Posts
Should citizens be allowed to legally own guns? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
Yes, within limits. No right is axiomatic. All rights have to be balanced against each other. Even if controlling guns were to reduce crime in the abstract, that is not in and of i...
Do you believe in Karma? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
In Gacy's case, lots of the people he targeted were vulnerable. It's a tough thing to admit, but a lot of victims put themselves into danger because of their own predilections. Let...
Would ban on guns reduce homicide attempt rate? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
Again, [link: this effect is largely mythical.]
Would ban on guns reduce homicide attempt rate? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
Anyone who would propose a gun ban would also propose gun eliminate.
Would ban on guns reduce homicide attempt rate? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
This effect has routinely been proposed, NoOne, [link: but it actually is largely apocryphal.]
Do you trust the police? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
You have not seen it, Florida, but it happens. Police corruption cases are not omnipresent by any stretch of the imagination, but they are quite real.
Do you trust the police? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
It "makes sense" but there is no evidence for it. It could be just as likely that more arms make officers more likely to want to monitor people with guns and want to be better arme...
Would you kill baby Adolf Hitler? by Foxyjosh
Feb 5, 2016
Yes because according to the question I would have lived during the time of Hitler and did not travel back in time. Therefore, I wouldn't have to worry about paradoxes and changing...
Do you trust the police? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
Yes, cops can't be sued if they don't do their job because they had no duty to protect an individual person. But police departments get sued all the time.
Do you trust the police? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
...Please cite your court cases. [link: Even off-duty officers actually have substantial duties to stop crimes in progress.] Warren v. District of Columbia, for example, ruled that...
Ben Carson vs. Donald Trump - who would you vote for? by Foxyjosh
Feb 5, 2016
I like Ben Carson. However, I feel that he is too nice in this time of isis and terrorism. We need someone that will ignore political correctness by actually taking the fight to th...
Do you trust the police? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
If I am a police officer who knows that I have the entire police department behind me, and have access to bulletproof vests and military-grade weapons if necessary, as well as the...
What should be the legal age to purchase cigarettes (tobacco)? by Foxyjosh
Feb 5, 2016
They can still serve in our military at 18 yrs old. If they are old enough to fight for our country, then they are old enough to smoke and vote at 18 as well.
Do you trust the police? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
Yes. For one, I am white. It is a rational expectation for me to hold that the police can be trusted... for me. One of the most crucial problems with any dialog in this country is...
Is police militarization dangerous? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
However, SWAT teams are seeing increased deployment as a result of this issue. And while police are not being used as strikebreakers any more (and kudos to you for noting that utte...
Is police militarization dangerous? by Fred BC
Feb 5, 2016
I would call slavery and the genocide of Native Americans more frightening, but I concur that the militarization of police has nightmarish implications. It's scary how much people...
Will Bernie Sanders' plan work if he becomes President? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
I say "Yes", but with a very, very specific meaning. First of all: Will all of Bernie's plans ever get through? No. Even if he rides a wave of new Democrats coming in for 2016, the...
Is protectionism good for a country's economy? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
It's better to say that "Protectionism can be good for a country's economy". Every economically successful nation today, from the Asian tigers to the Western nations, practiced pro...
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – opinions by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
The TPP is not a trade agreement, it is only a "partnership" if one defines vastly unequal groups as "partners", and it is not "trans-Pacific" except in the sense that things may b...
Is Donald Trump racist? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
That is not an accurate rendition of his statements about Mexicans, where he implies that only "some are okay" and a majority are rapists or criminals, nor is it an accurate rendit...
Should drones be used for law enforcement purposes? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
One additional rub: Drones overseas have also violated the privacy and rights of numerous nations and individuals. The fact that Americans have been comfortable with this is not re...
Is Donald Trump racist? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
[link: He routinely talks about "the blacks" in ways that are flatly, directly racist.] Trump has retweeted racist statistics, which directly [link: mention race, from a bureau tha...
Should it be mandatory to use seat belts in a car? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Motorcycle riders are in a different position from car drivers. This is as silly as asserting that pedestrians should wear seat belts.
Should it be mandatory to use seat belts in a car? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
And if you rocket through my windshield in a crash, or your body has to be cleaned up by the city?
Should it be mandatory to use seat belts in a car? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes. The use of seatbelts is an issue that affects people beyond the drivers. Emergency responders have more to deal with if people did not wear seatbelts in a crash. The road is a...
Do you like Donald Trump's idea to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S.? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Nothing in the Constitution says that Congress can restrict the freedom of religion for outsiders. The First Amendment restricts Congress from stopping the free practice of a faith...
Do you like Donald Trump's idea to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S.? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Most criminals are not black. Blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately LIKELY to be black, owing entirely to a few key factors: urbanicity, poverty, and education. But the major...
Do you like Donald Trump's idea to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S.? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
So because Carter did something bigoted, it justifies Trump doing something bigoted?
Do you like Donald Trump's idea to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S.? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
What a childish and grotesque idea of rights and ethics. Human rights are universal. The right to immigrate, to seek out labor, to travel, must be protected as sacrosanct.
Do you like Donald Trump's idea to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S.? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Do you oppose the immigration of Christians because of the female genitalia mutilation in Eritrea and Ethiopia?
Do you like Donald Trump's idea to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S.? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
No. Trump's idea is idiotic, bigoted, impractical, and actually makes us more likely to be victims of terrorism. Trump and ISIS both want Islam and the West in conflict.
Do you support or oppose the principles of net neutrality? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Net neutrality is a matter not just of a free dialog and what has become a public square remaining public (even as we've regrettably allowed unaccountable corporate tyrannies to ta...
Do you prefer movies in which leading role is played by a man or woman? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
I have absolutely no preference. I will admit that, on average, I watch films with male leads, but that is because on average I will empathize with the male leads more than female...
Do you believe in Karma? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
King's assassination rebounded upon those who wanted him dead, amplifying his message. I suspect that, if he knew what his death would bring about, he would have stayed up on that...
Do you believe in Karma? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes, with strong provisos. I view karma as an empirical statement about the way that one's behavior and psychology tends to impact others. (If reincarnation exists, then karma woul...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Which is why I picked Christian in Indonesia Indonesia does not have a law specifically devoted to apostasy, but punishment for acts of blasphemy is prescribed in article 156(a) of...
Should a Photo ID be required to cast a vote? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
No. Voter fraud is close to non-existent. Even the most aggressive Republicans pushing this issue routinely concede this. This is not a matter of partisanship.[link: Non-partisan r...
Should a Photo ID be required to cast a vote? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
"A trivial piece of research" you do not cite and a 1939 movie. There is a hyperlink function. Barring that, you can use APA citation, MLA citation, etc. If you cannot do either, t...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 4, 2016
Which is why I picked Christian in Indonesia Indonesia does not have a law specifically devoted to apostasy, but punishment for acts of blasphemy is prescribed in article 156(a) of...
Should a Photo ID be required to cast a vote? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
So because we can't drag people to the voting booths directly, we should continue to make it so that numerous people have to choose between a day's wage and participating in our de...
Should a Photo ID be required to cast a vote? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
What documented proof? Even those pushing this issue most dishonestly can't talk about a rate of voter fraud that is anything above non-existent. Contrast that with the very real r...
Before voting, should people be required to take a true/false test demonstrating they understand what they are voting on? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
No. I understand why this is tempting. But allowing any government abrogation of the right to vote leads to nightmarish issues of abuse. It creates a maxim that is too toxic to all...
Do you support zero-tolerance policies in schools? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
These are all the outcome of corporate priorities.
Do you support zero-tolerance policies in schools? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
No one understands the "different causes of human behavior". Not government, not me, not you, not psychologists, not sociologists. We'd like to pretend that every parent is compete...
Do you support zero-tolerance policies in schools? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
The difficulty of justice is no excuse to not seek it. Increasing school resources instead would be more appropriate.
Should police have the right to pull a driver over with no reason? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
The reason need not be good. Police corruption is a serious problem.
Should police have the right to pull a driver over with no reason? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
No. This isn't just an abstract matter. When police are able to act with impunity, it leads to bad policing, bad behavior, bad justice and a bad society. The process of requiring p...
Should drones be used for law enforcement purposes? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes, for very narrow purposes. Drones with thermal cameras should not be used pursuant to Kyllo v. United States. (I'm not sure about the case law in other countries, but it seems...
Which film should win the 2016 Oscar for Best Picture? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
My vote is for Fury Road. I say this self-admittedly having seen none of the rest of the films, so please take that with the healthy dollop of salt it deserves. Still, Fury Road wa...
Women or men – who have easier life in today's Western world? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
You assert that 95% of cases are attention-getting efforts, yet you then assume that because men are successful at lethal suicide they are not trying to get attention, despite the...
Women or men – who have easier life in today's Western world? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
It is remarkable that this is even debatable.
If you found a Death Note notebook, would you use it? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
I would retain the right to use it as an absolute last resort. If there were an imminent threat to the world that could not be ended any other way, and I could be as confident as I...
Did man really walk on the Moon? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
In addition to IMHO's excellent response, the idea that Kubrick needed to express a confession in The Shining rather than in public or even in a more overt way (when The Shining is...
Did man really walk on the Moon? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes. It takes organized ignorance and special pleading to believe otherwise.
What is your attitude towards Islam? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
What makes Islam compatible with Western society but not Christianity?
What is your attitude towards Islam? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Islam is a faith system like any other faith system. It has good parts and bad parts. On the one hand, Mohammed was a social reformer who dealt with a lot of serious problems in th...
Are humans naturally monogamous? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
I answered "No" because the question is so misleadingly asked that it is effectively gibberish. What does "natural" mean? Human beings are capable of both monogamy and polygamy. Di...
Should prisoners have the right to vote? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes. Every prisoner is still a citizen and should have the right to vote. Not only has the deprivation of the right to vote and the status of prisoner always been conferred unequal...
Should education be free? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
While I think this is perfectly reasonable, I would submit this: No one has a remotely accurate measure of potential. I would submit that community college should be free, or nearl...
Should education be free? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes, A society that does not guarantee an education is not a good society. It generates inequalities and fails to fulfill human potentials. It fails to develop human capital proper...
Are women equally good as men in politics? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Angela Merkel did not make a mistake. Even if she did, that is not comparable to the mistakes that male politicians have historically made. (I'm not saying female politicians are b...
Do you respect Christians? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes, I respect and love all human beings and honor their rights as a default, though people may lose some of that respect with their individual actions.
Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump - who would you vote for? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Not filling out a ballot would be the appropriate response and what people may do in the real world.
Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump - who would you vote for? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Hillary Clinton. No person alive should vote for Donald Trump. Those on the right should reject him for his lack of conviction, his narcissism, his worship of mammon, his dishonest...
Gandalf vs Albus Dumbledore: Who would win? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
I would say Gandalf. Dumbledore's magic is obviously powerful and impressive, and my opinion might change with the Elder Wand in play, but even with it, it is clear that Dumbledore...
Is the quality of public education sufficient at it's current status? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
No. First: U.S. schools are ideologically predisposed, for a variety of reasons, to defending and propagating a specific, very conservative, idea of history and the world. From wha...
Is there any politician you admire or look up to? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Yes, but narrowly. I admire Bernie Sanders, despite large disagreements with him on issues ranging from the military onward, because of his civil rights record, his focus on inequa...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
As you were finally polite enough to answer a direct question, I'll give you an answer. Christian in Indonesia, as I would have a better chance of escaping. Under the law of both I...
Has Barack Obama been an advantage or disadvantage for the Democratic Party? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Despite the controversy around him, I would say that Barack Obama has been a clear advantage. First: Obama has allowed the Democrats to solidly claim that they are the party of div...
Should elbow strikes be allowed in MMA? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
First of all, elbow strikes are allowed in MMA. The 12-6 elbow is one of the only kinds of elbow strikes that are disallowed. Elbow strikes are used all the time in ground-and-poun...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 4, 2016
As you were finally polite enough to answer a direct question, I'll give you an answer. Christian in Indonesia, as I would have a better chance of escaping. Under the law of both I...
Do you like being yourself? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
I love being myself. I have many flaws, as does everyone. And there are times that, as I strive more to be like Dr. King or other titans of compassion and moral leadership, I view...
If someone sexually abused and murdered your child, what penalty would you want them to receive? by Jerry
Feb 4, 2016
That's indeed a tricky question, but you can answer it without the anger, as it's only a hypothetical situation. It will be interesting to see how different the results are, compar...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
I would rather be a Muslim living in the US. Let me ask you this: Would you rather be a Muslim in Abu Ghraib or a Christian in Indonesia?
Is Islam compatibile with Western culture? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
but your post is cherry picking 2.190. Fight against those who fight against you in the way of Allah, but do not transgress, for Allah does not love transgressors. "Cherry-picking"...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
Well, I can see this thread is going no where, you refuse to back up your claims, you ignore anything that doesn't fit you idea. You neatly ignore what you can't disprove and muddy...
Do you support zero-tolerance policies in schools? by Fred BC
Feb 4, 2016
No. Zero tolerance policies for anything are idiotic. They give power to accusers and those who administer punishments while taking away power from everyone else. They make accusat...
Is Islam compatibile with Western culture? by Richard Wee
Feb 4, 2016
2.193. Keep on fighting against them until mischief ends and the way prescribed by Allah How is it wrong here's another translation Sahih International 9:29 Fight those who do not...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 4, 2016
Well, I can see this thread is going no where, you refuse to back up your claims, you ignore anything that doesn't fit you idea. You neatly ignore what you can't disprove and muddy...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
You seem to be stuck on Ann Coulter for some reason, but let say that she reaches 50% of American and that they ALL agree with her, that is 150,000,000 still less than the best sam...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
How many people buy Ann Coulter's books? 3 to 4 million on the outside. or as you put it a very small number. You seem to be stuck on Ann Coulter for some reason, but let say that...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
How many people buy Ann Coulter's books? 3 to 4 million on the outside. or as you put it a very small number. Then add in the number of appearances she has on TV, and her syndicate...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
Let me ask you this would you rather be a Muslin living in the US or a Christian living in Egypt? Now before you answer remember that in the US you can hand out the Quran, you can...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
How many people buy Ann Coulter's books? 3 to 4 million on the outside. or as you put it a very small number. But you're way off the question, which is "Do you respect Muslims?" Tr...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
Al Qaeda 57% of Muslims from this poll had an unfavorable opinion of this group, 13% had a favorable opinion of al Qaeda, let's assuming this poll represents the average Muslim tha...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
From a survey of 11 countries Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Senegal, Tunisia and Turkey. So it’s safe to say that given t...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
And yet despite this millions of Muslims have Christian neighbors and live in peace with them, including the vast majority of Muslims in Europe. So let's review the Bible, shall we...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
Really the Quran condemns Christianity 9.29] Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor fo...
Is Islam compatibile with Western culture? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
Leopold in the Congo had nothing to do with suppression of Muslims, the Christians or Jews didn't get a free pass from the the approx. 10 million (depending on what estimate you be...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
How can a non-state actor declare war? How can a state actor then retaliate against multiple state actors, one of whom was in no way involved and the other simply was the place the...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
No one condemns CHRISTIANITY, qua Christianity, in the terms you do, at least in the West. Even very hardcore Muslim bigots are far, far more nuanced. As I pointed out in war you a...
Do you respect Muslims? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
The difference between Osama Bin Laden and George W. Bush is that Bin Laden, initially, specifically planned to harm civilians whilst Bush, once again initially, planned to send hi...
If you were a Muslim, would you be ashamed to belong to the same religion as Muslim terrorists? by Fred BC
Feb 3, 2016
That is an admirable point of view, but alas I do not share it because I believe it is too far from reality. According to you, races do not exist and ethnicity is learned. If I wou...
Do you respect Christians? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
I don't give anyone automatic respect, Christians, Muslim, Jews, Atheists, etc, all have to earn my respect. That doesn't mean I'm not polite, but respect must be earned.
Is Islam compatibile with Western culture? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
Leopold in the Congo had nothing to do with suppression of Muslims, the Christians or Jews didn't get a free pass from the the approx. 10 million (depending on what estimate you be...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
Hate to point this out to you, but many people condemn Christians, Jews, etc it's just that the big terrorist groups right now happen to be Muslim, from IS which is a Muslim group...
If someone sexually abused and murdered your child, what penalty would you want them to receive? by farrahy
Feb 3, 2016
This question pre-supposes the answer. It asks, When you are insane from grief and anger and in a mental state of hurt so bad that you will question all the fates to answer for you...
Do you respect Muslims? by Richard Wee
Feb 3, 2016
Well, if Osama hadn't declared war, then you might have a point, but as he did declare war, he declared war twice once in 1996 and again in 1998, and in a war you are allowed to at...