
Time for universal single-payer healthcare
Today, in the United States, 28 million people are uninsured. That’s a very high number, especially for a developed nation. However, congressional and Senate Republicans seem intent on making that number increase. Most recently, the new bill that was proposed in the Senate, and is yet to be voted on, is expected to increase the number of uninsured by 22 million. That’s according to the … Continue reading Time for universal single-payer healthcare
How tech is changing democracy
According to surveys, nearly a fifth of voters were undecided prior to the 2016 presidential election, more than twice the amount 4 years before. As the workings of our democracy are slowly being changed by “alternative facts” and “fake news” accusations, trust is eroding in our nation’s institutions. Populism and nationalism are on the rise, consider Brexit and Donald Trump’s election. But our societies are … Continue reading How tech is changing democracy

All hope for the environment is not lost after Paris
The headline of a German newspaper last week read, “Earth to Trump: F**k you.” The paper is, of course, referring to Trump’s decision to unilaterally exit the Paris climate agreement, considered a milestone in global cooperation in combating global warming and pollution, and join the ranks of countries like Syria and Nicaragua, who are not part of the agreement. The move has become extremely controversial, … Continue reading All hope for the environment is not lost after Paris

What would you do if you were given free money? Meet universal basic income
“Good news. You have just received $1000.” What would you do if you got an envelope like that every month? This is Universal basic income Continue reading What would you do if you were given free money? Meet universal basic income
Can Paris succeed in reuniting itself?
Paris. A romantic city of grand boulevards, of tree-lined plazas filled with cafés and bistros. A city of beauty, a city of love, a city of light. The grand 19th century buildings shining with glamour, gorgeous cathedrals gazing down on you. But aside from this, there is another Paris. A poorer one, more everyday. There are highways, jammed with pollution-spewing cars. One that is not … Continue reading Can Paris succeed in reuniting itself?

Smart vs Smarter: How tech is changing the way our cities work
All of a sudden, someone calls 9-1-1 with a medical emergency. The nearest ambulance dispatcher is notified automatically, and within seconds, an ambulance is on the road. Due to the new smart traffic lights, the light turns green when the ambulance gets to the intersection, making the journey faster and safer, potentially saving lives. Just 2 minutes after the 9-1-1 call first came in, paramedics … Continue reading Smart vs Smarter: How tech is changing the way our cities work
Poem of the Month: Keep me from being free
Don’t be a moaner. Don’t be a groaner, or so they say Be grateful for what you have That’s what they say I’m tired of what they have to say To whisper us lies They work us all day and night long The stars shining The crickets chirping The flowers blooming Still, we plow the fields We mow the lawns We pick the corn … Continue reading Poem of the Month: Keep me from being free
Ghost cities: Why China is building a metropolis in the middle of nowhere
Welcome to Xiongan, a bustling global metropolis, three times the size of New York. A powerful and influencial city worldwide, the center is located about 100 miles from Beijing, the historic capital of China. Oh, wait. Hardly anyone lives there yet. This place is all but a fantasy, at least now. Home to a few rural villages and farms, China’s government plans to build a … Continue reading Ghost cities: Why China is building a metropolis in the middle of nowhere

Cleaning up the ocean…
A Dutch teen has an ambitious plan to rid the oceans of garbage.. Continue reading Cleaning up the ocean…
The Question: Why is Vermont so blue?
Vermont is sort of the last place you’d expect to be a liberal stronghold. Mainly white and rural, those aren’t the kind of places Democrats tend to win. Yet all but one county in Vermont voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential elections. One of its senators is Democratic, and the other- Bernie Sanders- caucuses with the Democrats. To make matters even stranger, Vermont … Continue reading The Question: Why is Vermont so blue?