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.
To shrink wealth disparity in America, we need to raise the minimum wage
While there’s much to debate when it comes to the federal minimum wage in America, there’s one fact that is not up for debate: In nearly a decade, the current rate of $7.25 per hour hasn’t changed. And adjusted for inflation, that’s worth less than what the minimum wage delivered people in Read More...
The Revolution That Started it All: 1776
In today’s special edition of The Optimist Daily, we are celebrating revolutions! That’s because of the 4th of July, the day the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. Right? Well, not so fast. While it’s widely believed that July 4, 1776, was the day America Read More...
Oregon is now leading the nation when it comes to affordable housing
When it comes to affordable housing, no state is tackling the issue as aggressively as Oregon. This past week, the Beaver State passed a law that will effectively enact a state-wide ban on single-family zoning, which has come under scrutiny as housing costs have soared and housing shortages have Read More...
The world’s most inspirational climate activists have finally met each other
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Greta Thunberg are two of the most visible climate campaigners in the world, spearheading a movement that is forcing those in power to address the climate crisis. And although they both have a very similar agenda, they are also as different as two campaigners can get. Read More...
Here’s how the Netherlands became the first country without street dogs
Homelessness is a huge problem for canines all over the world, with many countries simply unequipped to handle the sheer number of dogs roaming the streets. But amazingly, one country has been able to keep dogs off the streets. That country is the Netherlands. Thanks to strategic government Read More...
Over 600 local governments have now declared a climate emergency
The municipal government of Sydney recently voted unanimously to enter a state of emergency over the looming threat posed by the climate crisis. The decision sees Sydney join a variety of local and national governments around the world in a movement that is increasingly gaining momentum. In total, Read More...
Tobacco manufacturers to be held accountable for cigarette butt pollution
While it's all fine and dandy that plastic straws are being eliminated from popular use, the cigarette butt has largely evaded such regulation despite being the biggest ocean contaminant. Americans alone toss 360 billion cigarette butts each year – enough to fill almost four baseball Read More...
Island-nation Vanuatu to ban disposable diapers in fight against pollution
It is but a tiny speck in the Pacific Ocean, but the island state of Vanuatu is leading the global fight against plastic waste. Being one of several Pacific nations severely affected by climate change, Vanuatu introduced one of the toughest single-use plastic bans in the world earlier this year. Read More...
New York is close to enacting one of America’s most aggressive climate bills
In recent months, we’ve written about New York’s grand climate plans, which aim to achieve a net-zero economy in New York by 2050. At the time of writing, those ambitious plans still had to jump over several hurdles before they became official policy. Flash forward to today, and those plans are Read More...
Teaching and medical staff in Bhutan will become the highest paid civil servants
In many low-income countries, teachers and doctors are often underpaid. That's no longer the case in the country of Bhutan. In a move earning that's been earning high praise, the small Himalayan kingdom has announced that the salaries of teachers, nurses, doctors, and all medical staff will be Read More...