Political Activism
Her Body, Her Choice
Women’s rights are under attack. From 2011 to 2019, states have passed 483 new abortion restrictions. Conservative states target loopholes in the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court precedent to establish unconstitutional anti-abortion legislation. I designed this issue brief to analyze the threat of anti-abortion laws with regard to Roe and explain what national legislation would protect women’s rights to privacy and healthcare. No level of government should have the ability to impede a women’s decision. National legislation that recognizes abortion as healthcare is demanded to solve this continuous epidemic.
Developing a Living Wage
An American who earns a minimum wage salary while working 40 hours a week still falls under the national poverty line. The minimum wage has remained at $7.25 since 2009 while the cost of living has increased by 20%. The purpose of a minimum wage is to protect workers from unethical labor conditions and to provide enough money for basic necessities. However, in no time in minimum wage history has the minimum wage been considered a living wage. I compare the difference between a minimum wage and a living wage to advocate for the increase of the minimum wage to at least $15. No working American should fall under the poverty line because the minimum wage is unlivable.
Universal Healthcare
The United States is the only developed nation that does not have universal healthcare. In this paper, I consider the pros and cons of establishing universal healthcare in the United States. Conservative politicians have marked universal healthcare as a radical socialist ideology, one that would threaten the democracy of this nation. Ensuring the guaranteed health and safety of every American should not be considered a radical idea. Many middle-class families would benefit from universal healthcare. I advocate for universal healthcare because the pros outweigh the potential cons. As a wealthy first-world nation, our healthcare system should reflect this.
Protect Transgender Youth
Conservative states are attacking the LGBTQ+ community through the proposal and enactment of harmful legislation. In April 2021, the Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act (SAFE Act) bill passed in Arkansas’ state legislature that prohibits transgender individuals under the age of 18 from receiving gender-affirming medical care. In this blog post, I explain the components of the SAFE Act bill and how it was passed in Arkansas. I advocate for the transgender community by analyzing the harms discriminatory legislation puts on the vulnerable community. We need to protect trans kids and provide them with the essential care they deserve as human beings.
