Columns 2/1/2021

Find two interpretive columns in daily U.S. newspapers and post the links to your blog. Choose one column that you agree with the writer's point of view and another column that you disagree with the writer's point of view. Write a few paragraphs on each column outlining what you agree with and disagree with. Be prepared to discuss the columns in class.

Disagree

Column: $1,400 stimulus payments for most Americans would be a waste of money by Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune Jan. 27, 2021 

Lead: Last spring, the Treasury Department sent out “economic impact payments” to some 160 million people, in the amount of $1,200 for each adult who qualified. In September, exhibiting a sense of humor not normally associated with pollsters, Gallup asked people if they would like the government to give them more money.
Lo and behold, 70% of them said yes. Only 17% said no — a group possibly dominated by those who didn’t qualify the first time and were seething with resentment.

In this column written by Steve Chapman and published in the Chicago Tribune, Chapman uses the same redundant and overplayed statements as many other narrowminded, fiscally conservative individuals to argue that $1,400 stimulus payments for the American people would be a waste of taxpayer dollars. 

Chapman falsely speculates that stimulus checks would not boost the economy because people will not use them to buy clothes or dine. 

Has Chapman heard of online shopping and Uber Eats?

Shopify, eBay, Amazon, and PayPal are all e-commerce companies that have seen a large increase in their market value since the pandemic as many people switch from purchasing goods in-stores to online. 

These stimulus checks will keep the small businesses and local restaurants that utilize these tech platforms afloat as people will have more money in their pockets to give to their communities. 

Chapman argues that people will use 60% of the stimulus to pay off debt or stash in savings; however, that is exactly what needs to happen in order to foster a smooth economic recovery. 

Many people have gone into debt for months due to massive Employment Development Department fraud that has caused backlogged unemployment claims, pending payments, and identity verification issues. 

There are currently twice as many people unemployed now compared to pre-COVID times. 

By giving money directly to the American as vaccines rollout and EDD improves, we will have a faster economic recovery because people will not be swarming in debt once the economy reopens. 

With direct payments, those who have been hit the hardest, mostly people of color, will be able to survive another month without sinking into more economic despair. Others, will be able to spend the money on necessities and support their local businesses.

Agree

Column: Twitter's and Zoom's algorithms illustrate why diversity in tech matters by Rajee Ganesan, The Daily Tar Hee, Oct. 1, 2020

Lead: In the computer science industry, the use of machine-learning and data-based algorithms is quickly growing in popularity. There are countless applications of the tool, from predicting what Netflix shows you’d enjoy to self-driving cars. However, with high-level computer science algorithms comes the influence of bias and potential ethical concerns — many of which aren’t addressed in courses required by degree programs in the field.

In this column written by Rajee Ganesan and published in the independent student newspaper of the University of North Carolina on Oct. 1, 2020, Ganesan argues that the functionality and technological stagnation of popular software used by big tech corporations like Twitter and Zoom have exposed systemic racism. 

Ganesan states that facial recognition software has a harder time detecting people of color who use green screens. 

Although appearing fuzzy on a Zoom call may seem trivial, Ganesan goes on to explain how past algorithms created by Google and Microsoft have mistakenly labeled Black people as criminals. 

In 2016, Microsoft released a bot that was supposed to learn about internet language by pulling from data but instead posted profane comments that idealized Hitler in just 16 hours. 

It's obvious that the weaponization of technology to incorrectly criminalize Black people and the disregard for other social-political perspectives will impede social progress. 

Ganesan argues that diversity in the tech industry is an important step to tackling systemic racism and changing the narrative of the white male default to create a safer and more just society.