The New York Times Editorial Staff
Student loans. Medical bills. Mortgages. The national deficit. Debt touches so many parts of American life, from the individual citizen to the United States as a whole. A complex issue, debt can be alternately beneficial, such as when building credit, or it can do irreparable damage to a person's credit score, housing prospects, lifestyle, and more. The articles collected in this volume trace the issues that affect students, consumers, corporate
...The contemporary definition of "political correctness" did not begin to enter the cultural consciousness of Americans until the 1980s. Allan Bloom's criticism of higher education in The Closing of the American Mind sparked a conflict that has been continually discussed, satirized, and rehashed. With the election of President Trump in 2016 came a reenergized attack on P.C. culture, and a new wave of cultural critique in film, television, comedy,
...One of the major issues occupying today's headlines is immigration, and especially, who should be allowed to come to the United States and who should be forced to leave through the process of deportation. Exploring this issue means not only looking at the experiences of immigrants, but also the repercussions of barring certain groups of people on the basis of religion or fear. From building a wall between Mexico and the United States, to the fate
...Who really killed JFK? Was 9/11 an inside job? Has anyone seen Obama's birth certificate? Conspiracy theories have been around for years, often surrounding the lives of political figures and national tragedies. In recent years, conspiracy theories have been moving from the fringes to the mainstream, receiving national attention from Alex Jones' Infowars, and President Donald Trump's embrace of far-right conspiracies. The articles in this book trace
...In October 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent journalist who was critical of the Saudi Arabian government, was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His was an extreme case of censorship: the act of suppressing people, platforms, and ideas that are contrary to the status quo. Why do governments, publications, and other entities censor information? Is motivation driven only by authoritarian power, or are there sometimes benefits to censorship,
...The digital world is omnipresent. The rise of the Internet, smartphones, video games, and dating apps have provided people with more information, entertainment, and communication than ever before. While technology continues to develop at breakneck speed, its results are not always positive. Addiction to the tech world has resulted in serious mental health problems, overuse injuries, privacy challenges, and worry on the part of parents and other
...To many Americans, the term big pharma evokes thoughts of greedy organizations that put profits ahead of people's health. It's difficult to put a price tag on drugs that improve or save lives. It's even harder to stomach the thought of being unable to afford medicines when we may need them most. With the price of pills reaching an all-time high, we are looking for justifications and turning to our government for solutions. The articles in this
...Shopping is a pastime ingrained in American life, from the annual Black Friday sales to the rise in prominence of big-box stores such as Target and Walmart. But as customers have shifted to using online merchants such as Amazon, businesses have had to fight to reach consumers. This collection features articles that address trends in consumer culture, explaining the psychology behind what we buy and the significance of consumer habits to the larger
...The temptation to enhance athletes' performance with substances is great when fame, money, and national pride are involved. From the early days of professional sports, both human and animal athletes have tried to improve their strength and endurance with a range of steroids, hormones, and other drugs. Antidoping regulations established by every conceivable sport seek to ensure fairness on the playing field. Yet deception occurs widely, whether
...Since the mid-nineteenth century, the main drivers of clandestine activity have been wars, crime, and international espionage. The need to obtain and pass along secret information exists so that one group can gain dominance over another, whether through victory in conflicts, seizure of land, or stealing money. Spies may be a constant, but so are the code breakers, those hardworking heroes who use their intelligence and drive to overcome whatever
...In August of 2017, a group of torch-bearing white nationalists marched in Charlottesville, Virginia as part of the "Unite the Right" rally. Confronted by hundreds of counter-protesters, the gathering soon turned violent, resulting in the death of a young woman. The Charlottesville riots vaulted the presence of white nationalists to national attention. However, the white nationalist movement has been a growing force in American culture for decades.
...What is the role of police in the United States? From their presence in individual communities, to their efforts to maintain order and curb crime, American police forces face the challenges of public scrutiny and government support. Today, those challenges extend to questions surrounding the technology police use for law enforcement purposes, from databases to drones. The urgent issues of racial profiling, police misconduct, and brutality underscore
...Hunting is one of America's oldest pastimes, considered a part of American identity and a way of connecting with the natural world. The practice is also connected to a range of other issues, including wildlife conservation, indigenous rights, animal welfare, and gun violence. This collection of articles showcases the ample contributions of sportsmanship to American life, while also exploring the sometimes destructive role it can play. As attitudes
...Many factors can affect who is able to cast a ballot on Election Day, including what kind of identification a voter needs, how many polling places are open, and any illegal attempts to suppress turnout among certain demographics. The articles in this volume examine how voter suppression has become a hotly contested issue, with many Democrats arguing that restrictive policies disproportionally affect communities such as black voters, students, and
...Due to their affordability, versatility, and relatively easy production, plastics are used in a variety of products of all different scales, from household goods to computers to airplanes. Advancements in chemical technology following World War I catalyzed innovations in the industry, with mass production beginning in the 1940s. Since the earliest days of production, environmentalists have questioned the sustainability of plastic, and voiced the
...In a world where temperatures fluctuate and extreme weather has become commonplace, several populations have already found themselves unable to survive in their homeland. Droughts, flooding, and crop failures have caused famine, while extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes have destroyed homes and, at times, whole villages. The articles in this collection examine the phenomenon of climate refugees, including the reasons they must
...Many popular social media websites and apps have one thing in common: celebrities looking to be worshipped. These social influencers come from all walks of life, and cater to young demographics with content including comedy routines, make-up advice, product reviews, and music videos. Watched by millions of viewers worldwide, they create diversion, provide commentary, endorse brands, and sometimes inspire the wrath of governments. With the aid of
...The subject of identity politics has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. In this collection of topical articles, readers will become familiar with a wide range of opinions and news concerning individual and group identities that form around race, sexual orientation, gender, political party affiliation, and more. The political usefulness of certain identities is explored, with a particular focus on the 2016 presidential election and the
...The debate over the ethics of assisted suicide has raged for the better part of a century. From Dr. Jack Kevorkian's controversial practices to international euthanasia laws, there is nothing easy about the decision to end a life. The articles in this book speak to the legal battles, the historical context, and the personal stories that shed light on the various perspectives and conflicts that go into understanding the current state and future
...The rise of social media has significantly altered the landscape of governance and political participation. Social media platforms have become venues for politicians to interact directly with the public, and for the public to respond with their own perspectives on the news. The highly participatory nature of social media, however, means it can also be an unreliable news source, rapidly spreading disinformation or hate speech. Users are often selective
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