Politics
Having a difficult time finding positive news about national and global politics? Search no further! From public policy to positive leadership to democracy efforts, find the latest good news stories in the world of politics at The Optimist Daily.
What would a "Basic Income" really do for America?
“...paying dividends from wealth we own together is a practical, market-based way to assure the survival of a large middle class." - Peter Barnes By Kristy Jansen The United States of America has faced sky-rocketing income disparity for decades, and this issue has been gaining more Read More...
Where you live affects health, wealth and earning potential - podcast reports
A couple of weeks ago we shared a story about the cognitive benefits of listening to podcasts. This was thrilling to us since several on the Optimist Daily team are dedicated podheads. One story we listened to this week jumped out as something that we had to share - a Planet Money episode that Read More...
Revving a noisy engine could soon get you in trouble in Paris
Parisians with powerful cars might want to think carefully before showing off their rides. Parts of the city (most recently the suburb of Villeneuve-le-Roi) are testing a "noise radar" system from Bruitparif that can pinpoint loud vehicles and, eventually, ticket them. The system uses four Read More...
Cuba overhauls its environmental laws to protect key marine species
Despite having some of the world’s best-preserved marine ecosystems, Cuba has seen some of its key commercial fish stocks come close to depletion due to certain loopholes in its environmental laws, Now the Caribbean island is determined to change that by introducing a new law aiming to curb Read More...
Peru pledges to end palm oil-driven deforestation by 2021
Palm oil is literally everywhere – in our foods, cosmetics, cleaning products and fuels. And, while being a source of huge profits for multinational corporations, our palm oil consumption has devastating consequences for the environment – from displacing indigenous people and critically Read More...
Decriminalizing Magic Mushrooms for Therapy in Oregon
Following the legalization of cannabis, activists in Oregon are working toward the chance to vote on the decriminalization of magic mushrooms. Already legal in several cities in the United States, an initiative in Oregon is working to decriminalize psilocybin across the state. Psychedelics may Read More...
Corporations Redefined: Business Roundtable’s Big Step Forward
On August 19, 2019, Business Roundtable released a “Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation” that moves away from a shareholder only focus and acknowledges a commitment to all stakeholders. CEOs of 181 of America’s most influential corporations signed onto the updated Statement. In case Read More...
Insurance companies in Illinois to cover the costs of EpiPens for children
For those in the US who suffer from severe allergies that can result in experiencing potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, EpiPens are a crucial part of life. However, starting around a decade ago, the price of the medication skyrocketed—putting thousands of lives, especially those of Read More...
America has a shortage of doctors. Foreign doctors should fill the void
Kristina Sokolovska Konieczny studied medicine for six years so she could become a primary care doctor, then spent three years practicing family medicine. She worked in various places — at a public hospital, in the homes of people in underserved areas, in private practice, and at a top youth Read More...
A new bill wants to redesign expiration labels to cut down on food waste
Have you ever thrown away food that looked perfectly fine, just because the package said it was expired? As it turns out, a lot of people get confused by date labels on food packaging — and a big reason why is because expiration dates are not uniformly regulated in the U.S. To combat that, Read More...