You can’t watch or read the news without encountering a story about police violence toward people of color, complete with graphic video footage. Often these violent encounters spark large protests and sometimes riots in the cities where the violence occurs. This week, especially, the topic of race and law enforcement is at the forefront of our national consciousness because jurors voted to convict Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of killing George Floyd. [Read more…]
What Research Tells Us About Voter Fraud
October 21, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Allegations of voter fraud date back over a century in the United States. You may have heard stories about a local community sending an absentee ballot to someone who is deceased, or a person trying to vote twice. As the 2020 election approaches, President Donald Trump – like many elected officials before him – is again calling into question the validity of voting in the U.S. [Read more…]
Evidence-based Ways to Change Someone’s Mind
September 8, 2020 By Leave a Comment
The nation is gripped in a presidential election unlike any other in history, with deep divides down political lines, an economy in peril and an enduring global pandemic.
On top of that, political information and misinformation abounds online. Because anyone can post anything on the internet, many people in both political parties base their opinions and judgement on false information. [Read more…]
The Ripple Effects of Mass Incarceration
March 13, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Approximately 2.3 million people are imprisoned in the United States in state and federal prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, local jails and psychiatric facilities.
While that number may seem staggering, what’s more surprising is the ripple effect of imprisonment. A study published this month found that 45 percent of all Americans have had an immediate family member spend time in jail or prison. That number jumps to 64 percent if extended family is included. [Read more…]
Proven Ways to Change Someone’s Mind
November 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Americans will head to the polls tomorrow. While this year is proving to be one of the most politically-divisive in U.S. history, here at Evidence-based Living, we still hold onto hope that Americans can engage in a civil political dialogue. [Read more…]
What Happens When We Separate Families
July 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Over the past several months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – has been separating parents and their children seeking asylum at the U.S. border. In the vast majority of cases, these children have been taken to care institutions while their parents are detained in jail. [Read more…]
Do Concealed Weapons Keep People Safer?
August 24, 2017 By 2 Comments
Today, all 50 U.S. states allow residents to carry concealed weapons in public, and eight states extend this right without requiring a special permit.
Laws allowing people to carry concealed weapons in public places (often called right-to-carry or RTC laws) were passed over the past several decades as gun advocates argued that they would promote safety. The perspective is based on the premise that everyday citizens who carry handguns will be able to fight back against armed criminals. [Read more…]
What we know about fake news
February 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Former President Barack Obama banned the pledge of allegiance in schools before leaving office, and Pope Francis endorsed President Donald Trump in the 2016 election….right? [Read more…]
Proven ways to change someone’s mind
November 14, 2016 By 2 Comments
With the 2016 presidential election only one week behind us, social media is still filled with difference viewpoint about President-elect Donald Trump. There are videos, news articles and essays that add new details to the glut of information. But does any of it make a difference? [Read more…]
Checking Up on the Science of Homosexuality
May 17, 2016 By 1 Comment
Diversity in sexual orientation—whether gay, straight, bisexual, or somewhere in between—has sparked long-standing controversies across the globe. In the United States, recent debates have centered around the civil rights for same-sex couples. In many other countries, homosexuality is considered illegal; in some, it’s punishable by death. [Read more…]
The body evidence on curbing gun violence
October 22, 2015 By 2 Comments
This is the first post in an occasional series that will provide evidence about issues of interest in upcoming elections. Stay tuned for more data to help inform your vote.
Gun violence is a continuing problem in the United States. So far in 2015, more than 10,000 people have died because of gun-related violence, including nearly 3,000 children and teens. Personally, whenever I hear about a shooting at a school or church, I’m shocked by the senseless loss of lives. And I wonder what we, as citizens, can do about it? [Read more…]
Evidence-based elections: Voting laws
November 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment
As Americans head to the polls today for mid-term elections, many voters will face new laws that change the voting requirements in their state. [Read more…]
