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.
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...
The mayoral candidate showing us all what it means to practice what you preach
For mayoral candidate Randi Dorman, improving the city of Tuscon’s transportation has become a cornerstone of her campaign. The real estate developer wants to electrify the city’s bus fleet, expand the city’s streetcar system, and make the city more cycling-friendly. But rather than just say Read More...
Poland is scrapping its income tax for young people to stop 'brain drain'
In the past 15 years, 1.7 million young people have left Poland in a bid to find better job opportunities abroad. This has resulted in a ‘brain drain’, leaving considerable skill shortages across the economy, especially in the construction and manufacturing industries. Alarmed by the loss of Read More...
New bill seeks to ban “addictive” features on social media platforms
Today, most of the social media apps and websites we use daily are designed in such a way as to keep us hooked, instead of helping us. Social media addiction has become a serious problem of modern society, and the tech companies behind these platforms are continuously using tricks to exploit Read More...
Scientists are demanding a fifth Geneva Convention to protect nature from war
When we think of war crimes, we typically think of actions like taking hostages, torturing prisoners, or enlisting child soldiers. Now a group of scientists wants to add another item to that list: harming the environment. An open letter signed by 24 prominent scientists from around the world Read More...
Massachusetts wants to fight traffic congestion with a tax credit
Massachusetts is said to have some of the worst vehicular traffic on Earth, with many workers commuting at least 90 minutes one way to work. The state wants to fix this badly, which is why they are getting set to offer what is likely the first of its kind in the nation: a tax credit for employers Read More...