Political Reading Recap: Navigating the Currents of Change
Exploring Basic Income, Crime Prevention, and Foreign Policy News
Hello readers new & old,
This edition of the Political Reading Recap distills a selection of 14 articles into a potent mix of knowledge, spanning the critical spheres of “Basic Income,” “Crime Prevention,” and “Foreign Policy.”
After reading, make sure you also answer 3 poll questions at the end related to today’s 3 sections. Finally, please also send me your questions in the comments section and I’ll answer them in future newsletters.
Basic Income
We venture into the heart of societal transformation, where the promise of basic income emerges as a potential panacea for homelessness and economic disparity. From the bustling streets of Los Angeles, where a bold initiative proposes monthly payments of $1,000 to lift thousands from the streets, to the windy city of Chicago, which is relaunching its guaranteed basic income program, we explore the multifaceted impact of this financial lifeline. Our journey extends to the broader landscape of the United States, where various states and cities pilot their versions of basic income, challenging us to consider the intricate dance between economic policy and social welfare. We’ll also ponder the implications of funding such programs through land value taxes, as suggested by some economists, and scrutinize the results of Texas’s foray into universal basic income. The discourse is enriched with insights from the University of Waterloo and the New England Journal of Medicine, which liken money to medicine. As we witness Seattle’s pilot program doubling employment rates, the narrative of basic income shifts from theoretical to actionable.
Monthly payments of $1,000 could get thousands of homeless people off the streets, researchers say
Chicago will relaunch a guaranteed basic income program
A UBI in the United States May Necessitate Land Value Taxes
How no-strings-attached cash impacted San Antonio families
Unlocking human potential through a universal basic income
Money as Medicine – New England Journal of Medicine
Is a National Guaranteed Income on the Horizon?
Seattle Pilot doubles employment rates
Crime Prevention
Our focus then shifts to the urban tapestry of Baltimore, where the mayor’s comprehensive violence prevention plan heralds a decrease in crimes, offering a blueprint for urban safety. We delve into the data-driven analysis provided by Pew Research, dissecting the statistics that paint a picture of crime in the U.S. and the efficacy of policy interventions. Further, we examine how paid family leave policies, as researched by Michigan State University, contribute to the prevention of child abuse, adding a new dimension to our understanding of crime prevention.
What the data says about crime in the U.S.
New MSU research finds paid family leave helps prevent child abuse
Baltimore mayor touts Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan for decrease in crimes
Foreign Policy
In foreign policy, we gauge the pulse of American sentiment through a Pew Research study that outlines the nation’s top priorities on the international stage. We also turn to the United Nations, where negotiations over plastic waste reflect the intricate interplay between environmental stewardship and global diplomacy.
What to know about the pivotal UN plastics negotiations