Welcome

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on August 15, 2030 6:56 AM
Civic Issues in a Minute is a program under Penn State Brandywine's Laboratory for Civic Engagement. The overarching goal of Civic Issues in a Minute is to provide a starting point for a democratic discussion of a current issue. We provide listeners a short audio clip, approximately one minute in length, that introduces a "hot topic" impacting local-to-global citizens. In addition, we have compiled a list of supplemental resources for further exploration. We hope that discussions will take place in a variety of places - around the dinner table, on the bus, in the classroom, and in virtual environments.

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Voter ID

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on August 31, 2012 5:55 PM
Pennsylvania, the election, government-issued ID - a series of terms that have started a flurry of conversations.

How might the election be impacted by requiring a photo ID to vote?   Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources below.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)





Supporting resources

NPR: Do Voter ID Laws Prevent Fraud, or Dampen Turnout? (LINK)

Bucknell University: Ask the Experts, Pennsylvania's Controversial Voter ID Law (LINK)

Voting in PA (LINK)


Continue reading Voter ID.

Arms Trade Treaty

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on July 31, 2012 8:40 PM
The United Nations - the Arms Trade Treaty - and the United States being the only country to vote against it.  This is indeed a complicated issue and challenge.

Is international shaming enough to discourage illicit trade? Should the United States support the treaty?   Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources below.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)





Supporting resources

The Guardian: Draft arms trade treaty condemned (LINK)

New York Times: U.N. Misses its Deadline for Arms Pact (LINK)

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs- Arms Trade Treaty (LINK)
United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (LINK)

Wall Street Journal: UN Ends Arms Trade Treaty Talks Without Deal (LINK)

Huffington Post: Fact vs. Fiction: Arms Trade Treaty and Gun Ownership in the US (LINK)


Wealthy vs. under-resourced school districts: modern-day segregation?

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on July 2, 2012 10:30 AM
Segregation - it is not just from the 1960's, it is happening today in school districts that have access to varying resources.

Should the wealth of a community determine access to educational opportunities?   Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources below.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)





Supporting resources

The New York Times: Is Segregation Back in U.S. Public Schools? (LINK)

The Atlantic: Schools are More Segregated Today Than During the Late 1960s (LINK)


Morality and machines

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on May 30, 2012 9:20 PM
Drones, cars that drive and park themselves, ... each are examples of automated technology existing and operating in society.  But as we all know, technology does not always work in the ways we want it to.

Can machines be programmed to know right from wrong?   Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources below.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)





Supporting resources

The Atlantic: What the Heck Is Homeland Security Doing With $180 Million in Drones Mostly Sitting Around? (LINK)

The Economist: Morals and the Machine (LINK)

Wired: US Military Wants Drones in South America, But Why? (LINK)

Floating micro-nations

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on April 30, 2012 8:05 AM
The founder of PayPal is investing $1.25 million in the creation of start-up countries, floating far offshore, outside the legal boundaries of any country.  He reports that these freestanding countries will secure the future of mankind on Earth and allow for the experimentation of new government structures.

What are your thoughts about the establishment of floating micro-countries?   Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources below.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)





Supporting resources

The Huffington Post - Peter Thiel, PayPal Founder, Funds 'Seasteading,' Libertarian Sea Colony (LINK)

Inhabitat - Paypal Founder Peter Thiel Invests $1.25 Million to Create Floating Micro-Countries (LINK)

The Seasteading Institute (LINK)

The Economist - Seastanding: Cities on the ocean (LINK)

Posting online anonymously

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on March 2, 2012 6:49 PM
Mountain Grove, Missouri, is no longer a town that gathers at the local diner for coffee and gossip in the mornings. Instead, the town gossip is now being aired online where residents can post their "news" anonymously.

What are your thoughts about people being able to post online anonymously?   Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)




Please add your voice to the discussion on VoiceThread! Click on the link below to continue reading down the page and post your thoughts by clicking on "Comment" in the VoiceThread window.
Continue reading Posting online anonymously.

Drug testing welfare applicants

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on February 15, 2012 7:09 PM
In June 2011, Florida's Governor Rick Scott signed a bill requiring all welfare applicants in Florida to undergo drug testing before receiving government assistance. Arguments suggest that passing this bill only adds to the stereotype that all welfare applicants are a group of drug abusers. However, others argue that the drug testing acts as a safety net for tax-payers money.

What are your thoughts about welfare applicants undergoing a drug test before receiving benefits?   Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)




Please add your voice to the discussion on VoiceThread! Click on the link below to continue reading down the page and post your thoughts by clicking on "Comment" in the VoiceThread window.
Continue reading Drug testing welfare applicants.

Congress and the renewable energy production tax credit

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on January 22, 2012 6:17 PM
Offshore wind farms are appearing off coastlines across the globe, especially off both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. From European nations to the east coast of the United States, the promise of a clean energy source fueled by wind power has a high financial cost.

Should Congress extend the renewable energy production tax credit, and if so, how should it be funded?  Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)




Please add your voice to the discussion on VoiceThread! Click on the link below to continue reading down the page and post your thoughts by clicking on "Comment" in the VoiceThread window.

Continue reading Congress and the renewable energy production tax credit.

Cyberbullying and the First Amendment

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on December 9, 2011 9:18 AM
Cyberbullying is growing on social media websites among children, pre-teens, and teenagers.  In November 2010, Albany County in New York passed legislation that makes cyberbullying a misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine or up to a year in prison.

Can/should cyberbullying be protected by the First Amendment?  Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)




Please add your voice to the discussion on VoiceThread! Click on the link below to continue reading down the page and post your thoughts by clicking on "Comment" in the VoiceThread window.

Continue reading Cyberbullying and the First Amendment.

Banned Websites Awareness Day

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on September 18, 2011 8:08 PM
On September 28, 2011, the American Association of School Librarians will be dedicating one day of Banned Books Week to recognizing educational and social websites banned from computers in the K-12 classroom.  A federal law from 2001 mandates that teachers and students cannot use school computers to access websites deemed inappropriate for minors.

Should schools filter access to educational and social websites?  Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)




Please add your voice to the discussion on VoiceThread! Click on the link below to continue reading down the page and post your thoughts by clicking on "Comment" in the VoiceThread window.

Continue reading Banned Websites Awareness Day.

Facebook and its facial recognition software

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on September 18, 2011 6:45 PM
Facebook as been constantly upgrading the features on its network. One of the network's most recent addition is the implementation of a facial recognition software, which makes "tagging" or labeling pictures of individuals easier for users. During this "tagging" process Facebook's facial recognition software learns more about an individual's identity, which is then stored in the network database.

Is creating this database an invasion of a Facebook user's privacy? And does this pose any security threats for users?  Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)




Please add your voice to the discussion on VoiceThread! Click on the link below to continue reading down the page and post your thoughts by clicking on "Comment" in the VoiceThread window.

Continue reading Facebook and its facial recognition software.

Cutting off access to social media

By DR. LAURA GUERTIN on August 14, 2011 7:47 PM
Summer 2011 saw flash mobs organized by Philadelphia teenagers through social media. The London riots were said to be fueled by incitements to violence on Twitter. On August 11, San Francisco's BART shut down cell phone signals in its downtown subway stations to prevent an organized disruption to rush hour service.

Is blocking access to social media a violation of free speech, or necessary for safety and security?  Listen to the podcast, and view the collection of supporting resources.  Access podcast transcript (PDF file)




Please add your voice to the discussion on VoiceThread! Click on the link below to continue reading down the page and post your thoughts by clicking on "Comment" in the VoiceThread window.

Continue reading Cutting off access to social media.
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