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1500 questions
23
votes
4 answers
Why is the European Parliament still pursuing copyright law despite its implementation issues?
According to this article, the European Parliament is considering rolling out taxation of news aggregators:
(..) large European newspaper publishers have dreamed of charging news
aggregators such as Google News for the privilege of sending…
Alexei
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23
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4 answers
What would Norway have lost if they had joined the EU?
A referendum on joining the European Union was held in Norway on 27 and 28 November 1994. But, the "No campaign" won the referendum.
One of the reason was that, Norway has an economy based on natural resources (oil and fish), meanwhile the European…
Jimmy
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23
votes
3 answers
Why doesn't the U.S. want to extradite Fethullah Gülen to Turkey?
Recently, Turkey claimed, that it won't do extraditions to U.S. until U.S. extradites Gülen to Turkey. (source)
Why U.S. do not want to do it? Turkey is one of its closest allies on Middle East. Please post answers based on statements from the US…
user2501323
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23
votes
6 answers
Is it possible to call an Early Election in the US?
In the hypothetical case that every member of the government (president and vice president included) wanted to call an early election, replacing the sitting president and vice president, would they be allowed to?
Onyz
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23
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4 answers
Does Britain have de jure authority over the West Bank and Gaza?
That is, did the British Mandate of Palestine legally end?
Britain was granted a "mandate" over Palestine by the League of Nations from 1923, "until such time as [it is] able to stand alone". British authority was recognized by the UN Security…
Colin
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23
votes
5 answers
What is the US 'Deep State' and what evidence is there for it?
I've heard whispers of a 'deep state' run by the Clintons or Obama or various liberals/democrats and I never really gave it much thought. It sounds kind of crazy - that said, I have to admit, I don't know much about what it allegedly is. So, I'm…
Phlegon_of_Tralles
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23
votes
3 answers
What is the current meaning of "Palestine"?
The term "Israel" seems to have a clear definition. It's a member state of the UN general assembly, and while its exact borders are controversial, I think in broad outlines people know the area it refers to. I'm less clear on what land qualifies…
Keshav Srinivasan
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23
votes
6 answers
Does currency exist in communism?
I've thought about this before, but never heard any explanation as to how this works.
My understanding of communism is:
Everyone works.
Everything is rationed out equally.
Since there is no private property, everything is borrowed. So if you…
Justin Beagley
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23
votes
5 answers
What caused the racial shift of America's parties?
Until the 1960's, African Americans were overwhelmingly Republicans (except for some members of the New Deal coalition) and Southern whites were overwhelmingly Democrats. Then, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ensuing decades…
Keshav Srinivasan
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23
votes
9 answers
Why not rely on submarines to avert a mutual nuclear destruction by mistake?
In the past, there were many false alarms in US and Soviet Union or Russia, about a nuclear attack from the other side. In a few minutes, and under great pressure, they had to decide whether to retaliate, which would bring about the end of the world…
Mark G
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23
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11 answers
Why would Russia care about NATO troops on its borders if it has nuclear weapons?
In a related question on why Russia is against Ukraine joining the EU, @user4012 writes the following:
Basically, Russia has no natural defensive perimeter of its core. Thus, its permanent strategy is to surround itself with satellite states which…
JonathanReez
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23
votes
1 answer
How does Russia define religious extremism?
Currently, Jehovah's Witnesses are banned from meeting or preaching in Russia due to accusations of religious extremism. Jehovah's Witnesses are known for being pacifists (they refuse military service, strive to be politically neutral, oppose…
4castle
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23
votes
2 answers
Equivalent to government shutdown in parliamentary systems
Given the recent government shutdown in the US, there have been a lot of related questions here wondering about the possibility of it happening in the UK, Australia, and so on. In general, the answers have revolved around how parlimentary systems…
Bobson
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23
votes
3 answers
Who is lending the money for a nation's debt?
It seems most governments (certainly the US, Europe, Australia) have racked up a national debt - but who are the lenders that these governments are indebted to?
Where does the government get the money they spend after they've spent all the taxes…
user6298
23
votes
3 answers
What exactly formally constitutes recognition of a country?
So, there is a spectrum of political entities that make up the national stage.
There is, of course, the "nation-state" like the U.S.A, China, Russia, Germany, Lithuania, you name it - full fledged "countries" that nobody denies is a country.
There…
Affable Geek
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