Understanding the Minimum Wage Debate
Introduction A minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay that employers may give their employees. Each U.S. State has the power to set its own minimum wage at or above the federal minimum of $7.25/hr. Minimum wages vary greatly from state to state, ranging from $7.25/hr to $17/hr. Typically, minimum wages will rise over time […]
Pros and Cons of Oregon’s Senate Bill 608 (Statewide Rent Control)
Background Oregon’s Senate Bill 608 passed in 2019 and established statewide rent regulation. The legislation includes a seven percent cap on rent increases (plus inflation) in a given year as well as specific tenant protections, such as limits on no-cause evictions. SB 608 is often described as “statewide rent control,” but the law resembles rent […]
Understanding the FTC’s Data Breach Response Plan
A data breach is defined as an incident with loss of control, compromise, or unauthorized disclosure/access of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). PII includes Social Security Numbers, financial accounts, license and passport numbers, credit card numbers, and personal address information. Losing control over PII increases the risk for identity theft and fraudulent activity. A data breach […]
Pros and Cons of US Aid to Afghanistan
Providing Aid Since 2002 After the attacks against the United States on September 11th, 2001, the U.S. launched a “war on terror,” a global counterterrorism campaign to combat al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, as well as to topple the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The United States invaded Afghanistan as a part of this campaign. In […]
Introduction to US-Ireland Relations
Source: CIA World Factbook Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle, is home to more than 5 million people and boasts a rich and distinct history. Once a British Empire colony, Ireland has been politically divided since 1921 into Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, an independent nation. The […]
Pros and Cons of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015
Background In February 2015, Anthem became the first major healthcare provider to experience a cyber attack when attackers stole 80 million records from Amerigroup and Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan users. In June 2015, hackers stole the personal information of over 20 million people from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which was the […]
US Response to France’s Diminishing Influence in Africa
Introduction Since its decolonization, France has held outsized influence in French-speaking (Francophone) African countries, cemented by its policy of Françafrique, which was designed to keep Francophone countries firmly within France’s sphere of influence. Through this policy, France was able to continue to protect and promote French interests in Francophone Africa. However, this sphere of influence […]
US Involvement in Central African Mining
Cobalt, originally seen as a simple byproduct of copper or nickel mining, has recently become a critical mineral due to its use in lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are lightweight and rechargeable, and are important features in portable technology and energy grids. Cobalt’s demand is on the rise as eco-friendly technology, made possible with rechargeable batteries, […]
Understanding the Government Face Surveillance Ban Debate
Background In modern society face recognition technology (FRT) is a part of many people’s daily lives. One common application of FRT that many are familiar with is using Face ID to unlock a smartphone. FRT captures unique facial measurements for each person, making it an important tool for confirming someone’s identity. In 1996, FRT gained […]
Understanding Banning Books in Schools and Public Libraries
Introduction Book banning occurs when an entity like a school, library, or government takes action to remove, censor, or block access to a book due to objections to its content. Throughout history, in the United States, book banning has been employed by such institutions as a means to prevent the spread of information that contradicts […]