# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=72 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 73 --- ## [Japanese Bid to Rule the World.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-bid-to-rule-the-world/832321)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-bid-to-rule-the-world/832321 "2019-05-05T21:14:34Z")
As this video shows, some people think just about everyone wants to rule the world. Then enter political commentator Gore Vidal, exactly 30 years ago, as fate would have it. He had a very unique view of the world. And h… --- ## [Trumpy enigma:Venezuela's Maduro told not to flee the country by Russia and Bolton](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumpy-enigma-venezuelas-maduro-told-not-to-flee-the-country-by-russia-and-bolton/833301)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumpy-enigma-venezuelas-maduro-told-not-to-flee-the-country-by-russia-and-bolton/833301 "2019-05-04T17:42:20Z")
As reported on tonight’s news, the US’s John Bolton publicly agrees with Russia: Maduro should not flee Venezuela as the coup proceeds and chaos reigns. WT ACTUAL F?!?!!! Are we to believe he is critical for the peacef… --- ## [May 1, NC Teachers are Out!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-1-nc-teachers-are-out/832111)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-1-nc-teachers-are-out/832111 "2019-05-04T01:28:25Z")
I’ve been working over the last few weeks on some issues in North Carolina around public education. On 3/23, the North Carolina Association of Educators (our branch of the NEA) voted almost unanimously (one vocal disagre… --- ## [When did politics become more about power and less the people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-politics-become-more-about-power-and-less-the-people/833229)
**Author:** [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-politics-become-more-about-power-and-less-the-people/833229 "2019-05-04T00:29:59Z")
I have often wondered why the political process has struggled to find any common middle ground, at least the past 2.5 presidencies, but when did that dynamic start? I think I remember as far back as Carter but I don’t r… --- ## [How does media bias work (within the organization itself?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-media-bias-work-within-the-organization-itself/833277)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-media-bias-work-within-the-organization-itself/833277 "2019-05-03T22:19:57Z")
Without doubt, a lot of the bias is in the hiring to begin with - Fox News wouldn’t hire many if any liberals. But suppose that a Fox News journalist wrote an article that praised Elizabeth Warren (or some MSNBC writer p… --- ## [Versed, the Persistence of Memory, and Assault](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/versed-the-persistence-of-memory-and-assault/832674)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/versed-the-persistence-of-memory-and-assault/832674 "2019-05-03T21:06:58Z")
Prompted loosely by the concurrent thread. Quick Review: Versed is generallly described as an anaesthetic that doesn’t produce full unconsciousness like a conventional general anaesthetic, or block sensation (such as p… --- ## [Mandatory corporate profit sharing: Why would it not work (or work well anyway)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-corporate-profit-sharing-why-would-it-not-work-or-work-well-anyway/831974)
**Author:** [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-corporate-profit-sharing-why-would-it-not-work-or-work-well-anyway/831974 "2019-05-02T05:02:14Z")
Just to be clear, I’m totally brainstorming on this and not seriously advocating that this idea be taken seriously as a policy proposal – not yet anyway. But it has crossed my mind: what would happen if, in a country tha… --- ## [Hijabs oppress women?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijabs-oppress-women/832176)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 155\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hijabs-oppress-women/832176 "2019-05-01T23:33:26Z")
Let’s leave aside the fact that a hijab is an item of clothing and thus can’t oppress anyone. What makes a hijab any different than the snood that Orthodox Jewish women wear? Plenty of fundamentalist Christian sects h… --- ## [What did Ralph Northam's comments really mean? (about "discussion between physicians and mother")](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-ralph-northams-comments-really-mean-about-discussion-between-physicians-and-mother/833219)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-ralph-northams-comments-really-mean-about-discussion-between-physicians-and-mother/833219 "2019-04-30T18:13:26Z")
Last year, Ralph Northam made some commentsabout late-term abortion that sparked a great-deal of frenzy among abortion opponents: "when we talk about third-trimester abortions, these are done with the consent of, obviou… --- ## [Christianity 101 Questions from an Ex-Mormon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christianity-101-questions-from-an-ex-mormon/832932)
**Author:** [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christianity-101-questions-from-an-ex-mormon/832932 "2019-04-30T16:33:17Z")
Sunday was Easter so I gave some lessons about Easter and Christianity to some of my English students. Mostly, they had absolutely no idea what Christianity believes. However, I quickly realized that I am mostly familia… --- ## [What anti-nuclear power groups in the US have any political power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-nuclear-power-groups-in-the-us-have-any-political-power/833123)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-nuclear-power-groups-in-the-us-have-any-political-power/833123 "2019-04-29T19:42:49Z")
This might be a GQ question, but I figured it would end up being a debate anyway. I was watching a debate between Steven Pinker and Paul Krugman and they both came out strongly pro-nuclear power. Basically, nuclear pow… --- ## [In Defence of Dualism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defence-of-dualism/832962)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 220\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-defence-of-dualism/832962 "2019-04-28T17:34:22Z")
To start, I would like to advise any readers and participants that I do not necessarily agree or disagree with Dualism. My defense of such amounts to playing devil’s advocate. In the course of debate on philosophical im… --- ## [Will Trump see prison?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-see-prison/832255)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-see-prison/832255 "2019-04-28T15:14:40Z")
Whether from Mr. Muller’s investigations, other federal charges post 2020, or from state indictments and presumed convictions.- Will he serve time? He escaped prosecution for Trump University’s shinnagans and who knows w… --- ## [The State Solution: 1 State v. 2 State](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-state-solution-1-state-v-2-state/696795)
**Author:** [@Knowledgable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowledgable)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-state-solution-1-state-v-2-state/696795 "2019-04-27T00:18:58Z")
Establishment of a Palestinian state with definite borders has been a subject of debate for a long time since they missed their chance in 1948, which resulted in lots of bloodshed. Now peace process is still going on. I… --- ## [Why did the world go crazy in 2016?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-world-go-crazy-in-2016/832673)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2019, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-world-go-crazy-in-2016/832673 "2019-04-26T22:33:12Z")
I’m mainly talking about Brexit and Trump since those were the two big unambiguous results in two major powers but any answer would have to cast a wider net both for causes and effects. Maybe the answer comes down to one… --- ## [Regarding the Holocaust: Did this crime benefit the perpetrator's plans? Did they expect it to?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-the-holocaust-did-this-crime-benefit-the-perpetrators-plans-did-they-expect-it-to/832857)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-the-holocaust-did-this-crime-benefit-the-perpetrators-plans-did-they-expect-it-to/832857 "2019-04-25T19:19:36Z")
One topic I don’t see discussed much is why the Nazi’s committed the Holocaust. Yes, they did it. Yes, it was a terrible crime. Yes, they murdered about 11 million people in a horrific way. Why did they do it? Usual… --- ## [Will free speech always be considered a good thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-free-speech-always-be-considered-a-good-thing/829366)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-free-speech-always-be-considered-a-good-thing/829366 "2019-04-24T16:24:06Z")
There is a small-but-significant portion of the populace that is disenchanted with free speech or considers it synonymous with “loophole that allows hate speech” and is very actively trying to move towards limited-and-ce… --- ## [Dopers...what do you think about Article 13?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-what-do-you-think-about-article-13/825164)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-what-do-you-think-about-article-13/825164 "2019-04-23T00:51:12Z")
I have to admit…I hadn’t heard much about this so I’m coming into this mostly cold. I saw a YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbXHrj8k7dg) on it and did a bit of digging. Here is a Wired UK article on the … --- ## [Death penalty for DUI manslaughter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-penalty-for-dui-manslaughter/832830)
**Author:** [@scarface54345](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scarface54345)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-penalty-for-dui-manslaughter/832830 "2019-04-22T22:57:27Z")
Should drunk drivers get the death penalty if they kill a sober innocent person? This is assuming the drunk driver survives because they rarely do die in these crashes, and that’s ironic and unfair. --- ## [How come Vietnamese communism was comparatively mild?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-vietnamese-communism-was-comparatively-mild/825115)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-vietnamese-communism-was-comparatively-mild/825115 "2019-04-22T19:44:13Z")
Communism in places like Russia, China and North Korea came with dystopian death and deprivation yet after South Vietnam was merged with North Vietnam, that largely failed to occur. Per wiki: “In the aftermath of the w… --- ## [A reunified Korea, hows that gonna work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-reunified-korea-hows-that-gonna-work/824419)
**Author:** [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-reunified-korea-hows-that-gonna-work/824419 "2019-04-22T19:29:58Z")
I can understand a divided nation always yearns for unification, the cultural ties run so deep and rich. I see in the news today they are tearing down things in what seems like more steps toward a unified Korea. Any id… --- ## [Trump administration considered releasing illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-administration-considered-releasing-illegal-immigrants-in-sanctuary-cities/832453)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-administration-considered-releasing-illegal-immigrants-in-sanctuary-cities/832453 "2019-04-22T18:54:29Z")
While this is, obviously, a Trump political ploy, it seemed rather ironic for Democrats to condemn the proposal. Sanctuary cities, by definition, are there to offer sanctuary. This would be like a pro-life adoption cente… --- ## [Why were most Communists totalitarian?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-most-communists-totalitarian/824771)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-were-most-communists-totalitarian/824771 "2019-04-22T17:35:33Z")
I’ve seen this discussed before in short form, usually with glib, easy answers like, “power corrupts”, or “they just hijacked the ideology because they wanted power”. But as much as I love to punch totalitarians, it does… --- ## [Kentucky Man Shoots Drone, Gets Arrested](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 380\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-man-shoots-drone-gets-arrested/726634 "2019-04-22T17:04:17Z")
Here’s the story. William Meredith of Hillview, Kentucky, saw a privately owned drone flying over his property. He took out his shotgun and shot the drone, destroying it. Then he was arrested for First Degree Criminal… --- ## [What's the threshold for a firearm to be too dangerous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-threshold-for-a-firearm-to-be-too-dangerous/831510)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 391\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-threshold-for-a-firearm-to-be-too-dangerous/831510 "2019-04-22T00:21:03Z")
If you allow that some guns are ok and others are not, what do you consider the dividing line and why? --- ## [Anyone worried about Italy signing an agreement with China (Belt and Road)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-worried-about-italy-signing-an-agreement-with-china-belt-and-road/831632)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-worried-about-italy-signing-an-agreement-with-china-belt-and-road/831632 "2019-04-21T18:23:18Z")
I was wondering if anyone is concerned about the recent deal Italy signed with China, and what, if any thoughts folks have about it. If you don’t know anything about it, I’ll link to this Reuters (bare bones) article th… --- ## [Regarding the Holocaust, what did we know and when did we know it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-the-holocaust-what-did-we-know-and-when-did-we-know-it/832567)
**Author:** [@memeingtrillions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/memeingtrillions)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-the-holocaust-what-did-we-know-and-when-did-we-know-it/832567 "2019-04-21T02:59:31Z")
Looking for a just-the-facts timeline of what’s been released about knowledge we gained about the holocaust via espionage or other routes while it was happening. --- ## [Would you agree with this Venn diagram about irrational nonsense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-agree-with-this-venn-diagram-about-irrational-nonsense/832823)
**Author:** [@scarface54345](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scarface54345)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-agree-with-this-venn-diagram-about-irrational-nonsense/832823 "2019-04-20T23:31:07Z")
--- ## [UHC: Has to be affordable, high-quality, and also \*not\* have long wait times](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uhc-has-to-be-affordable-high-quality-and-also-not-have-long-wait-times/830033)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 360\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uhc-has-to-be-affordable-high-quality-and-also-not-have-long-wait-times/830033 "2019-04-20T22:18:48Z")
Assuming that America does go towards UHC: How is it to be done in a way that is Affordable (not only in terms of, low deductibles, but also in terms of the premiums themselves not being too high,) and High-quality… --- ## [What is every political faction's "finish line?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-every-political-factions-finish-line/832580)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-every-political-factions-finish-line/832580 "2019-04-19T15:47:53Z")
What does each political faction consider to be its “finish line” - the point at which it can say, “There, that’s it, we’ve accomplished everything we set out to, and there is nothing left for us to achieve?” With abort… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=71) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=73)