Youth Advocacy
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 19 (209 total reports)
01.05.2023-06.05.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people in a time when capitalism is undermining democracy.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Mom creates 'how to be a person' camp for her kids that teaches real life skills all summer
https://www.upworthy.com/how-to-be-a-person-camp-rp4
Summer activities make a huge difference in lifelong learning, unfortunately they are often only affordable to middle and upper income children. It’s been shown that children can cumulatively lose up to three years of education from a lack of cognitive involvement over the summer. But, as delightfully revealed by this innovative mom, summer camps don’t have to be run by professionals, nor do they have to be expensive. Her “how to be a person” camp ideas are perfect for helping your child (children) grow over the summer. Take time to read this list and start dreaming about making your summer a vibrant learning experience for your children or the children around you.
Best Links of The Week
07.05.2024
Neoliberal economics: The road to freedom or authoritarianism?
The quote from this article that stands out the most, “Freedom for the wolves has often meant death for the sheep.” This review encapsulates a great philosophical struggle between three of the greatest economic minds in the last century. It is well worth the read and a watershed for forming your own opinion of what lies at the core of so much current economic and political unrest.
06.05.2024
45 Carl Jung Quotes on Life, Wisdom and Perspective
https://parade.com/living/carl-jung-quotes
Carl Jung’s thoughts are some of the most important watershed ideas of the last century. If you haven’t read them, here’s your chance to peruse many of his gems. I would suggest printing this list with a pad of post-it notes and having the adults around you pick their favorites each week and take them home to meditate on them. Then bring them back to share the insights they’ve gained before taking another note home.
05.05.2024
The Banana Wars: How the US Plundered Central America
https://www.thecollector.com/the-banana-wars-how-the-us-plundered-central-america/
I’m posting this story of US History because it fits the theme this week about how capitalism has undermined democracy in creating policy, not just for the US, but the entire world. It also, coincidently, presents a new perspective into why Cinco de Mayo is NOT a holiday in most of Mexico.
04.05.2024
How Today’s American Capitalism Undermines Democracy
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/todays-american-capitalism-undermines-democracy-bookbite/49142/
This is an historic review (in the US) of how Capitalism competes with Democracy and the advances of Capitalism—especially in the US—to the detriment of Democracy. As the article points out, it doesn’t have to be that way and there have been significant events in US history where people worked together to confront the advance of Capitalism when it undermined the rights of communities. Unchecked, Capitalism takes over the political system, the judicial system and—as we are seeing in the Trump Election Fraud trial—the media.
03.05.2024
The Illiberalism at America’s Core
https://newrepublic.com/article/180346/history-illiberalism-america-core-founding
This article would be better clarified if the term “illiberalism” were “anti-liberalism” because the primary focus of the article is a historic look (in US History) about how liberalism has been rejected and even attacked, including laws to undermine it. A quote I read this morning by Dr. Adrienne Keene, sums it up by saying, “The system in what is currently known as the US isn’t ‘broken.’ It was designed by male supremacists slaveowners on stolen Indigenous land to protect their interests. It’s working as it was designed.”
02.05.2024
“It’s A Mandatory Read”: Biden Urges Checking Out Trump Second Term Plans Revealed In Dystopian Time Magazine Q&A
https://deadline.com/2024/05/donald-trump-time-magazine-joe-biden-reaction-1235901734/
Donald Trump is actually more frightening when someone helps him string together two sentences that make sense (at least from his narcissistic perspective). His interview with Time should be read by every US Citizen—and especially those who plan to vote for him. Biden’s philosophy here is to let Trump speak for himself and then call attention to what he says. Donald Trump’s scary view of an America—whether he wins or loses—is not only dystopian but borders on apocalyptic. The problems with Biden’s premise (and perhaps his campaign) is that he assumes that 1) Trump’s followers would read an entire Time article and 2) that they are making a voting decision based upon rational thought.
01.05.2024
Finding a Way Out of America’s Cultural Blame Game
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/finding-way-americas-cultural-blame-game-bookbite/49136/
This book is rich with insights. Primarily it focuses on the shift in collective thinking to a victim mentality and no one is more helpless (and therefore miserable) than a person who sees themself as a victim. The article is a brief overview and definitely worth the read. Examine it to see if you play into the cultural myth of victimhood or if you are promoting that myth in any way to those around you. The book also looks at important steps to take to stop embracing that myth.
This Week’s Links
07.05.2024
Neoliberal economics: The road to freedom or authoritarianism?
Why I’m Not Calling the Police on My Students’ Encampment
https://newrepublic.com/article/181341/wesleyan-president-not-calling-police-student-gaza-encampment
Women’s Rights Are Essential to Democracy. Why Do Philanthropists Treat Investments in Women as a Special Interest?
Abortion bans drive away up to half of young talent, new CNBC/Generation Lab youth survey finds
Gun incidents surge at Florida schools, research finds
https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2024/05/07/gun-incidents-florida-schools-shootings
Understanding 5 Famous Quotes by Descartes
https://www.thecollector.com/quotes-rene-descartes-explained/
The history of 'outside agitators' — from Gaza protests to Martin Luther King Jr. : Consider This from NPR
The Don's enablers
https://theweek.com/politics/the-dons-enablers
06.05.2024
45 Carl Jung Quotes on Life, Wisdom and Perspective
https://parade.com/living/carl-jung-quotes
Top Congress Democrat says 'Pro-Putin faction' of Republicans stalled Ukraine aid
Is it easy for migrants to enter the U.S.? We went to the border to find out
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/06/1248670734/immigration-us-mexico-border
18 Reasons Why Millions of Americans Are Abandoning Their Faith
https://radicalfire.com/why-americans-abandon-their-faith/
Nordic kids are the happiest in the world - Expert reveals top 3 tips for raising kids the Danish way
05.05.2024
The Banana Wars: How the US Plundered Central America
https://www.thecollector.com/the-banana-wars-how-the-us-plundered-central-america/
A second Trump term, in his own words
https://apple.news/AkjfGgn_uTHaIwAjUaQtouQ
These Republicans have united to defend the legitimacy of U.S. elections and election officials
NYC says half of those arrested at 2 pro-Palestinian campus protests were not students
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/04/1249188864/nyc-columbia-city-college-gaza-protests-palestinian-campus
Israelis rally to demand Gaza ceasefire and PM Netanyahu's resignation
Ruby Bridges blasts book bans as “ridiculous” attempts to “cover up history”
04.05.2024
How Today’s American Capitalism Undermines Democracy
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/todays-american-capitalism-undermines-democracy-bookbite/49142/
Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’
https://apple.news/AWHyxz3MWQLG-sxjMdKnG0w
N.Y. prosecutors have already painted a picture of how Trump twisted the press
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/donald-trump-trial-corruption-free-press-rcna150624
Kamala Harris responds to Donald Trump’s views on state punishments for abortion: ‘It’s outrageous’
https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/04/kamala-harris-donald-trump-response/
The lessons from colleges that didn’t call the police
A Psychologist Explains The Difference Between Psychopaths And Sociopaths
Mom creates 'how to be a person' camp for her kids that teaches real life skills all summer
https://www.upworthy.com/how-to-be-a-person-camp-rp4
03.05.2024
The Illiberalism at America’s Core
https://newrepublic.com/article/180346/history-illiberalism-america-core-founding
Trump says he will only accept 2024 election results ‘if everything’s honest’
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/02/politics/donald-trump-accept-2024-election-results/
Pregnant women in Missouri can't get divorced. Critics say it fuels domestic violence
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/03/1247838036/divorce-pregnant-women-missouri-abortion-marriage-abuse
14 states sue the Biden administration for the right to discriminate against trans kids
The Governor of Kansas Vetoed Four Anti-Abortion Measures. Republicans Rammed Them Through Anyway.
More States Are Allowing Child Support Payments to Reach Children
https://www.propublica.org/article/more-states-allow-child-support-to-reach-children
Biden is giving the Medal of Freedom to a who's who of Democrats (and Katie Ledecky)
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/03/1248808320/biden-medal-bloomberg-pelosi-kerry-ledecky
02.05.2024
“It’s A Mandatory Read”: Biden Urges Checking Out Trump Second Term Plans Revealed In Dystopian Time Magazine Q&A
https://deadline.com/2024/05/donald-trump-time-magazine-joe-biden-reaction-1235901734/
How to negotiate with a bully
https://www.fastcompany.com/91116266/how-to-negotiate-with-a-bully
Robert Reich: What To Say To A Republican Who Complains About The Federal Debt – OpEd
LGBTQ+ Youth Struggle With Mental Health and Are Deeply Impacted by Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws, New Survey Shows
https://www.parents.com/lgbtq-young-people-at-high-risk-for-suicide-8640350
Two Republicans help stop trans care ban & deliver a powerful speech: “The youth need our help”
How a post falsely claiming migrants are registering to vote spread to millions in four weeks
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/misinformation-migrants-illegally-registered-vote-rcna149557
Trump’s New Comments on Gaza Protests Make No Sense Whatsoever
https://newrepublic.com/post/181160/trump-gaza-university-protests-no-sense
01.05.2024
Finding a Way Out of America’s Cultural Blame Game
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/finding-way-americas-cultural-blame-game-bookbite/49136/
Trump’s coup plan: Bombshell Time interview exposes drive ‘to destroy system for his own purposes’
How a Few Secret Donors Are Fueling the New Right-Wing Infrastructure
Scoop: Yellen's urgent warning on threats to U.S. democracy
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/01/yellen-warning-jan-6-democracy-economy-trump
Democrats Defang the House’s Far Right
Woman passes bar exam on 1st try more than a decade after being released from prison
Florida’s Abortion Ban Should Be Our Breaking Point
https://www.thedailybeast.com/floridas-abortion-ban-should-be-our-breaking-point
6 out of 10 Catholics support abortion rights despite church's stance, study shows