Advice to new graduates that will be entering the teaching profession

Advice to new teachers just entering the profession. In these troubled times, don't we need all the help we can get? You'll also find that tech guy has lots of money saving ideas. Thank you, tech guy.
Educational Technology Guy: Advice to new graduates that will be entering the teaching profession

Students are drowning in debt

To fund their education, students are taking on more and more debt. Unfortunately, much of this debt comes in the form of unsecured, private student loans. This is a very risky form of debt. Students are desperately trying to prepare for an increasingly uncertain economic future. Even in the best of times, this kind of debt could ruin college graduates financially before their careers have even started. Do students and their parents need a financial literacy lesson? Absolutely. Do these types of loans need more regulation? You betcha. Students are drowning in debt | LinkedIn

Our new FCS mantra?

"The biggest problem in the world could have been solved when it was small." - Lao Tzu

Good Enough Moms | with Dr. Marti Erickson & Erin Erickson - Motherhood in today's world - Podcast

Great, free podcasts for parents on this website. I truly recommend them. Quick, easy, and useful information. Who could ask for more?


Good Enough Moms | with Dr. Marti Erickson & Erin Erickson - Motherhood in today's world - Podcast

This week's podcast:

Apr 11, 2011
Have you wondered if your child’s language is what it should be for his or her age? How can you tell and where can you get help if you think there is a problem? A speech and language pathologist offers practical guidelines and suggestions this week!

Women Feel Guiltier About Today’s ‘24/7’ Jobs

WebMDHealth Newletter : Women Feel Guiltier About Today’s ‘24/7’ Jobs

I was just reading this health newsletter, and it revealed what I would suspect most of us already suspected: the work-life balance is getting more difficult, and women tend to feel guilty about it. We don't tend to manage our expectations, we just beat ourselves up for not doing a better job at whatever it is we don't have time for. This article offers helpful advice for women in developing a more balanced a realistic approach to work and family life. It's well worth the couple of minutes it takes to peruse--so don't feel guilty about taking a moment to read it.

Positive Discipline--What It Is and How To Do It

Here is a wonderful publication from www.stophitting.com about positive discipline. I think it's so helpful, and very reader friendly. Please share.

http://www.stophitting.com/pdf/PositiveDiscipline-WhatItIsandHowToDoIt.pdf

News: Childhood Illnesses Exact High Cost on the Entire Family, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

News: Childhood Illnesses Exact High Cost on the Entire Family, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

What should be apparent to all: childhood illness hurts financially, not just physically. Healthcare and family financial issues are intimately interrelated. Not only must the family absorb the costs of caring for the sick child, but there are increased health expenditures for all family members.

Taking care of people's healthcare needs is a big part of helping them manage family life. Not sure why it's taken us so long to figure that out.

As a reminder, the Kaiser Family Foundation has the easiest to follow explanation of the healthcare legislation that I've found. http://healthreform.kff.org/
You will also find thoughtful analysis of the healthcare legislation.

"Supplements" or Snake Oil?

It is important to be aware of the problem of unregulated, untested "supplements", which can make fairly outrageous (if not specific) claims. In some cases, these supplements are ineffective, have unwanted side effects, or are dangerous. Always consult your physician.
For more, go to the FDA website. Many supplements making health claims regarding weight loss, fitness, and sexual health are dangerous and have been pulled from the market.
FDA Warning -Beware of Fraudulent ‘Dietary Supplements’ http://ow.ly/4iL6G

A Dressmaker's Journey: Clothing Construction and Fashion Design as a Means of Feminist Expression

How can learning traditional skills such as clothing communication empower women? Provide financial security in a threatening world?

This is why I love Diane Rehm's show so much. Where else would you hear this?
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-03-17/gayle-tzemach-lemmon-dressmaker-khair-khana

Cool Health Website: The Visual MD

http://thevisualmd.com/

Check it out!

Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs : NPR

Fascinating! This is the first time I've seen ADHD compared to eczema. It makes sense to eliminate possible environmental triggers, including foods. This has the potential to really reduce our reliance on medication, although I should add that we should proceed cautiously in terms of how this should translate to individual cases. I don't think the authors mean to imply that medication is never warranted.
Study: Diet May Help ADHD Kids More Than Drugs : NPR

The Future of Children - FOC in Blogosphere

The Brookings Institution's The Future of Children publication is a wonderful resource. It is free, and the information is always timely and relevant. I like to use it as a reference in some of the classes I teach, and I recommend it to students and colleagues.

I discovered that FOC is keeping track of mention its articles in the blogosphere. So, at the risk of turning this into an endless echo chamber, I decided to holler back.
The Future of Children - FOC in Blogosphere

Free webinar on balancing work and family!

http://www.workingfamilyresourcecenter.org/WFRC/en/index.asp

Working Family Resource Center: Online Parenting Discussions

NCFR member Dr. Marti Erickson will host online discussions on three different topics about parenting, April 15, May 20 and June 10. Topics are Helping Your Child Manage Emotions and Get Along with Others: The What, When and Why of Supporting Healthy Social-Emotional Development; From Baby's Babbles to Toddler's Tales: The Power of Language in Living, Loving and Learning; and Learn to Play and Play to Learn: Understanding the Central Role of Play in Your Child's Learning and Development. The discussions are free of charge, but space is limited so registration is required.
http://www.workingfamilyresourcecenter.org/wfrc/en/p2plive.asp

Women's Rights Eroded

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I realize this is controversial, but we have reached a point of complete madness when it comes to women's rights, including our right to choose--yes, our right to abortion. I am hearing things going on nationally that make my hair stand on end. What I don't want are more abortions. What I do want is an atmosphere in this country that's less hostile to women and their families: by far, in my opinion, the best way to reduce abortions. We should care about children after they're born as well as while they're gestating, and we must care about their parents as well. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy, and, in my opinion, misogyny. Without Roe V. Wade, we go back to unsafe, back alley abortions that will endanger women. Not acceptable. We cannot shrink from this conversation. Not now. It's a lot easier to protect rights you already have than it is to gain back rights you've lost.

The Devastating Toll of America's Lack of Paid Parental Leave – The Sisterhood – Forward.com

The Devastating Toll of America's Lack of Paid Parental Leave – The Sisterhood – Forward.com

This blog about parental leave's impact on families says it all. I have nothing to add: consider this a re-blog.

Hard times generation: homeless kids - 60 Minutes - CBS News

If you missed this story on 60 minutes, view it now.
Hard times generation: homeless kids - 60 Minutes - CBS News

This is truly moving--we cannot allow this trend to continue. We're losing a generation.

New database gives consumers a chance to spot unsafe products before they buy | cleveland.com

More consumer information means more empowered consumers--and a healthier public. Thanks for passing this along, Cleveland.com.

New database gives consumers a chance to spot unsafe products before they buy | cleveland.com

Are the Rich Getting Richer? The Data Say Yes - DailyFinance

60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. This is either a catastrophe waiting to happen, or a catastrophe in the process of happening. Do we care about working families? Do we care about rising inequality? We should. It is time for Family and Consumer Scientists, and indeed all Americans, to stand firmly behind families and consumers. No?

Take a look and American wage growth adjusted for inflation:

Bottom 20%
• 1975 household income: $12,664
• 2001 household income: $14,021
• increase: $1,357
• percentage increase from 1975: 10.7%

Middle 20%(a.k.a. "the middle class")
• 1975 household income: $39,807
• 2001 household income: $51,538
• increase: $11,731
• percentage increase from 1975: 29.4%

Top 20%
• 1975 household income: $91,848
• 2001 household income: $159,644
• increase: $67,796
• percentage increase from 1975: 73.8%

Top 5%(a.k.a. "the wealthy")
• 1975: $134,735
• 2001: $280,312
• increase: $145,577
• percentage increase from 1975: 108%

Data from from DailyFinance:http://srph.it/acaXmS

Are the Rich Getting Richer? The Data Say Yes - DailyFinance

It's Women's History Month. So how are we doing?

Here's the fact sheet on Women in America, which the Whitehouse publishes each March. No surprises: women are delaying marriage, delaying childbirth, and (like the general population) are aging. We are also more likely than men to be poor.
What I particularly like are the policy initiative (and proposed initiatives) to combat inequality and support women. Supporting women supports families (and vice vesa).
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/WomenInAmerica_FactSheet.pdf

It's the Inequality, Stupid | Mother Jones

Inequality of the sort we've been seeing in recent decades is downright unAmerican. How long will big money attack small money? How much is enough? Families are struggling. We need to stand behind them. We can't stand for this anymore.
It's the Inequality, Stupid | Mother Jones

Authentic Parenting: Music As A Parenting Tool

We've known for a while that music has therapeutic value. Now we know it has value as a parenting tool. What a wonderful idea. Get attuned, get calm, celebrate, move together, unwind together...there's absolutely nothing that music can't facilitate. Forget the Mozart Effect--music has the ability to enrich our lives in innumerable ways, even if it won't magically turn us into geniuses.
Authentic Parenting: Music As A Parenting Tool

Attack on Public Unions: The Protests Continue

YouTube - 100,000 Strong

Very inspiring video of the 100,000+ protestors. Even though the national media seem to be tiring of this story, this protest continues NATIONWIDE. Every single state in the nation has had a rally of some sort. Why? An assault on public sector workers hurts all workers. If we see the demise of unions, all the gains of the previous decades will roll back. If a rising tide lifts all boats, what does a sinking/whirlpool do to all the boats? We're all in this together--don't let billionaires convince you otherwise.

Automating Motherhood - Steady Mom

So simple, it's genius. A simple list...not unlike the type that's being encouraged in hospital settings. You know what it does there? Decreases errors and improves outcomes. What it would do in the home is DECREASE STRESS and improve outcomes (by outcomes, I mean clothes picked up off the floor, homework done, that sort of thing). All good! From healthcare settings to the home--Thank you, Steady Mom!
  Automating Motherhood - Steady Mom
http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2010/02/08/gawandes-checklist-manifesto/

Vending Machines in Schools: The Top 5 Dangers on Campus

Vending Machines in Schools: The Top 5 Dangers on Campus
Vending machines are unsustainable. They encourage food consumption in the absence of hunger. They encourage consumption of high calorie, low nutrient foods. Thus, they contribute to the growing problem of overweight/obesity and malnutrition. They are overpriced, and therefore a poor consumer choice. They use unnecessary packaging, and are therefore bad for the environment. Any way you look at it, vending machines are a poor choice for schools--including colleges and universities. Let's create better alternatives.

Why They Are Rallying - Inside Higher Ed

Why They Are Rallying - Inside Higher Ed

Fired up dispite 25 degrees and snowing

Nothing makes me happier than to see average, working Americans standing up for their rights. Hurting one group of working and middle class workers hurts all workers. We're all in this together! I especially appreciated the private unions, who would not be effected by this bill, who came out and stood in the cold weather with us in a show of true solidarity.

Time to Support Teachers' and other Public Employees' Rights!

Time to take a stand. The last thing we need to do is to pit public employees against private employees. Unions make easy scapegoats, but the reality is that unionized employees have lost wages and benefits along with everyone else over the last few decades, and the power of unions has greatly declined. Can anyone really think this is just a financial issue? Doesn't this seem to be union busting, pure and simple, with deficit reduction put forward as a convenient justification?

As long as we squabble and fight each other for meager resources, then the trend of stagnant and declining wages for the middle class will continue, while the richest will continue to get richer (and avoid taxes). Hurting public unions will not raise the wages of the average worker. It will hurt everyone--it will continue the expansion of the inequality of wages between the top and bottom earners. And, in case we need the reminder, we need teachers, police officers, fire fighters, and other public employees. 

A good Family and Consumer Scientist stands on the side of what's right, rather than waiting for the right thing to become popular. Support your teachers and all the other hard working public employees. Collective bargaining is, after all, as American as apple pie, and as democratic as the ballot box. 

Let's pay for the things that really matter, and fix the things that are actually broken. And to my Wisconsin brothers and sisters: overcome!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/18/wisconsin-union-protests  

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/11/wage_inequality.html

Parenting Resources: USA.gov

Great parenting resources on this website, including child care information, parent education, and health education.

Parenting Resources: USA.gov

Crazy Talk and American Politics: or, My Glenn Beck Story - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

We have a responsibility to interject reason into political discussions. Unfounded conspiracy theories are distracting us from finding real solutions to our nation's problems. I would like to take this opportunity to declare crazy, paranoid talk in the news and inf0-tainment media unsustainable.
Crazy Talk and American Politics: or, My Glenn Beck Story - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Laughing gas returning as option for laboring moms - Yahoo! News

Laboring women need options. This is one that may work for some women, and it's relatively inexpensive compared to an epidural.

Laughing gas returning as option for laboring moms - Yahoo! News

Is Breastfeeding advocacy anti-feminist? An essay by Katherine A. Dettwyler — Lactivist Leanings

Feminism, to me, is supporting women in all their various roles--especially motherhood. I have enjoyed Katherine Dettwyler's work for decades. It never, ever occurred to me that her work was somehow anti-feminist. Such a narrow view of feminism does not advance the cause of women's rights, and it does not improve our well-being.
Is Breastfeeding advocacy anti-feminist? An essay by Katherine A. Dettwyler — Lactivist Leanings

Celebrity Booby Trap: Bethenny & Rachael Ray Frown on Public Breastfeeding

As long as we force breastfeeding women into back rooms, societally we will all lack familiarity and comfort with it, and breastfeeding rates will remain lower than our stated public health aims. We all benefit from breastfeeding. It is better for the infant, the mother, and society. Not only are famlies not spending money on a product they don't need, but they're not polluting the environment with all the unnecessary packaging and bottles, etc. I don't know this Bethenny person, and I've never been a Rachael Ray fan (we can all open cans, Rachael), but it seems to me if you are in a position of having people actually *listen* to you, you should use that opportunity to be an advocate, not yet another obstacle.
Celebrity Booby Trap: Bethenny & Rachael Ray Frown on Public Breastfeeding

Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children: The Role of Maternal Dietary Restriction, Breastfeeding, Timing of Introduction of Complementary Foods, and Hydrolyzed Formulas -- Greer et al. 121 (1): 183 -- AAP Policy

This revision of AAP recommendations regarding introduction of foods that are common allergens is just about the muddiest document I've ever read. Aside from recommending breastfeeding, particularly during the first 6 months, this is about as close as I've ever seen the AAP come to saying, "we just aren't sure what you should do." Unfortunately, sometimes recommendations from the medical community are based on very little actual science. We now have enough data to know that we need more data.

Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children: The Role of Maternal Dietary Restriction, Breastfeeding, Timing of Introduction of Complementary Foods, and Hydrolyzed Formulas -- Greer et al. 121 (1): 183 -- AAP Policy

Work-life and dependent care experts in the human resources field

What employers want: the perfect, workaholic employee with no life. Reasonable? No, since such a lifestyle is unhealthy. What is needed is more flexibility to achieve a better work-life balance. Read more.
WFD Consulting: Work-life and dependent care experts in the human resources field

New Bureau of Consumer Protection

Take a look at what the Obama administration is doing to protect consumers.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/07/robins-story-andrews-story-new-bureau-protect-consumers?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Raising Healthy Children: Translating Child Development Research Into Practice - Guerra - 2011 - Child Development - Wiley Online Library

This is a must read issue of Child Development, a publication of SRCD. Would love to see FCSRJ do something like this. People need to understand how research connects to their daily lives. More importantly, research needs to be focused on improving the quality of people's lives. If we can't or won't reach out to the public, then ultimately we haven't accomplish a thing. Translational research should really be what a Family and Consumer Sciences is all about.
Raising Healthy Children: Translating Child Development Research Into Practice - Guerra - 2011 - Child Development - Wiley Online Library

Obama May Take Big Step Against Campus Sex-Assault | Womens eNews

Obama May Take Big Step Against Campus Sex-Assault | Womens eNews

Great New Resource for Pregnant Women and New Mothers

Website:

http://www.text4baby.org

Mission:

Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information they need to take care of their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. Text4baby is made possible through a broad, public-private partnership that includes government, corporations, academic institutions, professional associations, tribal agencies and non-profit organizations. Founding partners are HMHB, Voxiva, CTIA - The Wireless Association and Grey HealthCare Group (a WPP company). Johnson & Johnson is the founding sponsor, and premier sponsors include WellPoint, Pfizer and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. U.S. government partners include the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Department of Health and Human Services. The mobile health platform is provided by Voxiva and free messaging services are generously provided by participating wireless service providers. Implementation partners include BabyCenter, Danya International, Syniverse Technologies, Keynote Systems and The George Washington University. Contact Information: General Inquiries info@text4baby.org For information about becoming a partner or technical assistance for existing partners, please contact: partners@text4baby.org For media inquiries, please contact: media@text4baby.org or call 202-944-1968

Products:

Disclaimer Text4baby provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.

Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/text4baby

Challenges to the Health Care Law

Love Diane Rehm. Good discussion about the healthcare law and all the controversy around it.
Challenges to the Health Care Law

The University of Arkansas has a new tool for family life education - Navigating Life's Journey | NCFR

The University of Arkansas's Cooperative Extension Service is offering a new, free resource: Navigating Life's Journey. You can sign up to receive weekly e-mails to help you improve your personal well-being and family relationships. The research-based ideas come from dozens of the world's best family life experts so you can trust that they are credible and will work in your life. There will also be a practical suggestion of how you can apply the idea to your life. Interested?
The University of Arkansas has a new tool for family life education - Navigating Life's Journey NCFR

Future of Children journal - Fragile Families | NCFR

The latest edition of the Princeton-Brookings Future of Children journal is on Fragile Families. Click on the link below to download for free.
Future of Children journal - Fragile Families NCFR

World Health: the past 200 years explained brilliantly

http://www.ncfr.org/about/news_read.asp?id=1942

Wasn't long ago that the entire world was poor and sick, but a rising tide has lifted most if not all the boats. Bad news is, as wealth and health have improved, so have disparities--not just between countries, but within them. This is just about the most entertaining and easy to follow explanation of world health trends I have ever seen. Enjoy.

State of the Discipline

Things are changing, and from the looks of it, not for the better.
Membership is down, participation in annual meeting is down, programs are being closed and dismantled. Even worse, no one seems to know what or who we are, or even that we exist. Some even think that cable television is a suitable replacement for our long dead profession.
The state of the discipline is weak and uncertain, but not without hope.
Annual meeting must not simply be a social club, but also a place where serious work gets accomplished, and like-minded individuals can connect. We must leave feeling that we learned something of value that we couldn't have learned someplace else.
Research must be more than a word that is carelessly tossed about, it must be a passion that is rigorously pursued. Research, especially interdisciplinary research, must become a central part of our mission.
Policy, especially family policy, must be something that we take seriously and develop our own positions on (and, dare I dream, advocate for those positions?). Restating other organizations' position statements or recommendations does nothing but prove our own redundancy.
Controversy is not to be feared. It is to be tackled head on. We are adults. And if we're not, we don't deserve to call ourselves professionals.
Looking backward only serves us if we intend to use the past to inform the present and future.
To survive, we must first answer one simple question. What does AAFCS provide that is unique? The answer, in my opinion, has to do with the interdisciplinary and applied nature of the field. Let's focus on doing that well.

Who am I to give the state of the profession? I am the profession. So are all of you out there. Let's not wait for others to define us or write our obituary.

Record High Number of Discrimination Claims Alarming

Economic recession seems to encourage an "every man for himself mentality" combined with "blaming the victim." Ohio's new mayor has hired NO MINORITIES in his cabinet, and very few women. Why? According to a spokesmen, "to the victor goes the spoils." We need to remember what Affirmative Action is and why it was created. It didn't necessarily mean quotas, and it definitely never meant preferential treatment for any group. Quite the opposite: affirmative action simply calls for every person to have the same chance at opportunity regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status or characteristic that might cause the person to be discriminated against. Affirmative action is as American as apple pie. We don't believe in classism. Although racism and sexism are deeply engrained in our national psyche, it is completely antithetical to the principles upon which this nation was built. What we all know, or at least really ought to know by now, is that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. That doesn't mean that we have to build fences around our borders. What it means is that we must constantly take necessary measures to safeguard freedom, liberty, and access to the American dream.

Record High Number of Discrimination Claims Alarming

Medical care for pregnant women is getting more difficult

Medical care for pregnant women is getting more difficult

Families Need Protection Against Discrimination

Economic recession seems to encourage an "every man for himself mentality" with a dash of "blaming the victim." Ohio's new governor has hired NO MINORITIES in his cabinet, and very few women. Why? According to a spokesmen, "to the victor goes the spoils." We need to remember what Affirmative Action is and why it was created. It didn't necessarily mean quotas, and it definitely never meant preferential treatment for any group. Quite the opposite: affirmative action simply calls for every person to have the same chance at opportunity regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status or characteristic that might cause the person to be discriminated against. Affirmative action is as American as apple pie. We don't believe in classism. Although racism and sexism are deeply engrained in our national psyche, it is completely antithetical to the principles upon which this nation was built. What we all know, or at least really ought to know by now, is that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. That doesn't mean that we have to build fences around our borders. What it means is that we must constantly take necessary measures to safeguard freedom, liberty, and access to the American dream.

Record High Number of Discrimination Claims Alarming

Healthcare Reform Debate Redux

Healthcare Affordability and Accessibility (aka Obamacare) is being debated yet again. Maybe it would be helpful if citizens actually informed themselves about what's in it. It's amazing how free politicians and pundits feel free to tell outright lies these days. Check politifact.com or factcheck.org.  To get the simplest primer I've seen on what's in the healthcare reform law from a reliable source, go to: 

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8061.pdf

http://healthreform.kff.org/The-Animation.aspx

We all need to remember to write op-ed pieces for our local papers, to write our legislators, and to generally make it our business to correct the misinformation flying around. 

Messing with the Six Months Exclusive Breastfeeding Recommendation: Hidden Boobytrap

Irresponsible reporting of findings--shouldn't AAFCS have something to say about this?  Research findings funded by baby food companies seem to imply that infants shouldn't be breastfed exclusively for 6 months, as every health organization one can think of (WHO, APA, Health People, ADA, etc.) recommends. This information is going to be misunderstood by mothers and mothers-to-be, and certainly there's enough confusion and misinformation out there already about breastfeeding. We need to give good and accurate health and consumer information to consumers. The 6 month exclusive breastfeeding recommendation still stands. It has not changed. I certainly hope that mothers do not discontinue breastfeeding earlier because of the hype around this study, since the study itself does not suggest that would be wise. Family advocates, health educators...you know what you need to do. Get the word out!

Messing with the Six Months Exclusive Breastfeeding Recommendation: Hidden Boobytrap

Measuring Poverty in the U.S.--Time to Get it Right

How we measure poverty matters. It's about time we adjusted our measure to get a more accurate count.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/04/AR2011010404431.html

Of course, step two after measurement would be actually doing something about it? Maybe a more accurate count that shows more elders in poverty than we thought will motivate some to act. It's overdue.

More Small Businesses Offering Healthcare Thanks to the New Healthcare Legislation

Bringing healthcare to more Americans is not just the moral thing to do, but it makes economic sense. Seems to me that a home economist would really appreciate the beauty of that. In fact, if there's any group of professionals who should  make it their goal to inform consumers about what's in this law and how it will affect consumers (that is, FAMILIES), then it would be the dear old Family and Consumer Scientists. But where are we on this? Go to our website: this issue is non-existent. We seem to exist in a political and historical vacuum.
http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/01/06/more-small-businesses-offering-health-care-to-employees-thanks-to-obamacare/

End of Life Options

Who should be advocating for end of life options for elder Americans (or anyone with a terminal illness)? Family and Consumer Scientists, that's who. Where are we on this issue? So far, seems like we're silent. But the voices shouting about "death panels" and euthanasia are heard loud and clear. Lies, Damn Lies...and we all lose.

http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2011/01/the-new-year-in-health-care-reform-good-news-and-bad-for-older-americans

Happy 2011!

And here are some of the policy issues we should pay attention to in the new year (drumroll?):

• repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (done, but yet to be implemented...long overdue)
• attempted repeal of healthcare reform (want to know what's in it? Go to http://healthreform.kff.org/) 
• breastfeeding friendly workplace legislation being phased in (some good news--for more go to feed://www.whitehouse.gov/feed/blog/cwg) -- thanks to healthcare reform law
• attempt to privatize and otherwise whittle away at entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security
• Immigration Reform (http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline-usa/15-dateline-usa/8584-immigration-reform-needed-for-economic-growth-bloomberg.html; http://www.newsmax.com/US/DREAM-immigrationreform-CenterforImmigrationStudies-ACLU/2010/12/30/id/381465)
• attempted investigations of everything and everyone under the sun (to keep us good and distracted)

Why am I telling you this? I recall that the nation voted in a mostly new cast of characters who are talking a lot about compromise, bipartisanship, and working together for the good of the American people. I recall a lot of concern about the national debt. Someone will have to make sure these clowns remember their "mandate." If we don't do it, we'll only have ourselves to blame when all we get is a lot of theatrics and no results.

“Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.”  ~Jerry Garcia