# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=83 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 84 --- ## [Has political radicalism to deal with problems ever worked out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-political-radicalism-to-deal-with-problems-ever-worked-out/823867)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-political-radicalism-to-deal-with-problems-ever-worked-out/823867 "2018-11-05T22:27:26Z")
My impression is that when a nation has problems and the people try a radical political solution, it never works out. It always results in dictatorship, war, incompetence or new problems. The depression in Germany in th… --- ## [SCOTUS justices and the division in the US: should they try to ease it by their opinions/decisions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-justices-and-the-division-in-the-us-should-they-try-to-ease-it-by-their-opinions-decisions/823817)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-justices-and-the-division-in-the-us-should-they-try-to-ease-it-by-their-opinions-decisions/823817 "2018-11-05T21:12:52Z")
Will the SCOTUS justices’ (presumed) awareness of the extreme and rarely seen degree of division in the US influence their decisions? Should it? Should they actively try to ease it? I hope it does, and that they will tr… --- ## [Is Trump, the stable genius, leaking secrets via his iPhone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-the-stable-genius-leaking-secrets-via-his-iphone/823852)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-the-stable-genius-leaking-secrets-via-his-iphone/823852 "2018-11-05T19:36:34Z")
President Trump continues to use his iPhone despite that Russia and China are both listening in. Bush-43’s top information officer calls this “the most significant White House communications breach in history.” Very iro… --- ## [Person openly carrying an AR-15. Reasonable articulable suspicion of crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-openly-carrying-an-ar-15-reasonable-articulable-suspicion-of-crime/823583)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 368\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2018, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-openly-carrying-an-ar-15-reasonable-articulable-suspicion-of-crime/823583 "2018-11-04T12:20:27Z")
I’m sure we’ve all seen YouTube videos of people openly carrying AR-15s in states where open carry is legal. People see them and call the cops who approach them. These people typically get indignant, claim that they ar… --- ## [DC, Maryland sue Trump over alleged constitutional violations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-maryland-sue-trump-over-alleged-constitutional-violations/788770)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-maryland-sue-trump-over-alleged-constitutional-violations/788770 "2018-11-03T13:33:34Z")
D.C. and Maryland to sue President Trump, alleging breach of constitutional oath I’d love to hear a discussion of this. On the one hand, it seems very clear to me that the president has violated the emoluments clause. … --- ## [Are accusations of raicsm/sexism/bigotry abused?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-accusations-of-raicsm-sexism-bigotry-abused/821332)
**Author:** [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Replies:** 328\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-accusations-of-raicsm-sexism-bigotry-abused/821332 "2018-11-01T17:19:28Z")
Do people accuse other’s of racism to shut them up or shut down debate? Are labels like racist being watered down by over-use? --- ## [Industrial Bulkheads for the Economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/industrial-bulkheads-for-the-economy/823666)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2018, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/industrial-bulkheads-for-the-economy/823666 "2018-11-01T12:23:53Z")
I have been thinking, since the Great Recession, about strategies to divide the economy so that a failure in one section will not roll over into other sections, and so that financial stimulus can be applied in a targeted… --- ## [Trump and the right's immigration stances are pushing the left towards open borders.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-the-rights-immigration-stances-are-pushing-the-left-towards-open-borders/823407)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 213\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-the-rights-immigration-stances-are-pushing-the-left-towards-open-borders/823407 "2018-10-31T23:05:13Z")
I’d like to start off with I support immigration and I support borders. I do not support detaining children (unless there is a violent crime or repeat crime committed, or the safety of the child is in jeopardy). To some … --- ## [Going from One Representative, One Vote to One Constituent, One Vote.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-from-one-representative-one-vote-to-one-constituent-one-vote/823618)
**Author:** [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-from-one-representative-one-vote-to-one-constituent-one-vote/823618 "2018-10-31T18:28:17Z")
One Person, one Vote is pretty universal, except when it comes to voting in corporate elections, in which each person’s vote is based on the percentage of the corporation they own. Why don’t we treat elected representat… --- ## [Man who put abortion-inducing drug in girlfriend's drink gets 22 years in prison -attempted homicide](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-put-abortion-inducing-drug-in-girlfriends-drink-gets-22-years-in-prison-attempted-homicide/822932)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-who-put-abortion-inducing-drug-in-girlfriends-drink-gets-22-years-in-prison-attempted-homicide/822932 "2018-10-31T17:56:12Z")
This morning I came across this article: Man who put abortion-inducing drug in girlfriend’s drink gets 22 years in prison The short version is a man tried to give his pregnant girlfriend an abortion-inducing drug withou… --- ## [Tech solutions (mega-projects) to our little climate problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-solutions-mega-projects-to-our-little-climate-problem/823563)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-solutions-mega-projects-to-our-little-climate-problem/823563 "2018-10-30T23:39:36Z")
Let’s assume a few things. Whether you agree with them or not, for the purposes of this thread, let’s assume that in the aggregate we aren’t going to reduce CO2 emissions world wide by the targets the IPCC set out to ke… --- ## ["Is it racist" is a meaningless question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-is-a-meaningless-question/823586)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-is-a-meaningless-question/823586 "2018-10-29T15:19:44Z")
It’s like people assume that “racist” is a defined term, and all we have to do is decide, by careful examination, if something fits into that category or not. But the real question is about the meaning of the word “raci… --- ## [Archaeology is Unethical](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archaeology-is-unethical/823317)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2018, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archaeology-is-unethical/823317 "2018-10-29T12:07:17Z")
Over the last few centuries, as mankind has gained interest in exploring his own history through archaeology, we have destroyed an incalculable quantity of data about that history, solely for the purpose of being able to… --- ## [Who is organizing/supporting the "caravan"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 143\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326 "2018-10-27T23:35:09Z")
It seems some 5000 Guatemalans have crossed into Mexico, and intend on traveling to the US. Is anyone organizing or supporting this effort? Churches? Aid groups? I’m just thinking about bathrooms, food, and medical s… --- ## [Job losses from cutting entitlements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-losses-from-cutting-entitlements/823161)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-losses-from-cutting-entitlements/823161 "2018-10-27T20:58:32Z")
Let’s say McConnell and the GOP get their way and balance the federal budget by cutting entitlement spending- Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. How many job losses would that translate into, nationwide? The deficit t… --- ## [Why do liberals hate suburbs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-suburbs/664965)
**Author:** [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Replies:** 691\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-liberals-hate-suburbs/664965 "2018-10-25T01:25:44Z")
There are a great many liberal positions that I can understand, even if I may disagree with them, but there’s one I don’t understand the motivation for: what is the reason behind the liberals’ “war on suburbs”? --- ## [IQs and enlightenment.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iqs-and-enlightenment/822800)
**Author:** [@mrka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrka)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iqs-and-enlightenment/822800 "2018-10-24T16:09:48Z")
I have practiced Yoga for ten years. My teacher was the author and Hatha Yoga master Swami Vishnudevananda also known as the flying Swami. I took the TTC and became a memver of the staff at the yoga camp and ashram in V… --- ## [Should rape/sexual assault victims report?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-rape-sexual-assault-victims-report/823238)
**Author:** [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-rape-sexual-assault-victims-report/823238 "2018-10-24T14:55:45Z")
I’ve been pondering this for months now. The answer may seem simple–“Of course! If someone is raped, she should report it!” But consider the following: Only a small percentage of rapists are arrested. Only a tiny perce… --- ## [People believe men who come out years later about rape but don't believe women.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-believe-men-who-come-out-years-later-about-rape-but-dont-believe-women/823184)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-believe-men-who-come-out-years-later-about-rape-but-dont-believe-women/823184 "2018-10-24T14:49:20Z")
So a while ago there was a story about catholic priests raping children and a few of those children came out decades later to tell people they were raped. I don’t think I saw a single right winged article about how it wa… --- ## [Ok. So why do they call it the "Violence Against Women Act?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-do-they-call-it-the-violence-against-women-act/822728)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-why-do-they-call-it-the-violence-against-women-act/822728 "2018-10-22T22:30:36Z")
Let’s say men don’t ever suffer from violence against females, and men are the only ones capable of such toxic behavior. What about gay male relationships? Maybe I’m missing something, (I often do,) and I’m not trying … --- ## [Who is/was the best Ex-President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-ex-president/819046)
**Author:** [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-was-the-best-ex-president/819046 "2018-10-22T19:30:53Z")
I was having a discussion recently, and a question came up, that I would like to hear Dope’s opinion on. Who was the greatest ex-President? No matter how you feel a person was as “President”, who do you think has had th… --- ## [Suppose Gary Hart Hadn't Been Caught Out as an Adulterer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-gary-hart-hadnt-been-caught-out-as-an-adulterer/698880)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-gary-hart-hadnt-been-caught-out-as-an-adulterer/698880 "2018-10-22T18:35:39Z")
Would he have won the Democratic nomination for President? Would he have then beaten Bush, Sr.? Would Bush, Jr. then never have become President? Would we have thus avoided the Iraq War? Article about Gary Hart: --- ## [Let's be forthright about the tax cuts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-be-forthright-about-the-tax-cuts/821407)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 278\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-be-forthright-about-the-tax-cuts/821407 "2018-10-22T16:27:05Z")
I was taking stock of finances the other day and calculated that I have paid about $1500 less in taxes compared to this point last year. By the end of the year it could amount to a $2000 difference. I expect to earn wit… --- ## [When are "Second Amendment Solutions" justified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-second-amendment-solutions-justified/822878)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-are-second-amendment-solutions-justified/822878 "2018-10-21T23:26:54Z")
Many proponents of the Second Amendment believe that’s it purpose was to allow the civilian population to rise up and overthrow the government if it gets too tyrannical. Let’s assume for the purpose of discussion that in… --- ## [Morality of executing someone who cannot remember his crime](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morality-of-executing-someone-who-cannot-remember-his-crime/823097)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morality-of-executing-someone-who-cannot-remember-his-crime/823097 "2018-10-20T17:36:41Z")
A death-row inmate in Alabama cannot remember the crime he committed decades ago (due to dementia) and now there is an argument that it be unethical to execute someone who cannot remember why they are being executed: I… --- ## [Today in the courts: civil rights laws may be unconstitutional](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-the-courts-civil-rights-laws-may-be-unconstitutional/823137)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-in-the-courts-civil-rights-laws-may-be-unconstitutional/823137 "2018-10-20T17:17:56Z")
The eight circuit seems posed to rule on a case, Telescope Media Group v. Lindsey, in such a way as to essentially make antidiscrimination laws unconstitutional. Alethea Huyser, Minnesota’s assistant solicitor general… --- ## [Is It Time? \[technology assisted umpiring in baseball\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-technology-assisted-umpiring-in-baseball/822753)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-technology-assisted-umpiring-in-baseball/822753 "2018-10-19T16:20:22Z")
\*\* Yankees’ CC Sabathia critical of umpire Angel Hernandez after loss.\*\* Tennis has proved beyond a doubt that we have the technology in terms of accuracy and time to review anything and make the proper call. Technolo… --- ## [What about "whataboutism"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-whataboutism/822465)
**Author:** [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-whataboutism/822465 "2018-10-19T16:09:09Z")
I’d been meaning to post this for a while, but only recently got around to it. Lately (as in, for the past several years…I don’t recall hearing the term more than, say, five years ago) there has been, if not a coining of… --- ## [How fractional reserve banking and M0 work](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fractional-reserve-banking-and-m0-work/823134)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 127\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fractional-reserve-banking-and-m0-work/823134 "2018-10-19T15:47:31Z")
Based on this thread which got a little off the rails and was closed. I just want to see if we’re all clear on the concepts involved. Fractional Reserve Banking is a system that requires a bank to keep a portion of the … --- ## [Does the drug companies' argument that compelling speech is unconstitutional hold any water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-drug-companies-argument-that-compelling-speech-is-unconstitutional-hold-any-water/823068)
**Author:** [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-drug-companies-argument-that-compelling-speech-is-unconstitutional-hold-any-water/823068 "2018-10-19T15:06:02Z")
As you’ve probably heard, the Trump administration would like to require that drug ads include the per month cost of all drugs that are over $35/month absent rebates, drug price negotiations with one’s insurance company … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=82) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=84)