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1500 questions
69
votes
15 answers
Why aren't Americans simply called "Americans"?
For example, people in the USA like dividing themselves up into groups such as "Country-of-Origin-American".
Irish-American
Swedish-American
African-American
Spanish-American
Chinese-American
Why don't they simply call themselves "Americans"? No…
Shadowfax
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69
votes
4 answers
Can members of the US Congress lie during debate without penalty?
If a bill is being debated in the Senate or House, are there any rules or laws which prevent a member of congress from simply lying while making a speech for or against a bill?
I'll propose this (deliberately absurd) example for the sake of…
Texas Red
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69
votes
6 answers
Why was President Trump heavily criticized for congratulating Putin on winning the election?
According to The Guardian, President Trump was subject to criticism over his decision to congratulate President Putin on winning Russian elections in 2018:
Donald Trump defended himself against criticism over his
congratulatory phone call to…
Alexei
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69
votes
6 answers
Why is privacy a subject felt more in Europe rather than the US?
Almost regularly there is news on this or that US (internet) company that must adapt its practices for European customers, since they tend to be too lax with regards to privacy protection according to EU regulations; while from the US perspective…
Federico
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69
votes
19 answers
Why does the US not just accept North Korea's nuclear ambitions and attempt to mend relationships?
Many experts propose that it is not practically possible (without engaging in war and endangering the lives of many civilians, in both US and ally territory) to prevent North Korea from building nuclear weapons.
Given that, why does the US not just…
Jaood
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68
votes
8 answers
Are there any major left-wing conspiracy theories in the USA?
Related: Why does it seem like US conspiracy theorists are overwhelmingly Republican-oriented?
The question above explores potential reasons why belief in conspiracy theories is more common among the US right wing than the left wing.
Several right…
Robert Columbia
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68
votes
6 answers
Why is the US so religious compared to other Western democracies?
According to the Pew Research Center, around 88% of Americans had at least some belief in a God, with around 63% being "absolutely certain" of this. This is in stark contrast to other comparable countries, such as the UK, where a 2011 YouGov poll…
CDJB
- 106,388
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68
votes
4 answers
Is the US unusually prone to walking away from signed treaties/accords?
For example, the Iran proliferation Deal. Letting aside considerations about where or not it was a good agreement, this is still the US agreeing to something and then not carrying it out.
Other examples include the SALT 2 Treaty (signed, not…
Italian Philosophers 4 Monica
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68
votes
9 answers
Why is there no process in the United States to remove and re-elect the President?
When a European head of government has too many enemies/doubts about their history, then he or she is usually deposed by the parliament and a new head of government is elected (either by the parliament or through a new general election).
However, in…
paul23
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67
votes
17 answers
Why is the lab leak theory of Covid discussed so prominently?
I don't really understand what is the point fighting over about the lab leak theory. Certainly other virology labs should care, they want to be sure they don't make the same mistake. And certainly covering up any leak would be important to that lab…
Ryan_L
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67
votes
10 answers
Has politics always been so polarized?
Looking at American politics, it seems like there is a tremendous animosity between people with different political leanings. Was it always this polarized? If not, when did this trend begin and why?
*Edit: As per a comment by @jamesk, I am editing…
zebra7780
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67
votes
14 answers
Why is lobbying not illegal in democracies?
Democracy is type of government formed by the people, of the people and for the people.
The Lobbyist tries to influence the government, for the policies which are in favour of the interest group. Sometimes, it may happen that the policies favoured…
Jon Doe
- 705
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- 5
67
votes
8 answers
Why is Trump releasing (or not) his tax returns such a big deal?
Why is it such a big deal that President Trump has not released his tax returns?
Also, why would he make such a big deal about not releasing them, given that this just makes everyone more interested?
Burt
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67
votes
8 answers
Why did the UK trigger Article 50 before having a negotiation position?
Why did the United Kingdom invoke Article 50 before it had reached a negotiation position? Two years is a short time to negotiate something as complex as a withdrawal from the European Union, yet the UK Government did not agree with itself on a…
gerrit
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67
votes
11 answers
Why don't the other countries of Europe maintain as massive a military as Russia does?
The countries that are in my inquiry list are:
SN
Country
Population
GDP
DefExp
0
Russia
143,439,832
1,267,750
66.4 bn
1
Germany
80,682,351
3,494,900
39.4 bn
2
UK
65,111,143
2,649,890
55.5 bn
3
France
64,668,129
2,488,280
50.9…
user4514