Posts by Aaron Sugarman
Can’t Stop GameStop: How $GME democratized the stock market

“GameStock’s rapid ascension in stock price over the past two weeks will have far-reaching implications: it has shown that Wall Street can no longer ignore retail investors, it has shone a light on some of the illicit practices of hedges funds which contributed to the 2008 financial crisis, but perhaps most significantly—it has gotten people interested in the stock market. Even though the GME fad will eventually fade away, this event has created a new informed generation which will view the stock market as a viable way to make money, and that will likely contribute to a further democratization of the market.”

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WHO research team arrives in China to study origins of COVID-19

“A global team of researchers from the World Health Organization arrived in China last Thursday to conduct a study of COVID-19’s origins. These investigations within China will play a key role in understanding the pandemic and what measures are needed to prevent future outbreaks. The real test of China’s compliance with international standards will be if this initial investigation by the WHO proceeds without further disruption from the Chinese government.”

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Why U.S. involvement in the World Health Organization is critical now more than ever

“Last month, senior U.S. health official Garrett Grisby claimed that the World Health Organization (WHO) was not sharing enough information on an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Despite the WHO’s shortcomings, it would be a major policy blunder for the United States to limit their involvement in the organization. Permanently cutting all funding to the WHO as Trump vowed in May and permanently withdrawing from the organization would be ceding influence to China, which would dramatically increase their power on the world stage.”

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Looming global recession means we need social programs now more than ever

“The International Monetary Fund’s newest estimate is that the global economy will shrink 4.4% in 2020: the worst annual drop since the Great Depression. Policy interventions such as unemployment benefits and paid-parental leave must be undertaken by countries around the world in order to help vulnerable populations. This will help ensure that this crisis does not contribute to a widening gender and intergenerational economic inequality.”

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Mail-in voting could be a logistical disaster - but we must vote anyway

“The U.S. postal service has warned 46 states that it cannot guarantee all ballots sent by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted. This has the potential to disqualify tens of millions of votes. But if we let that get in the way of us actually casting our ballots then that means we have given up on our democracy.”

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Why China’s actions against Uighur Muslims constitute genocide

“Since around April 2017, China has been operating hundreds of Uighur “re-education” camps, and approximately one million of the eleven million Uighurs have been detained. While every country has a right to protect their national security, there is no excuse for China’s internment camps and oppression of the Uighur people. China’s actions against the Uighurs fit the United Nation’s definition of genocide, and it is imperitatve that they be held responsible for their actions by the international community.”

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