Topics:

• Free Healthcare – Healthcare in the US should free and accessible for everyone. This would give the US government an incentive to keep everyone healthy as they would be responsible for covering everyone’s medical cost. So the less people that get sick the less cost the US government would be responsible for.
• Free higher education – Higher education in the US should be free. This would allow talented students who can’t afford college to attend and would help the US retain high potential students who can contribute significantly to the economy.
• Shifting away from pay-to-play models in sports – Shifting away from pay-to-play models in sports would remove this financial barrier and give more kids an opportunity to play. Also when access is restricted by cost, talented athletes may be overlooked simply because their families can’t afford high fees. Shifting away from this pay-to-play model would remove this overlook of talented athletes.

Shifting away from pay-to-play models in sport https://projectplay.org/news/low-income-kids-are-6-times-more-likely-to-quit-sports-due-to-costs/

The article from Project Play’s indicates that low-income youth are six times more likely to quit sports due to costs. This cause talented athletes to no longer be able to participate in the sport they love and forcing them to purse other things. The article further highlights that wealthy families can more easily switch teams or find alternatives when issues arise, whereas low-income families are often stuck with fewer options. This comparison emphasizes the need for affordable, community-based programs to foster continuous engagement and prevent economic limitations from ending young athletes’ involvement in sports​. “Youth ages 6-18 from low-income homes quit sports because of the financial costs at six times the rate of kids from high-income homes, according to a national survey of parents by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and Utah State University’s Families in Sport Lab.”

Free higher education https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2019/12/free-college-deming

Free college is seen as a strategic move to prepare a competitive workforce for the future. Experts argue that college is increasingly necessary for job access and economic stability. Ensuring affordable access could improve graduation rates and workforce participation. This would allow talented kids with so much potential to be able to go to college and show their skills and be rewarded for them. “Public spending on higher education is unique among social services: it is an investment that pays for itself many times over in higher tax revenue generated by future college graduates, a rare example of an economic “free lunch.”

AI in Software Engineering

AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot have been emerging as ways to integrate AI into software engineering, by suggesting and autocompleting blocks of code, aitomating tasks, or debugging large code bases. The debate is over the extent to which AI increases coding efficiency and productivity as well as the ethics and reliability issues of using AI.

Voting rights in the US election

There are a lot of concerns around voting rights and debate over whether the current system disenfranchises people and discourages them from voting. Many challenges pop up from time to time like gerrymandering and redistricting, voting restrictions, requiring additional proof of citizenship, frivolous lawsuits, laws like line warming bans, the influence of campaign financing and super PACs, and free speech and censorship.

MTA fare enforcement

Recently the MTA has taken actions to try to enforce fares and crack down on “fare beaters.” Many enforcers have been added to bus and subway stations because the MTA reports millions of dollars in losses from fare skippers and wants to decrease fare evasion. There is a debate on how effective these strategies will be at stopping fare evasion.

Source 1 – AI

https://www.forbes.com/sites/delltechnologies/2024/09/18/how-ai-is-transforming-software-development

This source talks about the impact of AI tools in software engineering in different companies. They find uses for AI like cutting developer time and abstracting software development. Organizations like Nvidia, Amazon, and Eureka Labs are using and experimenting with generative AI already and boast about productivity boosts.

“Amazon used its Q digital assistant to cut the time it takes to upgrade Java applications from 50 developer days to a few hours, or the equivalent of 4,500 developer years’ worth of work, according to CEO Andy Jassy.”

Source 2 – Voting rights

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg78ljxn8g7o

This source talks about a controversy regarding Elon Musk and his America PAC. Recently, Elon Musk offered 1 million dollars a day to random swing state voters who sign his pro-Trump petition, which requires you to register to vote to sign. Legal experts have been debating whether this violates existing election and voting laws by offering money for people to register to vote. This shows the ongoing conflicts and arguments over strategies to turn out voters from your side or suppress voters from the other side.

“Federal law states that anyone who “pays or offers to pay or accepts payment either for registration to vote or for voting” faces a potential $10,000 fine or a five-year prison sentence.”

1. Is joining the Music industry worth it? There are many pros and cons to the music industry like any other industry. But do the pros outweigh the cons? Is there a way to join without having to worry about the negative outcomes affecting your health mentally and physically? 

2. Museum stealing cultural art- Museums have been around for a long time, they have a positive outcome, displaying and teaching people about various cultures and history with artifacts from said places. Although that doesn’t mean they have a spotless record, stealing many of the artifacts. Is it worth keeping those stolen if it was done for a selfish reason?

3. The fashion industry- It has been around for a long time, but have there been changes? positive ? Negative?

Source 1; https://www.icij.org/investigations/hidden-treasures/more-than-1000-artifacts-in-metropolitan-museum-of-art-catalog-linked-to-alleged-looting-and-trafficking-figures/

The article discusses the alleged stolen artifacts within the Metropolitan Museum. Many of said alleged stolen art pieces were done for selfish reasons as behind many companies. 

1. Is joining the Music industry worth it? There are many pros and cons to the music industry like any other industry. But do the pros outweigh the cons? Is there a way to join without having to worry about the negative outcomes affecting your health mentally and physically? 

2. Museum stealing cultural art- Museums have been around for a long time, they have a positive outcome, displaying and teaching people about various cultures and history with artifacts from said places. Although that doesn’t mean they have a spotless record, stealing many of the artifacts. Is it worth keeping those stolen if it was done for a selfish reason?

3. The fashion industry- It has been around for a long time, but have there been changes? positive ? Negative?

Source 1; https://www.icij.org/investigations/hidden-treasures/more-than-1000-artifacts-in-metropolitan-museum-of-art-catalog-linked-to-alleged-looting-and-trafficking-figures/

The article discusses the alleged stolen artifacts within the Metropolitan Museum. Many of said alleged stolen art pieces were done for selfish reasons as behind many companies. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/16/style/victorias-secret-fashion-show-return-hiatus.html

The article discusses The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Return. Showing how although made from a large company, the designs did not meet the public’s expectations in a negative way.

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.