Business Insider: Central Banks Are Making the Same Mistake That Led to the 2008 Financial Crisis

In this article Business Insider addresses how the International Monetary Fund wants to keep interest rates low even though this is exactly what led to the 2008 economic crisis, rates were too low for too long. This means potential trouble for the entire world economy. Despite a push from the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England to raise rates, we are still unsure of whether it will happen. I feel this article is important because as consumers we need to know what it means when interest rates are low for a long time and why they are this way. It is to incentivize to spend of course, but what are the short-term rewards vs  the long term risks? Business Insider presents both sides of the argument well, giving the reasons why the IMF wants to keep the rates low, why the US & England want to raise them, and what the potential risks are of both. I find this to be a well rounded argument that makes a clear point at the end: There is no “right” time to raise interest  rates, because in the short-term there will be some negative outcomes, however, our sight needs to extend past that and see what is best in the middle- and long-run.

Business Insider: Russia and Saudi Arabia Are ‘Sending Signals To Each Other’ About What Happens Next to the Oil Market

In this article Business Insider discusses the low oil prices that have been maintained by OPEC. It further discusses how OPEC put these prices in place to flush out other competitors like the US, but was unable to when the US was able to maintain steady production and profits even when the price per barrel fell from $70 to $50. Although Russia and Saudi Arabia have not always been on the best of terms, it may be possible to find allies within each other with this oil problem. Russian official insist that the government will not interfere and “force” oil companies to cut production because it would be unfair to the shareholders. However, Russia and Saudi Arabia may come to a deal which is huge news not only for the economy, but in a political sense in the Middle East since the two are on opposing sides in Syria. I do think this topic is important because these two countries are hold a lot of power not only in the global economy but potentially pose a threat to nearby countries if they join forces in more than an economic sense. Although the article does not really address this, I do not think it is irrational to believe that these two forces joining can be potentially harmful. I thought this article did a good job in addressing the issues both countries are facing however I think it could have done a better job of including how this would affect the European and American economies as well as addressing South American oil companies and how they would be affected.

The Telegraph: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects Call to Admit Syrian Refugees

This article addresses not only the influx of Syrian refugees who are running to safety from a violent civil war, but what specifically a country in somewhat close proximity to it has chosen to do, or rather not to do. Israel Prime Minister has decided not only to not allow refugees but is working on measures at the border to keep refugees out for the fear that there may be terrorists among them. I find this article to be important not only because it addresses the terrible crisis that thousands of helpless Syrians are facing but because it also addresses a common sentiment towards migrants. There seems to be a widely spreading sentiment that migrants fleeing violence and unstable environments carry a threat within them when they are in fact seeking safety. I think this article does a fair job of addressing how inadequately Israel has been handling not only Syrian refugees but refugees coming from Southern Africa also fleeing turbulent home conditions.

Vox: This Chart Shows America Badly Needs Some Raises

In this Vox article, just how inadequately job salaries have kept up with inflation over the years is clearly quantified. This article reveals that the highest paying jobs have fell and the wages for the lowest paying jobs have fallen even more drastically, based on percentage and inflation. I find this article to be extremely important because there has been huge backlash when raising the minimum wage was suggested. Many people felt it was unfair for people to be making “so much money” but the reality of the matter is that the raise would really lead to a more equalized minimum wage with what it used to be 20 or more years ago. I do feel this article did a good job of covering the issue by presenting raw data. In highly polarized issues like this I find it important to not interject too much opinion, about what people “deserve” or what one person or official considers “fair”.  It is more important to address what the numbers prove, people are having a harder time living a stable job with wages these days not necessarily because of inadequate college education, lack of skills, or wild spending, but because the numbers simply do not match up.

Vice: A Former Inmate Talks About How Prisons Manufacture Criminals

In this article, a Vice journalist interviews with a former prisoner and a former Missouri state senator, Jeff Smith. Jeff Smith explains in this article how prisons do not work to help prisoners and explains that the violence that is perpetuated in the purposefully harmful environment created by our justice system makes prisoners more susceptible to being re-incarcerated after their first time out. This article is important because it points out how we dehumanize criminals and in doing so and by perpetuating the stereotype that prisoners are subhuman and undeserving of a second chance, we create an environment where prisoners come out even more violent or more likely to commit a crime. Although I did enjoy the point of view this article offered, I would have preferred an interview with a disadvantaged prisoner. Although Jeff Smith was a prisoner, he comes from a point of privilege, being a wealthy white man with a political background. He speaks of the trials of being a former-prisoner as one of an outsider’s perspective because he does not fully understand the extent to which namely poor black men and women ex-convicts have to go to in order to survive after coming out of prison for usually non-violent crimes.

Huffington Post: The CIA Didn’t Torture People; It Just Tortured People

This article discusses the use of torture by the CIA and how violent and inhumane the practices are coming to be considered. Recently the practice of “walling” was made publicly known where an agent would slam a prisoner’s head against a wall. Although the journalist ends the article by saying the practice of torture will likely become illegal by next year, I think a better job could have been done to point out how ineffective torture is in actually acquiring information. I also think that other practices should have been mentioned as well as the fact that we are unsure about whether the people detained and subject to torture are even connected to terrorist activity. Although this article only scratches the surface of the horrors of terrorism, I do find it important. There is a large consensus in America that torture is an effective practice when it indeed is not and more people need to understand that senselessly beating people will not result in the outcomes we hope for.

Local

Huffington Post: The Politics of the NYPD’s War on the Homeless

This article discusses the criminalization of the homeless and the public support within NY for de Blasio to “crack down” on them. It further discusses how de Blasio called in NYPD commissioner Bratton to take the reigns on this movement to get rid of homeless encampments instead of offering aid to those who desperately need it. I think the journalist does an effective job of explaining how helping the homeless is better for society and how we should not condemn people for not having what we do, no matter how they got to the point they’re at. I think this is an important article because there is a very popular sentiment that the homeless are somehow bothersome and a burden rather than people we need to take care of and be accountable for. We often fail to see the humanity in people who are suffering and it has become acceptable to treat the homeless poorly, which is an idea that needs to be changed.

News 12: Mayor de Blasio Signs Law Defending Rent-Regulated Tenants

In this news coverage, News 12 discusses that Mayor de Blasio has signed into law that landlords can no longer harass tenants to move out of their apartments and must inform tenants that they have a right to stay in their apartment when making an offer to buy them out. This is extremely important news given huge rent increases across the city as well as the desperation many people face when they are kicked out of their apartment. Gentrification has long been regarded as a good thing with no consideration for how the people who were bought out of their apartments had to cope. This puts some power back into the common people.

AM New York: Almost $60M in Fed Money to Help Storm-Proof Subway

This article discusses how a federal grant has been issued to the NY MTA in order to make communication between subway stations more effective and much quicker. $60M is going towards better communication systems as well as storm proofing transit rooms with signals and adding drains to prepare if another major storm like Hurricane Sandy hits New York. I think this article was not very well reported because it lacked a lot of detail in where the funds are specifically coming from and how the renovations in the subways will affect transit users during the renovations. But this article is important because it is glaringly apparent that major reparations need to be made to the subway system and a better communication system that could make rides smoother and faster is one thing New Yorkers certainly cannot say no to.