ProCon.org

1/26/12 - 16 States with Pending Legislation to Legalize Medical Marijuana

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - NEW: 16 States with Pending Legislation to Legalize Medical Marijuana - Bills that would legalize medical marijuana are being considered in 16 states. Ten bills carried over from 2011 in states that have two-year legislative sessions. One state, Delaware, passed medical marijuana in 2011. Medical marijuana is currently legal in 16 states and Washington, DC.

1/25/12 - 40 States That Allow Underage (under 21) Alcohol Consumption

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

drinkingage.procon.org – UPDATED: 40 States That Allow Underage (under 21) Alcohol Consumption – 40 US states have exceptions to allow underage consumption of alcohol under certain circumstances including medical, educational, or religious purposes. 10 states and the District of Columbia allow no exceptions in their underage alcohol consumption laws. Compare all the state minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws in a newly updated edition of one of our most popular resources.

1/25/12 - Taxing the wealthy

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - Should the wealthiest 1% of Americans be taxed more heavily? - Read the 2012 presidential candidates’ positions on this issue. Obama is Pro, all the Republicans are Con, and the Libertarian candidate is Not Clearly Pro or Con.

1/25/12 - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - Should the government continue to fund Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? - Read the 2012 presidential candidates’ positions on this issue. While none of the candidates are clearly Pro, three are Not Clearly Pro or Con, and four are Con.

1/25/12 - Outsourcing jobs

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - Is outsourcing jobs to other countries good for America? - Read the 2012 presidential candidates’ positions on this issue.

1/25/12 - Government bailouts

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - Should the US federal government have bailed out US private financial corporations like AIG, Bank of America, Citigroup, etc.? - Read the 2012 presidential candidates’ positions on this issue. Obama, Gingrich, and Romney are Pro, while Johnson, Paul, Roemer, and Santorum are Con.

1/25/12 - Credit cards

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - Are credit cards good for America? - Read the 2012 presidential candidates’ positions on this issue.

1/25/12 - 2012 Presidential Candidate Summary Chart

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - 2012 Presidential Candidate Summary Chart - See Gary Johnson (Libertarian), the five remaining Republican candidates (Gingrich, Paul, Roemer, Romney, and Santorum), and Barack Obama's positions on 30 different issues in our side-by-side candidate summary chart.

1/25/12 - 2012 Presidential Candidates Quiz

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - 2012 Presidential Candidates Quiz - Take our compatibility quiz to find out which candidate is the best match for you. We've updated the questionnaire with five new questions on credit cards, government bailouts, outsourcing jobs, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, and taxing the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

1/19/12 - Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Historical Timeline

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

israelipalestinian.procon.org - UPDATED: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Historical Timeline - Our timeline traces the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its related history from the development of the earliest known human society in the Middle East in 10,000 BC all the way to the present day. Read about four events we just added on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas seeking United Nations membership for Palestine, Palestine becoming a full member of UNESCO, the stalling of the Palestinian UN statehood bid, and ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Jordan.

1/11/12 - 50 Famous Vegetarians

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

vegetarian.procon.org – NEW: 50 Famous Vegetarians – Bill Clinton, Carl Lewis, Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Einstein, Jane Goodall, Steve Jobs, Natalie Portman, and Prince are just a few of the many celebrities in our authoritative new resource. See all the famous vegetarians on our list and find out why they chose to adopt a meat-free diet.

1/9/12 - Is one bi-national state an acceptable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

israelipalestinian.procon.org - UPDATED: Is one bi-national state an acceptable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? - Read pro and con arguments from former Speaker for the Israeli Knesset Avrum Burg (pro), Palestinian National Authority Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki (con), former leader of Libya Muammar Qaddafi (pro), President of Israel Shimon Peres (con), former Professor of English at Columbia University Edward Said (pro), Israeli Knesset Member Zehava Galon (con), and more.

1/4/12 - Ranking 20 Drugs and Alcohol by Overall Harm

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - NEW: Ranking 20 Drugs and Alcohol by Overall Harm - Marijuana ranked #8 out of 20 drugs in overall harm according to a study in The Lancet, a British peer-reviewed medical journal. Alcohol ranked #1 in overall harm and harm to others. Crack cocaine had the highest score for harm to users. See our new graphs showing detailed harm rankings for alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, methamphetamine, and more.

1/3/12 - Should insider trading by Congress be allowed?

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 10:00:00 PST

insidertrading.procon.org - UPDATED: Should insider trading by Congress be allowed? - Read pro and con arguments from Newsweek Senior Editor Daniel Gross (pro), US Senator (D-NY) Kirsten Gillibrand (con), Cato Institute Director Jim Harper (pro), Hoover Institution Research Fellow Peter Schweizer (con), Harvard University Economics Professor Jeffrey Alan Miron (pro), US Senator (I-CT) Joseph Lieberman (con), and more.

12/30/11 - Medical Marijuana Historical Timeline

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - NEW: Medical Marijuana Historical Timeline - Our timeline traces medical marijuana from its earliest reference in 2900 BC as a popular Chinese medicine to 2011 where it remains legal in 16 states (and DC) and illegal under federal law. Read all 150+ major events in the history of medical marijuana from 90+ sources.

12/29/11 - Should Congress pass the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act?

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

insidertrading.procon.org - UPDATED: Should Congress pass the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act? - Read pro and con arguments from US Representative Tim Walz (pro), Columbia University Law Professor John Coffee, Jr. (con), US Senator Scott Brown (pro), Cato Institute Director Jim Harper (con), US Representative Louise Slaughter (pro), Harvard University Economics Professor Jeffrey Alan Miron (con), UCLA Law Professor Stephen M. Bainbridge (pro), Senior Editor of Newsweek Daniel Gross (con), and more.

12/28/11 - Rose Bird and Nuclear Power Removed from Homepage

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

www.procon.org - "Rose Bird ProCon.org and Nuclear Power ProCon.org were completed in the 1980s, have not been updated since then, and are being removed from the ProCon.org homepage. These two sites were produced by Steve Markoff and others, and they served as the historical predecessors of ProCon.org.”

12/22/11 - Is it legal for Congressional representatives to trade securities based on insider information?

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

insidertrading.procon.org - UPDATED: Is it legal for Congressional representatives to trade securities based on insider information? - Read pro and con arguments from UCLA Law Professor Stephen Bainbridge (pro), insider trading legal expert Robert Walker (con), Hoover Institution Research Fellow Peter Schweizer (pro), Indiana University Law Professor Donna Nagy (con), former Associate Director of Enforcement at the SEC Thomas Newkirk (pro), and current Director of Enforcement at the SEC Robert Khuzami (con).

12/20/11 - Candidate Videos

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: Candidate Videos - Watch over 50 videos of the 2012 presidential candidates, including their candidacy announcements, speeches, and interviews which address a ProCon.org question.

12/5/11 - Deaths, 1987-2011

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

israelipalestinian.procon.org - UPDATED: Deaths, 1987-2011 – See our chart estimating casualties from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the First Intifada (Dec. 9, 1987) through the present day.

12/5/11 - 2012 Presidential Candidates Quiz

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - UPDATED: 2012 Presidential Candidates Quiz - Take our compatibility quiz to find out which candidate is the best match for you. We've updated the questionnaire with 10 new questions on education, gay marriage, immigration, infidelity, Occupy Wall Street, oil subsidies, and the Tea Party.

12/5/11 - Cain suspends Campaign

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - Herman Cain Suspends Campaign - Cain announced on Dec. 3, 2011 that he was suspending his presidential campaign. Read his full statement, and see his biography and views on 35 issues.

12/5/11 - Did You Know?

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:00:00 PST

israelipalestinian.procon.org - UPDATED: Did You Know? - The Old City of Jerusalem contains three of the holiest sites for Christians (Church of the Holy Sepulchre), Jews (Temple Mount), and Muslims (Al-Aqsa Mosque). The Old Testament mentions Jerusalem over 650 times. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulted in 7,238 Palestinian casualties and 1,096 Israeli casualties between Sep. 29, 2000 and Oct. 31, 2011, according to a B'Tselem report. Read about these and other little known facts in the Israel-Palestine debate.

11/30/11 - Education

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: 2012 Presidential Candidates' Views on Teacher Tenure, Standardized Tests, and No Child Left Behind - Read 10 Republican candidates' and Barack Obama's responses to the questions: "Should K-12 teachers get tenure?," "Is the use of federally mandated standardized tests improving education in America?," and "Has the No Child Left Behind Act been effective at improving public education?"

11/30/11 - Immigration

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: 2012 Presidential Candidates' Views on Immigration - Read 10 Republican candidates' and Barack Obama's responses to the questions: "Should E-Verify, the federal government's electronic employment verification system, be mandatory for all employers?" and "Should the US continue to build a physical barrier, such as a fence, along the US-Mexico border?"

11/30/11 - Gay Marriage and Infidelity

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: 2012 Presidential Candidates' Views on Gay Marriage and Infidelity - Read 10 Republican candidates' and Barack Obama's responses to the questions: "Should gay marriage be legal?" and "Should an affair outside of marriage disqualify a candidate for public office?"

11/30/11 - Occupy, Tea Party, oil subsidies

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: 2012 Presidential Candidates' Views on Oil Subsidies, Occupy Wall Street, and the Tea Party - Read 10 Republican candidates' and Barack Obama's responses to the questions: "Should the federal government continue to subsidize big oil companies?," "Is the Occupy Wall Street movement good for America?," and "Is the Tea Party movement good for America?"

11/29/11 - UPDATED: Should churches (defined as churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, etc.) remain tax-exempt?

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

churchesandtaxes.procon.org – UPDATED: Should churches (defined as churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, etc.) remain tax-exempt? – The US tax code permits ministers of religion to deduct housing costs from their federal income tax. The "parsonage exemption" can apply to multiple homes used by a single pastor. While 95% of ministers make less than $50,000 annually, church leaders Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International had three tax-free parsonages: a million-dollar mansion in Atlanta, GA, a two-million-dollar mansion in Fayetteville, GA, and a $2.5 million Manhattan apartment. Read new pro and con arguments debating the "parsonage exemption" on ministers' housing costs.

11/28/11 - NEW: Should the US use hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract natural gas?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

alternativeenergy.procon.org - NEW: Should the US use hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract natural gas? – Read pro and con arguments from the Wall Street Journal (pro), Greenpeace USA (con), Ground Water Protection Council (pro), Los Angeles Times staff writer Margot Roosevelt (con), American Petroleum Institute (pro), Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman (con), and other scholars, government agencies, and advocacy organizations from around the country.

11/28/11 - What is hydraulic fracturing?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

alternativeenergy.procon.org - NEW: What is hydraulic fracturing (fracking)? – Read pro and con arguments from the Wall Street Journal (pro), Greenpeace USA (con), Ground Water Protection Council (pro), Los Angeles Times staff writer Margot Roosevelt (con), American Petroleum Institute (pro), Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman (con), and other scholars, government agencies, and advocacy organizations from around the country.

11/28/11 - Candidate Summary Chart

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: Candidate Summary Chart - See 10 Republican candidates' and Barack Obama's positions on 25 different issues in our side-by-side candidate summary chart. The candidate summary chart was our most popular resource in the 2008 presidential election. We plan to add at least 50 more issues to the 2012 candidate summary chart over the coming weeks and months.

11/17/11 - NEW: Candidate Finances

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: Candidate Finances – The 10 main Republican candidates have raised $85.7 million and Democratic President Barack Obama has raised $88.4 million so far. They have spent $79.7 million cumulatively in the 2012 presidential election as of Sep. 30, 2011. See how much money each candidate has raised and spent, where the money came from, and how much money each candidate currently has on hand.

11/17/11 - What is the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act?

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

insidertrading.procon.org - UPDATED: What is the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act? - It currently remains legal for members of Congress to buy and sell stocks based on information they gain on the job. The STOCK Act would prohibit members of Congress and federal employees from profiting from non-public information they obtain via their official positions, and it would require greater oversight of the growing "political intelligence” industry. Read our comprehensive history of this controversial bill.

11/16/11 - 100 Peer-Reviewed Studies on Marijuana

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - UPDATED: 100 Peer-Reviewed Studies on Marijuana - What does the scientific literature say about the medical benefits or dangers of marijuana? Our chart of 100 studies on medical marijuana shows results from 22 double-blind human peer-reviewed studies, 74 human peer-reviewed studies (not double-blind), and four peer-reviewed animal studies.

11/16/11 - NEW: Candidate Speeches

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: Candidate Speeches - Read transcripts of 25 campaign speeches from the nine Republican presidential candidates and incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama. We’ll add many more speech transcripts over the coming weeks and months.

11/14/11 - NEW ProCon.org Website! – Should churches (defined as churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, etc.) remain tax-exempt?

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

www.procon.org - – NEW ProCon.org Website! – Should churches (defined as churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, etc.) remain tax-exempt? – US churches have been exempt from paying income and property taxes since the country's founding. Debate continues over whether or not these tax benefits should be retained, especially during our tough economic times. Proponents argue that a tax exemption keeps the government out of church finances, and that churches deserve a tax break because they provide crucial social services. Opponents argue that giving churches special tax exemptions violates the separation of church and state, and that the government cannot afford what amounts to a subsidy worth billions of dollars every year. Our 44th website explores the pros and cons in the debate over church tax exemptions.

11/10/11 - 2,000 Schools

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

www.procon.org – ProCon.org has now been used by over 2,000 schools in all 50 states and 38 countries. See our list of 2,012 schools along with the related lesson plans, resource lists, and other curricula where ProCon.org appears. Teachers and librarians, if your school is not already on the list, please take our 2-minute survey and help us make sure you’re counted.

11/7/11 - NEW: Order of Presidential Succession

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: Order of Presidential Succession - Who becomes President if Obama dies, resigns, or is removed from office? Take a look at our chart showing the 18 government officials in line to become President.

11/4/11 - NEW: US Political Parties

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: US Political Parties – Our new chart features the history, mission, platform, and contact info for the top five political parties in the US (Constitution Party, Democratic Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Republican Party). It also lists smaller US national parties and historical US political parties.

11/3/11 - NEW: Should E-Verify, the federal government's electronic employment verification system, be mandatory for all employers?

Thu, 3 Nov 2011 10:00:00 PST

immigration.procon.org – NEW: Should E-Verify, the federal government's electronic employment verification system, be mandatory for all employers? – Read pro and con arguments from Senator Chuck Grassley (pro), Gov. Rick Perry (con), the US Chamber of Commerce (pro), Barack Obama (con), and many other experts and industry groups.

10/31/11 - Candidate Survey 2012 presidential candidates?

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - Take our Survey: Which questions do YOU think ProCon.org should ask the 2012 presidential candidates?

10/28/11 - 2012 Presidential Candidates Quiz

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

2012election.procon.org - NEW: 2012 Presidential Candidates Quiz: Find Your Match- Answer the 25 questions in this questionnaire to find the best matched 2012 presidential candidate for you.

10/27/11 - What is cannabidiol (CBD)?

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - NEW: What is cannabidiol (CBD)?

10/27/11 - Is cannabidiol (CBD) psychoactive?

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - NEW: Is cannabidiol (CBD) psychoactive?

10/27/11 - Should cannabidiol (CBD) be a medical option?

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - NEW: Should cannabidiol (CBD) be a medical option? - Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main non-psychoactive chemical component of marijuana. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was awarded a patent for CBD on Oct. 7, 2003. However, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies CBD as a Schedule I drug, meaning it is considered to have "no accepted medical use,” "a high potential for abuse,” and "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision." Given the large volume of studies on CBD, the HHS patent of this Schedule I drug, and the growing attention CBD receives, we have compiled the best pro and con arguments from major players in the CBD debate to help our readers better understand this controversy.

10/27/11 - NEW: State History of MLDA 21, 1933-present

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

drinkingage.procon.org - NEW: State History of the Minimum Legal Drinking Age, 1933-present - Following the passage of the 26^th Amendment on July 1, 1971, which lowered the legal voting age from 21 to 18, 30 US states lowered their minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) for alcohol from 21 to 18, 19, or 20. In 1984, the enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 prompted states to raise their legal age for purchase or public possession of alcohol to 21 or risk losing millions in federal highway funds. By 1988, all 50 states had raised their MLDA to 21. California (1933) and Oregon (1933) have the nation's oldest MLDA 21 laws while South Dakota (Apr. 1, 1988) and Wyoming (July 1, 1988) have the most recent MLDA 21 laws.

10/24/11 - UPDATED: Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

drinkingage.procon.org - UPDATED: Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age? - Read pro and con arguments from the Founder of the National Institute for Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (pro), the US Department of Health and Human Services (con), a coalition of over 100 university presidents and chancellors (pro), the National Transportation Safety Board (con), MDs and PhDs (pro and con), and many others.

10/24/11 - NEW ProCon.org Website! - Which candidate should be US president in 2012?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

www.procon.org - - NEW ProCon.org Website! - Which candidate should be US president in 2012? – ProCon.org has researched the US presidential candidates and their views on 25 issues ranging from abortion to global warming to medical marijuana to waterboarding. Our 43rd website also features resources on US presidential election history, debate transcripts, a step-by-step guide on how to become president, and more. We will add at least 50 more issues and several new resources over the coming months to help you decide who should be the next president of the United States.

10/20/11 - Is illegal immigration an economic burden to America?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

immigration.procon.org - UPDATED: Is illegal immigration an economic burden to America? - Read pro and con arguments from the Center for Immigration Studies (pro), Alan Greenspan (con), the Founder of The Minuteman Project (pro), The Wall Street Journal (con), and several others.

10/20/11 - Should the term "illegal alien" be used to define persons in violation of immigration law?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

immigration.procon.org - UPDATED: Should the term "illegal alien” be used to define persons in violation of immigration law? - Read pro and con arguments from the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform (pro), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (con), IllegalAliens.us (pro), the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (con), and others.

10/18/11 - Marijuana and lung cancer

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - UPDATED: Does the regular smoking of marijuana cause lung cancer or in any way permanently injure the lungs? - Read pro and con arguments from the American College of Physicians (pro), Harvard and Oxford PhDs (con), the British Lung Foundation (pro), NORML (con), and several others.

10/11/11 - MM Psychosis

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

medicalmarijuana.procon.org - UPDATED: Does marijuana use cause lasting schizophrenia, psychosis, or other mental disorders?

10/5/11 - NEW: Should the US increase imports of tar sand oil from Canada?

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 10:00:00 PST

alternativeenergy.procon.org - NEW: Should the US increase imports of tar sand oil from Canada? - Before the end of 2011 the US State Department must decide whether or not to approve a 1,700 mile crude oil pipeline known as the Keystone XL pipeline which would span from Alberta, Canada to Houston, Texas. If approved, the pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day. Debate currently rages over a variety of environmental and economic issues. Take a look at our newest question to view Pro and Con arguments from several prominent experts and organizations.

9/28/11 - K-12 Teacher Salaries

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:00:00 PST

teachertenure.procon.org - NEW: K-12 Teacher Salaries – After we adjusted for cost of living expenses, K-12 public school teachers in Hawaii had the lowest average adjusted annual salaries ($33, 655) in the US. Illinois teachers ranked first in the country, earning an average adjusted annual salary of $63,569. See how all 50 states rank in teacher salaries in our new chart of "K-12 Teacher Average Salaries in Public Schools Adjusted for Cost of Living Dollars, 2008/2009.”