What GOP tax plan means for US middle class

Edition: US - Today's top story: GOP tax plan doubles down on policies that are crushing the middle class [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 20 December 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note The Senate approved the Republican tax plan late last night, and the House is set to follow suit later today after a procedural hiccup forced a second vote. This means the president will likely sign the bill into law in time for Christmas as promised. For the American middle class, however, it’s hardly a present, writes Colorado State’s Steven Pressman. It’s more like a [lump of coal](. The economist chronicles the rise and accelerating fall of the U.S. middle class and argues that the new law will only make things worse. To get the needed votes to pass, the tax bill opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling, a long-sought objective that will certainly please Alaskans and other proponents of domestic drilling. Scott Montgomery of the University of Washington [explains how this pristine patch of land embodies a complex]( – and seemingly intractable – set of conflicts over resource development and wilderness conservation. And a trio of [consumer psychologists]( sum up their new theory about why shoppers who want to steer clear of brands associated with child labor and other bad baggage may find that they can’t remember which ones to avoid. “Maybe consumers forget,” the scholars write, “when products are made unethically so they can buy what they want without feeling (as) guilty.” Bryan Keogh Economics + Business Editor Top stories A big part of that check is being drawn from middle-class accounts. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin [GOP tax plan doubles down on policies that are crushing the middle class]( Steven Pressman, Colorado State University The American middle class has been on a rocky ride during the 20th century, surging after World War II but falling since the 1980s. The Republican tax plan may be its death knell. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to a great diversity of wildlife – one reason environmentalists oppose oil and gas drilling. US Fish and Wildlife Service [Why Americans will never agree on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]( Scott L. Montgomery, University of Washington Alaska and oil proponents are cheering a move to open up an ecologically sensitive part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling -- a position environment supporters can't abide. You probably don’t remember the Kathie Lee sweatshop scandal of the mid-1990s. What about the more recent debacles? AP Photo/Michael Schmelling [Untrustworthy memories make it hard to shop ethically]( Rebecca Walker Reczek, The Ohio State University; Daniel Zane, The Ohio State University; Julie Irwin, University of Texas at Austin People who see themselves as conscientious consumers often buy items made by companies that violate their values because it's hard to keep that information in mind. Politics + Society - [The 2017 national security strategy: A scorecard]( Peter Dombrowski, US Naval War College; Simon Reich, Rutgers University Newark Congress mandates that each president produce a 'national security strategy.' What does Trump's reveal about his administration's values, priorities and prevailing problems? - [A former Israeli diplomat answers 5 questions about Jerusalem]( Dan Arbell, American University Wondering why Jerusalem matters so much? A 25-year veteran of the Israeli Foreign Service explains what you need to know. Arts + Culture - [During the holidays, giving gifts to the dead can help you cope with grief]( Jenna Drenten, Loyola University Chicago The ritual might seem strange, but a sociologist spent eight years studying it – and found that there really is a therapeutic benefit. Ethics + Religion - [What Kwanzaa means for black Americans]( Frank Dobson, Vanderbilt University For the African-American community, Kwanzaa is not just any "black holiday. " It is a recognition that knowledge of black history is worthwhile. Health + Medicine - [The US may be in for a tough flu season: 4 questions answered]( Irena L. Kenneley, Case Western Reserve University After Australia's tough flu season, some experts predict that the U.S. is in for a few difficult months. What does that mean for you? - [Why finding new HIV targets takes so long: Some basics about basic research]( Christy Gaines, University of Maryland, Baltimore County The death toll from HIV/AIDS continues to decline, but more than 36 million people are still living with HIV. A researcher explains why the work for a cure is painstaking. Science + Technology - [More businesses are trying mobile apps to lure and keep consumers]( Venkatesh Shankar, Texas A&M University ; Unnati Narang, Texas A&M University As businesses' branded mobile apps become more common and popular, how are they affecting shoppers' buying habits? Trending on site - [The travel industry has sparked a backlash against tourists by stressing quantity over quality]( Carter A. Hunt, Pennsylvania State University At many popular destinations, residents are protesting against crowding, rowdy visitors and low wages. With some research, travelers can use their visits to enrich host areas instead of harming them. - [You (and most of the millions of holiday travelers you encounter) are washing your hands wrong]( Michelle Sconce Massaquoi, University of Oregon With holiday travel in full swing and people packed together in small spaces, it's important to try to stop the spread of germs. But can we really get our hands clean with a few seconds of cold water? - [When cringeworthy gifts are worse than inconsiderate]( Deborah Y. Cohn, New York Institute of Technology Sadly, people sometimes deliberately give bad presents. Today’s quote [Clinicians are bracing for a potentially harsh flu season this winter. As of early December, there have been 7,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. That's double the amount as the same time last year.]( [The US may be in for a tough flu season: 4 questions answered]( Irena L. Kenneley Case Western Reserve University [Irena L. Kenneley] [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 625 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA