Research Links and Discussion Questions for March 2022 Topics

Feb 24, 2022

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: 32-Hour Workweek

Congress.gov: H.R.4728 “Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act”
The Guardian OpEd: “A 4 Day Work Week Is the Future. Here’s Why.”
The Hill: “Lawmakers lining up behind bill to bring four-day work week to America”
Forbes: “Is Thursday the New Friday? Pros and Cons of Reducing Work Hours”
The Atlantic: “What It Means That Kickstarter Is Trying a 4-Day Work Week”
govtrack.us: “H.R. 4728: Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act”

Issue 2: America COMPETES Act

Congress.gov: H.R.4521 “America COMPETES Act of 2022”
Congress.gov: S.1260 “United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021”
House.gov: “America COMPETES Act of 2022” Backgrounder
The Hill: “House Republicans Bash Democrats’ China Competition Bill”
cnbc.com: “Senate Passes Bipartisan Tech and Manufacturing Bill Aimed at China”
Fox Business: “Democrats’ China competition bill hurts American small businesses”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: 32-Hour Workweek

  1. How do you think having a shorter workweek will affect workers’ productivity? Will it rise, fall or remain the same? Why?
  2. How might a shorter workweek be good for the environment?
  3. In Japan, Microsoft trialed a four-day workweek and saw improvements in workers’ productivity and job satisfaction. Do you think this would work in the U.S.? Why or why not?
  4. Is a four-day workweek suitable for every company? Why or why not?
  5. How did the COVID pandemic change American workers’ expectations about work/life balance?
  6. How might spending less time working result in greater workforce focus and productivity?

Issue 2: America COMPETES Act

1. Read the summaries for both the House and Senate China competition bills (links above). Which bill do you think offers the best solution to the problem?
2. What do you think is the best solution to China’s theft of U.S. intellectual property?
3. Should the U.S. attempt to have a “less confrontational” relationship with China? Why or why not?
4. Should the U.S. view China as a threat or opportunity? Why?
5. Do you think China will surpass the U.S. as the world’s superpower? Why or why not?

Research Links and Discussion Questions for February 2022 Topics

Jan 28, 2022

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Free College Tuition
Congress.gov: S.1288 “College for All Act of 2021”
Heritage Foundation OpEd: “The High Cost of Free College Tuition”
Peter G. Peterson Foundation: “What Is Free College and How Much Cost?”
Cato Institute: “Free College Will Hike Costs for Taxpayers”
Roll Call: “Proposed Education Spending Hike Faces Resistance in Senate”
Philadelphia Inquirer: “Should Public College Be Free? Pro Con”
Issue 2: Free Child Care
Congress.gov: H.R.5376 “Build Back Better Act”
Kaiser Family Foundation: “Women, Work and Family During COVID Survey”
First Five Years Fund: “Child Care System Is Not Meeting the Needs of Families”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “Economic Impact of Childcare Breakdown”
Politico: “A Lack of Child Care Is Keeping Women on Unemployment Rolls”
Center for Law and Social Policy: “Things to Know about Child Care and BBB”


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Free College Tuition
  1. Are you for or against U.S. taxpayers funding free college tuition? Why?
  2. Would implementing taxpayer-funded college tuition make it too easy for colleges to raise costs, knowing the government will pay for them? Why or why not?
  3. Should there be a cap on tuition that would be considered “free?” How should incidental costs be covered? How would existing student financial aid programs be affected?
  4. Would tuition-free public college expand access to education for American families, or restrict it? Why?
  5. Providing government-funded college tuition would no doubt increase the number of students who register at community colleges. Would this encourage or discourage innovation among those institutions?
Issue 2: Free Child Care
  1. Should the government subsidize the cost of childcare for all families? Why or why not?
  2. Should child care be left to individual families or is it a societal issue? Justify and defend your position using reasoning and logic.
  3. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said, “It’s impossible to have a strong economy when it’s too expensive to work because of child care.” Do you agree with her statement? Why or why not?
  4. How is the issue of making child care affordable tied to gender equality?
  5. Would providing taxpayer-funded child care to poor, disadvantaged and low-skilled households level the playing field for these populations? Why or why not?

Research Links and Discussion Questions for December 2021 Topics

Nov 29, 2021

RESEARCH LINKS

Issue 1: Methane Emissions
EPA’s Proposed Ruling on Methane Emissions https://bit.ly/3kMy9DD
WaPo: “Biden Unveils New Rules to Curb Methane” https://wapo.st/3oAUWDy
The National Law Review: “EPA Proposes New Methane Regulations for Gas” https://bit.ly/2YTxzfC
Yahoo: “Biden Announces Sweeping Methane Plan” https://yhoo.it/2YYBtUG
RMI.org: “Methane: A Threat to People and the Planet” https://bit.ly/3cmNYMQ
Forbes: “Biden Promises Moves on Methane, Businesses Poised for Growth” https://bit.ly/2YSWhN8

Issue 2: Civil Asset Forfeiture
Congress.gov: “Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act of 2021” (H.R.2857) https://bit.ly/30yiAbj
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI): “Civil Asset Forfeiture” https://bit.ly/3qGiREm
The Bulwark: “Maine Bans Civil Asset Forfeiture” https://bit.ly/3kN1yxI
Institute for Justice: “Civil Forfeiture Reforms on the State Level” https://bit.ly/3DrxO0C
endforfeiture.com: “IJ’s Initiative to End Policing for Profit” https://endforfeiture.com/
Institute for Justice: “Policing for Profit (2nd Edition)” https://bit.ly/3Hp9EGt

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Issue 1: Methane Emissions
1. What are some of the things we could change in the way we live and work to help decrease the amount of greenhouse gases such as methane we emit into the atmosphere? What would we, as individuals, be willing to give up, to help this process?
2. Making changes usually means someone pays, in some way. Is this true of global warming? How do we as individuals pay now? And how does industry pay? What or who should take most of the financial responsibility?
3. Which is more of a problem for global warming—population growth or industrial growth? Or is it a matter of how industry operates and grows?
4. What impact will rising greenhouse gases have on the climate?
5. What are the main threats of climate change?

Issue 2: Civil Asset Forfeiture

  1. How should law enforcement agencies balance their mission to fight crime while respecting the rights of the suspected and the accused?
  2. Should civil asset forfeiture be expanded as law enforcement tool, or should it be abolished?
  3. Are there ways to reform the system to ensure that only the guilty feel the effects of forfeiture?
  4. Do you think it is justified to take money or property from people accused of committing a crime, but have not been convicted by a judge or jury of doing so? Explain your answer.
  5. What is your perspective? Is asset forfeiture practiced responsibly, or is it in need of reform? Why do you take your position?