Could You Save American Democracy? Stanford Researchers Lead 'Strengthening Democracy Challenge'

The public has a new opportunity to test their hypotheses about how to strengthen U.S. democracy — all while potentially winning thousands of dollars. Stanford University and collaborators are inviting submissions to the crowdsourced Strengthening Democracy Challenge . Submissions must be...
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Republicans and Democrats Both Support Social Security — and Even Agree on Some Reforms

Social Security is sometimes described as the “third rail of American politics.” It got this name in the 1980s because it was so popular among both Republicans and Democrats that if any politician dared to “touch” Social Security and cut it substantially, the politician’s career would...
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Congress’s Most Famous Bipartisan Roadtrip: The Friendship of Beto O’Rourke and Will Hurd

Divisions in Washington, D.C. can seem bitter, so it can be helpful to remember more positive bipartisan experiences that began only a few years ago and continued afterward. A two-day road trip made by two Texas congressmen from different political parties from San Antonio to Washington,...
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How Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” Can Help Us Find Common Ground

Imagine that the economy has imploded and you have just been let go from your job. After months of tirelessly searching for a new job, your savings have been depleted and you are forced to foreclose on your home. As you sit, stressfully contemplating your plans for the future, what are...
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Why do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories? What the Leading Research Says

From the Center This viewpoint is from a writer rated Center. The coronavirus pandemic led to the emergence of conspiracy theories about the origins and nature of the new virus. In part reflecting intense political polarization in the United States, conspiracy groups like QAnon have risen...
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More than Memorization: A New Civics Education Vision May Reduce Polarization

In the United States today, politics seems to be less about governing and more about finding the best way to demean the other side. The result: a partisan divide and an epidemic of affective polarization. Affective polarization is defined as “the extent to which citizens feel more...
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Surveys Show Majority of Republicans Believe Government Must Tackle Student Loan Debt

Updated October 2022 Many Americans see the benefits of a college degree, such as opportunities for well-paying jobs. Yet over the years, college costs have become extremely high, both from private and public colleges . This increase has led to more and more debt -- a total of about $1.75...
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Surveys Show Both Democrats and Republicans Support Healthcare Improvements

A recent Gallup survey found that 63% of Americans were at least somewhat dissatisfied with the availability of affordable healthcare. Studies from other research organizations indicate that Americans from across the political spectrum think government healthcare plans should be improved...
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It’s Not Just Them: Research Suggests Irrational Biases Across the Political Spectrum

In our increasingly polarized age, it has become commonplace to attribute our political opponents’ beliefs to their irrationality. Advancements in psychology seem to validate this view: we are prone to confirmation bias, engage in motivated reasoning, and become self-insulated in social...
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Surveys Show Republican Voters Actually Support Increasing the Minimum Wage, Just Not to $15/Hour

U.S. Congress will consider a $15 minimum wage for the second time soon. Joe Biden and most congressional Democrats want to more than double the minimum hourly wage from its current level of $7.25. Although Democrats have this policy goal, survey data (see below) show that the majority of...
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