Topics of interest:

1. Health Care in the U.S – Ensuring universal access to high-quality healthcare without financial constraints is a crucial goal that should be allowed.This implies that everyone is entitled to healthcare and insurance so they can receive the necessary medical care. It is not fair that just because they are not residents of the U.S that they shouldn’t receive the insurance they need. Determining the benefits and drawbacks can be difficult and frequently sparks contentious discussions.

2. Minimum Wage – This can impact millions of workers and their families, influencing their ability to afford basic necessities like housing, food, and healthcare. There is concern that low wages increase income inequality and limit economic mobility. 

3. How is Mental Health ineffective? – Mental health enhances overall well-being, enabling people to manage stress, build meaningful relationships, etc. Good mental health also boosts productivity and creativity, leading to better performance in both personal and professional settings. Untreated mental health issues can result in serious consequences, including substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. 

Article for Topic 1: https://unduemedicaldebt.org This article talks about the issue of medical debt in the U.S and how it impacts individuals and their families. It discusses how medical expenses can lead to financial hardship, even for those with insurance. They have an organization aimed to raise awareness, provide resources for those struggling with medical debt, and advocate for systemic change to reduce these burdens. Their mission emphasizes the importance of addressing medical debt as a public health issue and promoting financial stability for all. Juicy Quote: “One in three (32%) say they became more depressed and anxious due to their medical debt and nearly half say they feel trapped by their medical debt. 45% felt they would never be able to pay it off.”

Article for Topic 2: https://keystoneresearch.org/issues/minimum-wage This article talks about the impact of minimum wage policies, emphasizing their potential benefits for workers, such as reduced poverty and increased economic stability. It highlights various studies showing that raising the minimum wage can lead to better job performance and reduced employee turnover. It advocates for higher minimum wages as a means to promote economic equity and support low-income families. Juicy Quote: “Wages are so low now that they don’t even cover rent and the cost of getting around, forcing working people to rely on the local food bank to help make ends meet. Raising the minimum wage can help restore spending on the basics and, in the process, boost the local economy.”

1. Free College is necessary – College should be free for everyone because it will give them the opportunity to pursuit their goals. A tuition-free college could help lessen the current inequality gap since there are many individuals who would love to go to college but simply can’t due to the excessive cost of attendance. A tuition-free college would lead to an increase of the number of students attending to college which can make society more intellectual.
2. The negative impact of AI on education – AI is a form of intelligence exhibited by machines or software. AI is negatively impacting education because students have reduced their critical thinking and relied on AI for problem-solving. AI allows students to use it to write essays, answer questions, or complete homework.
3. The use of technology in soccer – Adapting technology is a current debate in soccer because there are disadvantages and advantages which make individuals have different opinions about the use of technology. For instance, if technology is fully adapted in soccer, some advantages are improvement of player development, injury prevention, personalized training sessions, and it can improve referees decision-making. On the other hand, some disadvantages are that technology can be wrong which can impact the outcome of a game, flow of the game will be interrupted, technology can make fans less engaged, it can impair athletes’ psychological well-being.

1. Free College is necessary – https://www.nbcnews.com/news/education/new-york-becomes-first-state-offer-free-four-year-college-n744561

This article talks about a new college program introduced by the state of New York which offers a free four-year college. This scholarship will be included in FAFSA, and there’s no age limit for the program. This program has left some critics wondering about whether it fairly addresses the needs of low income students. This scholarship does nothing to address the needs of countless low-income students and will only end up impacting a small percentage of CUNY students.

“Higher education in America should be a right for all, not a privilege for the few,” Sanders said in an April 3rd statement. “If we are to succeed in a highly competitive global economy and have the best-educated workforce in the world, public colleges and universities must become tuition-free for working families and we must substantially reduce student debt.”

1. The negative impact of AI on education – https://www.techbusinessnews.com.au/blog/chatgpt-may-lead-to-the-downfall-of-eduction-and-critical-thinking/

This article talks about the increase use of AI language models like ChatGPT which is impacting students’ critical thinking and independent learning due to their reliance on AI. This form of intelligence is leading to a lack of creativity and originality because many students are not developing their own arguments. The use of AI tools like ChatGPT to complete assignments and exams is becoming increasingly among students, creating concern about academic integrity.

“The ease and convenience of generating text with the help of AI may discourage students from developing their own ideas and conducting independent research, leading to a lack of creativity and originality in their work.”

3. The use of technology in soccer – https://medium.com/@oo607820/the-impact-of-technology-on-football-challenges-and-benefits-cf7271cb7849

This article presents the advantages and disadvantages of implementing technology in soccer. It demonstrates that technology has brought numerous benefits to soccer. These advancements have improved fairness, accuracy, and overall experience of the game. However, there is some debate of the use of technology in soccer because there are a few challenges such as adaptation and implementation since there are a few errors experienced due to the use of technology.

“VAR has been introduced to assist referees in making more accurate decisions regarding goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identities. This technology has greatly reduced the margin of error in critical decisions, ensuring a fairer outcome for the game.”

Why is higher education valued?

Many young people do not know ​​why higher education is important, so I want to explain that it does not guarantee a future but increases the chances of a better future.

https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/what-s-the-value-of-higher-education

This website shows how Dr. Johnnetta Cole discusses how universities can inform and inspire you to have a passion for having a higher education.

Quote: Sink or Swin, up to you.

Why do people immigrate?

I am an immigrant and I want to know why people like me go to other countries to look for opportunities. Of course, we all know that we come to developed countries in search of opportunities, but what is behind that? What could have been the events of someone’s childhood that led that person to seek new frontiers?

https://www.globalrefuge.org/news/why-do-people-immigrate-the-different-causes-of-immigration-lirs

This website shows the main causes of immigration and also different data that different countries have shown over the years.

Quote: Immigrants have faced huge obstacles to achieving the American Dream, yet have persevered to overcome them.

1. Gatekeeping, both in professional settings and in public spaces. Does gatekeeping *really* help the person withholding a person/group from access to things, places, and communities?
2. Free School Lunch. What is with the uproar over if public schools should provide free school lunches to its students. Should lunch debt exist? Should students need to pay for their lunches/
3. Anonymity on the internet. Does collective anonymity on the internet do more harm than good? Who deserves the right to browse the internet unsurveillenced?

Two Topics:

1. Gatekeeping –
   • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK593013/#:~:text=The%20role%20of%20gatekeeper%20selects,serving%20because%20they%20can%20be.
   • This article is against gatekeeping. From motives of the gatekeeper to different forms of bias and discrimination, this article goes into the social, economic, and political benefits a gatekeeper can obtain by restricting their peers and colleague of resources. Withholding resources from peers, specifically those of a minority background, tend to occur to help maintain a status quo, and when those minorities rise from the cracks to prevent this, anxiety arises, which leaves the gatekeeper firm to their belief and continues to gatekeep. A perpetual cycle.
   • “The role of gatekeeper selects for people with status-quo-perpetuating attitudes and encourages those attitudes because they preserve the position’s advantages. The same is true for the gatekeeper’s motives, which are self-serving because they can be.”
2. Anonymity –
   • https://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.805/student-papers/fall95-papers/rigby-anonymity.html
   • This paper shares a defense both for and against anonymity on the internet. Anonymity helps greatly promote individual freedom of expression and speech, almost to a fault. ANonymity can help people find and create communities, rally for societal issues without fear of government involvement and ask embarrassing questions, this power can also be used to commit crimes, share hate speech, and harm others. At the end, however, the pros seem to outweigh the cons, and the solution to this issue seems to be a set of guidelines for internet users to follow, some regulations, but it is wholly up to the individual if they wish to abide by these guidelines.
   • “The fact remains that more than 15,000 email messages are sent anonymously each day which shows that there is a significant need for anonymity services on the net. If anonymity service is a truly negative thing for the internet, it will eventually die out by itself from lack of use.”

1. A.I. in the Music Industry – The use of artificial intelligence in music is controversial and constantly evolving. It raises a ton of ethical questions, regarding the value of human creativity. There is also the concern about using A.I. to “revive” dead musicians.
2. Free Speech on Social Media – The topic of censorship and free speech on social media platforms is progressively becoming more prevalent in today’s age. This topic has exploded ever since Elon Musk acquired X (formerly Twitter) and portrayed himself as a champion of free speech.
3. GPS/Satellite Threats – The U.S. Global Positioning System is vulnerable and open to attacks. These jamming attacks can affect pilots, military radars, and even Wi-Fi networks.

A.I. in the Music Industry (https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/358201/how-does-ai-music-work-benefits-creativity-production-spotify)
Generative A.I. music tools utilize machine learning models and data sets to produce outputs. This design conflicts with the natural human need for progress and transformation. Also, Artificial Intelligence poses a threat to human musicians due to how efficient and speedy its music generation process is.

“What would be lost from human creativity and diversity if musicians come to rely on predictive models trained on selective data sets that exclude the majority of the world’s many cultures and languages?”

Free Speech on Social Media (https://www.thefire.org/news/free-speech-culture-elon-musk-and-twitter#:~:text=The%20government%20cannot%20punish%20Twitter,free%20to%20criticize%20those%20decisions.)
Elon Musk acquired Twitter because he disagreed with how the company was managed, regarding the practice of censorship on the platform. There needs to be a culture of free speech in order to benefit from free speech laws. The government, as well as monopoly power, shapes this free speech culture.

“Demands for censorship most clearly threaten a culture of free speech when paired with coercive power.“

Topics

1. Women’s Health Issues – the right to bodily autonomy/choice – Do women have rights in America anymore? As a female, it is heartbreaking to hear that our reproductive rights have been handed over to state governments that have the power to take them away (and some already have). It is our choice what we do to our bodies, not the government’s.
2. Eating meat is unethical. – As a vegetarian by birth, I have lived my entire life without eating meat due to religious and personal reasons. Although it wasn’t a choice of mine to be meatless, I do stand by the fact that the way meat is processed is unethical. Animal abuse, sustainability, and personal health all play a role in this corrupt industry.
3. Wealthy people should pay more taxes – Growing up in the middle class, it is easy to notice different classes around you and how lower classes are mistreated. Yet, it seems the upper classes have all they could want and more. Wealth is not properly distributed among everyone and people who have more should be obligated to give some away.

Article Topic 1: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/abortion-is-about-freedom-not-just-privacy – This is a pro-choice article that describes the importance of abortion rights. The article mentions past protests and how they have affected the country we live in now. This article also expresses the negative effects of banning abortion through anecdotes of protesters.

Juicy Quote – “Girls, not boys, had their entire lives turned upside down if they carried the pregnancy to term. It was terrifying; it was also radicalizing.”

Article Topic 2: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/arts-blog/ethical-arguments-against-eating-meat – This article simply lists the negative consequences of eating meat while also persuading the reader to stop eating it. The article goes into detail about how it affects the health of humans and livestock. It also goes into how harvesting meat is bad for the planet.

Juicy Quote – “In short, industrial farming causes animals to suffer without good justification.”

1. Drinking Age – whether the US alcohol drinking age should stay at 21 or should it be lowered.

Article: https://www.cnn.com/2014/07/16/us/legal-drinking-age/index.html. Juicy Quote: “‘In general, the younger people start to drink the safer they are…Alcohol has no mystique. It’s no big deal. By contrast, where it’s banned until age 21, there’s something of the ‘forbidden fruit’ syndrome.'” With the National Minimum Drink Age Act, some concerns are being raised about whether or not the drinking age should be lowered again or not. Older Americans believed that keeping the drinking age as is, reduces alcohol-related accidents and keeps teens safe, and it showed through research on the act’s impact when the percentage of car wrecks involving alcohol have declined. However, younger generations might still see this act as something to get around since its strictly implemented, and this could be even more harmful when they might not have no knowledge or education of alcohol or how to drink safely.

2. Development of AI – is it beneficial or harmful to society.

Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2023/02/16/is-artificial-intelligence-good-for-society/ Juicy Quote: “The risk Hawking refers to relates to a concept called ‘The Singularity.’ According to this theory, there’s a potential future date when computers will become better at building themselves than humans, allowing them to constantly upgrade and improve, eventually becoming far smarter than humans.” AI is becoming a big part of society now, for example in healthcare, banking, etc. However, there’s major public concerns rising about how AI will take over the world and its already damaging effects to society like AI being used to cheat on school work, AI technologies ‘taking over’ people’s jobs, etc. Society is having to come to terms with having to adapt to a world where AI is becoming the future.

1. Pay-to-Play Sports System in the US – Issue that limits access for lower-income athletes, as high participation fees create barriers to entry, reducing diversity and opportunity. This model places a financial strain on families, often prioritizing money over competition and enjoyment. It also affects college recruiting as scholarship opportunities are given to wealthier athletes, deepening social and economic inequalities in sports.
2. Standardized Testing in Education – Involves administering the same test under the same conditions to all students to measure their academic performance and compare it across schools. It’s intended to provide objective data on student achievement. Still, critics argue that it can narrow curriculum focus, create stress, and fail to account for diverse learning styles and socioeconomic factors.
3. Excessive Screen Time for Children – Raises concern about its potential impact on social skills and physical health, including sleep disruption and increased inactivity. While digital devices offer educational benefits, too much exposure is linked to attention problems, delayed language development, and reduced outdoor activity.
4. Psychological Nativism – Theory that certain cognitive abilities or knowledge are innate, meaning they are present at birth rather than acquired through experience or learning. It focuses on language acquisition, suggesting that humans are born with inherent structures that enable learning.

Pay-to-Play Sports System in the US – https://soccernovo.com/pay-to-play-soccer/

The pay-to-play model in U.S. youth soccer requires families to pay high fees, typically $1,500 to $5,000 per year, to participate in club programs. This creates financial barriers that limit access and diversity, leading to concerns that the system is excluding talented players from lower-income backgrounds. While the pay-to-play model provides funding for soccer programs and can foster competitiveness, potential solutions include increasing financial aid, developing subsidized club options, and exploring alternative models to make the sport more accessible.

“While it has allowed for the development of elite players who have gone on to represent our country at the highest level, it has also created barriers for many young players who cannot afford the high costs of participation. Our system currently puts us behind top European and South American countries. In these countries, talent is priority numero uno. Players like Neymar Jr., who didn’t come from much, might have been a lost talent in the U.S.”

Standardized Testing in Education – https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1757743818812093

Standardized testing in the US has been used to marginalize and erase the knowledge of low-income students and students of color. These tests are rooted in racist and capitalist ideologies that privilege whiteness and dominant knowledge formations, while devaluing the knowledge and experiences of non-white communities. The history of standardized testing shows how these tests have been used to justify cutting funding and resources for schools serving predominantly non-white students, further perpetuating racial inequities in education.

“Stories of intelligent and successful students of color directly challenge beliefs about them as academically inferior students. Thus, evidence of student knowledge and ability, in spite of poor test scores, may lead to a re-evaluation of the testing tools that have been used to marginalize these students.”

1. Should Liberalism be Limited? We all know that independence and individual freedom is crucial in a society, but have we looked at how it affects our society today? Sure, Personal expression is fine, but what comes out of this? Protests, Riots, Vandalism, and even sometimes violence occur because of this. Maybe it’s okay to promote individual freedom, but when it is right and harmless. 
2. Why is modern-day schooling so oppressed? Schools are meant to teach us in order for us to learn and become “successful contributional citizens” to society. But do we really learn? Schools have been given a curriculum to follow and that curriculum has been stuck into not only the schools, but into us as well. Instead of learning, we memorize whatever is told to us in school.
3. Schools teach what is necessary for school after high-school instead of prioritizing life lessons. Oftentimes, school criteria teaches us about core subjects like social studies, history, and writing. Aren’t we missing something? Economics is a class that many schools lack. 
4. AI development; is it bad? In today’s world, we can see technology everywhere around us. Is this good or bad? There are many malfunctions that can occur, but how do they affect us? It can be bad.

*Schools teach what is necessary for school after high-school instead of prioritizing life lessons. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/why-arent-more-states-taking-on-economics-and-personal-finance-education/2018/02 “To move the needle on economics and personal finance education, change might have to come from the ground up.” 

• Surveys are taken on the 50 states every 2 years to analyze personal finance and economics education. It hasn’t been looking so well for many.  In many states, economics class isn’t taken seriously as a prerequisite. We need to take initiative, but where do we start?

*Why is modern-day schooling so oppressive?

https://www.rc.org/publication/presenttime/pt172_053_mp#:~:text=The%20oppressive%20system%20is%20the,young%20people%20feel%20not%20smart. “Different young people make different decisions about how they will deal with how oppressive school is” 

• Schools are the base of oppression. They implicitly promote capitalism and oppression in society. Young people want change and change needs to happen. It starts from the base, and that is school.

1. Could the actions within the Israel-Palestine conflict be classified as genocide against Palestinians? Social media has become a primary source for news consumption. As we view the footage emerging from Gaza, it is clear that the situation has persisted for far too long and has escalated beyond acceptable limits. Over the past year, 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, and each day, 10 children undergo amputations. While yes, 1,200 Israelis lost their lives on October 7, it is important to recognize that this has been ongoing long before October 7.
2. Why are so many companies firing Gen-Z employees? Many are concerned about the growing trend of Gen-Z employees being terminated. In a survey of 996 companies, employers cited a lack of motivation, inadequate performance, poor communication skills, and insufficient professionalism as key reasons behind this issue. While this presents a significant challenge, some companies have noted the advantages of hiring Gen-Z employees, highlighting their willingness to take risks and explore new approaches, rather than confining themselves to traditional expectations.
3. Should everyone go to college? Many of us were raised with the belief that “You need a college degree to succeed.” While college may indeed be the right path for many careers, some of the most successful business leaders did not pursue higher education. Young adults should have the freedom to decide whether college is the right choice for them, without facing judgment. Although choosing not to attend college can be a significant risk, everyone deserves the opportunity to explore their own creativity and potential.

1. Article for Topic 1: This article discusses the various definitions of genocide through legal, social scientific, and conventional lenses, as explained by Alexander Hinton, a genocide prevention expert. It highlights the U.N. Convention’s legal definition, which includes acts intended to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group in whole or in part. The article explores whether the current situation in Gaza meets the criteria for genocide. Juicy quote: “Segal believes that Israeli forces are completing three genocidal acts, including, “killing, causing serious bodily harm, and measures calculated to bring about the destruction of the group.” He points to the mass levels of destruction and total siege of basic necessities—like water, food, fuel, and medical supplies—as evidence.” https://time.com/6334409/is-whats-happening-gaza-genocide-experts/
2. Article for Topic 3: This article explores the idea that college may not be the right path for everyone and highlights the inequities within the educational system. It contrasts two students: one with strong academic abilities and another with less interest in traditional academics, illustrating the system’s uneven approach to different types of learners. Juicy Quote: “That second student, to be clear, has done nothing wrong. He probably clawed his way through his town’s standard college-oriented curriculum, though it neither targeted his interests and abilities nor prepared him for work force success. “ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/16/learning/should-everyone-go-to-college.html