Social Security and Medicare are projected to be incapable of fully funding benefits by 2032 and 2033. At the same time, the American population is aging rapidly with a shrinking working-age tax base. This is the result of declining fertility rates since the baby boomer generation, meaning more of today’s beneficiaries live off money from taxpayers despite raising fewer children than previous generations. Tying the benefit levels of these programs to the number of children an adult has raised in their lifetime would lower the program’s deficits. Additionally, it would give parents a return on investment for the enormous fortune it costs to raise their children, who would ultimately pay the taxes for their pensions in adulthood. Even though it may be politically unpopular, changes in benefit eligibility must be made for the program’s sustainability.
By Edward Kim
In France and across Europe, we are seeing protests, violent ones, emerge. According to most reporting, it is being dubbed the “cost-of-living” protest. The demonstrations sparked in France, where more than 550,000 people have joined. What started as student marches has evolved into looting, setting fires, and attacking police vehicles. In Brussels, Belgium’s capital, similar demonstrations have arisen, with police using tear gas to disperse protesters whom police accuse of launching missiles and setting fires. In the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, tens of thousands of protesters are also marching in the streets to speak out against stagnant wages, inability to access affordable housing, and a cost of living crisis. In Milan, Italy, rioters clashed with police, looted stores, and set properties on fire. Again, the march started peacefully, but devolved into violence when rioters started throwing stones and other objects at police. Government responses from European leaders, like Emmanuel Macron, President of France, offer a central theme: you have the right to protest, but violence is unacceptable. Shared grievances, however, starting with protests in France, are spreading across Europe. The theme from the side of protestors across the EU (European Union) is based on the issue of “underfunded education, rising living costs and, for students, uncertain prospects after graduation”. These, often violent, demonstrations come at a time of great political activity, as elections are scheduled in Spain, France, Italy and Poland in the next 12 months. Now, this situation raises the question: why now? What are the economic conditions that Europe faces that are causing such unrest? Let’s look at some of the main economic indicators in these European countries, and how they have changed from 2025 to 2026: If we look at the unemployment rate, year over year, from August 2025 to August 2026, it has not increased much. In fact, it has even gone down slightly for Belgium and Portugal. That being said, it has not gotten better, and France’s 8.2% unemployment rate is double that of the U.S., which has a recorded 4.1% unemployment rate in August 2026. Inflation is where the real issue lies. In France, inflation more than tripled, from 0.8% to 2.6%. That means the rate of the general rise in prices, which is what inflation is, has increased, and it was not met with any relief in the labor market. So the same scarcity of jobs existed in France, as last year, while the cost of living has gotten worse. The same issue exists in Italy, where unemployment, year over year, got marginally worse, while inflation doubled from 1.6% to 3.2%. In Portugal and Belgium, we see a similar story, as we do across most of Europe. Unemployment has barely improved, but the rise in prices has become noticeably worse; this makes it harder for people to be able to afford their lifestyles while the job market remains challenging. What has changed from 2025 to 2026? The Iran War is probably a key variable, as it has exacerbated the price of oil; unlike America, Europe does not have access to the same domestic oil reserves. Europe is thus more affected by events that weaken the external supply of oil. Combine this with the war between Russia and Ukraine, which is hurting Russian exports of oil, and the problem remains difficult to solve. The EU is also recovering from the residual effects of debt-based government finance during the COVID era, amid concerns that a lot of the money was unaccounted for. Then, consider the increased American tariffs, leading to a reduction in trade between the U.S. and the EU, and we can see why high prices remain a significant issue. Does it justify the extremity of the riots in France and other parts of Europe? That remains to be seen, but the timing of the riots is not coincidental. They are the result of a tightening and an ever-growing cost of living crisis, one that seems arguably worse than the one we see here in America. Will we see similar unrest in the United States, which also faces an affordability issue? I hope not, but that means leaders have to take heed of the economic conditions people are facing. For Europe, it has already come.
By Vaibhav Sinha
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson is no longer a friend of the Republican Party. Since his tumultuous exit from Fox News, he has drifted further and further away from the MAGA brand that once defined him. He’s not the only one: former Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and former Trump official Joe Kent both cut ties with the President. Now, Carlson wants to help form a third party that he can support in good conscience. However, Carlson is not very well-liked. The latest public opinion data from YouGov shows him at a 40% disapproval rating. Years of partisan pandering and sensationalism have granted him many enemies and weakened his credibility. And yet, in an era where the bar for competence and righteousness drops lower and lower, it may be worth hearing him out. He has ruled out running for office, but his fame allows him to reach a large audience and inspire discussion amongst Americans. His ideas, even if hollow or motivated by self-interest, may lead to a change in thinking and a meaningful alternative to the dominant parties. In an August video for his podcast, Carlson highlighted ten goals for America, or ten principles it should live up to. This manifesto of his is largely “vibes-based,” but Americans of all backgrounds may find it to be surprisingly agreeable. The first point, for instance, is treating all people the same, whether that be in schools, workplaces, or courts. He highlights the high-profile case of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein as an example of how the nation has abandoned fairness to give certain individuals, often elites, an edge. He also targets diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, tying them to the same kind of unfairness that let a criminal of the highest order off easy. The rule of law and meritocracy embody American ideals held by the left, right, and center. DEI advocates may disagree that race-based policies are unfair, but they can at least agree that fairness is imperative. Most, if not all of us, would also agree that justice must never be denied. The United States will soon lose its status as a liberal democracy if its institutions and laws continue to deteriorate like this. Corruption in broad daylight erodes public trust, encourages further wrongdoing, and threatens the American way. The manifesto’s second point is sovereignty. He alleges that U.S. involvement in Iran is a direct result of our association with Israel and its need for control in that region. His reasoning is that were we fully independent and sovereign, we would have no need to get involved. This is arguably the point most important to him, as he has long been fixated on the isolationist America-first ideology. It’s practically guaranteed that any party formed by him will focus on this as its driving principle. Given widespread anti-Israel sentiment and general opposition to foreign intervention, many Americans may once again be on the same page as Carlson. The third and fourth points are productivity and beauty. Instead of investing in surveillance systems and peddling weapons of war, he believes the United States should use its resources to support agriculture and create art. In that spirit, he also asserts brutalist architecture and graffiti as issues that need to be addressed. One could argue we have bigger problems, but when a majority of Americans think the country is on the wrong track, we may need a multitude of changes across society and culture. His fifth point is healthiness. He brings up toxic food additives and addiction to prescription drugs, like Adderall, as examples of a deeply unhealthy nation. Health Secretary RFK Jr’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative promised action on public health issues, but MAHA supporters claim the administration has failed to live up to its word. A former advisor for RFK Jr’s 2024 presidential campaign likened the administration’s handling of this issue to “a blatant slap in the face.” Carlson didn’t bring MAHA’s failures to light, but he expressed a desire for progress in relation to the issue. Where he does confront the administration is with his continued crusade against the Iran War. The conflict has been the greatest source of friction between him and Trump, but it also gives him common ground with independents and Democrats. When speaking on honesty—the sixth point in his plan—he says that the administration lied about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and used it as a false pretense for war. Americans historically do not trust the government, and secrecy around events like the assassination of JFK has made it worse as time passes. Carlson says that politicians should stop telling bold-faced lies and that government documents on controversial events should be declassified in order to achieve an honest country. Optimism and wisdom are points seven and eight. He elaborates that optimism isn’t just choosing to be positive, but having a society that encourages looking ahead. Aging leaders with no care for the future or stock traders after their daily profit, he argues, aren’t who we want to hold power or dominate society. The future belongs to the next generation, and society should improve itself for their sake. As part of that forward-looking mindset, Carlson believes we should teach wisdom to children, namely about the world’s functionality and adulthood. The final two points are decency and unity. Carlson wants an America where kindness towards our neighbors is the law of the land. Though these are among his more respectable positions, he also criticizes sexual indecency and mass migration in the same breath. If he means to bring Democrats into his movement, he will have to get rid of or compromise on some of his more conservative views. A call for unity might not hold much water coming from someone who was once among the most incendiary figures in America, but his populist views and rebranding may grant him the means to bring people together. It’s hard to rule out that he may be an opportunist switching to the winning side; it would be a shrewd yet fitting
By Amaan Bhimani
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