# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=88 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 89 --- ## [Is Trump, plain and simple, a traitor to his country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-plain-and-simple-a-traitor-to-his-country/818154)
**Author:** [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Replies:** 578\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-plain-and-simple-a-traitor-to-his-country/818154 "2018-08-05T20:05:37Z")
I don’t mean a metaphorical traitor to specific values, or to the people who support him (despite the harm that will eventually befall them from his policies). I mean, is he literally acting on Russia’s behalf to underm… --- ## [China's debt trap tactics and the trade war with the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-debt-trap-tactics-and-the-trade-war-with-the-us/819072)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2018, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinas-debt-trap-tactics-and-the-trade-war-with-the-us/819072 "2018-08-05T12:40:53Z")
I haven’t seen many threads talking about China, so thought I’d put some questions out for debate to see what 'dopers think. The first one is, what do you think of China’s debt trap tactics? Basically, China uses massi… --- ## [Fait accompli: Russia conquering the Baltics in 48 hours - what to do next.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fait-accompli-russia-conquering-the-baltics-in-48-hours-what-to-do-next/818226)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fait-accompli-russia-conquering-the-baltics-in-48-hours-what-to-do-next/818226 "2018-08-04T21:08:41Z")
Sorry if this hypothetical’s been done before - I’m sure it may have been one or a few years back, but can’t recall the thread or how it went. Let’s say that in the near future, Russian forces, at Putin’s behest, roll i… --- ## [$12 Billion in Aid Going to Farmers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-billion-in-aid-going-to-farmers/818515)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 267\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-billion-in-aid-going-to-farmers/818515 "2018-08-03T20:43:45Z")
What does everyone think about the $12 billion in aid that will be going to farmers hurt by the tariffs? I’m against that. First, since trade wars are good and easy to win, the farmers shouldn’t need any help. Second,… --- ## [The value of prayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-prayer/818883)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-prayer/818883 "2018-08-03T20:26:11Z")
I just saw a thread on my Facebook feed. A friend’s relative is in the hospital being treated for an injury. This friend was requesting prayers for the relative. Many people obliged with comments such as Praying \[the pe… --- ## [Is it time for the dems to fight dirty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-the-dems-to-fight-dirty/815907)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-time-for-the-dems-to-fight-dirty/815907 "2018-08-03T19:51:37Z")
So Vox interviewed a guy who wrote a book which is basically the democratic response to the “Flight 93” blog post. Short version: \*\*Sean Illing \*\* In the book, you say that Democrats are engaged in “policy fights” an… --- ## [Are there any honest televangelists out there?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-honest-televangelists-out-there/316606)
**Author:** [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-honest-televangelists-out-there/316606 "2018-08-03T19:23:28Z")
I know, I know. Everytime anyone on this board mentions televangelists we all immediately conjure up thoughts of Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Baker, and Peter Popoff. These conmen and hypocrites are not who I’m talking about. W… --- ## [Predictive policing. Good, bad, or other?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predictive-policing-good-bad-or-other/818544)
**Author:** [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predictive-policing-good-bad-or-other/818544 "2018-08-03T16:01:10Z")
LAPD officials defend predictive policing as activists call for its end Simply put, the computer provides a list of areas predicted to have higher rates of crime. The same as an officer working a beat knows that certa… --- ## [What if high-quality printed guns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-high-quality-printed-guns/818599)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2018, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-high-quality-printed-guns/818599 "2018-08-03T03:29:04Z")
I’ve been mulling over this What-if since the recent change to the law in the US. When we’ve discussed the topic on the Dope before, it’s mostly been people scoffing at how shit current printed guns are, and pointing ou… --- ## [Black Lives Matter? Or White Killers Matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-lives-matter-or-white-killers-matter/818858)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-lives-matter-or-white-killers-matter/818858 "2018-08-03T00:31:00Z")
The murder of Nia Wilson has made me wonder just what the heck is going on. I understand why African-Americans are outraged at police brutality. These are agents of the government doing wrong and just saying, “what about… --- ## [DOW at nearly 23k for first time in history...what is going on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dow-at-nearly-23k-for-first-time-in-history-what-is-going-on/799148)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dow-at-nearly-23k-for-first-time-in-history-what-is-going-on/799148 "2018-08-02T19:26:46Z")
So, I’ve been watching the DOW for quite a while now with growing puzzlement. In a fairly short time, I’ve seen milestone come and go. Over 20k…did that. 21k…did that. 22k…did that. Now we are closing in on 23k. Th… --- ## [To what degree do the stories we tell shape our lives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-the-stories-we-tell-shape-our-lives/818833)
**Author:** [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2018, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-the-stories-we-tell-shape-our-lives/818833 "2018-08-01T03:59:57Z")
https://www.scienceandnonduality.com…ting-the-self/ https://www.scienceandnonduality.com…the-big-story/ The field is called narrative psychology and it is about how we as humans use stories to make sense of the bits a… --- ## [What's the Big Deal About Robert E. Lee?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-robert-e-lee/817591)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 225\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-big-deal-about-robert-e-lee/817591 "2018-08-01T03:04:33Z")
In Summer of 1998, ironically 20 years ago exactly now, my father and I took a historic tour of the east coast. Our trip also included part of the South. And I was surprised how fixated the South is on Civil War general… --- ## [Why do drug kingpins seem to choose the dumbest mules to carry their stuff?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-drug-kingpins-seem-to-choose-the-dumbest-mules-to-carry-their-stuff/818513)
**Author:** [@EricaRoche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EricaRoche)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-drug-kingpins-seem-to-choose-the-dumbest-mules-to-carry-their-stuff/818513 "2018-07-31T21:34:33Z")
Watching border security shows, you see many drug busts from people who seem to have forgotten to have removed their brain to make room for carrying more drugs. Jokes aside, these people really seem to suck at their stor… --- ## [Yet Another WWII Scenario Question!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-wwii-scenario-question/818035)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-wwii-scenario-question/818035 "2018-07-31T17:36:12Z")
So I think most historians agree that due to a number of factors not limited to Hiter’s blunder in Russia and other tactical mistakes, Germany could not have won WWII under most any normal and historic scenario. A lack o… --- ## [The Value of Unity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-unity/818762)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-unity/818762 "2018-07-31T16:01:39Z")
I feel that there is a fundamental issue that most of us have forgotten how the current beliefs and assumptions that created the modern world came into being. And let me talk about that for a moment before jumping into m… --- ## [San Francisco trying to ban the free company lunch for techies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-trying-to-ban-the-free-company-lunch-for-techies/818641)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-trying-to-ban-the-free-company-lunch-for-techies/818641 "2018-07-31T12:26:30Z")
This is well beyond belief possibly illegal… If this passed I’d form a union to fight it and move my location,…??! --- ## [What are the demographics of all humans at death?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-demographics-of-all-humans-at-death/818332)
**Author:** [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2018, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-demographics-of-all-humans-at-death/818332 "2018-07-31T10:22:25Z")
If we were to survey all the people who have died in human history, how many people would there be? And what percentage would be babies, children, adults etc? What would be the average age? Another way to ask the questi… --- ## [Alex Jones... A Serious Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-jones-a-serious-question/818671)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alex-jones-a-serious-question/818671 "2018-07-31T03:17:09Z")
Since Alex Jones is in the new lately with some of his rhetoric being labeled as hate speech and pulled from Facebook and Youtube I thought this question topical. While 99.999 percent of sane humans think Alex Jones is … --- ## [Is NATO obsolete?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nato-obsolete/817721)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 163\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nato-obsolete/817721 "2018-07-29T22:26:12Z")
I know this has been discussed on the board before, but since it’s in the news again with the upcoming NATO meeting and the heated words between Trump and NATO, along with the running argument with Germany I figured I’d … --- ## [Is Committing a Crime a "Right"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-committing-a-crime-a-right/817734)
**Author:** [@Bonzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonzi)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2018, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-committing-a-crime-a-right/817734 "2018-07-29T02:24:00Z")
As human beings, do we have “rights” to do whatever we want? What exactly is a definition of a “right”? If you are willing to do the time for a crime, do you not therefore have the “right” to commit that crime as a hum… --- ## [To Spank or Not To Spank...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spank-or-not-to-spank/652485)
**Author:** [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-spank-or-not-to-spank/652485 "2018-07-28T01:29:04Z")
Reports and psychological studies are coming out now saying that spanking ultimately does more damage than good when used as a tool for discipline. I don’t know if I believe that. I, like most of my peers, was spanked… --- ## [Racialism: Everyone's Favorite Politics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racialism-everyones-favorite-politics/817715)
**Author:** [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Replies:** 671\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racialism-everyones-favorite-politics/817715 "2018-07-27T20:48:12Z")
This thread is mostly about people active in discussing politics. The everyday person is not as obsessed with racial classification as the rabid activists. Let’s be honest, I’m talking about the lower classes, who regard… --- ## [Is my understanding of what Papa John's CEO said accurate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-understanding-of-what-papa-johns-ceo-said-accurate/818039)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-understanding-of-what-papa-johns-ceo-said-accurate/818039 "2018-07-26T21:53:51Z")
I have read several news accounts (and they can be found everywhere) but my understanding of the use of the racial slur was as follows: The CEO was in a meeting addressing the heat that Papa Johns had been taking for sp… --- ## [Illegal immigration from the demand side (aka Zero Tolerance for Employers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-from-the-demand-side-aka-zero-tolerance-for-employers/816815)
**Author:** [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-from-the-demand-side-aka-zero-tolerance-for-employers/816815 "2018-07-26T13:16:21Z")
Out of the 11-12 million undocumented immigrants in the US, about 8 million of them work. The overwhelming majority of those who cross the border illegally are not here fleeing violence and oppression, or to plant anchor… --- ## [Impeachment possiibilty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeachment-possiibilty/818231)
**Author:** [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2018, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impeachment-possiibilty/818231 "2018-07-26T06:05:38Z")
Let’s imagine that after the midterm elections of 2018, there is a majority in the House of Representatives (218 congresspeople) who vote for the impeachment of President Trump. Combination of all Dems and a few never-Tr… --- ## [Will Trump pardon Mariia Butina?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-pardon-mariia-butina/818129)
**Author:** [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-pardon-mariia-butina/818129 "2018-07-25T17:25:54Z")
Mariia Butina - on paper, a recent grad from a US university, who likes the NRA, and is Russian. The most likely reality, she’s been planted in the US, to facilitate the moving of money from Russia, through the NRA, to … --- ## [Did Nixon get as much flak as Trump for overtures to Moscow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-nixon-get-as-much-flak-as-trump-for-overtures-to-moscow/818262)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2018, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-nixon-get-as-much-flak-as-trump-for-overtures-to-moscow/818262 "2018-07-24T12:53:08Z")
Right now many maistream media sources in the west are reporting on (and in some cases fomenting) concern and even outrage over Donald Trump’s overtures to Vladimir Putin. Trump’s public statements, such as those made a… --- ## [How much has the Republican party changed?...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-the-republican-party-changed/817944)
**Author:** [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-the-republican-party-changed/817944 "2018-07-23T13:43:25Z")
I used to be a Republican up until 2016, although I was increasingly bothered by what I saw within the party since Obama was elected. If you look back over modern history, we had Eisenhower, who implemented the intersta… --- ## [Why do pro-lifers make exceptions for rape and incest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pro-lifers-make-exceptions-for-rape-and-incest/817013)
**Author:** [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Replies:** 185\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pro-lifers-make-exceptions-for-rape-and-incest/817013 "2018-07-21T18:56:55Z")
Just to be clear, I do NOT think abortions should be denied to rape victims or women who’ve had incestuous relationships. Actually, as much as I dislike abortion, I don’t think it should be denied to anyone. The ongoin… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=87) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=89)