Politics Archives

The National Cancer Act: What Did It Do?

When was the National Cancer Act signed into law? How far have we since come in our understanding of cancer pathology? In 1971, President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act, committing a total of $1.5 billion to cancer research over three years. However, the Act hardly helped us get any closer to curing cancer because it prioritized drug trials rather than developing our understanding of the biology underlying the disease. Keep reading to learn about the National Cancer Act.

Jim Crow: The Meaning Behind It & Modern Segregation

What is the meaning of Jim Crow? How is it affiliated with racial segregation in America? Jim Crow means a collection of segregation laws that were active around the post-Civil War era (the 1860s-70s) until 1968. Even after the efforts to abolish slavery and give Black people more power after the Civil War, the Jim Crow laws were formed to prevent Black people from having equal rights. Jim Crow laws don’t exist today, but their fundamental meaning is still a part of the systematic racism seen in contemporary America. Continue reading to learn more about the meaning of Jim Crow

The Rise of the Free-Market Economic System

What is the origin of the free market economy? Why do we place so much faith in markets? In his book What Money Can’t Buy, Michael Sandel traces the origins of the free-market economic system back to the 1980s. According to Sandel, we put so much faith in markets because we believe it’s the optimal way to distribute limited resources. Keep reading to learn about the rise of the free market.

Art as Social Commentary: The Power of a Painting

What makes art an effective form of social commentary? How has art been used to assert social status? Sometimes art reflects the views of the artist and those who buy the art. That can make art a rather powerful medium. According to John Berger, the author of Ways of Seeing, the way we see art has historically been manipulated by a privileged minority to preserve their social and economic dominance. Keep reading to learn Berger’s view on how art has been co-opted for social purposes.

Science Literacy: Why Stephen Hawking Said It’s Vital

What is science literacy? Why might the future of the human race depend on the next generation of scientists? Science literacy is the understanding and knowledge of science. Before he passed, Stephen Hawking wrote that the survival of the human species will depend on future scientists because he believed the only way humans will avoid extinction is by colonizing space. Here’s why science literacy is so important—and how politics get in the way.

Underdog Advantages: Win Even When You’re Small

Are you the underdog? Do you feel out-gunned by the competition, whether in business or in life? When you first start out on any conquest, chances are that your enemies will have more resources than you. However, this isn’t necessarily a problem. Robert Greene points out that smaller armies are more mobile and easier to conceal. And, if you don’t seem large enough to pose a significant threat, your opponents might simply ignore you. Read more to learn about underdog advantages.

Stephen Hawking: AI Might Become a Threat to Us

Why does Stephen Hawking consider artificial intelligence to be a form of life? How can humanity avoid a disaster like the one in I, Robot? According to Stephen Hawking, AI fulfills the two requirements to be considered living. Hawking warns that artificial intelligence may even become conscious one day, and if it does, it better be on the side of humanity rather than against it. Here’s more of what Hawking had to say about AI.