump action in a long while that Ds and Rs can support: Requiring healthcare providers to be more transparent up-front about the prices that they will charge for a procedure prior to actually doi… --- ## [Question about Supreme Court Decision (Knick v. Township of Scott, Pennsylvania)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-supreme-court-decision-knick-v-township-of-scott-pennsylvania/835866)
**Author:** [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-supreme-court-decision-knick-v-township-of-scott-pennsylvania/835866 "2019-06-27T20:03:58Z")
There was a Supreme Court decision today in the case of Knick v. Township of Scott, Pennsylvania. It was a 5-4 split, seemingly a partisan split. "The Supreme Court ruled Friday that people can sue in federal court if … --- ## [Rabbi urges congregants to carry guns.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabbi-urges-congregants-to-carry-guns/836037)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabbi-urges-congregants-to-carry-guns/836037 "2019-06-27T17:51:59Z")
Link. The Temple here hired off duty policemen at Passover. This seems a little much. People like me, who think they know about firearms could injure others. --- ## ["I identify as an Apache attack helicopter"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-identify-as-an-apache-attack-helicopter/835175)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-identify-as-an-apache-attack-helicopter/835175 "2019-06-24T22:21:49Z")
This meme has been around for a few years now - where people will claim that they identify as an Apache attack helicopter and demand to be treated with respect as the helicopter that they are. It has been popularized on … --- ## [Legal analysis of the Owen Laurie rape case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-analysis-of-the-owen-laurie-rape-case/729343)
**Author:** [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-analysis-of-the-owen-laurie-rape-case/729343 "2019-06-24T20:22:47Z")
Yesterday, Owen Labrie, who had been charged with 9 crimes, was convicted of 5, and acquitted of of four. The charges originated because of a sexual encounter between Owen (then 18) and a then 15 year old girl. The conv… --- ## [Nazis at a Pride parade - How, exactly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazis-at-a-pride-parade-how-exactly/835464)
**Author:** [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nazis-at-a-pride-parade-how-exactly/835464 "2019-06-23T02:15:35Z")
Recently there was some controversy about a group of nazis disrupting a Pride parade in Detroit by staging their own march, while escorted by police. All debates aside (note the forum), I’m confused about how this happen… --- ## [On vitriol and the state of America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-vitriol-and-the-state-of-america/835295)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 301\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-vitriol-and-the-state-of-america/835295 "2019-06-22T14:59:14Z")
Not sure if this belongs in GD, IMHO, or the Pit. Started it in GD to allow us to talk about our personal feelings while hopefully keeping it civil (and not naming any names of posters). In the last year or two, I find … --- ## [Believe Jesus is Lord = normal, believe David Koresh is Lord = wacko. Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believe-jesus-is-lord-normal-believe-david-koresh-is-lord-wacko-why/835111)
**Author:** [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believe-jesus-is-lord-normal-believe-david-koresh-is-lord-wacko-why/835111 "2019-06-21T22:38:44Z")
Is it all in the timing of the arrival on Earth? At least with someone like Koresh and others, they are here now in front of me (or were), and I can listen to what they really say, and base my determination whether they … --- ## [Science is under attack from the right AND left](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-under-attack-from-the-right-and-left/834751)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-is-under-attack-from-the-right-and-left/834751 "2019-06-20T22:12:17Z")
Used to be, you mainly saw this with a few ultra-Christian kids who took issue with evolution. But ironically, it now seems to be much more prevalent to see students resistant to studying human evolution because of l… --- ## [Has the military improved or worsened under Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-military-improved-or-worsened-under-trump/835521)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-military-improved-or-worsened-under-trump/835521 "2019-06-20T14:14:06Z")
First off, the talk about Obama being a peacenik dove who was anti-military is way distorted: Defense budgets under Obama were plenty high; he made a point in his 2012 presidential debate against Romney to point out that… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=67) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=69)