The Issue

Music in A Digital Age with Business Week's Jon Fine

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:51:09 EDT

The question of the future of music in the digital age provokes a level of curiosity that extends beyond the legal, technological, and economic issues and reaches into the realm of existential uncertainty. As the way we listen to music changes, will music itself follow suit? Business Week's media columnist Jon Fine and three audiophile bloggers weigh in.

Wake Me Up On November 5?: Election Fatigue

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:49:58 EDT

Conventional wisdom dictates that longer campaigns, combined with incessant media coverage, leads to a phenomenon known as voter fatigue or election fatigue, where the electorate gets so tired of the campaign that they lose interest and stop participating. But does frustration with election overload actually cause less investment in the proceedings or lower turnout at the polls? And is overexposure the only reason for voter fatigue, or are deeper issues – like skepticism and deep-seeded mistrust of politics – also at play?

Reefer Sanity With Dan Bernath

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:01:14 EDT

We're pleased to have Dan Bernath, assistant director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, weighing in on our issue of the day: the debate over legalizing marijuana and America's war on drugs. In an illuminating interview, Bernath discusses the victims of current marijuana laws, the other side of medical marijuana research, and Richard Nixon's secret marijuana study. Our posts for the day explore the marijuana and drug policy debates from various angles.

Eliot Spitzer & The Implications of Political Sex Scandals

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:20:10 EDT

Sex scandals have been a part of American history since its earliest days – from Alexander Hamilton’s illicit affairs to Jefferson’s relationship with slave Sally Hemmings – and they’ve often been a barometer of America’s moral compass as well as an indicator of electoral outcomes. The prostitution scandal currently surrounding New York governor Eliot Spitzer raises many of these questions again. Are a candidate’s sexual indiscretions more outrageous than her abuses of power? Are immoral activities that are not technically illegal less offensive than those that are? And how do such scandals influence elections and the efficacy of governments?

Intellectualism in America

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:26:58 EDT

For at least 60 years, the suggestion that Americans are indifferent to intellectualism has been the subject of books, conventional wisdom, and cultural discourse. Studies have shown that Americans are less knowledgeable about the world than citizens of other developed countries, and the argument has been made that in disciplines from politics to education, pragmatism is deemed more worthwhile than an investment in scholarship. Today, as America's perception by the rest of the world becomes a topic of increasing concern, the debate rages on, bringing new questions about the ways in which intellectual capital is measured.

E. Coli

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:54:51 EST

Commonly found in human intestines, escherichia coli is a naturally-occurring bacterium with rare strains that cause illness. First brought to public attention by an outbreak traced to a batch of unpasteurized apple juice in 1996, dangerous strains of E. coli were most famously found in prepackaged spinach and lettuce in a nationwide outbreak in 2006. Infectious strains of E. coli can also be found in red meat, and the USDA is currently investigating a vaccine for cattle that would prevent them from transmitting E. coli to humans.

Arms Trafficking

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:33:51 EST

The arrest of notorious weapons dealer Viktor Bout this week put the issue of arms trafficking back on the front page. Whether sanctioned by businesses and governments or done illegally on the black market, the trading of weapons to various parties helps fuel armed conflicts all over the world. While arms trading has helped just causes in many wars, it has also extended violence and suffering in conflict-ridden nations and provided both a means and a source of income for terrorist organizations.

Hugo Chavez: Looking for a Rumble in the Jungle?

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:52:16 EST

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez's decision to mobilize troops to the Columbian border in response to Bogota's assassination of a member of the guerilla group FARC has created a diplomatic crisis that many fear could lead to war. Skepticism abounds that Chavez has initiated the imbroglio to distract attention from Venezuela's domestic problems, or indeed to cover up his own ties to FARC. Strained relations between Chavez and many other world leaders only add to fears that this already unsettled region could be headed for a long conflict.

The Future of Hollywood With Ken Levine

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:26:28 EST

In the debut of a recurring series, we’re proud to present an Issue of the Day on the Future of Hollywood, featuring Emmy Award-winning writer, director and producer, major league baseball announcer and wickedly funny blogger Ken Levine. We talked to Ken about the writers' strike, the impact of the Internet and digital media on the Hollywood system, and the future of film and TV. In the tradition of the Issue of the Day, we’ve also included three informative blog posts on the changing face of the entertainment industry.

The Super Tuesday That Wasn't

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:54:43 EST

After rampant prediction that yesterday's primaries would be decisive, they turned out to be sound and fury signifying more of the same old election cycle hoopla. The long-presumed inevitability of McCain's nomination was confirmed. Clinton's victories in Ohio and Texas give her campaign momentum, but they don't assure her a lead in the delegate count. This non-result could mean a drawn-out, dirty and potentially damaging race for the Democratic nomination.

Art Explodes in China

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:30:21 EST

In recent years there has been a proliferation of significant Chinese artists, as well as a related boom in the Chinese art market. Speculations on the reasons for this phenomenon vary. Many experts believe that economic downturns in the West have stymied traditional American and European art markets, while the boom in the Chinese economy has led to conspicuous cultural consumption in the form of artistic purchases. Others have suggested that the centers of artistic innovation are shifting Eastward. The development leads the art world to ask where the new centers of artistic innovation and commerce will move in the future.

Academic Steroids

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:35:03 EST

"Academic Steroids" has become a new buzzword, referring to the practice of high school and college students abusing drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin (traditionally used to treat attention deficit disorders) to help them study more intensely and efficiently. This phenomenon raises questions about the pressure placed on American students to excel, and how we measure a student's success. It also forces us to examine the standards of academic ethics and integrity, fairness and morality within academia, and rising incidences of drug abuse amongst students.

The Advent of Artisanal Farming

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:29:55 EST

The intersection of the organic and gourmet trends has offered farms a new means of staying afloat in the world of agribusiness. Smaller farms, who can't compete with larger rivals in terms of cost or volume of production, are turning their resources to selling luxury and organic produce, which are ever more popular in the US. The story is an interesting example of how small businesses adapt to a changing marketplace.

Shark Attacks

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:45:55 EST

We’re going to need a bigger boat to hold all our shark attack paranoia. Ever since a series of shark attacks on bathers occurred on the Jersey Shore in 1916, the idea of fanged maritime predators preying on innocent swimmers has plagued the American consciousness. The underwater slasher-flick Jaws only encouraged this fear. Shark attacks were a media fixation in the summer of 2000, and while occasional incidents still make the front pages, conventional wisdom suggests that if you leave sharks alone, they'll return the favor.

Let The Veepstakes Begin!

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:05:53 EST

Though primary season isn’t over, speculation about vice presidential nominees has already begun. For Beltway insiders and political junkies alike, speculation about running mate picks is a time-honored tradition. What characteristics make a desirable vice presidential nominee? How much can a running mate help or hinder a campaign? Debate about the best and most likely choices for the remaining candidates is varied and lively.

France's Changing Foreign Policy

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:39:00 EST

France has always maintained a military presence in its former African colonies, but President Sarkozy's announcement that it will open a base in the United Arab Emirates was the most recent in a series of shifts in the country's foreign defense policies. By all accounts, Sarkozy's methods more closely resemble the hard power approach of the US than the very diplomatic European Union. This shift in defense strategy may undermine plans for a European defense force but it will certainly strengthen the US-Franco relationship.

Debating Sex Education

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:38:22 EST

What is the most effective form of sex education? Abstinence-only education programs have become the norm in much of America. Its proponents argue that abstinence is the only sure-fire way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Supporters of comprehensive sex education counter that introducing youth to safe sex practices is a more effective method of encouraging sexual responsibility among teenagers. This hotly contested issue emphasizes debates over sex and morality that divide society.

The Battle for Underwater Territory

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:05:47 EST

In July 2007, a Russian expedition planted a flag in the Lomonosov Ridge, a mineral-rich territory beneath the Arctic Ocean. This led to an international scramble for rights to underwater territories in the Arctic. Similar debates are also occuring between the US and Mexico over underwater territory in the Gulf. New and improved mapping technologies are raising questions about where national boundaries end. Will this development create a new arena for international conflict?

Humanitarian Implications of Free Trade Agreements

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:02:25 EST

Free trade agreements such as NAFTA are lightning rods for political debate. Food aid to disadvantaged countries often comes in the form of American-grown crops, which are subsidized by the government and help support American farmers. However, many argue that the best way to aid struggling nations is to purchase their own crops and trade them on the free market. Are handouts the best solution to world hunger, or is cultivating agricultural trade in third world countries a better solution?

Organized Crime

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:15:26 EST

For many years, pundits, scholars and aficionados have predicted the inevitable demise of organized crime. But the recent sweep in New York, which netted sixty-two members of the city’s major crime families, indicates that the most famous crime syndicate, the Italian mafia, is still going strong. Other organized criminal organizations are spreading across the globe, finding new entrepreneurial opportunities in impoverished war-torn nations as well as through Internet scams.

How Political Should Olympics Be?

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:55:47 EST

More than any other Olympics in recent memory, Beijing 2008 is controversial. The air quality, questionable religious freedom and lack of Chinese intervention in Darfur have all added to the fervor. The Chinese government accuses its critics of politicizing the games, which in theory should carry no diplomatic weight. But Olympic history is any indication, the Beijing controversy has room to grow.

Housing and the Postmodern Recession

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:14:52 EST

America’s economic downturn and housing crisis are major concerns for voters in this election. Each candidate has policy suggestions to alleviate these problems, but can any government intervention actually make a difference? Many economists, such as Princeton University’s Paul Krugman, contend that America is experiencing a “postmodern recession”; an economic downturn caused by factors other than regulation and resistant to traditional government attempts at revival. Can policy solve the housing crisis, or must we wait for the economy to right itself?

The Changing Face of the Death Penalty

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:26:40 EST

The debate over capital punishment in America has grown increasingly nuanced and complex. While approximately two-thirds of the country approves of the death penalty in some circumstances, debates over how and when it should be applied are occurring in courts and the public arena. Questions about the ethics of various methods of execution and the new issue of applying the death penalty in martial courts for detainees force America to reconsider the very essence of its judicial system.

Identity Politics in Voting

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:34:07 EST

The remaining candidates in the 2008 election are an old white man, a young black man and a woman. Identity politics, the inclination for voters to chose a candidate based on race, gender, or religion, has never been more relevant to the political landscape. Just how real is the phenomenon of identity politics and is it ever in the voters' best interest to vote along demographic lines?

Fidel Castro Resigns

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:17:43 EST

After nearly 50 years, the communist leader Fidel Castro has resigned. Along with North Korea, his government represented the last communist stronghold and a symbol of a very different world. Looking past his legacy, many wonder what this means for Cuba. Will his significantly more capitalist brother, Raul, ease an oppressive regime? Will US politicians reconsider the longstanding embargo?

The Debate Over Kosovar Independence

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:06:38 EST

Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia has created a major rift in the international community. While the United States and some major European powers have already recognized Kosovo’s sovereignty, other countries refused to follow suit, stating that such a declaration is null and void under international law. Anxiety about the precedent that Kosovar independence could set is at the heart of the debate; many nations fear that recognition of Kosovo could encourage other separatist movements across the globe.

The United States Postal Service

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:31:54 EST

Why should the United States Postal Service have a monopoly on non-urgent first class mail? What about the unique authority to deliver to private mail boxes? Many, including Milton Friedman, argue that the USPS is an unjustified monopoly and the cause of higher stamp prices and compromised efficiency. The Postal Service responds that with competition, it would not be able to deliver mail to such obscure addresses for the same price. All this in the face of e-mail, online bill pay and internet media means the future of the USPS is far from certain.

Responses to School Shootings

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:37:50 EST

News of the campus shooting at Northern Illinois University on Thursday revived the national discussion of violence in schools and what can be done to stop it. Is stricter gun control the answer, or should students be allowed to carry weapons for their own defense? What security measures can be taken to make schools safer? Does the media overhype these crimes, effectively glamorizing them and increasing national anxiety? In many ways, the debates surrounding school shootings reflect more generalized anxieties about the state of the nation.

The Album

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:23:58 EST

There has been much speculation that the advent of digital music signifies the death knell of the album, both as a physical and conceptual entity. Download services such as iTunes allow the consumer to pick and choose songs they like. The music industry is experimenting with ways to make digital albums more appealing, and Radiohead’s pay-what-you-like download experiment with their latest album proved that, for known bands, the album can survive on the internet. But is an album still an album if you can’t hold it in your hands? And how will the decline of the album affect how we experience and process music?

Paying Our CEOs

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:56:17 EST

Since the 1980s, the salaries of American executives have increased exponentially. With income inequality growing more pronounced, this development has become a source of contention. Some argue that it is a corporation’s prerogative to pay its CEO what it wishes, and that high CEO salaries are a very effective method of motivating the entire workforce. Others feel that such high salaries are not commensurate with a CEO’s impact on a company’s bottom line, and point out that these high wages are rarely cut when corporations fail to perform.