UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar

UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar addresses the growing issue of economic inequality through a critical examination of diverse facets of society, including retail industry impacts, labor challenges, the tipping economy, systemic injustice, technological influences, homelessness solutions, leadership, education policies, and capitalism's nuances. It advocates for awareness, equitable solutions, and actionable responses.

Economic Inequality Labor and Workers' Rights Retail Industry Dynamics Social Justice and Advocacy Homelessness and Housing Solutions Leadership and Character Education and Diversity Policies Capitalism and Corporate Practices Technology and Society

The hottest Substack posts of UnfairNation by Ehsan Zaffar

And their main takeaways

💸 Make America Expensive Again

3 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Tariffs Inflation Housing Consumer Goods
  1. Prices for many goods are expected to rise significantly in the next six months. This includes cars, energy, housing, and food.
  2. Tariffs are increasing costs for consumers, adding $250 to $420 more to monthly expenses, which is hard for many people to afford.
  3. Although tariffs promise to fund government services, cuts to staff and agencies may prevent taxpayers from seeing any real benefits.

🤑 Billionare Logic

6 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public funding Media Government Contracts Social Impact Job Opportunities
  1. Elon Musk is cutting funding for public news outlets like NPR and PBS, but keeps getting lots of money for his companies from the government.
  2. In the past, people have strongly defended public broadcasting when it was threatened, showing the importance of having diverse news sources.
  3. There are many job opportunities in the impact sector, with various organizations looking for talented individuals to fill important roles.

👊🏽 A day for transitions ...

29 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights Social justice Movements Advocacy Leadership
  1. After ten years, it's time to change and grow. The newsletter started as a way to connect with friends but evolved into discussing important social issues.
  2. Today is significant as it's MLK day, a reminder of the civil rights movement. MLK's legacy inspires action against ongoing inequality.
  3. The next few years are seen as a chance to build a strong movement for change. It's about creating solutions for those who have less and making a real impact.

"Who Cares About International Aid?"

7 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🌍 World Politics International Aid Foreign Policy Economic Development Global Governance Soft Power
  1. Helping others through international aid is not just good for the people receiving help, but it also makes the helpers feel good and strengthens their own country's values.
  2. International aid helps build relationships and influence. If the U.S. pulls back, other nations like China might step in and take that influence.
  3. Investing in international development is smart economics. It helps create markets for U.S. goods, ensuring better economic stability for everyone involved.

💪🏽 New Format. New Opportunities.

3 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Employment Social Issues Economic Policy Community Engagement
  1. The newsletter is changing to provide more practical resources rather than commentary. This means it will be sent more regularly with useful information.
  2. Youth incarceration rates have dropped significantly since the 1990s, showing that communities can create better solutions when they demand change.
  3. There are various job and fellowship opportunities available that focus on social good, climate change, and equity in college sports.
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🧐 Was I Right?

6 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Climate Inequality Clean Energy Machine Learning
  1. 2023 saw artificial intelligence going mainstream with various applications.
  2. In 2023, the narrative on climate change didn't shift despite record-setting events.
  3. Income inequality heightened in 2023 with the rich getting richer while low-income earners and the middle class suffered.

💰 If I Had a Dollar …

9 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
💼 Business Inequality Retail Economy Market Power Local Economy
  1. Investing in dollar stores can be more profitable than investing in middle and upper-class retailers.
  2. Dollar stores thrive in areas where there is growing economic inequality, contributing to the problem.
  3. Dollar stores' duopoly makes it challenging for local businesses to compete, affecting community welfare.

🏡 How 3 Cities Are Solving Homelessness

6 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
  1. Medicine Hat in Canada successfully implemented a "housing first" strategy to combat homelessness, providing stable housing before addressing other issues.
  2. London in England has taken innovative approaches like turning buses into homeless shelters and employing unhoused individuals, showing that novel solutions are crucial in tackling homelessness.
  3. Tokyo in Japan has low homelessness rates due to strict public policies and cultural factors like low drug use and robust mental health care.

🎭 Stories We Tell Ourselves About Inequality

3 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Inequality Refugees Human Rights Global Conflicts Media Coverage
  1. Society cares more about issues they relate to - like tragedies during vacation versus refugee crises.
  2. Sometimes you have to do business with people you don't like, but you can still hold them accountable for their actions.
  3. Some stories get more attention because they are deemed more important globally, but all human suffering should be highlighted.

👊🏽 I'm Hiring!

1 implied HN point • 03 Mar 23
💼 Business Social justice Diversity Community Building Podcasting
  1. The Urban Doom Loop: Empty buildings and storefronts post-pandemic in cities like NYC and Chicago.
  2. Lack of Native American Representation in Congress: Only two Native Americans in the House of Representatives.
  3. The Power of Action: Reflecting on people who work to make the world better versus those who don't.

🤫 The 5 Secrets of Capitalism

1 implied HN point • 10 Feb 23
  1. Profit is not the only goal for corporations; investors matter more.
  2. Endless growth is not necessary for a healthy company; sustainable growth is key.
  3. Capitalism thrives on collaboration, not just competition.