# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=79 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 80 --- ## [So let's all agree: Trump actually did something ethical and morally correct](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-all-agree-trump-actually-did-something-ethical-and-morally-correct/820043)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2019, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-all-agree-trump-actually-did-something-ethical-and-morally-correct/820043 "2019-01-16T09:36:35Z")
He threw a Nazi SS officer out of the country, when no other president for the past 14 years cared. The man named Jakiw Palij, who served in the SS at the death camp in Trawniki, was convicted in federal court and sent… --- ## [Culture of Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-of-irony/148873)
**Author:** [@Capt.Caustic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Caustic)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/culture-of-irony/148873 "2019-01-16T04:17:58Z")
How’d we get to be such an irony-driven, afraid-to-be-serious culture? Why are the arts full of self-referential humor and meta commentary? Why is the biggest sin to be a true believer? Is it the result of the demise… --- ## [\#MeToo backlash is hurting women (Bloomberg article)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metoo-backlash-is-hurting-women-bloomberg-article/825626)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 472\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metoo-backlash-is-hurting-women-bloomberg-article/825626 "2019-01-15T20:57:39Z")
Gist/summary(in case the article is behind a paywall): The #MeToo movement has lead to a backlash that now is hurting women in the workplace because it makes employers reluctant to hire women, men reluctant to mentor wo… --- ## [Fluctuating gender (genderfluid) discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluctuating-gender-genderfluid-discussion/827646)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fluctuating-gender-genderfluid-discussion/827646 "2019-01-15T03:00:40Z")
I’d like to have a discussion on genderfluidity. I’m here to learn, but to be honest, I’m starting from a skeptical viewpoint. First, I want to make it clear that I would never discriminate against someone who was or c… --- ## [The recent taboo of using the N-word under ANY circumstances](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recent-taboo-of-using-the-n-word-under-any-circumstances/827189)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recent-taboo-of-using-the-n-word-under-any-circumstances/827189 "2019-01-14T19:50:02Z")
I’m 34, and as long as I can remember the “N word” was considered an inappropriate racial slur to direct at someone. But I’ve noticed there’s been a recent trend whereby it can’t be used under ANY circumstances, regardle… --- ## [Has the government been hiding information about a vaccine-autism link?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-government-been-hiding-information-about-a-vaccine-autism-link/827554)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-government-been-hiding-information-about-a-vaccine-autism-link/827554 "2019-01-14T15:20:21Z")
THIS article says yes. (warning, takes about 10 minutes) In short, it seems that in 2007 or so in the vaccine injury court, a special court set up by the US government to protect the pharma industry from lawsuits, a bun… --- ## [Latin in Catholic services--making a comeback?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-in-catholic-services-making-a-comeback/826958)
**Author:** [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-in-catholic-services-making-a-comeback/826958 "2019-01-14T02:02:31Z")
My home Catholic church has been doing the “Lamb of God” prayer in Latin often in the last few months. Other Catholic churches I’ve been to recently have done either the “Holy Holy” or “Gloria” prayers in Latin–while th… --- ## [Tucker Carlson and Economic Populism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-and-economic-populism/827535)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tucker-carlson-and-economic-populism/827535 "2019-01-13T00:41:01Z")
Sooo… Tucker Carlson, whom I have long considered a popular blowhard (and famously schooled by Jon Stewart ages ago) is taking a surprising tack into economic populism. As covered by this article in Vox in it the au… --- ## [Too radical of a stance on Gun control makes for a loser at the national level](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-radical-of-a-stance-on-gun-control-makes-for-a-loser-at-the-national-level/827265)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/too-radical-of-a-stance-on-gun-control-makes-for-a-loser-at-the-national-level/827265 "2019-01-12T01:28:10Z")
Ok, taken from this thread here, where we got into a bit of a hijack : https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=868131&page=4 I think that any Presidential candidate with a gun control stance too radical c… --- ## [The 5th Wave (Normandy)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-5th-wave-normandy/826754)
**Author:** [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-5th-wave-normandy/826754 "2019-01-11T21:24:27Z")
Was reading an Obit and the old Veteran had received a purple heart for his service at Normandy taking part of the 5th wave. Question; would that be the 5th beach or were there up to and more than 5 waves on one of the … --- ## [Paul Ryan fired the House Chaplain. Why do we have a House Chaplain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-fired-the-house-chaplain-why-do-we-have-a-house-chaplain/813448)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-fired-the-house-chaplain-why-do-we-have-a-house-chaplain/813448 "2019-01-11T14:21:45Z")
I’m not anti-religion and I’m not anti-religious people serving in Congress. But, I don’t understand why we taxpayers are footing the bill for an official Chaplain for the House of Representatives. I assume that he has… --- ## [White liberals dumb themselves down when they speak to black people, a new study contends](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-liberals-dumb-themselves-down-when-they-speak-to-black-people-a-new-study-contends/825553)
**Author:** [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Replies:** 156\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-liberals-dumb-themselves-down-when-they-speak-to-black-people-a-new-study-contends/825553 "2019-01-10T22:00:49Z")
There was a study conducted which found that white liberals “downshift” their presented competency when interacting with people they perceive as black. Conservatives did no such thing, and interacted with perceived bla… --- ## [Any chance of a "essential government employee" strike?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-of-a-essential-government-employee-strike/827251)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-of-a-essential-government-employee-strike/827251 "2019-01-10T00:07:34Z")
Actually looking for a factual answer, but figure it will get GDey anyway… Given Trump has said he’s happy to shut down the government indefinitely. Is it remotely possible that some of the “essential government employ… --- ## [Should I refuse to serve in the military out of a moral standpoint?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-refuse-to-serve-in-the-military-out-of-a-moral-standpoint/827380)
**Author:** [@mifset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mifset)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-refuse-to-serve-in-the-military-out-of-a-moral-standpoint/827380 "2019-01-09T22:50:51Z")
As an Israeli citizen I am forced to serve in the military for roughly three years. However, due to my health conditions I am positive that I can get an exemption if I wanted to. So now I have a dilemma of whether to ser… --- ## [Southern Evangelicalism, Arabic Islam and the power of religious communities over individuals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-evangelicalism-arabic-islam-and-the-power-of-religious-communities-over-individuals/827416)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/southern-evangelicalism-arabic-islam-and-the-power-of-religious-communities-over-individuals/827416 "2019-01-09T20:24:55Z")
Reading up on alcohol Prohibition, I was struck by the fact that it was mainly a Protestant affair. Support for it was strongest in the US Bible Belt and still is. In Canada, the province where there was the least suppor… --- ## [Christmas and Secularism.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-and-secularism/826616)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-and-secularism/826616 "2019-01-09T13:56:26Z")
True story. When my father was still alive, we used to go to this Ram’s Horn in nearby Dearborn, MI. In case you don’t know, Dearborn (which is a suburb of Detroit, on the southern border) has the highest concentration o… --- ## [What is the justification for farm subsidies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-justification-for-farm-subsidies/827179)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-justification-for-farm-subsidies/827179 "2019-01-08T21:13:27Z")
Other than corruption, essentially a bribe to the Senators of states that have a low population and a large farm lobby, how does “subsidizing” farms help anyone? (but the tiny percentage of the population who happen to b… --- ## [Nuclear terror attack on US - how does the US respond if the bomb is known to be from Pakistan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-terror-attack-on-us-how-does-the-us-respond-if-the-bomb-is-known-to-be-from-pakistan/827177)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-terror-attack-on-us-how-does-the-us-respond-if-the-bomb-is-known-to-be-from-pakistan/827177 "2019-01-07T03:07:26Z")
What might the US response be if it were certain that a nuclear bomb from a Pakistani lot had been used in an attack on American soil? Say most of Philadelphia had become history due to a nuclear attack in an act of ter… --- ## [The solution will be an experiment - US states as 'laboratories of democracy'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-will-be-an-experiment-us-states-as-laboratories-of-democracy/826897)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-solution-will-be-an-experiment-us-states-as-laboratories-of-democracy/826897 "2019-01-07T02:33:40Z")
For a good while, like many politically naive people, I thought Trump himself was the issue. In retrospect, that would have been an almost charming situation, downright easy to undo compared to what I now believe is the … --- ## [What Divides Us the Most?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-divides-us-the-most/826940)
**Author:** [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-divides-us-the-most/826940 "2019-01-06T14:56:22Z")
I’ll first say I’m in the US… Generational? Is it culture (music, movies, literature, etc)? Skin color? I think many would say politics, but 99% of the people you’ll pass by or encounter won’t give that away very soon. … --- ## [What is the possible upside for supporting Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-possible-upside-for-supporting-saudi-arabia-in-the-war-in-yemen/827107)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-possible-upside-for-supporting-saudi-arabia-in-the-war-in-yemen/827107 "2019-01-05T22:29:30Z")
This seems almost Pit-level stupidity and cruelty, but lets keep it GD, what do we hope to gain by actively supporting Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen? Even if the the whole “100,000s of civilians dying by war and star… --- ## [Healthcare Myths in America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/healthcare-myths-in-america/825179)
**Author:** [@SaltyDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaltyDave)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/healthcare-myths-in-america/825179 "2019-01-05T19:34:35Z")
I still keep seeing things about the terribly high cost of Single Payer Healthcare. Why? We are not the first country to do it. Italy has the 2nd or 3rd best healthcare in the World. Their govt pays about US$3,077/capit… --- ## [Objection to involuntary gay-conversion therapy or voluntary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/objection-to-involuntary-gay-conversion-therapy-or-voluntary/820169)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/objection-to-involuntary-gay-conversion-therapy-or-voluntary/820169 "2019-01-04T20:32:19Z")
This may be more of a GQ question than GD, but I am confused about whether the societal objection to so-called gay-conversion therapy is only about involuntary conversion of gays to straight against their will, or whethe… --- ## [Build an invisible wall.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-an-invisible-wall/827198)
**Author:** [@mrka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrka)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/build-an-invisible-wall/827198 "2019-01-04T18:45:09Z")
I’m born in an Anglo country. My parents are from Poland. Why is it that I feel like I’m resented? Are the Anglos just a big clan? Celtic and so on. If they’re saying that they must defend their race, language and wha… --- ## [Dumping asylum seekers: What's the admin's justification?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumping-asylum-seekers-whats-the-admins-justification/827006)
**Author:** [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumping-asylum-seekers-whats-the-admins-justification/827006 "2019-01-04T16:54:50Z")
Honest question. If the President sees migrants as such an imminent and dangerous threat to our safety, why are they bussed to city parks and bus stations with no notice to the cities and aid organizations? Isn’t that ju… --- ## [Ethics: Mitigating an atrocity - doing good, or accomplice to evil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-mitigating-an-atrocity-doing-good-or-accomplice-to-evil/827093)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-mitigating-an-atrocity-doing-good-or-accomplice-to-evil/827093 "2019-01-03T22:35:58Z")
Suppose that, back in the Holocaust, there were a Nazi official who saw many thousands being gassed with Zyklon B in the death camps and recommended that nitrogen asphyxiation be used instead, on the grounds of it being … --- ## [With trepidation, Benghazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535)
**Author:** [@Donald\_Rump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donald_Rump)\ **Replies:** 945\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2019, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-trepidation-benghazi/687535 "2019-01-03T22:16:46Z")
The purpose of this thread is a narrow one, although, similar to events in Benghazi themselves, what is now starting out as a spontaneous reaction to the media firestorm around Ben Rhodes’ email may be hijacked by more h… --- ## [What effect will it have on our society when privacy is completely eliminated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-it-have-on-our-society-when-privacy-is-completely-eliminated/827092)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2019, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-effect-will-it-have-on-our-society-when-privacy-is-completely-eliminated/827092 "2019-01-03T10:40:17Z")
What effect will it have on our society when privacy is completely eliminated - when all our thoughts are instantly public and lies have no shelter? At first brush, I immediately recoil in horror at the thought. Privacy… --- ## [Lindsey Graham's view of the US withdrawal from Iraq in 2011](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsey-grahams-view-of-the-us-withdrawal-from-iraq-in-2011/826950)
**Author:** [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lindsey-grahams-view-of-the-us-withdrawal-from-iraq-in-2011/826950 "2019-01-03T04:20:35Z")
I can’t find any arguments to support Sen. Graham’s view that the US withdrawal in 2011 was unnecessary. He says bullshit to the statement that Obama withdrew US forces in 2011 because Iraq would not sign a status of for… --- ## [George H.W. Bush's legacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bushs-legacy/825392)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-h-w-bushs-legacy/825392 "2018-12-31T20:16:58Z")
I’m gonna say it out loud: the “good Bush” wasn’t particularly principled, and wasn’t particularly good. He set an example for today’s generation of ‘moderate’ Republicans like Jeff Flake, by taking a stand against Reag… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=78) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=80)