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The Lesson of Afghanistan
Brief #132 – Foreign Policy
By Brandon Mooney
With the U.S. military officially pulling out of Afghanistan, an almost 20-year conflict and the longest war in American history comes to an end, alongside a mandate from all those whose lives were lost and impacted to reflect upon what the war and its legacy meant.
A Guide to Air Travel in the Era of Covid
Brief #134 – Health & Gender Policy
By S Bhimji
Ever since the Covid pandemic started in early Jan 2020, airlines had lowered airfares, removed many of the cumbersome fees, and even started to provide snacks for economy passengers. And better still, the planes were less than 20% full, and often passengers had the entire row of seats to themselves. Cheap airfares across the country were readily available 24/7.
Supreme Court Inadvertently Supports Vigilante Justice In Texas Abortion Law Case
Brief #174 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay
On September 1, 2021 the United States Supreme Court issued its order in the case Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson. The case began on July 13, 2021 when a lawsuit was filed in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Texas. The case was brought on behalf of a number of abortion providers in the State of Texas. The plaintiffs were seeking to prevent enforcement of Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB 8) before it took effect on September 1, 2021.
The Frontlines of Gun Rights— Missouri’s “Second Amendment Preservation Act”
Brief #27 – Social Justice
By Erika Shannon
It is no secret that here in the United States, there is an invisible line dividing those who are in favor of more gun laws, and those who are opposed. Those who are opposed to gun reform and gun laws are usually staunch supporters of the Second Amendment (the right of citizens to keep and bear arms.”). Certain states feel that gun ownership outranks the safety of their citizens, and one of those states just so happens to be Missouri. This year, Missouri passed their “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” which essentially nullifies any federal gun laws. While the passage of such a law is no shock coming from a conservative state like Missouri, some of the implications behind the law are skirting on dangerous.
How Much Should You Walk for Good Health?
Brief #133 – Health and Gender Policy
By S. Bhimji
There is no question that walking is a good form of exercise. Not only is it free but it is safe. But how much walking is adequate for good health? Talk to ten fitness experts and one will most likely get 50 different answers. Today there are all types of gadgets that can monitor the number of steps you walk and the time it takes. Exercise fanatics have been tracking their steps for decades but a definitive daily goal has never been stated based on scientific evidence.
Why Universal Pre-K is So Important
Brief #59 – Education Policy
By Lynn Waldsmith
The evidence is overwhelming that children who attend preschool not only dramatically improve the quality of their own lives but the welfare of their communities. Yet, far too many kids aren’t able to attend because their parents simply can’t afford it. President Biden is hoping to change that by making universal pre-K a reality, if Congress passes the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan.
Monitoring of Virtual Workers: Is it Legal?
Brief #132 – Health & Gender Policy
By S. Bhimji
Because the Covid pandemic has not ended, millions of Americans still continue to work from home. And in many cases, their companies are supplying the computers and even paying for the home internet costs. But employees should not feel elated or special; the reason companies are providing the latest PCs to employees for virtual work from home is because they can be monitored.
Introducing A Fossil Fuel State’s Carbon-Pricing Plan
Brief #130 – Environment Policy
By Katelyn Lewis
Pennsylvania’s carbon-pricing plan cleared its final regulatory hurdle on September 1, making the Keystone State the first major fossil fuel state to adopt a cap-and-trade policy.
Reducing Persistent Child Poverty
Brief #124 – Economic Policy
By Rosalind Gottfried
Child poverty persists in the US at a much greater rate than in other comparable countries. Among the countries in The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the US is on a par with Mexico, Chile, Turkey, and Spain on the low end of expenditures to combat child poerty. In contrast, Finland, Denmark, Poland and Spain evidence the highest spending. In spite of having the highest GDP of any country, and one of the highest per capita incomes, the US spends 1% of its GDP on family benefits in contrast to the 3.5% spent by France. As a result, 14.4% of the country’s children live in poverty. This translates into 1 in 4 Black children; 1 in 5 Hispanic children; and one in 12 non-Hispanic white children.
The Unemployment Disconnect in California
Brief # 120 – Economic Policy
The Unemployment Disconnect in California
By Patrick Dwire
June 16, 2021
Policy Summary
It’s not so much about unemployment benefits. It’s about women, health care, child care and home schooling.
As restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues begin to open up in California as the state officially re-opens with virtually no Covid restrictions, many of these employers are having trouble finding workers. Low-income workers are getting blamed for not jumping at these job openings, which seems to lead many Republican policy makers immediately to the conclusion that unemployment benefits must be too generous. This quickly reached conclusion is both an insult to these workers, who are mostly women, as well as narrow-minded and misinformed as to what these workers may need before they are ready to go back to work full-time.
The lack of enthusiasm by former waitresses and waiters, hotel room cleaners and hospitality workers to jump back into their previous, relatively insecure minimum wage jobs begs the question as to what many of these workers may have been doing over the last year in terms of re-training, on-line education, and re-networking other job opportunities.
California’s economy-wide “stay-at-home” shut-down order came on March 16, 2020. The total number of jobs lost to Californians beginning in March and April of last year has been estimated at 2.7 million jobs. The California state agency for unemployment insurance, the Employment Development Department (EDD) recently reported that as of May 22, 2021, the state regained 1.3 million of those jobs, or 48 per cent of the total number of jobs lost since last March.
Here’s the disconnect. How is it there’s only about half of the total number of jobs currently back at work in California than there were at the beginning of May, 2020, but the “official” unemployment rate is only 8.4 per cent? Why wouldn’t the unemployment rate be closer to 50 percent, considering that’s roughly the number of jobs that continue to be “lost” to the pandemic?
Analysis
The answer is, of course, the way “official” unemployment is measured- counting only those who certify they are, in fact, unemployed and looking for work. Considering only about half the number of jobs have been “restored” since the pandemic shutdown last March, and in light of 8.4 percent of the workforce actively applying for or receiving unemployment benefits, where did the remainder of those working a year ago, roughly 42 per cent or so of the 2019 workforce, go?
Did they find work, maybe part-time or off-the-books or otherwise get busy with some “independent contractor gig”? Or did they become part-time, unpaid substitute teachers and in-home health care providers for their children, partners or parents? Or did they simply stop looking for work entirely, becoming a member of a large and growing but difficult to define cohort referred to as “the discouraged workforce.”
With most day care centers still shuttered and many schools closed for the summer, it remains the case (and is slowly getting documented) that women took the brunt of child care and home schooling responsibilities at the expense of their own jobs and careers throughout the pandemic. It’s becoming increasingly clear that many women had to leave the workforce to provide the critically needed “bridges” across the wide gaps in social services that were ripped open by the pandemic – gaps that stretched across health care, child care and education systems. If not for this unpaid service, done mostly by women who left their regular jobs to provide it to their own and often their extended families, the toll of the pandemic would have been so much worse.
Shortage of child care and many kids still learning at home is acknowledged by the Biden administration as a primary reason millions of women left the workforce, and this will continue to be a major obstacle to economic recovery. This has been emphasized by Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, who stresses the importance of the president’s proposed American Families Plan that includes $225 billion for child care. “We need to make sure if we’re going to have a strong recovery — a strong, equitable recovery — we need to get women back into the workforce,” Walsh said.
This blurring of the lines between work and home, along with spikes in business-to-business e-commerce and on-line shopping are likely to continue as the economy rebuilds. While this work-from-your home-based computer economy seems to be working out okay for relatively well educated, highly skilled workers in essentially information/ computer-based analytic work, it only seems to be working out for about half the workforce. And it seems to favor men.
According to the Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California recently released by Mount Saint Mary University’, a solid majority of men, 57%, reported working from home had a positive impact on their career, compared to less than a third, 29%, of women. Just over a third of male parents, 34%, said they received a promotion over the course of the pandemic, compared to 9% of female parents.
As minimum-wage customer service jobs begin opening up again, perhaps a key lesson of the pandemic for many women is not to settle for the insecurity, the lack of benefits and the lack of career opportunity that characterized the jobs they were laid off from at the beginning of the pandemic. And as long as child care remains prohibitively expensive or aging adults continue to need care, or until they can finish some on-line educational training or certification- it may well be that it just doesn’t pay to go back to work. Rather than simply cut unemployment benefits, more enlightened employers and state policy makers will do well to find out what workers want and need before they return to work.
Engagement Resources
American Families Plan: NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/04/28/991357190/white-house-proposes-massive-spending-on-children-and-families
National Women’s Law Center: https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/December-Jobs-Day.pdf
NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/28/928253674/stuck-at-home-moms-the-pandemics-devastating-toll-on-women
Women in the Workplace Report/ Lean In and McKinsey & Company: https://womenintheworkplace.com/
Drought and Plans to Deal with Running Dry
Brief # 116 – Environmental Policy
Drought and Plans to Deal with Running Dry
By Todd J. Broadman
June 15, 2021
Policy Summary
A prolonged period with little or no precipitation combined with an extended period of abnormally high temperatures has created “extreme” drought conditions in much of the western half of the U. S. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has placed 41 counties under a state of drought emergency. In some areas of Oregon and California, scientists conclude the drought is the most severe it has been in centuries. In California, about 40 percent of all water use is agricultural, and in the Central Valley nearly 85 percent of all employment and revenues are from growing fruits, nuts and vegetables grown with irrigated water.
Much of the West depends upon water stored in reservoirs for agricultural and residential use. The largest reservoir in the U. S. is Lake Mead which was formed by the Hoover Dam built in the 1930s. The lake’s waters supply vast tracts of irrigated farm land along with 25 million people – including residents of Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas. The water level in the lake has dropped to its lowest level ever: 1,072 feet above sea level. Overall, the reservoir has fallen 140 feet in the past 21 years.
The reservoirs are in turn fed by watersheds and mountain snowpacks. The trend we are witnessing is less snowpack and earlier melting due to increased temperatures. The extremely dry soils contribute as well by requiring more water to saturate them. The water supply sustaining southern California comes primarily from the Colorado River and the Northern California Sierra Nevada mountain range.
The effects of the drought conditions extend well beyond human needs for water. Fish populations are being devastated. A noteworthy example are juvenile Klamath River salmon that are dying of parasitic infections because of a lack of river flow downstream from dams. A senior water policy analyst with the Yurok Tribe in northern California, Michael Belchik, said “We are starting to talk about the ‘extinction’ word around here.” In an effort to save the species, over 140 trucks have been deployed to transport over 17,000,000 fish between 50 to 100 miles to their destination.
The extended drought is a major contributor to the killing of millions of trees as well. Drought weakens trees and when attacked by insects, particularly the Bark beetle, the stressed trees often succumb. In 2019, over 15 million trees died; in 2016 over 62 million trees died, the most devastating year on record. Drought is a clear sign and contributor to an out of balance biosphere. Drought creates ideal conditions for wildfires.
In a plea to President Biden for additional funding, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) joined Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden (both D-Ore.), wrote to “provide relief to states that are struggling with the impact of extreme drought and wildfire this summer and uncompensated damage from past wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and storms.” On the heels of the unprecedented scale of the 2020 wildfires, 2021 may be even more destructive.
Alongside and adding to the country’s drought woes is a looming water infrastructure disaster; decades of neglect has exposed millions of Americans to water unsafe to use, untreated sewage, and bills that pay for water that never gets to its destination due to fractured pipes. Sponsored by Bernie Sanders, The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability (Water) Act, would allocate $38 billion to safeguard the increasingly sparse water that still flows through municipal pipes.
In what has become a confrontational decision, the federal Bureau of Reclamation announced that there would be no further release of water from the reserves in Oregon’s Klamath Basin for farmers downstream. With the severity of the water shortfall, the Bureau was obligated by law to channel the water to the Klamath river to assist salmon hatchlings – a species protected for Native American tribal groups, the Yurok tribe in particular. The decision sparked a militant response from a group of farmers and their supporters.
Analysis
Along with its vegetables, fruits, and nuts, California’s dairy production is the largest in the country and employs over 400,000 full-time and contract laborers. The drought will impact more than the raw supply of produce coming from the Central Valley and resulting grocery store prices; the entire economic supply chain is impacted. In the Klamath region to the north, lakes and marshland had been drained to create a vast farming economy based on growing alfalfa for dairy cows and potatoes for industrial food manufacturers (Frito-Lay chips).
While there are those like Gail Snyder, founder of Coalition for the Deschutes, who insist that “We need a cultural paradigm shift that leads to better stewardship by all of us,” there are militant groups led by Ammon Bundy and others who favor armed takeover of water resources under the banner of protecting their American rights.
In line with Bundy, members of the People’s Rights Network have pitched a large tent next to the headgates of the main canal on a Klamath river dam; they have openly disclosed their plan to “restore the flow of water, even at the price of a confrontation with the federal government.” As drought continues, water wars like this will erupt on an even larger scale. For them, the only endangered species are Americans and their rights, not the environment.
The state of Utah is also under a water emergency. Their new public relations push is #SlowThe Flow! and “survival watering” – to counter water-hungry lush landscapes. They are educating the public that grass, even if it appears dead, is resilient and can survive with as little as 1″ of water a month.
Engagement Resources
https://crsreports.congress.gov/ works exclusively for Congress, providing timely, objective, and authoritative research and analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate.
https://www.ducks.org/ is the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation.
https://www.opb.org/ Oregon Public Broadcasting.
http://redgreenandblue.org/ brings together progressive and conservative voices in favor of clean energy and climate change action.
A Preview of the Biden–Putin Summit
Brief # 116 – Foreign Policy
A Preview of the Biden–Putin Summit
By Abran C
June 15, 2021
Policy Summary
Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are having their first meeting on June 16 in Geneva, Switzerland. The two have a history that goes back a decade, their first meeting was in 2011 when Biden was the U.S. vice president and Putin Russia’s prime minister. They now sit as the head of their nuclear-armed states and are scheduled to meet in Biden’s first overseas trip since taking office and after the first face-to-face meetings between the leaders of the G7, which now excludes Russia.
President Biden has promised to strongly address the many grievances of the U.S. and NATO allies with Putin at the meeting. There are grievances with Russia that stretch from spreading false information online, to hacking U.S. institutions and companies and the potential of war with Ukraine. There are numerous issues for Biden to address, none of which will be easy to resolve.
> Russian Hackings
There have been multiple cyberattacks and cybersecurity breaches at US government agencies and private sector organizations. Most of the attacks are thought to be linked to criminal hacker organizations based in Russia. The most recent attack targeted JBS the world’s largest meatpacking company; this attack caused meat production facilities in both the U.S. and Australia to shut down damaging supply chains. A month prior saw an attack on Colonial Pipeline, the largest fuel pipeline in the United States, which caused a temporary shortage in fuel but widespread panic for fear of long-term scarcity, demonstrating the dangers of hacking supply chain companies. The largest cyberattack has been the now infamous SolarWinds incident in which hackers could spy on private companies and government agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and the Treasury Department by accessing software provided by the US company SolarWinds. Federal investigators and cybersecurity experts claim that Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR, was likely responsible for the attack. The attacks highlighted weaknesses in U.S. cyber networks and the dangers of Russia’s hacking capabilities.
> Election interference
Though it was a contested claim at the time U.S. intelligence agencies and a bipartisan senate report released in 2020 detail how the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election favoring the presidency of Donald Trump over his rival Hillary Clinton. The Russian interference sought to stoke tensions and divide the voter base through spreading misinformation that encouraged divisive positions on thousands of fake social media accounts. They also succeeded in stealing emails from the DNC (Democratic National convention) and the Clinton campaign which were then released on WikiLeaks. The Russians took similar actions during the 2020 presidential election; the Russian IRA (Internet Research Agency) used fake social media accounts, impersonating Americans, and official campaigns on both sides to sway public opinion in support of Trump.
> Conflict in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine
In March 2014 Russian special forces occupied Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, Russia claimed to have been protecting Crimea’s access to the Black Sea. The attack came as a response to the overthrow of Putin’s ally Viktor Yanukovych by a Ukrainian electorate seeking closer ties to the EU. Russia also has been supporting pro-Russia militia in Eastern Ukraine who are seeking to susceed. The conflict in this region has gone on for almost a decade and ahs result in the loss of over 13,000 lives
> Poisoning of Alexei Navalny
Putin has a history of aggressively going after his opponents, the greatest threat to his power domestically, Alexei Navalny, who has held anti-Kremlin demonstrations and leads the opposition movement to Putin’s rule, was poisoned in August 2020. Navalny was taken to Germany for emergency medical treatment. After waking up from a coma he returned to Russia only to be detained and sentenced to prison. Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok, the same poison used on Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military officer now residing in the U.K. .
Analysis
Back in March when asked if he thought Putin was a killer President Biden responded with “I believe he is.” He recently walked back from his earlier comments instead saying Putin is “bright, tough,.. and a worthy adversary”. Both Biden and Putin have acknowledged that relations between the two nations are at a low point. It is unlikely the upcoming meeting will lead to any short or intermediate-term changes. Putin has proved a challenge for multiple U.S. presidents and has not let international pressure or sanctions hinder his ambitions.
Biden has assured the American public a robust response to Putin and has attempted to renew faith in the U.S. to our allies. He has reaffirmed his commitment to NATO after years of former President Trump being at odds with the NATO member states, even calling the alliance obsolete. In meeting with European leaders before he meets with Putin, President Biden has taken a step in the right direction when compared to his predecessor who took Putin at his word. In meetings with other leaders concerned about Russia, he is attempting to present a unified voice with the U.S. at the helm after four years of isolationism. Biden’s long experience in foreign affairs and relationship with Putin will need to come into play during this first meeting that will surely set the tone of relations with Russia for the rest of his presidency.
Engagement Resources
NBC News, Biden agrees U.S.- Russian relations are at a “low point” ahead of meeting with Putin,
Businessinsider, The US is readying sanctions against Russia over the SolarWinds cyber-attack..,
https://www.businessinsider.com/solarwinds-hack-explained-government-agencies-cyber-security-2020-12
Department of Homeland Security Sets Sights on Domestic Extremism Online
Brief # 17 – Social Justice
Department of Homeland Security Sets Sights on Domestic Extremism Online
By Erika Shannon
June 15, 2021
Policy Summary
The rise of the use of social media has also led to a rise in crimes that can be tied back to social media. We have seen murders on Facebook Live, events for extremist groups to gather and spread propaganda, as well as events planned such as the Capitol riots on January 6th, where lives were lost. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is aiming to fight domestic extremism and terrorism online with a new Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, or “CP3.” In a May 11th press release, they announced CP3 would replace the Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention. The new branch lies with the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and will attempt to develop the expertise that is needed to produce sound, timely intelligence to combat threats posed by domestic terrorism, as well as targeted violence. They will be working alongside state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners in order to increase information sharing to mitigate threats.
Analysis
The need for law enforcement to keep an eye on social media for threats of violence is nothing new; throughout the years, we have seen many acts of violence linked back to social media. Last year, we saw Facebook used in the planning of the botched kidnapping of Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer. It is alleged that the group behind the plan used Facebook Messenger to discuss details regarding the kidnapping. The group, known as the Wolverine Watchmen, also used Facebook to recruit new members into their right-wing movement. This past election season, Facebook and Twitter were used to spread the “Stop the Steal” movement that eventually led to the January 6th Capitol riots. The far-right movement was able to recruit members, create groups, and plan the attacks via social media. While Facebook did make an attempt to ban any “Stop the Steal” groups after the Capitol riots, they were only partially successful, as the groups continued to pop up with different names.
There is hope that the DHS’s new Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships will be able to thwart future acts of domestic terrorism; however, there is always the question of whether or not our right to free speech and our privacy will be protected online. What many people don’t know is that law enforcement officers are legally able to examine, without warrants, what people say publicly on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. The new DHS plan to fight domestic terrorism is not expanding on the collecting of our personal information online. Their goal, rather, is to use social media for tips and leads, and to analyze trends. DHS will hopefully be able to monitor when there is a lot of talk of inciting violence on social media, and prevent that violence before it occurs.
While this appears to be a step in the right direction for our national security, there is always the possibility that domestic terrorists find ways to communicate around the watchful eye of law enforcement on social media. There has already been groups finding ways around Facebook’s ban of certain right-wing groups, and there are certainly other ways to plan events without being caught. There is hope that DHS will be able to gather the intelligence necessary to prevent future domestic terrorist attacks from being planned on social media. Only time will tell if the new CP3 will be successful in their efforts to combat threats to our country posed by extremist groups on places like Facebook and Twitter.
Engagement Resources
- To read the DHS press release on their new plan, click here.
- For more information on the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, click here.
How the Biden Administration is Helping Africa Address COVID-19
Brief # 116 – Foreign Policy
How the Biden Administration is Helping Africa Address COVID-19
By Avery Roe
June 10, 2021
Policy Summary
Following the Trump Administration’s policy towards Africa which was largely characterized with expletives and apathy, the Biden Administration has significant room for improvement and a renewed relationship with the entire continent, especially in the context of the continued COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination process.
As Africa reaches a third wave of COVID-19 there is a renewed urgency to find ways to get vaccines to the continent. On December 3, 2020, the director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a 60 percent vaccination target. As of June 3, they are averaging one dose per 100 people, compared to a global average of 23 doses per 100 people.
As the United States develops a vaccine surplus and The Biden administration seeks to re-invest in its relationship with Africa there has been a push for the United States to donate its surplus vaccines to African countries. The White House has already committed to donating 5 million doses to Africa as part of a larger commitment of donations to countries around the world. Last week, The administration also committed to purchasing and donating half a billion vaccines, though the exact details of where they are going are still unclear.
China is also working to become a prominent vaccine donor. While they have been unable to donate up to this point; President Xi Jinping and the chairman of SinoPharm, the manufacturer of the leading Chinese vaccine, have both spoken on China’s willingness to provide vaccines to African countries for low prices.
Analysis
While it does not take much to improve over the Africa policy of the previous administration, The Biden Administration has made significant strides, especially in the past few days. There is undoubtedly still room for improvement, as many have pointed out. The Biden Administration needs to step up to help stop COVID-19 with bigger donations. It is unclear why the Biden Administration has not committed further, though it may have something to do with negotiations with vaccine companies.
While President Biden has said that these vaccines are not coming with strings attached, that they are solely to save lives, there is also a benefit of improved relations with African countries and the rest of the world. These donations will hopefully go a long way in establishing goodwill and more positive foreign relations for the United States. They will also address Chinese opportunities for influence.
The donation of vaccines will help the United States re-enter the international community after losing significant influence under the previous administration. Not only is vaccine donation a charitable and helpful way to use the surplus that the United States has developed, but vaccines can also be a great tool to build relationships and influence in the region.
One thing that has been overlooked in the discussion of COVID-19 relief is the donation of tests. While the United States struggled early in the pandemic with testing availability, there is now a surplus of tests around the country. Africa is generally lagging in testing availability. Uganda, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and South Sudan are especially behind. If for whatever reason the United States is unable to donate vaccines, donating tests would be a very helpful alternative. Testing has proven crucial to implementing quarantine procedures and understanding the spread of the disease all over the world.
Overall, the commitment that the United States has made is incredible and has the potential to save many lives and work to repair relations with Africa. As the administration continues to make donation pledges it will be interesting to watch the follow-through and how the pledges can continue. Ideally, The Biden Administration will continue to donate many vaccines to African countries which will not only help to curb COVID-19, but also improve American-African relations.
Engagement Resources
- https://www.gavi.org/covax-facility- COVAX is the worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 through which the United States is making most of its donations.
- https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus-covid-19- The WHO’s Regional Office for Africa has all of the most up-to-date news on COVID-19 in Africa.
VP Kamala Harris Advises Migrants not to Come to the US in First Trip Abroad to Guatemala and Mexico
Immigration Policy Brief #125
VP Kamala Harris Advises Migrants not to Come to the US in First Trip Abroad to Guatemala and Mexico
By Kathryn Baron
June 11, 2021
Policy Summary
Earlier this week, Vice President Kamala Harris took her first trip abroad in her new position, to Guatemala and Mexico. She announced the launch of an anti-corruption task force to be established for training law enforcement, aiding prosecutors, and targeting transnational crime in Guatemala; a young women’s empowerment initiative; the promise of $130 million in aid for the remainder of Biden’s term; and lastly, that the US would donate 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses. The US will deploy homeland security officers to Guatemala’s northern and southern border to train local officials.
In Mexico, Harris promised $130 million in technical assistance and cooperation over the next 3 years to fund programs intended to bolster labor legislation that will better support workers and working conditions, while simultaneously addressing forced and child labor. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas is scheduled to visit Mexico June 14 to begin discussing with the Mexican government how to approach lifting pandemic-related curbs on the shared border.
Analysis
However, the most jarring takeaway from this trip was Harris’s unmistakable message telling potential migrants, “don’t come,” in her final remarks as they will likely be turned away. Many democrats, activists, and other decision-makers are calling it a major disappointment and a move that lacked humanity and compassion. Such a statement is portrayed as greatly contradicting the Biden campaign vision and commitments it made to the American people and sounds too similar to the Trump-era stance on immigration.
Engagement Resources
- The National Immigration Law Center: an organization that exclusively dedicates itself to defending and furthering the rights of low income immigrants and strives to educate decision makers on the impacts and effects of their policies on this overlooked part of the population.
- The ACLU: a non-profit with a longstanding commitment to preserving and protecting the individual rights and liberties the Constitution and US laws guarantee all its citizens. You can also donate monthly to counter Trump’s attacks on people’s rights. Recently, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit challenging the separation of families at the border.
- Center for Disease Control: the CDC provides updated information surrounding COVID-19 and the US responses
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): Through the Department of Homeland Security’s website, this link provides additional information regarding the Obama era program.
Covid Vaccination Incentives; Do They Violate Ethics?
Brief # 109 – Health and Gender Policy
Covid Vaccination Incentives; Do They Violate Ethics?
By Siam Bhimji
June 14, 2021
Policy Summary
As of May 2021, nearly 172,423,605 Americans, or 53% of the population has received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. Of these, 141,583,252 Americans or 43% of the population have been fully vaccinated. But that leaves at least over 110,000,000 ADULT Americans who still have not been vaccinated. Surveys indicate that close to 51% of the adult population is refusing to be vaccinated for a variety of reasons. President Biden has stated that he would like at least 70% of American adults to have had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine by July 4. But with less than 3 weeks to go, it hardly appears that his goal will be achieved.
So what is being done to mass vaccinate the population?
One of the ways to encourage Americans to get the vaccine is by offering incentives. To this end, many innovative incentives are being used to seduce Americans to get the shot and they include free donuts, free medical marijuana samples, free college tuition for a semester, cheaper airline tickets, the state of Ohio has a $1 million lottery ticket, discounted groceries, free tickets to sports games, cheap beer, free $100 cash and much more….
Analysis
So far it is not known if the incentives are working because they have just recently started but most Covid Injection centers do not report longer lines of people waiting for the shot. Experts on the other hand indicate that incentivizing is only a short-term solution and may conflict with ethics. For example, in order to get the individual to get the vaccine, offering marijuana or free beer is not right; it is just substituting one harm with another.
However, in the business world, incentives are often given as a recognition of the worker’s productivity and this often results in a positive behavior change.
The two big questions about incentives are:
1) a how much, and
2) is cash payment a step in the right direction?
When it comes to financial incentives, it may be that poor people desperate for money may feel pressured to get the shot or in other words, their poverty is exploited. At the same time, it is also well known that financial incentives for unemployed or poor people often do not generate positive behavior. During the Covid pandemic the government started giving out huge amounts of money to people who had lost their jobs or could not work, but this noble endeavor has led to severe negative consequences. With government handouts of $300 a week, there is a shortage of workers in most of the hospitality industry. Why work for $7.50 an hour (or $300 a week), when the government offers the same amount for free????
Experts in ethics say that incentives should motivate behavior change but not alter the autonomy or decision-making status of the individuals.
At the end of the day, an incentive may buy cooperation for one day or one event, but it does not get to the core reason why the vaccine was refused in the first place. The problem will persist and there may be more obstacles with the 2nd booster shot.
The bottom line is that people who remain hesitant about the vaccine do not seem to understand the basic concepts about health or science and no amount of money is going to change that. Today $100 may buy a vaccine shot but tomorrow the same individual may demand $1,000- and then what?
Engagement Resources
CDC; Vaccines for COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
FDA: COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines
Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you: https://www.vaccines.gov/
Biden Seeks Mandatory Global Taxation Level For Multinationals
Brief # 119 – Economic Policy
Biden Seeks Mandatory Global Taxation Level For Multinationals
By Rosalind Gottfried
June 10, 2021
Policy Summary
Under current international tax rules, multinationals generally pay corporate income tax where production occurs rather than where consumers or, specifically for the digital sector, users are located. However, some argue that through the digital economy, businesses (implicitly) derive income from users abroad but, without a physical presence, are not subject to corporate income tax in that foreign country.
Biden has gained the support of the G7 in establishing a minimal corporate tax for multinationals doing business overseas creating a program of fair taxation of corporations. Biden proposed a 15% minimal global corporate tax representing a significant departure from the past several decades. The hope is that this will stop countries from lowering their tax rates to attract investments and businesses in what many economists and politicians describe as a perpetual “race to the bottom. ”Over the past 40 years, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation, the global lawful tax rate has fallen, so multinationals are getting great profit margins.
Resistance is expected from countries which make lower corporate payments such as Hungary and Ireland which pay 9% and 12.5% respectively Russia and China are also expected to challenge the proposal.
The gross profit shift in multinationals has been from 5-10% in the 1990s to 25-30% currently. Changing the corporate tax structure could yield an estimated global gain of 100-600 billion dollars annually over the next ten years. The corporate liability of US multinationals would amount to 104 billion dollars in 2022 and 1.2 trillion over ten years, representing 81% and 72% increase from current levels. If only the US changed its tax structures to reduce incentives of corporations overseas, the savings would amount to an estimated 566 billion over ten years.
Analysis
Biden’s 15% foreign activities proposal represents a compromise appeasing opponents by setting the level low enough to garner support yet representing a high enough burden to disincentivize US companies from operating abroad. In addition, the Tax Foundation analysis asserts that the Biden program will include a 9.4% sur tax on activities of multinationals above those imposed by host countries, resulting in a further disadvantage for American companies operating overseas. It is suggested that as a consequence some companies may opt to close their foreign entities.
The agreement is only the first step. The group of 20 and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development still have to sign off on the agreement, and the process of rewriting international tax laws needed to implement the agreement will be long and complicated.
The issue of taxation of multinationals in a global economy is largely unchartered territory. Because the scope of the issue has never previously been addressed, the ultimate effect of the policies to American’ corporations is incalculable.
Engagement Resources
https://taxfoundation.org/biden-international-tax-proposals/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-global-tax-trouble-11621636099
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/05/31/global-minimum-corporate-tax-biden-g7/
Israel’s New Coalition Government: Can It Succeed?
Brief # 115 – Foreign Policy
Israel’s New Coalition Government: Can It Succeed?
By Reilly Fitzgerald
June 11, 2021
Policy Summary
Over the past month, Israel has been a hotbed of political turmoil which has included mass protests, an 11-day war, and now a political coalition in the Knesset that includes eight political parties trying to remove Prime Minister Netanyahu. The eight party coalition is interesting in that it includes factions of the entire political spectrum in Israel with the exception of the ultra-Orthodox parties. It has members from the right-wing, the left-wing, and even the Arabist Ra’am Party. The Knesset will vote on Sunday (6/13/2021) on whether or not to move forward with the removal of the country’s longest serving Prime Minister; if the vote passes, then a new government could be sworn in as quickly as Sunday.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has been an extremely polarizing figure in world politics over his 12 years in charge of the country; and he has become just as divisive within Israel. The political energy of the country, based on previous election results, has become about whether or not politicians (and citizens) side with his style of governance or not. It is not surprising to see such a wide-spread coalition come together when the single issue that they share in common is whether or not Prime Minister Netanyahu should be the leader; and they can all agree on not wanting his time in power to continue. Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing trial for corruption charges, as well as being unpopular globally for his comments on the Iran Nuclear Deal, and also his most recent 11-day Gaza war against Hamas.
Analysis
The Biden Administration is in a tough position in regards to Israel, as the political climate domestically has turned fairly sour towards Prime Minister Netanyahu following the war in Gaza last month. Republicans believe that he did not support Israel enough; Democrats, especially amongst the Progressive wing of the Democratic party, believe that he did not support the Palestinian cause enough.
The White House has said they will work with whomever is the leader of Israel. I expect this to be a more difficult task with a coalition of eight different parties coming together and coming from across most of the Israeli political spectrum. For example, Ra’am Party is a supporter of the idea of a recognized Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital; it is a supporter of ending the divisive issue of Israeli settlements; and it is a supporter of increasing Israeli- Arab social infrastructure (educational system, opportunities, minority status and rights, etc).
There will mostly likely be an increasing tension within the coalition should they successfully remove the Prime Minister this weekend. The plan, as it has been explained so far, will be to have Naftali Bennett take over as Prime Minister of Israel. Mr. Bennett is going to be a polarizing figure within this coalition and globally as he is a devout Jew and has been far to the right of Prime Minister Netanyahu. To complicate matters even more, Mr. Bennett would only be in power for the first two years of this government and would be replaced by a centrist afterward. It will be a tough job for the White House to work with a government that is seemingly only united in its disdain for a singular leader rather than a shared set of beliefs or ideas to move Israel forward.
Engagement Resources
The Israel Democracy Institute (https://en.idi.org.il/) – is an independent think tank dedicated to strengthening democracy within Israel. This resource includes overviews of the political parties involved in Israel politics including the parties involved in this new coalition.
Many Americans Continue to Refuse the Covid Vaccine
Brief #108 – Health and Gender
Many Americans Continue to Refuse the Covid Vaccine
By Siam Bhimji
June 10, 2021
Policy Summary
Throughout 2020, there was a frantic search for medications that could end the Covid-19 pandemic which infected 6 million Americans and caused nearly 160,000 deaths, but despite extensive research, no viable drug was discovered. Scientists stated that the only way to cure the Covid-19 outbreak was by developing a vaccine. And in mid-2021, two vaccines were developed in the US which include the Moderna and the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines. To achieve maximum protection from these vaccines, the recommendations are that the public receive two doses. The second shot for the Pfizer vaccine is supposed to be given 3 weeks after the first shot. For the Moderna vaccine, the second dose is at 4 weeks.
During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, millions of Americans were laid off, thousands of businesses were closed- some permanently and the entire hospitality industry including tourism was shut down and teetered on bankruptcy. And one would think that once the vaccines were developed, all Americans would be rushing to get vaccinated- the answer is that half of Americans do not wish to be vaccinated!!!!.
Analysis
As of May 2021, more than 150 million Americans have received at least one dose of the covid vaccine and close to 110 million have been fully vaccinated. But at the same time, surveys indicate that close to 50% of Americans will or have refused to be vaccinated. And some of these Americans also have family members who have acquired covid 19 in the recent past.
Further, there are already concerns that many Americans are not completing the second shot of the covid vaccine. They may have gotten the first shot to either maintain their job and/or travel and skipped the second dose. For example, data from Medicare beneficiaries reveal that the skip rate for the shingles vaccine is close to 26% and the same trend may be happening with the covid vaccines.
Why is there such a strong reluctance to take the vaccine? Two reasons; one is that most anti-vaxxers feel they are healthy and do not feel that they need the vaccine and second there is a concern that the vaccine has adverse effects that may lead to long-term complications or even death.
Are the covid vaccines safe?
There are many short-term reports on the safety of the covid vaccine. However, about 35-45 percent of individuals may experience local effects soon after the vaccine administration. These adverse effects include pain, redness, or swelling at the site of the shot. All studies reveal that these side effects resolve in a matter of days. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control has reported that more than 9,000 cases of breakthrough infections have occurred after vaccination.
Less than a dozen people have died following the covid vaccines and in some cases, this has been linked to the formation of blood clots. But a direct link to the vaccine as a cause of death is still being debated. No vaccine is 100% safe and even if ten people died out of 150 million, the risks are considered minuscule.
Engagement Resources
CDC: Different COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html
FDA: COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines
Mayo Clinic: U.S. COVID-19 vaccine tracker: See your state’s progress: https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-tracker
HHS: COVID-19 Vaccines: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/index.html
WHO: Covid 19 vaccines: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines
51 percent of Americans would refuse or delay COVID vaccine, survey finds. https://nypost.com/2021/02/01/51-percent-of-americans-would-refuse-delay-covid-vaccine-survey/
States Where the Most People Are Refusing the COVID-19 Vaccine. https://247wallst.com/special-report/2021/05/19/states-where-the-most-people-are-refusing-the-covid-19-vaccine-3/
Vaccine Refusal May Put Herd Immunity At Risk, Researchers Warn. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/07/984697573/vaccine-refusal-may-put-herd-immunity-at-risk-researchers-warn
Millions Are Saying No to the Vaccines. What Are They Thinking?https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/05/the-people-who-wont-get-the-vaccine/618765/
5 Million Americans Skipped Second COVID-19 Vaccine Shot: Why? https://www.ibtimes.com/5-million-americans-skipped-second-covid-19-vaccine-shot-why-3187616
COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Case Investigation and Reporting. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html