House approves Washington D.C. Statehood

 

On Thursday the House of Representatives voted on a bill that would grant statehood to Washington D.C. making it the 51st state if it goes through the Senate. The new legislation named H.R. 51 would result in the state named Washington, Douglass Commonwealth being established in honor of Frederiks Douglass. Current monuments in D.C. like The National Mall, Capitol Hill, White House, and other government property will all still be under congressional control. The district has more than 700,000 residents more than states Vermont and Wyoming, yet lacks any voice in government in both the Senate and in the House. The proposed bill would give the state two senators and at least one representative in the House. D.C. would be one of the most diverse states having a population that is majority non-white and 46% of whom are African American. While the bill did pass with a vote of 216 to 208 with no republicans voting in favor it remains doubtful that the Senate would approve of the new state. Republicans haven’t been too open to the idea in the past as it would most likely give the democratic party two more seats in the Senate tipping the current 50-to-50 seat balance in the favor of their party. Similar legislation was approved last year in a 232 to 180 vote however it didn’t make its way to a vote as the Republican-controlled Senate declined to look at it. Democrats in the Senate would likely need support from 10 of their republican counterparts to vote in favor of the bill to be able to pass which none have expressed their support to do so. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia’s non-voting House delegate who has fought for the legislation to be passed wrote “This country was founded on the principles of ‘no taxation without representation and consent of the governed, but D.C. residents are taxed without representation and cannot consent to the laws under which they, as American citizens, must live.” While support for Washington D.C.’s statehood has increased in the past couple of years especially after the events on January 6th, and the impact of Covid it still seems unlikely that Democrats will be able to get enough votes this year to create the 51st state.

Questions to consider:

1. Should Washington D.C. become a state?

2. Should other U.S. territories become states like Puerto Rico?

NY Times

CBS

President Biden's Climate Plan: Too much or too late?

 President Joe Biden has pledged to cut the global greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52 percent below levels of emission in 2005, which appears to be quite an ambitious goal. However, average Americans need to consider that the European Union and the United States use different metric systems to combat climate change. If you place the United States on a similar metric of other countries, cutting from 1990 the United States actually is right in the middle in terms of climate change policy. 

A concern of some scientists is that the world, as a collective, isn’t reaching zero emissions quick enough. In other countries, like India and China- pollutant powerhouses take much more of the pie of emissions of carbon. Ambassadors from India and China have stated comments like from China’s vice foreign minister Le Yucheng“When it comes to climate change response, China is at a different stage than the U.S., Western nations and other developed countries”- Claims like lack of money and innovation come from these prime ministers.

Additionally, critics state since the United States has higher per-person emissions than any other country, it should have a more robust response against carbon emissions. This issue is quite contentious across party lines, some Democrats urging President Biden to have more of a pronounced response against Climate change, while conversely, some Republicans claim that the United States should not act so harshly on climate change when countries like China and India are not. For example, Senator Barrasso of Wyoming states “ said that the president was “unilaterally committing America to a drastic and damaging emissions pledge” that would potentially punish the U.S. economy while “America’s adversaries like China and Russia continue to increase emissions at will.”

By committing the United States to this lofty goal, President Biden needs to act and create wide-sweeping changes across the United States, plans like his massive infrastructure proposal which aims to include tax incentives for clean energy and electric vehicles, and plans like this are uncertain to even pass through Congress. The climate future for the United States is uncertain, and it appears that there will always be opposition on either side. 

1. Are you happy with President Bidens’ climate plan- and why or why not?

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/04/22/climate/new-climate-pledge.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/988051091/biden-makes-new-pledge-for-u-s-greenhouse-gas-emissions-a-50-cut

Washington D.C Statehood: Equal rights and the Republican Offensive

 The House of Representatives, in a vote of 216-208 passed H.R 51- a bill to let D.C become the 51st state of the United States. This bill would allow 712,000 Americans to be able to be represented properly- preventing taxation without representation. DC- an area that is predominantly inhabited by BIPOC would allow disenfranchised communities to be able to have a voice. 

Although publicly, this bill has significant support, it is unclear if this bill will make it through the Senate. Republicans have many criticisms for this bill, like  R-KY Rep. James Comer, stating that H.R 51 “goes against the Founding Fathers' intent, and is unconstitutional, impractical and a blatant power grab”. Other lawmakers like Rep. Nancy Mace R-SC, claim that DC statehood is a link to getting a plethora of more progressive policies through, stating that  “This is about government-run health care, a 93 trillion [dollar] Green New Deal, packing the Supreme Court, higher taxes and a bigger, less efficient form of government.” She sees this as a power grab which tips the balance of power towards the Democrats.

Democrats, however, see this differently- they see statehood for DC as a fight for equal representation for citizens. Rep Jamie Maskin D-Md states her perceived difference between the Democrats and Republicans on this front- "[Republicans] don't see taxation without representation. They don't see military service without representation when tens of thousands of people from the nation's capital have served America in every war that we've ever had. She doubles down, even more, stating “"All that they see is two new liberal Democrat senators, but that cuts against everything that we believe in about American democracy. We do not deny people the right to vote based on our expectations of how they will vote. We don't disenfranchise people because we disagree with who they might elect."”

Only time will tell to determine whether if there are 60 votes for statehood of D.C. President Biden urged the Senate to pass the legislature, but potentially not even all Democrats are unilaterally in support. 

1. Should D.C receive statehood?

2. Which argument do you think you side most with- the Republican or Democrat. Or somewhere in between?

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007724491/house-lawmakers-pass-dc-statehood-bill.html?searchResultPosition=1

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/989119412/house-democrats-pass-bill-to-make-d-c-the-51st-state

The Fall of the European Super League in Two Days

 

On Sunday the announcement of the European Super League (ESL) shocked the entire football community and left many feeling angry and betrayed by the clubs they support. The league was set to start during the 2023-24 season as a new mid-week competition already getting a 6 billion dollar backing from American investment bank JPMorgan. The proposed league would have 20 of the biggest clubs in Europe with the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United as participants, 15 of which would have permanent status in the league being founding members. The ESL was met by significant backlash from supporters, lawmakers, and even U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson claiming that it was an attack on the roots and culture of football by the owners of big-time football clubs who supported the league to generate more revenue. 

Many feared that this new league would destroy the 100+ years of history of domestic competitions like the Premier League forever despite the ESL planning on operating during the weekdays which wouldn't conflict with domestic play. The event became very controversial to fans with the idea of hosting the wealthiest clubs that would have permanent status in the ESL and not clubs who earned spots through merit. Stories that make up what football or soccer is like Leicester City’s underdog season in 2015/16 where they won the Barclays Premier  League despite the odds starting at 5000/1 against their favor would cease to exist. As of Wednesday evening, eight of the original 12 teams that signed up in support of ESL have already withdrawn with threats of government intervention and the uproar from participating club fans being the main reasons.  If the project went through the league would rival UEFA’s Champions League which is the world’s biggest annual sporting event. Many have also criticized the UEFA and FIFA in the past calling such organizations monopolies that don’t allow for a competing tournament to exist like the ESL. Both organizations have their history of controversy being called out for corruption in the past with nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives being indicted for racketeering conspiracy and corruption in 2015.

Florentino Perez the Chairman of the ESL and President of Real Madrid announced that the project is to try and save football rather than for financial greed. He stated the league was an effort to save clubs financially following the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen clubs lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

Questions to consider: 

1. How should Football clubs handle situations like UEFA and Fifa's monopoly? 

2. What changes would you have made to the ESL and to similar leagues that might be proposed in the future?

CNBC

ESPN

Managing Madrid

U.S. Department of Justice

Derek Chauvin is Found Guilty on Three Counts of Murder

After 330 days since George Floyd’s death sparked international outrage, Derek Chauvin’s trial has finally come to a close. Chauvin was found guilty on a second and third-degree murder charge, as well as a second-degree manslaughter charge in a unanimous decision by the Jury on Tuesday afternoon. Chauvin faces up to 75 years of prison time for all 3 charges when his sentence is decided in 8 weeks time. The trial lasted for a total of 3 weeks hearing testimonies from dozens of witnesses and medical professionals. 

Many eye witnesses like Darnella Franzier who was 17 at the time of the arrest and filmed the arrest testified that she felt like the situation wasn’t right and “[Floyd] was suffering.” Both sides asked the important questions that help paint their arguments on whether Chauvin violated police policy by putting his knee on Floyds Neck for 9 ½ minutes and what possible role drugs had in Floyd’s death. Minneappolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo testified that “Once Mr. Floyd had stopped resisting, and certainly once he was in distress and trying to verbalize that, that should have stopped.” Medaria condemned Chauvin’s use of force saying it violated police policy which was a similar theme in several different law enforcement testimonies like Sgt. Jody Stiger, a use of force expert with the Los Angeles Police Department. The prosecution also called Dr. Martin J. Tobin, a world-renowned breathing expert to testify who stated that Mr. Floyd “died from a lock of oxygen imposed by the restraint” In the end the Jury agreed with the prosecution that Chauvin’s use of force caused Floyd to die from a lack of oxygen and rejected the defense’s argument that Floyd died from illegal drug usage and a pre-existing heart condition. 

In a congratulatory call following the conviction, President Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris told the Floyd family that "We're all so relieved. We're going to get a lot more done." Biden later addressed the verdict of the trial claiming it can be “A moment of significant change,” to rid the stain on America's soul.  He denounced Chauvin’s actions calling it "murder in the full light of day, and it ripped the blinders off for the whole world to see [systemic racism]."

Questions to consider:

1. What changes do you think should be enacted to prevent cases of police brutality, and deaths like George Floyds in the future?

2. How should we remember both Floyd and Chauvin?

NBC

NPR

NY Times

Book by Officer Who Shot Breonna Taylor Is a New Test for Publishers

 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/16/books/simon-schuster-distribution-jonathan-mattingly.html

The book distribution company Simon and Schuster recently cancelled their book deal with Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly (one of the officers involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor) amid public outcry. It took less than 12 hours for the company to announce the cancellation after their initial announcement of the book deal after it was met with sharp outrage, a turnaround almost unheard of in terms of book deals. The publisher Post Hill later announced its support of Sgt. Mattingly’s book, but without a distributor it will be a challenge to sell copies. It should also be noted that a client of Simon and Schuster found that cancellation violated their contract and Simon and Schuster later rolled back their cancellation of the book. 

This is not the first time Simon and Schuster have cancelled distribution with conservative authors: they also cancelled a book deal with Senator Josh Hawley, one of the senators blamed with inciting the Jan. 6th Capitol riot. 

The New York Times describes it as the latest in a long history of publishers and distributors navigating social and political pressures involved in publishing books from right-wing authors. Most of the time, publishers have dedicated houses for conservative media, but with the Trump administration came increased backlash against publishing these books.

Connection to Econ: Not entirely related to coursework, but a very insightful example of companies using left-wing political statements as advertising. That’s not to say S&S’ intentions were entirely disingenuous, but recently there have been a surge of companies making political statements seemingly in order to inspire outrage, as it has been found to boost sales and stock value. Here’s a good video essay on the topic. 

Questions:
1. Do you think publishers and distributors should make moral objections to the books they publish? Discuss.

2. Are politics good for advertising? Discuss.

The Covid-19 Plasma Boom Is Over. What Did We Learn From It?

https://www.factcheck.org/2021/04/scicheck-the-facts-on-the-recommended-jj-vaccine-pause-in-u-s

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/17/health/covid-convalescent-plasma.html

At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a misinformed belief that injecting someone with the plasma of a patient who has recovered from COVID-19 would help immunize someone against COVID-19 - a treatment long-used by physicians in the absence of other treatments during pandemics, like in the 1918 Spanish flu. This was a belief that the Trump administration as well as some medical institutions latched onto when there wasn’t much hope in solving the issue of treatment, though that belief quickly turned out to not be substantiated by enough evidence and those same institutions quietly abandoned the idea.

Most of the hype surrounding plasma could be chalked up to lack of options, as many local hospitals were undersupplied and had government-sponsored plasma readily available, and pressure from the Trump administration for a “cure” early on in the pandemic (one might remember the hydroxychloroquine incident). The latter led the FDA to approve the use of plasma on COVID-19 patience for a long while during the first half of the pandemic, despite the lack of evidence for its effectiveness.

Though, the investment in the idea is nothing to sneeze at - 722,000 units of plasma were distributed to medical institutions during the plasma boom,  and many individuals donated a large portion of their own plasma. Experts theorize there could be an assortment of different reasons that plasma wasn’t as effective as first thought - large sample sizes, using plasma only on patients that couldn’t produce their own antibodies later in the pandemic, etc. 

Ultimately, just like the issues with single-dose vaccines, experts say that the plasma boom showcases scientific theory in motion in COVID-19 treatment and inoculation, medical knowledge shifting and changing to new information.

Relation to Econ: So the Trump administration made a bad investment in plasma that did not pay off, mostly based off convoluted medical information, and probably exacerbated the pandemic issues because they invested in plasma and not useful medical supplies for hospitals. 

Questions:
1. Do you believe that the lack of effect in hospitals for plasma was affected by environmental conditions? Explain.

Biden Takes On Sagging Safety Net With Plan to Fix Long-Term Care

 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/15/business/economy/home-care-biden.html

President Biden’s infrastructure plan includes a plan to bolster long-term care programs for older adults, a decision ridiculed by some politicians as a unnecessary addition to a plan centered around infrastructure. The plan is a part of his $2 billion American Jobs Plan and will include additions to Medicaid, which is the program that pays for a lot of these programs, and is targeted more at home care and adult day care facilities rather than nursing homes. 

As  our current nation’s population ages into elder care programs, there will be an increased demand for those services in an undersupported industry - many elder care workers work for just $12 an hour, a wage less than janitors, telemarketers, and food processing workers, and many live in poverty. Raising wages could potentially be a solution to overwhelming demand.

This does not solve the existing problems with adult care programs in the U.S., however, like long wait times. Experts recommend that the two issues of wages and lowering wait lists be balanced. 

In recent years, Medicaid has been changed to make home and community based care optional in its plans, and end-of-life care has become too risky for insurers and too expensive for most Americans. Medicaid has become an inconvenient source of funding for these programs, as nearly half of adults will need end-of-life care in the near future. 

Relation to Econ: This section of Biden’s infrastructure bill seems excessive but is actually a good investment in oncoming demand for a service, albeit in a very inconvenient way.

Questions:
1. Is the investment in end-of-life care a smart decision for the infrastructure bill? Explain.

2. How should the government amend the issues with Medicaid as an insurance plan?

Over 100 Arrested in Minnesota Protests After the Death of Daunte Wright

 

Protestors Advocating for Racial Justice

After the tragic death of Daunte Wright who was stated to have been accidentally shot by a policer officer, many protests started to emerge in an attempt to bring justice and social equality. Although the protests were at first peacefully marching to raise awareness to the situation, they soon became disorderly and riotous, leading to over a hundred getting arrested. Protestors were sighted thrashing fences and barricades as well as throwing objects such as bottles at police officers near the Brooklyn Center Police Department. Eventually, a curfew was called in an attempt to promote safety and ease the tensions that many citizens faced.

As for how the incident unfolded, Mr. Wright was pulled over initially for having an expired registration sticker on his car but it was later discovered that he also had "hanging air fresheners in the rearview mirror" which is considered illegal as it can potentially obscure the view of the driver. It was also revealed that Mr. Wright had an arrest warrant issued on him because of a "gross demeanor weapons charge". Shortly after, Mr. Wright was told to put his hands behind his back and to not resist while he was being handcuffed. Mr. Wright then shakes away from the cop and tries to get back into his car when he was suddenly shot after being told that the officer was going to tase him for being uncooperative. Mr. Wright proceeds to get back into his car and drives off, shortly crashing into another car and leading to Mr. Wright bleeding out. The cop later stated that she thought she was reaching for her taser and not her firearm.

The officer who shot Daunte was arrested and said to have committed second degree manslaughter, calling for her appearance in court. Normally, people tend to serve ten years in prison along with a $20,000 fee for committing such an action, but the officer posted for bail and only walked away with losing her job. Many still believe justice wasn't served and that she should pay a heavier price for the actions she committed, adding fuel onto these violent protests.

Questions to consider:

Are these protests against the police justified?

Should the cop should pay a higher price for her actions?

Do you believe the shooting was unintentional?

Sources:

CNN

ABC

NYT

The Impending Boba Shortage

 

Tea Hut store owner Aaron Qian

     Since its initial popularity spike in the 2000s, boba tea has become an increasingly popular drink among many young adults throughout the United States. Yet, this delicious treat is likely to face shortages in the near future due to the disruption of global supply chains. Cargo ships from Asia have been backed up consistently for months as a result of fewer employees at ports to help unload them. Peaking in February, a total of 40 ships awaited the okay signal to dock in Southern California. Presently, there are about 20 ships waiting to dock in the San Francisco Bay. These ships can take up to a week to unload, and the tapioca balls found in boba tea are one of the many products stuck in these long lines. Even local producers of tapioca balls are experiencing a decline in their supply as the tapioca starch required to make them is a product exported from Thailand, which is also backed up alongside the tapioca balls themselves.

    In light of the increasing scarcity of tapioca pearls, many local businesses are under pressure to let staff members go and potentially close down. Boba tea is their main selling point and without it, their profits are set to be on the decline. Furthermore, with some storeowners noting that sales have drastically increased due to the pandemic, as boba shops happen to be one of the few available "entertainment" options, the decline in supply in face of this increase in demand makes shortages an even greater issue. Distributors of tapioca pearls are making an effort to avoid referring to the current situation as a shortage in hopes of avoiding rationing, which would worsen the issue.

    It would be unsurprising to see boba prices rise due to a decline in supply as well as the high demand. While some businesses and distributors have enough tapioca stored to last for a while, others have already begun to struggle. However, this issue is one of many arising due to the effects of the coronavirus globally. Shipping has slowed a great deal due to safety precautions, and the recent blockage of the Suez Canal has further slowed already delayed supply chains. We are already beginning to see what will likely be the long-term effects of the coronavirus on the global economy. From the immediate loss of jobs and businesses due to shutdowns to delays in global trade networks, the novel coronavirus will have a lasting impact across the globe.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/16/business/boba-shortage.html

https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/Boba-shortage-Bay-Area-and-the-rest-of-the-U-S-16097585.php

Health Officials Issue a Pause on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

 

Bottles of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

As of April 13, the COVID-19 vaccine known as Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) was issued a pause by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA after a handful of patients experienced a rare form of blood clotting. Even though over 7 million people in the US have received this vaccine and have not experienced any dangerous symptoms, the FDA is taking the situation cautiously in order to maximize safety. Within the next ten days, the CDC plans to announce their reccomendation on whether it is safe to take or not.

So far, only six patients, all females between the age of 18-48, have experienced these rare blot clots known as CVST. CVST happens when a blood clot froms which prevents blood from clearing out of the brain, leading to broken blood cells and possibly a hemorrhage. The Johnson vaccine has often been compared to the AstraZeneca vaccines in that both are viral vectors compared to the Pfizer and Moderna which are mRNA vaccines. The AstraZeneca has also caused some patients to undergo blood clotting, although only a few out of millions. All of these patients have been confirmed to have a low count of platelets, which are cells that help repair damages in the body.

As a result of the US having multiple options available on which vaccine to take, the FDA and CDC have the ability to take their time and determine the best outcome for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. As for those who have already booked their appointment for the Johnson vaccine, officials have been confirmed to give them priority to reschedule with another vaccine variant in order to compensate for the pause.

Do you believe the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause was justified given that only a handful of individuals have had problems?

Are mRNA vaccines more viable than viral vectors when it comes to addressing COVID-19?

Sources:

NPR

NBC

BBC

Biden to Withdraw U.S. Troops from Afghanistan

President Biden visits Arlington National Cemetery

    Today, President Biden formally announced that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the firm deadline of September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Like those before him, ending the presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan was a campaign promise. However, he is the only one to follow through on it.

    After months of consideration, President Biden cited a number of reasons for the decision, among them the extensive costs and the limited successes of the effort. Yet, this decision is not without criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, with appointed cabinet members expressing the consequences of withdrawing troops. Included within them, the likelihood for the Afghan government to collapse without U.S. support, and a grim future for peace talks with the Taliban. As a consequence, there are likely to be setbacks to security, democracy, and women's rights within Afghanistan. Others, such as Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, expressed the potential for Afghanistan to become a "breeding ground for international terrorists" without American involvement in the country. Despite these fears, U.S. presence in the region has been on the decline, with troops being at their lowest level since 2001.

    Although troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan, President Biden has indicated that the U.S. will continue to provide military assistance and humanitarian aid to the Afghan government. In addition, he expressed a desire to move on from Afghanistan and turn priorities of foreign policy towards Asia and Russia. The U.S. will continue to support peace talks, and President Biden has displayed hopes that a new approach, different from the military presence of the past decade, being more successful.

    By winding down U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, President Biden may have the opportunity to focus more on domestic issues, such as unemployment as a result of the pandemic and the loss of many small businesses. Furthermore, as China and Russia become increasingly more powerful and present in international tensions, it makes sense for Biden to turn his eyes away from Afghanistan. Recent border conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, with the current amassment of Russian troops at the border, as well as known Russian interference with the U.S. political system, are of more immediate importance than what Biden has described as a conflict whose purpose has become unclear. And, the genocide of Uyghur Muslims in China in conjunction with their cracking down on Hong Kong has elevated the importance of addressing the country's global presence. Recently, President Biden has proposed a summit with Russia and also placed sanctions on a number of Chinese computing firms assisting the Chinese government with the development of advanced military technology. Also, Biden will have more time to consider the current state of competition between the U.S. and China with respect to the economy, such as ensuring the success of his infrastructure spending proposal.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-time-end-americas-longest-war/story?id=77066766

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/14/what-we-know-about-us-troop-withdrawal-from-afghanistan

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/14/politics/joe-biden-afghanistan-announcement/index.html

Amazon Workers in Bessemer Vote Against Unionization

 

Workers outside the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, AL

    As of Friday, April 9 workers at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama have voted not to unionize and join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). In August of last year, workers made a move to vote on unionizing in the face of what many considered excessive work hours, labor, and little to no breaks. Amazon, currently the second-largest private employer a company with a history of putting down efforts of workers to unionize, was once again successful after implementing many anti-union tactics and convincing workers against unionizing.

    Amazon has been under fire as of late as a result of workers expressing their frustrations with the mentality that the company promotes and the lengths they go to to ensure productivity. With cameras monitoring employees so that they do not surpass time limits on breaks for lunch or the bathrooms, many feel that they are constantly at risk of losing their jobs and actively make an effort to avoid breaks as to not be fired. These frustrations of workers are not in isolation. Amazon has been extremely successful as of late due to the increased amount of time individuals are spending at home and away from stores in order to protect themselves from the current pandemic. As the profits of Amazon, its shareholders, and CEO Jeff Bezos rise, many workers feel that they too should share in such benefits.

    As bonuses for top members of Amazon rose, conditions for warehouse workers remained poor. Despite advice from public health officials to shut down warehouses when COVID-19 began to spread between employees, in a number of cases, Amazon did not respond and it was noted by workers that little to no efforts were made to improve the safety of warehouses such that they could limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

    Also up for debate is Amazon's "Day 1" mindset that is promoted amongst workers. It pushes for employees to work as though it is day one of a startup company every day. However, this does not seem like it is inherently realistic given that warehouse workers are not the ones reaping the benefits of hard work.

    With the minimum wage of Amazon workers at $15.30 and a number of benefits, some workers felt that they were making a reasonable wage and were provided with sufficient work benefits. Amazon also mandated workers participate in group sessions with "former union workers" who reinforced the aforementioned sentiments and described unionization as negatively impacting the workers. This was joined with social media campaigns such as #DoItWithoutDues and posters throughout the warehouse in order to push their anti-union views.

    Yet, a New York Times approximation of the yearly income of a full-time worker at such a wage was about $31,000 and was noted as being less than half of the United States median family income, and in many cases, it was at a level at which families qualified for subsidized school lunches. Furthermore, many people across the country are desperate for work in the face of the pandemic, having lost their jobs, so they have little more choice than to accept what they can get. 

    Currently, there is a surplus of available workers due to the decline of firms as a consequence of the pandemic. Furthermore, the increase in demand for services provided by Amazon due to more people working from home has caused an increase in the influx of goods that they must deliver and sort through. Given the artificial limits on the number of employees that can work at any given time as a result of health concerns and a desire for executives to maximize profits, it makes sense for warehouse workers to have to work long hours. To account for the increase in demand, reductions in input costs, which can occur through an increase in the productivity of workers, allow the supply curve to shift left. Although, as previously described, Amazon's methods for securing increased productivity are indeed questionable. Constant monitoring of workers has caused many to feel like they are having their privacy invaded and many more as though they cannot stop working regardless of the issue without fear of being fired and replaced, something especially troubling given the current pandemic.

    Ultimately successful in their effort to prevent unionization, Amazon was convincing enough for workers to vote 1,798 to 738 against unionizing. However, the RWDSU plans to challenge this vote and the practices utilized by Amazon with claims that the voting was not inherently fair due to the conditions of the vote.

https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-historic-union-vote-gets-underway-alabama/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/technology/amazon-control-bathroom-breaks.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-union-vote-why-some-workers-voted-against-unionizing-alabama-2021-3

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/early-vote-counts-show-amazon-warehouse-workers-not-likely-unionize-n1263558

School Fights to Feed all Children School Lunches

 

 image  

Raquel Mims-Cole, a Jefferson County School District Department of Food Services staff member, dishes out several days of bagged lunches to a father for his children on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Fayette, Miss. As one of the nation's most food-insecure counties, students at school and those "virtually learning" at home are provided with free breakfast and lunches.

According to an October 2020 study by Feeding America, a non-profit and national network of food banks, more than half of all children in Jefferson County, Mississippi, are food insecure, making it the hungriest county in the country. Because of the high poverty rate, all 1,100 students enrolled in Jefferson County School District were eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school prior to the pandemic. 

Educators have been working to increase the district's ranking by introducing a new curriculum, establishing a parent involvement program, and working one-on-one with students. For more than a year, they have been effective in the most important and basic way: traveling long distances on dirt roads to ensure that every child has food to eat every day.

Jefferson County, a population of about 7,000 people, has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country: 17 percent in January 2021, compared to a national average of about 6.3 percent. According to the state Department of Health, more than half of Jefferson County residents have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, with 30 percent completely vaccinated. That makes Jefferson by far the most vaccinated county in the state, thanks in large part to the work of the Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center, a clinic that offers treatment based on the patient's ability to pay. 

Because of the pandemic, school districts around the country have had to come up with novel ways to get food to students. The public school district in Jackson, Mississippi's capital and a majority-Black city where all students qualify for free meals, developed pick-up points for students to get food while studying from home. 

However, when Jefferson County began doing the same at the start of the pandemic, only about 75 percent of children were being fed, because certain households do not have cars or are unable to drive. 

For most days, the district's buses depart the schools with bags and return clean. There are still homes where the bus stops and no one comes to collect the meal. Others have children who have only taken food a few times. Raquel Mims-Cole said as she gazed out the window at the home. 'However, you can't remember. All we can do is show up every day. We'll continue to come as long as they need us.' 

How it relates to Econ: The government needs to find more ways to give back money to these groups, whether it is finding/giving more jobs to people, or giving more funding to schools.

Questions to consider: 

1. What are some other solutions that can be implemented for all kids to get lunch? 

2. In what ways can parents do more to provide for their children

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20210401/news/304019952/

US Draws Close to 100M Vaccinations as Baseball Resumes

 

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The United States took a step closer to vaccinating 100 million Americans on April 1st, in response to a rise in COVID-19 outbreaks, which is fueling concerns of another national epidemic right before the major league baseball season begins and thousands of fans return to stadiums.

According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 99 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than 56 million people - 17 percent of the nation's population - have been fully vaccinated.

As of Thursday, 154 million vaccines had been distributed. President Joe Biden has set a new target of administering 200 million vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office. Before the baseball season began, a game was canceled after a player tested positive for the coronavirus. 

States are stepping up their efforts to vaccinate as many people as possible by expanding eligibility and promoting the vaccinations as critical to returning the nation to normalcy. As of Thursday, those 50 or older in California, the country's most populous state with 40 million residents, are eligible for a vaccine. 

Although some states are struggling to satisfy vaccine demand, others say that a sizable portion of their populations are unwilling to receive the vaccine. During the coronavirus pandemic in San Francisco, healthcare employees tend to residents in cars at a drive-up vaccine facility at City College of San Francisco on March 25, 2021.  

How this relates to Econ: This will renew the sports industry because now more fans will come to the games and could bring more tv viewership because many people get a better experience of the game when there are fans.

Questions to consider: 

1. For the majority of people who go to baseball games, do you think they should get vaccinated first?

2. Do you think resuming sports with any type of audience was a good idea?

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20210401/news/304019919/ 

Brutal NYC Attack Renews Asian American Volunteers' Efforts

 

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The horrible attack of a 65-year-elderly person while strolling to chapel this week close to New York City's Occasions Square has elevated effectively tangible degrees of shock over the enemy of Asian assaults that began with the pandemic. 

Stan Lee, fed up with the relentless assaults on Asian Americans, has recently begun voluntarily patrolling San Francisco's Chinatown. According to New York police, the attacker screamed racial slurs at the Filipina American lady. The video soon attracted millions of views and general criticism. The attacker was apprehended and charged with hate crimes on Wednesday.

Asian American organizations from coast to coast are striving not to let this new hate crime deter them from doing anything other than remote advocacy - patrolling, escorting, and chaperoning. 

Following an attack on another older Asian American woman in Queens in February, Teresa Ting, a 29-year-old Chinese American, formed the Key Street Patrol in New York City. Volunteers work in three-person groups and connect via an app. Mainly in asian community right now, since many of the elders are unable to communicate in English. "They don't understand or talk English," she said. 'That's why I think a lot of hate crimes go unreported,' she says. Bystander training has also been recently on the rise and is being reinforced. 

The attack in New York came only two weeks after a white gunman opened fire inside three Asian-owned massage parlors in Atlanta. Eight people were killed, including six Asian women. The gunman has not been charged with any hate crimes, and police faced strong scrutiny despite describing the suspect as having a "sex problem."  

During a spike in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland ordered a report of how the Justice Department would better use its tools to fight hate crimes. Former President Donald Trump, according to Asian American advocates, is partially to blame because of his language surrounding COVID-19, which he often referred to as the "Chinese virus."

Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose by 150 percent last year, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, while total hate crimes declined by 7% during the pandemic.

Lee, the San Francisco firefighter, said he was able to continue volunteering for as long as it was required, and that he often runs into volunteers from other citizen patrols, showing how much publicity the problem is attracting. He's seen Asian American seniors who tend to keep their habits.  

How it relates to Econ: More money needs to be going into teaching our youth how to treat people equally.

Questions to consider: 

1.  What are more ways we can educate people on the importance of equality?

2. Do you think the government should do more to help spread equality?

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20210401/news/304019993/ 

Minnesota Supreme Court rules rape conviction invalid due to wording of law

 

The Minnesota State Court recently overruled a felony rape conviction because the victim was willingly intoxicated and gave consent while under the influence. Under Minnesota's state law, the standard for being mentally incapacitated only includes those who fall under the influence of alcohol without consenting to drink or otherwise consume alcohol. This decision comes to no surprise to anyone at all, but it does illustrate that a change to the Minnesota state law regarding this subject is needed. There is bipartisan support in the legislature to amend the law in order to include those that are intoxicated. It comes as a reminder that lawmakers on all levels have to be careful when drafting and creating pieces of legislation; they must pay attention to technicalities and the implications that those technicalities can have when applied to the real world as laws are applied in a literal sense.

Consider the following: 

1. What is the importance of ensuring that laws are properly written?

2.  This is something that both sides of the political aisle agree on. What are some potential issues that may occur when attempting to amend technicalities such as these? 

CBS/CNN (image source)

USAToday

Suspect attacks two Capitol police officers

 

The Capitol went into lockdown this Friday as a man slammed his car into two officers. The suspect was shot after charging at officers with a knife, and he and one officer died. Though both chambers of Congress are currently in recess, there remains a multitude of staff in the Capitol. This attack comes as Capitol police loosen defenses around the area, but this attack has so far not been connected to the Jan 6 incident or to any members of Congress. It has also not been connected to any terroristic activity. Neither the suspect or officer's name has been released at this time. The lockdown was lifted later in the day. These types of events can lead to a little fear of instability and make people reconsider their decisions. 

AP news and image source

Fox News

Reuters

Consider: 1. What are the potential motives? 

2. What can be done to further prevent these incidents?

Edit: The suspect has been identified as Noah Green, described as a follower of Louis Farrakhan and is a member of the Nation of Islam. Police are still determining the motive. 

NYT article with more info

Biden Seeks to Use Infrastructure Plan to Address Racial Inequities

 President Biden's $2 trillion initiative to restore decaying highways, bridges, rail lines, and other economic structures looks yo add something else to minority families, hundreds of billions of dollars to help reverse long-running ethnic inequalities in how the government installs, restores, and fixes up broken down buildings and roads.

The proposal also includes money for the replacement of lead water pipes that have harmed African americans in cities like Flint, Michigan, the cleanup of environmental hazards that have damaged Hispanic neighborhoods, worker training that will target underrepresented groups; and fumigation.

    In the next step of Mr. Biden's proposals, more conventional attempts to close ethnic wealth gaps, such as universal pre-K and more affordable higher education, will be implemented. As Mr. Biden seeks to drive the proposals through Congress.

Republicans have opposed Mr. Biden's plan to boost corporate taxes to finance this step of his agenda, accusing him misguiding "fixing infrastructure" to market what they see as unrelated liberal goals White House officials claim would benefit poor citizens and regions.

Relating to econ:

Investing in areas where majority of the people are African American could lead to better quality of life which could lead to giving these groups the necessary tools to excel and scratch at that disadvantage minorities have under White Families.

Article link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/us/politics/biden-infrastructure-racial-equity.html

Questions:

Do you agree with republicans saying that this money is just going to be used to fund democrat ideas?

What other things could Biden to to help minorities?