Interesting Web site: First Choice 2004. This is a great new feature from the reputable Public Agenda Online crew. They have prepared a series of guides on important election issues that give you a chance to see where you stand and what kind of action you would like your candidate-of-choice to take. "First Choice 2004 is designed to help you make the most of your vote by having strong, informed opinions about what those choices might be. With these guides, you can find out more about the problems facing the nation and be better armed when considering the plans politicians put forward." The issues include fighting terrorism, gay rights, college costs, and the environment.

Interesting Web site: The University Library at the University of Michigan has created a digital archive of important materials related to the historic case of Brown vs. Board of Education. "The archive is divided into four main areas of interest: Supreme Court cases; busing and school integration efforts in northern urban areas; school integration in the Ann Arbor Public School District; and recent resegregation trends in American schools." This Web site will be useful for Business Law students, as well as those taking classes in political and social sciences.

An extremely interesting and important report on the health care system in the United States has come out. A Case of Neglect was published in the February issue of "Governing" - a monthly magazine for state and local government officials. The report concludes that: "Medicine in the United States is enjoying a surge of innovation and creativity that promises continuing improvements in everyday life for millions of people — but it is being thwarted by federal and state health care systems incapable of delivering those improvements fairly and consistently to much of the American public. To be blunt, Americans are living with first-rate medicine and a third-rate health care system. And the problem is getting worse instead of better." The individual reports not only focus on what has gone wrong - but also what some states have been able to do to correct the problems identified. "Success stories" are sprinkled among the six main areas of the report: public health, mental health, long term care, children's care, prescription drugs, and insurance coverage.

Interesting Web site: Rip Off 101 is a report from the California Public Interest Group, which is "... an advocate for the public interest. When consumers are cheated, or the voices of ordinary citizens are drowned out by special interest lobbyists, CALPIRG speaks up and takes action." Happily for all of us, they have taken action on the ABOMINABLE and INDEFENSIBLE cost of textbooks! The report found that faculty and students support alternatives that lower students’ costs and maintain quality, among other findings. In conjunction with the CALPIRG report, Assemblymember Carol Liu (D - La Canada Flintridge) announced she will introduce legislation to reduce out-of-control textbook costs. The three components of the measure will:
* Encourage publishers to provide 'unbundled' materials
* Encourage publishers to explain why new editions are necessary
* Encourage faculty to consider price when making textbook selection decisions

It's about time!