On May 28, the Senate failed to pass bipartisan legislation that would have established an independent inquiry into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Partisan disputes have flared over the controversial vote and reignited contestations of how best to respond to the ever-growing threat of domestic terrorism.
100 days after Biden has assumed command in the Oval Office, the youth of the United States respond to his policies with approval and guarded optimism, while also making clear they want to see more progress on a number of issues central to their agenda.
Massachusetts’ most contentious natural gas compressor station continues to draw scrutiny over alleged violations of environmental justice — from community groups, elected officials, and now the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which may have the authority to pull the plug on the project once and for all.
Young people have been some of the most vocal skeptics of the role digital and social media platforms play in America’s political system. Through an analysis of the Spring 2021 Harvard Youth Poll, the HPR sought to better understand the role that young Americans envision for Big Tech companies in American politics.
The most straightforward and momentous step we could take toward solving the problems of American democracy is to lower the voting age to 16, beginning with local elections. This would revolutionize our political culture in the United States, politically empowering future generations of Americans and elevating our civil discourse.
The climate moonshots of this past week will only be feasible if the public sector’s primary decision-makers have the literacy to think about the underlying problems relatively scientifically — understanding the long-term impact, recognizing the value of technological innovation to solve specific problems, and mobilizing to enable the systems-wide approach necessary to prepare and respond for any issue of such a magnitude.
It is now up to members of Congress to reject complacency, reach across party lines, and fully acknowledge the urgency of climate reform for the American people, particularly those most marginalized.
As campaign costs spiral out of control, our politicians become more and more dependent on wealthy donors and corporations. This undermines the spirit of democracy, as elected officials become beholden to their biggest contributors instead of their constituents. Getting “big money” out of politics is therefore essential for democracy in the United States to be truly representative.
We often joke that the government’s solution to any given problem is to simply throw money at the issue and call it a day. However, when it comes to extreme poverty, homelessness, and lack of social mobility, investing directly in the American people is the best course of action.
