Can democracy survive when large segments of the population no longer have faith in it? And what happens if one of the two major political parties actively works to undermine that faith as a strategy to achieve their political goals? Is this where we now find ourselves? One of my favorite programs for news and […]
www.nytimes.com/2019/10/19/business/economy/workers-strike-economy.html
In our political system, deciding who you should vote for is pretty simple: 1) read the Platform for both major political parties, 2) consider whose priorities and policies you agree with most, and 3) vote for the candidates from that party. But few voters ever read the platforms. Instead they base their decisions on the […]
Here is a map of the 18 Congressional Districts in Illinois. The map is interactive so you can zoom in to find which district you live in. Bloomington/Normal is divided right in half by the 13th and 18th Districts but all of the ISU campus is located in the 18th Congressional District, currently represented by […]
Here is an episode from The Hidden Brain, of one of my favorite radio programs that uses social science and storytelling to explain the hidden patterns behind our behavior and beliefs (it’s also a podcast). In this segment the host explores the role unconscious racial bias might play in recent police shootings of unarmed black […]
One of the most valuable sources of news and analysis I’ve found in recent years is a program called “On The Media”. It’s a weekly show produced by WNYC, a public radio station in New York. The show offers insightful analysis of current events and critically examines how the media covers them. I learn something […]
Ever wonder why income inequality in the U.S. is so extreme? Here is one big reason why: This graphic compares the portion of income received by the richest 10% and the portion of the workforce who are union members. Note that those at the top earners take a larger share of the nation’s income when […]
Less than an hour before it began, I posted a last-minute announcement on Facebook to alert my local friends about a rally to support immigrant rights and religious freedom in opposition to Donald Trump’s recent orders. No big deal, right? Well, maybe it was. My announcement about this local rally in our medium-sized Midwestern town, […]
Today marks the 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 when 2,977 Americans lost their lives. As we pause to remember the tragic events of that day, and the senseless loss of life associated with it, now may be a good time to reflect on some of the losses suffered since then […]
On a recent trip to the grocery store my daughter spotted a colorful Kool-Aid display, strategically placed at the eye level of a five-year old. I generally resist her demands to buy everything she sees at the store but the product placement professionals are much better at this game than I am. In any case, […]