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1500 questions
24
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2 answers
What exactly did the federal judge do to Trump's executive order?
Source: The Hill
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly ruled in favor of a habeas
corpus petition filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on
behalf of two Iraqi men who were detained at John F. Kennedy
International Airport on…
Heisenberg
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15 answers
What electoral mechanisms might prevent the rise of a demagogue?
I realize that this may be one of the intentions of the US Electoral College system. Its most obvious role is to prevent a candidate of purely local appeal from winning nationally, but another de-facto role seems to have been assumed by many media…
jez
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24
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5 answers
Is it true that the US president can execute anyone without a trial?
Sorry if this is a stupid question. I am not an American (i.e. Canadian) and I was speaking to a friend today and he told me that apparently Obama passed a law last year that gives the president the power to execute any American citizen without…
Jey
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24
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1 answer
If Hillary Clinton was authorized to declassify information, then why would information she possibly leaked be classified?
I am confused about how anything Hillary Clinton leaked or potentially leaked while Secretary of State would have been classified. Is not the Secretary of State authorized to declassify information, as she was the head of the state department?…
Komitue
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24
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3 answers
What non-religious arguments, if any, are used against LGBT rights in general and marriage equality in particular?
It appears to me that opposition to marriage equality comes primarily from religious groups, in particular from the Abrahamic religions. Quoting Wikipedia:
Many forms of religions, including the Eastern faiths and Abrahamic faiths, do not support…
gerrit
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24
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2 answers
When and why did the American Republican Party become widely supported in the South?
The American Democrats and Republicans are often labelled with the colours blue and red respectively. However, the historical "blue states" and "red states" were once inverted from their current meanings.
In the 1860 presidential elections (in…
March Ho
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23
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20 answers
What policy arguments do people make in favor of legalizing marijuana?
I am not asking why people want marijuana legal, I am asking what arguments people make that legalizing marijuana would be beneficial to a society?
user134578
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23
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4 answers
What makes California a Democratic state?
So, back in the 60s & 70s, California gave us Richard Nixon. In the 80s, President Reagan hailed from the state. At least as late as 1984, California was considered a safe Republican state. During my politically active life, however (I started…
Affable Geek
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23
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11 answers
Why would a state retaliate to a nuclear strike if the consequences could be human extinction?
The entire mutually-assured destruction (MAD) concept is based on game theory and mutual belief.
Suppose we have two states (A and B) with massive nuclear arsenals which together suffice to plunge the world into a nuclear holocaust. If State A…
Stop Gaza Genocide
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How reasonable are fears of Russia attacking any NATO country in the foreseeable future?
Consider the facts that Article 5 is the cornerstone of NATO alliance, how the collective military strength of NATO massively dwarfs that of Russia, how Russia has fared in Ukraine, how depleted it is. I cannot fathom how Russia could even entertain…
TonyStark
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23
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9 answers
What is the argument for preventing tyranny that avoids gun violence?
I'm aware of the examples and debates of whether this works practically, but the theory as I understand it for the second amendment as a last defense against tyranny works as follows.
Elect leaders that protect your interests. If that fails,
fall…
Tom
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23
votes
3 answers
Why is the town of Olivenza not as heavily politicized as other territorial disputes?
Olivenza is a town near the border of Portugal and Spain. Spain controls it but Portugal does not recognize it as Spanish. Unlike other disputes around the world such as Gibraltar in Spain vs UK, it does not seem to be brought up nor does it sour…
rn99310
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23
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11 answers
Why do governments provide a tax discount for married couples who don't have children?
It's perfectly clear to me why the government would provide tax discounts for having children: today's kids are future taxpayers and society wants to incentivize having more of them when birth rates are low. But why provide any benefits whatsoever…
JonathanReez
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23
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15 answers
Why do the right claim that Hitler was left-wing?
This is taken from a speech by Adolf Hitler, April 12, 1921:
There are only two possibilities in Germany; do not imagine that the people will forever go with the middle party, the party of compromises; one day it will turn to those who have most…
Joey Vimsante The Poet
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23
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9 answers
What does "the Balkanization of the United States" mean?
What is Balkanization? How does a country/political entity/area become Balkanized? What does Balkanization mean specifically for the future of the United States?
Edit: "The Balkanization of the United States" as a general concept has gained an…
Jaol
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