Molly Banta

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Just as poverty is understood to be cyclical or have a “sticky floor,” membership in the wealthiest class self-perpetuates, regardless of merit (or lack thereof).

As social mobility fades, so does meritocracy

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Confirmation bias in the media is rampant and recognized. Why don't we acknowledge that peer-reviewed scientific papers are subject to the same human manipulations?

Science’s under-discussed problem with confirmation bias

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Are laws only effective when they have the moral consensus of society? Prohibition's failure seems to suggest so.

What Prohibition can teach us about immigration reform

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Political comedy is used to persuade and bond likeminded groups together, while publicly ridiculing outsiders. That's true whether you're Jon Stewart or ISIS.