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Dear friends of VTIPG and CCC,
We share five articles each week that we find timely and meaningful that address significant concerns related to the state of our democracy and civil society. We aim to offer pieces that illuminate a wide array of dimensions of our country's policy and governance challenges and the state of social norms that sustain the possibility of addressing them successfully. Please note, the views expressed in these essays do not necessarily reflect the perspectives of VTIPG or Virginia Tech. We also upload these essays and stories to our website. You may find the archive at News and Opportunities at http://ipg.vt.edu.
If you would like to suggest an article for consideration for this series, and I encourage you to do so, please contact me, Billy Parvatam, at pbilly97@vt.edu.
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First up is a Cardinal News article that outlines fresh efforts of three health care providers in Roanoke and Lynchburg to address mental and behavioral health challenges in those communities.
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Our second story, from CNN, argues that the U.S. could experience a brief recession soon based on consumer spending trends.
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A third piece, from The New York Times, highlights the fact that the Republican Party has become focused on supposed conspiracies rather than developing forward-looking policy or governance proposals.
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Our fourth offering, from the BBC News, describes how the melting of sea-ice in Antarctica could have catastrophic consequences for that continent and globally.
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Last, we share an article from The Associated Press that analyzes the implications of the possible return to power of former Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico for democracy in Slovakia and for that nation's support of Ukraine.
Brief synopses of these articles appear below. We hope the perspectives offered in these pieces encourage reflection and conversation!
Best wishes,
Billy Parvatam
VTIPG Communications Coordinator
pbilly97@vt.edu.
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Five Pieces Worth Reading | |
Photo: Lynchburg General Hospital. Credit to Cardinal News. |
Demand for mental health services is growing. Regional health providers are expanding to meet it
Matt Busse reports in this article that three health care providers in Roanoke and Lynchburg have launched new efforts to address mental and behavioral health challenges in the populations they serve: Carilion Clinic in Roanoke and Centra Health and Horizon Behavioral Health in Lynchburg. All three initiatives aim to offer new care options, decrease the strain on hospital emergency departments, and reduce the stigma too often associated with seeking mental health treatment. As rates of distress, anxiety, and the risk of suicidal behavior have increased, Americans are becoming more comfortable discussing mental health and addiction, and these initiatives are aimed at supporting that trend while also providing needed services.
Busse, M. (2023, September 16). “Demand for mental health services is growing. Regional Health Providers are expanding to meet it.” Cardinal News. https://cardinalnews.org/2023/09/18/demand-for-mental-health-services-is-growing-regional-health-providers-are-expanding-to-meet-it/
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Photo: Shoppers carry bags in San Francisco, CA. Credit to CNN. | |
The U.S. economy will likely enter a recession soon
Dana Peterson and Erik Lundh argue in this CNN opinion piece that although United States economic growth has defied expectations this year, a recession could still be in the offing, assuming that current consumer spending levels drop off. The authors cite decreases in real personal income and personal savings rates as signs that Americans are today paying for much of what they purchase via debt and savings, neither of which is sustainable. In their view, a brief recession is the most likely outcome of these trends.
Peterson, D., & Lundh, E. (2023, September 13). “The US economy will likely enter a recession soon.” CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/13/opinions/us-economy-recession-consumer-spending-peterson-lundh/index.html
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Photo: Republican Party logo. Credit to The New York Times. | |
The Republican Party has devolved into a racket
In this New York Times piece, Sam Rosenfield and Daniel Schlozman contend that the Republican Party has become obsessed with engaging in a form of politics that threatens American democracy, instead of presenting a forward-looking vision for governing the nation. The authors cite the current House Republican threat to shut down the federal government, GOP state legislature efforts in Wisconsin and North Carolina to remove or disempower leaders from the other major political party, and Republican presidential candidate efforts to distance themselves from former President Trump without alienating his supporters as evidence of this lack of focus on policy.
Rosenfeld, S., & Schlozman, D. (2023, September 18). “The Republican Party has devolved into a racket.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/18/opinion/politics/republican-party-trump-racket.html
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Photo: A scientist on the ice in Antarctica. Credit to BBC News. | |
Antarctic sea-ice at ‘mind-blowing’ low alarms experts
This BBC News article reports that sea-ice surrounding Antarctica is well below any previous recorded winter level, a trend that concerns scientists. The continent’s ice helps to regulate the planet’s temperature by mediating the sun’s energy and moderating water temperatures. Sea-ice acts as a layer of protection for the ice covering the continent's land and also helps to prevent the ocean from heating up. Even modest increases in sea levels from ice melt could lead to dangerously high storm surges, presenting a danger to coastal communities.
Rannard, G., Dale, B., & Rivault, E. (2023, September 16). “Antarctic sea-ice at “mind-blowing” low alarms experts.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66724246
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Photo: Former Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. Credit to The Associated Press. | |
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As Slovakia’s trust in democracy fades, its election frontrunner campaigns against aid to Ukraine
This Associated Press article discusses former Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico’s campaign to occupy that office once again and the implications that his election could have for pro-Ukraine sentiment in Slovakia. Fico has campaigned against EU sanctions on Russia and suggest he will use Slovakia’s NATO membership to block Ukraine from joining that body. The anti-democratic sentiment on which he is seeking to capitalize is also a concern in several other eastern European countries.
Janicek, K. (2023, September 18). “As Slovakia’s trust in democracy fades, its election frontrunner campaigns against aid to Ukraine.” AP News. https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-election-fico-ukraine-russia-democracy-smer-e9e04e59361d927918ff9e8e6e830694
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