Cornell Chronicle

Mathios says:

“One of the public policy dilemmas in dealing with the recent tragic cases related to vaping is how best to protect youth from the potential harm of these products and yet also not to implicitly encourage movement back to combustible cigarettes (recall that smoking combustible cigarettes is associated with hundreds of thousands of deaths per year).

“There is some evidence that the emergence of e-cigarettes coincided with the reduction of youth cigarette use, so the potential unintended consequence of reversing the downward trend certainly must be considered. 

“There certainly may be benefits of banning the flavors that are likely to be attractive to youth if such a ban deters youth onset. However, it is still the case that there may be costs such as youth turning to combustible cigarettes, including menthol cigarettes. So, this is very tricky. 

“The other complicated issue here is that if the current health issues are being driven by THC use in vaping products then focusing regulation on all vaping products might divert or dilute the message that it is especially important for youth, and adults as well, to avoid certain subtypes of vaping such as TCH based products."

Reyna says:

“Teenagers make risky choices, which is a natural part of growing up, but it makes them vulnerable to lifelong addictions, such as smoking. Research suggests that the adolescent brain responds more intensely to rewards of all kinds—flavors, food, money, and other ‘reinforcers.’  Thus, reducing exposure to addictive substances is especially important for teens because they can become addicted at lower levels of exposure. Drugs such as nicotine hook users by hijacking their brain’s reward system, and the reward system of teens is primed to make connections between flavors and feelings of reward.

“Banning even some vaping flavors is likely to reduce appeal and accessibility to teens, which reduces consumption and the bad consequences of consumption. Nicotine has bad health effects even in the absence of smoking, and the risks of vaping are poorly understood. Thus, it makes sense to limit teens accessibility to vaping. Teens respond more to external controls on risky behaviors than adults do, and so anything that reduces access to addictive substances may improve health. 

“No ban on behavior is 100% effective, but risky behaviors are reduced when policies constrain behavior. For example, raising the drinking age appears to have had massive effects on death and injuries, and some teens internalize a personal responsibility to not drink. The size of a beneficial effect of reducing vaping is not known, but researchers are working vigorously on this problem.  Surviving adolescence and thriving throughout the lifespan benefits society as a whole because so many social and economic problems have their origins in the teen years.”

Wheaton says:

“The United Auto Workers (UAW)-General Motors (GM) strike shows the UAW’s level of frustration and determination to get equitable pay and benefits for all employees, not just the long-term employees. Strikes are unpredictable and it is difficult to know when one will end.

“The strike could make Ford and Fiat Chrysler nervous, knowing if they don’t give their employees more in pay and benefits, they may face the same strike result. No one wins in a strike; both sides lose. Negotiations are not about getting everything you want; they are about finding a way to get something both sides can live with. Both sides walk away feeling as though they should have done better but can live with it and try again in four years.

“UAW and GM are facing a work stoppage. The UAW went out on strike to get wage increases and pay equity for the temporary and new hires in the GM facilities. General Motors took the unusual step of outlining the proposals made to the UAW at the last minute. Waiting until the last minute and broadcasting it to the public has further divided the sides and gotten the attention of elected officials from both political parties. UAW members will immediately see their incomes hit and if it lasts more than 15 days, they may start receiving $250 per week in strike pay. That is much less than they earn working and it will impact their ability to pay their bills.

“GM is also being hurt immediately. GM makes their revenue building cars, not selling cars. The public will not be impacted too much unless the strike lasts more than a couple weeks. GM has built up some excess inventory in preparing for a potential strike. After a few weeks it may be more difficult getting a vehicle in the color or engine type you prefer but there will be vehicles for purchase.”