mymidnightramblings

[mymidnightramblings]

I met a guy who didn't know what congress was

Growing up outside DC, politics was always a massive part of my life. Our yearly field trips were to the Supreme Court and Capitol Hill. We attended hearings and held protests as a part of school assignments. In fact, civic duty was so ingrained in our culture that almost all schools in DC and the surrounding area allowed students one day off to participate in “civic engagements.” This included protests, volunteering on behalf of a political party, or going door to door to make sure people vote. I always assumed civics was this ingrained to everyone, across the United States. It’s your duty, as a citizen, to be informed about the country you are a part of. Yet, only 19 states in the country require some sort of civics certification [Learning Policy Institute]. Looking online, I found out that many people barely took civics classes in school. For me, it was required three times. Once in fourth grade, once in seventh grade, and again in senior year of highschool. Each time built upon the last to make sure we had a whole and well rounded understanding of the government. It didn’t just teach me about the government, but also how the populus affects government decisions and what I can do to help change what I want to change. Civics is so much more than just a “government class.” It teaches you how to debate effectively, listen to people with opposite ideas, and what to do if you believe your rights are being infringed upon. It teaches you what to expect from the government and how to hold it accountable. Change begins in the people, but if the people are unsure, how will change happen? 

Participation in government is essential for a democratic government to be upheld. If there is no participation, then a democracy ceases to exist. Despite this, knowledge and understanding of civic engagement is dangerously low among Americans. According to a 2024 study by the University of Pennsylvania, one-third of Americans can’t name all three branches of government. If Americans are unable to name even the branches of government, can the populus truly be expected to cast well informed votes during each voting cycle? Additionally, less than half of those surveyed could realistically name multiple rights outlined within the constitution, and even less could name what political party controls the House and the Senate [Annenberg]. This is information vital to understand the processes of the government, how laws get passed, and how the supreme court makes their decisions. Often the blame for certain government decisions gets blurred between the endless departments and sectors. With many lacking a basic understanding of the three main sectors of the government, these large numbers of Americans wind up pointing their anger for civic policy in the wrong directions. When they should be angry at Congress, they are angry at the president. When they should be angry at the president, they are angry at Congress. All these signs point to one thing: Civics education is completely lacking in the United States, and it's leading to even more confusion. 

With confusion, trust begins to fall. According to the Pew Research Center, trust in the government was at 77% during the Johnson administration, but has since faced a rapid decline. Today, only 22% of individuals state that they trust the government to make the choices which best benefit the country. Experts are now worrying that voter engagement will further fall as mistrust deepens [Federal Times, US Chamber of Commerce Foundation]. Still, we find noticeable differences in the extent to which democrats and republicans distrust the government. As expected, democrats trust the government more when a democrat is in power, and the same applies to the republicans. However, the level of mistrust whenever an opposing party holds office is unprecedented [Pew Research Center]. This follows the trend of political polarization growing at an alarming rate in recent years. Our population is composed of more and more individuals who are unwilling to participate in healthy discourse with opposing ideologies, a problem further exacerbated by the growth of social media and social “bubbles.” 

Despite these growing challenges, civics education remains our most valuable weapon against these issues. Civics classes emphasize a culture of healthy arguments and open mindedness which enables students to become informed and open-minded citizens.When I took a government class in highschool, we often had healthy debates from individuals on the republican and democratic side arguing about supreme court rules, congress bills, and presidential cabinet appointees. The people I would argue against often had completely opposing viewpoints, but the way we argued made it so that I was able to understand the opposing party and their ideas better. Not only does this help individuals change the way they think about people with opposing opinions to them, but it helps individuals become more informed. People gain a better understanding of laws being passed and supreme court decisions being made when they get more viewpoints and opinions. With more understanding comes less confusion, and additionally more trust as people are willing to understand and maybe agree with the opposing ideas more. 

Creating an informed voter starts early. By allowing students to learn about their civil rights and liberties, as well as emphasizing an education on the US government, we are ensuring the next generation has the qualifications to successfully bring the United States into further prosperity. According to the National Institute for Citizens and Scholars, 66% of people who have a high civic knowledge are voting in the next election, compared to just the 47% who don’t have a high knowledge. Civics education reaches far beyond just what a “government” is. It teaches students about their rights and their liberties, and what they can do to change the world themselves. It makes people more engaged, and makes the US a better democracy.

[mymidnightramblings]

I grew up a child of physics

I grew up a child of physics. I watched Star Trek and Star Wars, and I kept glow-stars in my room at night. I begged for telescopes for my birthday, and I spent time amazing my cat, named Schrodinger, with Newton's cradle. At the age of seven, my dad taught me momentum using balls and a slide. At the age of 12 my mom was teaching me loads while we built tables together. I swung on swing sets and counted how long each swing would take. How I could affect the time it took. I was a child of physics. Now I’m an adult with no idea where to go. 

Congress is defunding NASA this year. I see so many people saying there is no reason we should fund NASA to begin with– focus on the problems on earth then focus on looking beyond. To that I say, looking beyond is what makes us human. The very first humans looked up at the same sky as us, albeit tilted a little differently, stars in slightly different locations, and wondered about their place in the universe. Every major religion has some basis in the stars. Wondering what is out there – where we belong, how our world works– that is human. And we are cutting the budget of the people who study it. 

Now, many people say more money should go from irrelevant government programs to social welfare. Things like social security and medicare. I agree. Why put money into NASA when 41.73 million people live in poverty in the United States? In 1969, during the first moon landing, 8,000 New Yorkers gathered to watch the exciting touchdown of the Lunar Module. However, about 50 blocks further an estimated 50,000 people were protesting it. Most of these individuals were african-american or from a low-income community. Why? The fact their government would rather “throw away” 25.8 billion in 1969 dollars than invest in the lower class was absurd, and it was a sign that their government did not believe in them (Smithsonian). That resentment is completely understandable. Imagine being unable to feed your children, then watching the TV to see the government throw away money you would give your life for just to win a “space race.” Coming from a place of privilege, exploring space seems exciting and expected as the next step, but for those in less fortunate circumstances it makes less sense to put money into NASA when more money could be put into social welfare programs. It doesn’t feel as though NASA is helping the public in any way. This case can still be argued today, with a caveat. NASA is helping the general public in ways one wouldn’t expect. It generated over $71.2 billion in economic output, supported over 339,600 jobs (not counting internships), and resulted in $7.7 billion in tax revenues (NASA Economic Impact Report). Additionally NASA has countless opportunities for underrepresented individuals through internships and engagement opportunities. I, myself, took advantage of such an opportunity for colored women in 2022, where I was able to attend a conference at the Goddard Space Flight Center. They are inspiring the next generation in underrepresented areas as well through their outreach programs, which are run in many low income communities through their Equality and Environmental Justice program (Earth and Applied Sciences).

Additionally, NASA is one of the most resourceful government agencies. In 2023, NASA got allocated $30.92 billion dollars–0.3% of government funds–and they used $28.28 billion of it (USA Spending, FY 2023) NASA uses around 95% of its government funding, with an estimated 3% hidden from the public due to black-budget (sending up hidden spy satellites alongside routine space flights.) 2% of that money is what is actually unused. Now, let's look towards the government's military spending (in 2023), where over $515 billion– 26.5% of its allocated $1.5 trillion–go unused (USA Spending). 

NASA is not some stupid “astrology science” agency, as someone so kindly told me. The innovation found within NASA’s research and engineering teams have helped forward society to new depths. Without satellites the internet would not exist, nor GPS, nor telecommunication services. They actively combat cataclysmic and apocalyptic events through their asteroid and solar ray detection. They have moved asteroids out of the way, and study sun activity to avoid another Carrington Event. NASA is doing the opposite of exacerbating an apocalypse. Why haven’t you heard of any of these space rays attacking Earth? Because NASA keeps an eye on them and takes care of them. Just because you don’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn't exist. Many people believe in a God they don’t see. Many people believe in Santa Claus. If the evidence exists, follow the trail that's been made. 

Now, most MAGA supporters consider themselves “macho” men. Let’s be “macho” men and face our problems rather than running away or making it worse. Starting with the biggest problem. Climate change. 

 Climate change is a terrifying problem, and rockets seem to be exacerbating it. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), rockets launched more than 1000 tons of soot into the atmosphere, and this is only projected to be worse. Additionally, this soot being deposited in the stratosphere rather than in the troposphere means that the pollution will dissipate over a longer period of time (Kluger). Currently, there is no fix for this, and I completely agree that the pollution created by rockets is quite large. However, we aren’t launching rockets every day. The pollution these rockets put out as a whole are more on the scale of cars and ships. This is because there have never been more than 200 rocket launches a year, and in the past there have been well under 150 per year (US Private Space Launch Industry). In fact, the global aviation industry, which consists of commercial airlines, cargo planes, and more, releases 2.5% of the world's carbon emissions (US Private Space Launch Industry). Moreover, as technology evolves, transportation becomes less damaging. We see this with the rise of electric vehicles, nuclear reactor submarines, and now with more methane fuelled rockets which pollute less. As time goes on, rockets will release less and less pollution, however we need to experiment more with rockets to get to that point (Kluger). 

We are experiencing the biggest threats to some of the most major government institutions. The president does not control the budget, congress does. Keep that in mind when you vote bi-annually.

[mymidnightramblings]

One year ago today, I kissed a boy. Of course, neither of us really understood what a simple kiss meant. I don’t think either of us understood the fact we actually liked each other to begin with, but the fact still stands that one year ago. today. I kissed a boy.

The world is made of stardust. Everything collides, and fuses, and breaks, and fuses, and breaks, and fuses, and somewhere along the way things stop breaking and fusing. Even if only for a minute, but that minute is enough. Somewhere along the way something stopped breaking and fusing long enough for a that stardust to make solar system. And somewhere along the way something stopped breaking and fusing long enough that stardust could make you.

And you are the best use of stardust that stardust could have.