They Say / I Blog

Chance encounters: Steve LeVine on how Big Tech companies rely on spontaneity to fuel innovation

Sometimes the next big thing begins with a casual invitation to “talk more over smoothies.” In his July 13, 2020 essay, Steve LeVine explains how this kind of unscripted, casual, in-person networking drove the development of Silicon Valley companies like Facebook and Google. LeVine asks, though, if this reliance on spontaneity, jeopardized now by work-from-home orders, is something that could—or should—be saved.

Steve LeVine, "How Remote Work Could Destroy Silicon Valley," Marker, 13 July 2020

 

Looking out for each other: Nicholas Kristof on the resiliency of Hispanic American communities

Even under the stresses of quarantine, Hispanic American communities seem to be finding strategies for coping with the pandemic’s economic and social effects. Why is that? In this June 7, 2020 essay, Nicholas Kristof describes this “Hispanic paradox,” arguing that these communities are uniquely prepared to withstand hardship because of their robust, communal support networks.

Nicholas Kristof, "Now Is a Time to Learn from Hispanic Americans," The New York Times, 27 June 2020

 

A blue wave: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on oceans and their role in climate solutions

What if oceans hold the answers to the complex questions surrounding the climate crisis we are facing? Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist, maintains that they do, and explains how the ocean’s vast “healing power” should be the cornerstone of climate policies in this June 8, 2020 Scientific American op-ed.

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, "To Save the Climate, Look to the Oceans," Scientific American, 8 June 2020

 

Priced out of protection: Ana Santos Rutschman on the politics of vaccine distribution

Should countries attempt to get dibs on a COVID-19 vaccine for their own citizens, even if it comes at the expense of more vulnerable populations in other countries? Ana Santos Rutschman, a law professor who specializes in health law and emerging health technologies, asks this question in her June 25, 2020 essay published in The Conversation. Her analysis of how governments are jockeying to sign pre-purchase agreements with vaccine manufacturers demonstrates the danger of nationalist policies for global health.

Ana Santos Rutschman–"How ‘Vaccine Nationalism’ Could Block Vulnerable Populations’ Access to COVID-19 Vaccines," The Conversation, 17 June 2020

 

Barriers to building wealth: Nick Maggiulli on the racial wealth gap

“Money drives the world,” Nick Maggiulli argues, yet in the U.S., black households have far less capital than white households. Why is that? Maggiulli, a data scientist and blogger who specializes in personal finance, shows that this racial wealth gap is deeply rooted in systemic discrimination. In this June 4, 2020 essay, Maggiulli uses the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances to illustrate the persistent economic inequity that exists between white and black households.

Nick Maggiulli, "Give Black Households More Economic Power," Marker, 4 June 2020

 

Students as consumers: E. Michele Ramsey on the language of capitalism in higher education

Is college a public good or a consumer good? E. Michele Ramsey asks this question in her May 5, 2020 post on the blog Mere Rhetoric. She critiques the rise of consumer metaphors in higher education, showing how this “language of business” affects students’ and society’s perception of the purpose of college. In the face of the pandemic and the uncertainty of whether college campuses will reopen for the fall, the economic value of a college education is under scrutiny as students seek to ensure they’re getting their money’s worth.

E. Michele Ramsey, "Consumption, COVID-19, and Consequences of Language in Higher Education," Mere Rhetoric: Musings on Communication, Pop Culture, and Politics, 5 May 2020

 

Power couples: Cardiff Garcia and Stacey Vanek Smith on marriage and income inequality

Another way the rich keep getting richer? Marriage. This NPR podcast from February 24, 2020 explains the phenomenon of “assortative mating,” which occurs when people of similar education levels and socioeconomic status marry each other. Hosts Cardiff Garcia and Stacey Vanek Smith interview economist Branko Milanovic, who argues that this trend furthers income inequality in the U.S.

Listen to the podcast first, and then respond to the questions. The questions include time stamps to help you navigate to particular parts of the podcast. You can also refer to the transcript that appears below the podcast on the website.

Cardiff Garcia and Stacey Vanek Smith, "For Rich or Richer," The Indicator, 24 February 2020

 

Bearing the burden: Helen Lewis on how pandemics affect women

Who’s watching the kids? For many families, the answer falls along predictable gender lines, as women attempt to balance their jobs with unpaid caregiving. In her March 19, 2020 essay in The Atlantic, Helen Lewis contends that this gender divide matters, especially in pandemics. Lewis looks at the current crisis as well as past pandemics worldwide to demonstrate the risks of taking “a gender-neutral approach to pandemics.”

Helen Lewis, "The Coronavirus Is a Disaster for Feminism,” The Atlantic, 19 March 2020

 

Privacy and public health: Sidney Fussell on smartphone surveillance

How do we balance protecting individual rights and safeguarding public health? This question is at the heart of the current response to the COVID-19 global health crisis. In his March 21, 2020 WIRED article, Sidney Fussell asks whether using people’s smartphone data to track the virus is an infringement on privacy or a necessity to secure collective health and safety.

Sidney Fussell, "How Surveillance Could Save Lives Amid a Public Health Crisis," WIRED, 21 March 2020

 

Calling in sick: Amanda Mull on protecting everyone with paid sick leave

Wash your hands. Stop touching your face. Avoid large crowds. This past week, we’ve been inundated with advice for stopping the spread of COVID-19. In her February 28, 2020 essay, Amanda Mull argues that pandemics like this one could be contained more easily if we addressed an underlying structural issue inherent in the American workplace: the lack of paid sick leave.

Amanda Mull, "The Problem with Telling Sick Workers to Stay Home," The Atlantic, 28 February 2020