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Dear friends of VTIPG and the Community Change Collaborative,
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 myriad dimensions of our country's policy and governance challenges and the state of social norms that sustain the possibility of addressing those obstacles. Please note, the views expressed in these essays do not necessarily reflect the perspectives of VTIPG faculty or staff or of Virginia Tech. We also upload these articles and stories to our website. You may find the archive for this series at News and Opportunities at http://ipg.vt.edu. Thank you to Dr. Jake Keyel, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Rowan University, for assisting with this week's edition.
If you would like to suggest an article for consideration, please contact the editor at the address below.
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Our first piece this week, from Cardinal News, discusses Good Samaritan Hospice, a community-based nonprofit in the Roanoke Valley, that is opening that region's first freestanding hospice house this fall.
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A second selection, from CNN, contends that Americans are frustrated with the economy because continued high interest rates and prices have started to impact their spending.
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Our third story, from ABC News, analyzes a recent Pew Research Center poll taken from individuals in 34 countries that shows a plurality express higher confidence in President Joe Biden's handling of world affairs than Donald Trump, while respondents' positive views on American democracy as an example for other nations overall have declined.
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A fourth article, from Vox, discussed the European Parliament election results and potential explanations for the continent's rightward shift in chosen leadership.
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Last, we feature a story from The Guardian that analyzed the results of the Indian national elections, which have been seen as a defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party despite securing him a third term.
Brief synopses of these articles appear below. We hope the perspectives they offer encourage reflection and conversation!
Best wishes,
Billy Parvatam
VTIPG Communications Coordinator
pbilly97@vt.edu.
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Photo: Aaron Housh, CEO of Good Samaritan Hospice, stands in the foyer of the organization's new hospice house, the first in the Roanoke Valley. Credit to Cardinal News. |
Roanoke Valley's first hospice house prepares for fall opening
This article by Emily Schabacker of Cardinal News discusses Good Samaritan Hospice opening the first hospice house in the Roanoke Valley this fall. The 16-bed facility, called the Sheila S. Strauss Hospice House, will provide an option for clients who need a higher level of around-the-clock care than other facilities can offer. It will provide services such as pain management, bereavement counseling, spiritual support, and social workers, in addition to having intensive care unit support. The project overall will cost $13 million, and Good Samaritan Hospice needs to raise an additional $1.7 million in the next six months to complete the project.
Schabacker, E. (2024, June 7). "Roanoke Valley’s first Hospice House prepares for fall opening." Cardinal News. https://cardinalnews.org/2024/06/07/roanoke-valleys-first-hospice-house-prepares-for-fall-opening/
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Photo: Kroger in Blacksburg, Virginia. Credit to WSET. | |
Why Americans are so frustrated with the economy right now
Economists Dana Peterson and Stephanie Guichard contend in this opinion piece in CNN that Americans are frustrated with the economy because elevated prices and interest rates have now started to impact their spending habits. They attribute this behavioral change to pandemic savings being depleted, wage gains slowing, and household and credit card debt. Despite these changes, the authors predict that the economy will not tip into a recession, and that the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates at the end of this year.
Peterson, D., & Guichard, S. (2024, June 6). "Why Americans are so frustrated with the economy right now." CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/06/opinions/consumers-spending-high-prices-inflation-peterson-guichard/index.html
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Photo: The White House. Credit to the White House. | |
More global confidence in Biden than Trump even as views of US democracy decline, poll finds
This article, by Nicholas Riccardi of ABC News, discusses a recent Pew Research Center poll that found people in 34 countries around the world have more confidence in President Joe Biden to lead in world affairs than his challenger in November's election, former President Donald Trump. 54 percent have a positive view of the U.S., but only 21 percent said that American democracy remains a good example for other nations. Additionally, the survey asked for opinions of five world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron scored the highest level of confidence, the only leader to top Biden. In contrast, the average level of confidence in Trump's ability to lead was only slightly higher than Chinese President Xi Jinping, who many consider an autocratic leader.
Riccardi, N. (2024, June 11). "More global confidence in Biden than Trump even as views of US democracy decline, poll finds." ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/global-confidence-biden-trump-views-us-democracy-decline-111020384
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Photo: Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) political party celebrate at the AFD election gathering following the release of initial election results in European parliamentary elections on June 9, 2024. Credit to ABC News. | |
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Why Europe is lurching to the right
This Vox article by Ellen Ioanes recaps the European Parliament elections, which saw right-wing politicians elected in Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy. Ioanes contends that this rightward push is also driven by centrist politicians moving further to the right on issues such as cost of living, immigration, and the environment. France's President Emmanuel Macron has called for a snap parliamentary election and dissolution of the French Parliament over his party's defeat at the polls.
Ioanes, E. (2024, June 10). "Why Europe is lurching to the right." Vox. https://www.vox.com/politics/354601/european-parliament-elections-macron-afd-national-rally-far-right-fidesz-france
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Photo: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Credit to Wikipedia. | |
'Indian democracy fought back': Modi humbled as opposition gains ground
This article published by The Guardian discusses the results of the Indian national elections and argues that the returns show a win for democracy in that country and a defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many have accused his administration of imposing various authoritarian measures including the harassment of citizens under terrorism laws and restricting the freedom of the press during his tenure. Despite winning a historic third term, a feat only a few Indian prime ministers have accomplished, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its outright majority for the first time in a decade, requiring the BJP to rely on coalition partners to form a government.
Ellis-Petersen, H. (2024, June 9). “'Indian democracy fought back': Modi humbled as opposition gains ground." The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/09/indian-elections-democracy-modi-opposition-gains-analysis
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