# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=74 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 75 --- ## [Aside from finding evidence for exoneration, why have inmates spend 10-30 years on death row?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aside-from-finding-evidence-for-exoneration-why-have-inmates-spend-10-30-years-on-death-row/831588)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aside-from-finding-evidence-for-exoneration-why-have-inmates-spend-10-30-years-on-death-row/831588 "2019-03-29T18:42:25Z")
I’m all in favor of leaving no stone unturned when it comes to finding evidence that could exonerate someone on death row - one innocent person executed is one innocent person too many. That being said, aside from exone… --- ## [Am I doing something wrong by refusing to serve in a military where service is obligated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-doing-something-wrong-by-refusing-to-serve-in-a-military-where-service-is-obligated/830888)
**Author:** [@mifset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mifset)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-doing-something-wrong-by-refusing-to-serve-in-a-military-where-service-is-obligated/830888 "2019-03-26T18:12:39Z")
I live in Israel so I’m forced to go to the military for three years. I found a “tricky” way to get an exemption and I’m heavily considering it. My problem is that I know that if I don’t serve I will be shamed by many pe… --- ## [Will gay marriage ever be legalized in the United States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gay-marriage-ever-be-legalized-in-the-united-states/516554)
**Author:** [@heavybuhbuh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heavybuhbuh)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-gay-marriage-ever-be-legalized-in-the-united-states/516554 "2019-03-26T16:33:40Z")
Will gay marriage ever be legalized in the United States? There have been many court verdicts deeming the bans on gay marriage to be unjust and unconstitutional. Yet the Will of the People, as it showed again on Tuesda… --- ## [What is this U.S. - Israel thing? Why are they so important?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-u-s-israel-thing-why-are-they-so-important/831506)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-u-s-israel-thing-why-are-they-so-important/831506 "2019-03-25T23:21:43Z")
It seems to me that to get elected president in the U.S. you need to be a strong supporter of the state of Israel. Are there a lot of Jewish voters in the U.S.? Does it really make that much difference? Is American su… --- ## [How likely is this scenario? Global warming at 4C](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-this-scenario-global-warming-at-4c/819484)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-this-scenario-global-warming-at-4c/819484 "2019-03-25T19:53:24Z")
I don’t know much about climate change, I believe it, however, I was alarmed by this map about how large swathes of the world would be left uninhabitable due to a runaway greenhouse effect. … --- ## ["Sokal Squared" project exposes fraud in academia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sokal-squared-project-exposes-fraud-in-academia/830645)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 191\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sokal-squared-project-exposes-fraud-in-academia/830645 "2019-03-25T01:29:54Z")
I came across this from a segment by reporter John Stossel. Some academics in a Portland Washington college wanted to see just how crazy an article could be and see if prestigious journals, the journals academics are req… --- ## [Pros and cons of Amerida (an EU-type trade/travel union between the US and Canada)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-amerida-an-eu-type-trade-travel-union-between-the-us-and-canada/830953)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pros-and-cons-of-amerida-an-eu-type-trade-travel-union-between-the-us-and-canada/830953 "2019-03-24T04:34:57Z")
What would be the downsides to a US-Canada trade/travel union similar to the EU? We wouldn’t need a currency union, nor would we need to merge health care systems, as is demonstrated by various circumstances within the … --- ## [Is capitalism failing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-capitalism-failing/831066)
**Author:** [@Fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-capitalism-failing/831066 "2019-03-23T20:19:55Z")
Can we honestly say that capitalism as a system is working? This isn’t a question about the merits or failures of other systems. This is a question about whether capitalism in its current form is sustainable for the pros… --- ## [Which region of France experienced the worst excesses at the height of the Terror (1793-1794)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-region-of-france-experienced-the-worst-excesses-at-the-height-of-the-terror-1793-1794/831131)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-region-of-france-experienced-the-worst-excesses-at-the-height-of-the-terror-1793-1794/831131 "2019-03-20T04:43:56Z")
Hi Statistically, which region of France experienced the worst excesses at the height of the Terror (1793-1794)? Was it Paris? Vendée? I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [If Moral Presumptions Are the Problem...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-moral-presumptions-are-the-problem/830443)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-moral-presumptions-are-the-problem/830443 "2019-03-18T23:26:27Z")
…then what is the solution? In case you don’t know, I am referring to moral nihilism. Here is the Wikipedia article on the subject. As you can see, some philosophers consider ethics neither true nor false (I have a sli… --- ## [The Devil Tormenting Sinners.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-devil-tormenting-sinners/830595)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-devil-tormenting-sinners/830595 "2019-03-18T20:52:30Z")
Why is the Devil usually depicted tormenting sinners? The Devil is often shown using his trident for this purpose (forgetting for the moment his trident is an adaptation from the god Neptune). In Dante’s Inferno he is sh… --- ## [Public School Funding in America: Mass inequalities, underfunded, getting worse. Let's fix it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-school-funding-in-america-mass-inequalities-underfunded-getting-worse-lets-fix-it/830982)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2019, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-school-funding-in-america-mass-inequalities-underfunded-getting-worse-lets-fix-it/830982 "2019-03-18T11:44:19Z")
Using this NPR story “Why America’s Schools Have A Money Problem” from a couple of years ago for background. It makes sense that areas that had more taxes collected, i.e. wealthier neighborhoods often with bigger busin… --- ## [A debate about Pi and infinities.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-debate-about-pi-and-infinities/831146)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-debate-about-pi-and-infinities/831146 "2019-03-17T18:27:37Z")
Pi is the most infamous irrational number, being infamous for having an infinite number of non repeating digits and now calculated out to roughly 31.4 trillion places :D. Here is my hypothesis which is up debate, and si… --- ## [Prevalence of homosexuality over time and in different cultures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prevalence-of-homosexuality-over-time-and-in-different-cultures/830946)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prevalence-of-homosexuality-over-time-and-in-different-cultures/830946 "2019-03-15T20:58:33Z")
There’s a GQ thread that has led to an ATMB thread related to this subject, so it got me wondering. What is the prevalence of male homosexuality in society? Someone in GQ claimed 5-10%, which was disputed. Has that pr… --- ## [Rank the proposed baseball rule changes!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185)
**Author:** [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rank-the-proposed-baseball-rule-changes/829185 "2019-03-15T13:17:30Z")
I’m glad MLB is finally addressing its issues, but some of the proposed changes IMO stretch the envelope a little too far. Here’s my ranking of the in-game proposals, from best idea to worst: \[ol\] \[li\]Extending the DH … --- ## [Can the president of the United States give security clearance to anyone he wants to?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-of-the-united-states-give-security-clearance-to-anyone-he-wants-to/830642)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2019, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-of-the-united-states-give-security-clearance-to-anyone-he-wants-to/830642 "2019-03-15T11:40:23Z")
In recent news is a kerfuffle over whether president Trump insisted security clearance be given to Ivanka and Jared Kushner despite the two of them being deemed ineligible (for whatever reason) of those clearances via th… --- ## [Question for anti gun people? home defense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-anti-gun-people-home-defense/829475)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 482\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-anti-gun-people-home-defense/829475 "2019-03-15T04:06:40Z")
Question: Lets say your at home and someone is outside trying to break down your door and get in to either rob or hurt you. Yes, you can and should dial 911 (assuming your phone is working) but you need protection NOW. W… --- ## [Ancient Homosexuality, why did it become "mainstream" at different times in different cultures?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-homosexuality-why-did-it-become-mainstream-at-different-times-in-different-cultures/830820)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-homosexuality-why-did-it-become-mainstream-at-different-times-in-different-cultures/830820 "2019-03-14T02:03:22Z")
So in 400BC-ish the ancient greeks or Athenians were popularizing homosexuality, and it appeared to be normalized for some period of time. Later (or before?) the ancient romans had several cases of homosexuality, and som… --- ## [Food Truck regulations, bans, and laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-truck-regulations-bans-and-laws/830644)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/food-truck-regulations-bans-and-laws/830644 "2019-03-13T21:53:44Z")
In some communities there are growing battles between established restaurants and food trucks. Some cities ban them altogether. Some set limits on where they can set up. What do you all think? Well to me a food truck a… --- ## [My Calculus Rant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-calculus-rant/831020)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-calculus-rant/831020 "2019-03-13T19:48:49Z")
Here’s the post which sparked it. In the interest of not hijacking that thread, I’m making this one. Historically? Because calculus is the royal road to physics and engineering. It’s impossible to do physics and engine… --- ## [Carnivore Parents Forcing Their Beliefs on Vegan Kids.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carnivore-parents-forcing-their-beliefs-on-vegan-kids/830717)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2019, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carnivore-parents-forcing-their-beliefs-on-vegan-kids/830717 "2019-03-12T02:55:20Z")
Can philosophically carnivore parents force their vegan kids to eat meat? I suppose it varies from state to state. So FYI I live in Michigan. I just have this terrible image of some redneck parents forcing their commie… --- ## [Has access to the internet and mobile devices increased crystallized intelligence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-access-to-the-internet-and-mobile-devices-increased-crystallized-intelligence/830849)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-access-to-the-internet-and-mobile-devices-increased-crystallized-intelligence/830849 "2019-03-11T23:57:13Z")
Computers haven’t reached a point where they are increasing our fluid intelligence by much yet, I don’t think. There are programs here and there but they are speciality programs. However via the internet people have … --- ## [Safety (FBI) vs. Privacy (your phone)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safety-fbi-vs-privacy-your-phone/830724)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safety-fbi-vs-privacy-your-phone/830724 "2019-03-11T15:46:23Z")
The FBI is upset about encryption In the first 11 months of the fiscal year, federal agents were unable to access the content of more than 6,900 mobile devices … “To put it mildly, this is a huge, huge problem,” Wray sa… --- ## [Reparations are never going to happen so why do some democrats come out in favor of them...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reparations-are-never-going-to-happen-so-why-do-some-democrats-come-out-in-favor-of-them/830186)
**Author:** [@SIick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SIick)\ **Replies:** 288\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reparations-are-never-going-to-happen-so-why-do-some-democrats-come-out-in-favor-of-them/830186 "2019-03-11T00:06:54Z")
when they’re asked about whether they support the idea? --- ## [What would happen if Donald Trump suspended the Constitution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-donald-trump-suspended-the-constitution/830419)
**Author:** [@viakix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/viakix)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-donald-trump-suspended-the-constitution/830419 "2019-03-10T19:21:46Z")
What would happen if Donald Trump disbanded congress, suspended the Constitution, arrested “the enemy of the people” and instead ruled by emergency executive decree? --- ## [Robert Kraft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kraft/830060)
**Author:** [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kraft/830060 "2019-03-10T09:57:15Z")
Should he and forced to sell the Patriots if he is found guilty of soliciting a prostitute? --- ## [Issue of working with Human rights violators](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/issue-of-working-with-human-rights-violators/830414)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2019, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/issue-of-working-with-human-rights-violators/830414 "2019-03-10T06:54:01Z")
I know there has been a lot of controversy of Trumps and other presidents appearing to ignore human rights violations and opening up relationships with them. I hold a view that if we rule out military overthrow our best … --- ## [If America attains UHC via a multi-payer system, what reforms would we need to have true UHC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-america-attains-uhc-via-a-multi-payer-system-what-reforms-would-we-need-to-have-true-uhc/830841)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-america-attains-uhc-via-a-multi-payer-system-what-reforms-would-we-need-to-have-true-uhc/830841 "2019-03-10T01:16:24Z")
Some democratic politicians are writing off single payer as unrealistic. Granted, you don’t need single payer to have UHC. Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, etc. all have mutipayer systems. But if the US was actual… --- ## [The Cosmos is All.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cosmos-is-all/830582)
**Author:** [@Jamiedarke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamiedarke)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2019, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cosmos-is-all/830582 "2019-03-09T10:02:43Z")
Had not all the world’s history and knowledge in the Royal Alexandrian Library not been lost, I am convinced that a detailed account of visits from space people would have been found there. Unfortunately these manuscript… --- ## [The problem with "It's 2019!" as an argument](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-problem-with-its-2019-as-an-argument/830797)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2019, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-problem-with-its-2019-as-an-argument/830797 "2019-03-09T07:42:37Z")
Oftentimes, when defending/advocating for a particular cause, some people will say, “It’s 2019!” (or “insert\_\_\_\_year”) as their argument on behalf of it. But…that’s not a valid argument at all. The argument of, “We ough… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=73) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=75)