"$ for Nothing, and your chips for free"...

In response to blog post 'A Living Wage' by Christina Waid, I found it a great post  by Christina!  I'm glad she chose to use an example such as the CEO from Walmart, especially because that is one of the most popular stores that Americans shop at.  Although many people ban Walmart for its corporate overtaking, it has changed a lot in the past 2 years in an effort to keep up with green initiatives and more sustainable efforts toward product retail, and production costs.  So another way to win the respect of people who ban such Corporate America outlets of retail, would be able to help make a substantial change in the allocation of employee hourly wages.  The benefit would probably draw in additional shoppers because people like to see altruistic efforts, and the company would gain so much more respect in the long run. She proposed an excellent idea just to increase each person's wage an additional amount, which adds up in the end.  Committed employees efforts shouldn't be negotiated or tossed by the way side.  Though people have "banned" Walmart,realistically it isn't the most affordable choice since our last recession, since you can pay up to 1/4 the cost of some items that you'd pay at competitor stores.  Is spending more money to consciously make a difference at a retail store worth more to you then being financially happier?  Wouldn't people feel better about donating their saved money elsewhere and still have extra money at the end of the month to order pizza or go to a movie.  People can survive like a minimalist by shopping at Walmart, the employees should be rewarded because it's such a stressful environment, the CEO should have to budget his pocket book differently.  There are many great companies that have other incentives that help offset the cost of living or times when employees increases are in a pay freeze.  For instance, Valero Fuel Company spreads the wealth by every time an Executive Memeber gets an increase, every one in the company gets one too.  In the hospitality industry employees get free hotel nights and discounts on travel, in the Airplane Industry workers get extremely cheap or free air flights.  Benefits also make a huge difference, so there could possibly be a clause added to Corporate Companies in America, and passed by our Federal Government, that suggest a certain percentage of wages should be allocated in discounts to staff.  Since a lot of Non-Profits do this already because their salaries and hourly wages are already fairly low, they should be mandated as well, for those who don't present any extra incentives.  Social Services, Behavioral Health and Medical & Disabled Care workers for needing recipients  don't get paid enough for what they do and their wages should be increased to at least $2.00 above minimum wage.  With the inflated numbers of people receiving assistance from the government, it makes it difficult for those who work 40 hours a week on hourly wages to get ahead.  Again this would be another opportunity for the government to add additional regulations on behalf of the Wage Committee, that stipulate assistance for minimum wage workers, including resources to use for housing, financing, planning, education, and health; currently all the areas most effected by poverty.  In addition to thirsty workers helping those in need of greed instead of those in need, I find similarly irritating is beggars at stoplights who have given up completely on earning a living, and would merely rather beg their wages away.  Are they too receiving assistance, and taking advantage of other citizens who work and try to get by on an earnest living? Some of them gross at least $30,000 year, more then poverty stricken working Americans!  I'm all for helping people in need, but I tend to think beggars are just the same as Corporate Hound dogs disguised in dirty attire; greedy as charged.  Pay people a little bit more, and maybe they'll be less of them on the street.  They are out of control.  People can help people rise out of poverty, but only those who are poverty stricken, putting forth some effort to help themselves first, will survive.  Those are the Americans that the Government and Politicians needs to step up, and help represent.

Toxic Toys in the US

Parents have to do a lot of baby proofing before having a child, but did you ever think that parents would have to make sure that their son or daughter's toys weren't toxic?  Since 2007 the US Government has been recalling toys that were proven to have traces in lead in them, and the numbers rank as high as 17 million!  This past June 12 million promotional drinking glasses that were sold at fast food restaurants nationwide were recalled by the government.  The paint on theses glasses contained the toxic metal cadmium.  In search of a US Government issue relating to the environment I stumbled across many interesting Science Daily articles.  I retrieved information from  the 'Toxic Toy Crisis' Requires Fresh Solutions, Experts Say' article and looked closer at the article Science Daily was referring to.  Environmental Science and Technology website featured an article by Monica Becker, Sally Edwards, and Rachel I. Massey titled, Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children’s Products: Limitations of Current Responses and Recommendations for Government and Industry.  All three writers have worked closely in similar fields that pertain to a kid's environment which  increases the validity of the article at hand.

A helpful website that has additionally done it's research in tracking toys, where parents can also look for helpful information on hazerdous materials is HealthyStuff.org.  They published an article that helps parents research products and ratings.  Some of the products tracked include cadmium, chlorine, lead, arsenic, bromine, mercury and tin.   Additional "data reflects over 20,000 individual samples of different product components. The testing methodology includes an X-ray technology that identifies elements on or near the surface of a product, called an XRF analyzer", the XRF analyzer is what tracks the levels of elements found in toys.  You can also post their HealthyStuff.org Search Widget to your blog or website.

Healthy Child Healthy World, is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the health and well being of children from harmful environmental exposures.  A brief fact regarding the phthalates found in toys as stated by HCHW notes that they are used as "a plastic softener in polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC or vinyl). Some PVC toys may be labeled with a V or #3 inside the chasing arrows triangle usually located on the bottom of a product. Most won't be labeled at all. Generally, if a toy is a squishy plastic—like rubber duckies and baby dolls—or if it has highly flexible plastic as a component—like the clear pages in child "photo albums," the clear plastic purses that some girl's toys are sold in, or the plastic-like "fabric" used on some dolls—you should avoid it or call the manufacturer to ask if the product is made with PVC or phthalates."

Since a large portion of toys manufactured have been outsourced to China it makes it difficult to test these products before they are shipped to the U.S.  Companies can request samples of goods before a giant shipment is placed to test for hazardous products used.  Apparently now more then ever, this is necessary.    "Although government, industry, and advocacy groups have taken significant actions to solve the problem, including restricting the use of certain substances, that response remains inadequate, the scientists say," quoted from the Toxic Toy Crisis article from November 12, 2010.  Perhaps the government and local companies will decide that it's better to craft toys in the states, because it's safer for families, and reduce the production with companies overseas even more.

Other suggestions that have been recommended include the toy industry collaborating a list of toxic substances that provide toxicity levels of all toys made.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission does have a list of guidelines for toys containing lead.  Other organizations have created lists already that are beneficial to manufacturers, and parents.  The government should use toxic chemical lists that have been already composed by companies to properly measure, track, and inspect each mafacturers products.  This will help prevent production and enforce the government to enforce stricter regulations.

The World Trade Organization should become more interactive with this issue since America imports most of their toys from other countries.  Especially since trade representatives for WTO report to the President and Congress, and part of their responsibilities already include monitoring compliance and handling trade disputes between 150 member nations.  A team of negotiators work with the WTO and individual traders practice their rights through the Office of the United States Trade Representative.  Therefor negotiations, meetings, and regulations could be addressed and assessed at this level to insure that the Toy Industry is following Safety Compliance Regulations.  Some other departments, agencies, organizations, committees, and subcommittees may need to be involved on this issue including the Environmental Protection Agency, who could impose fines for not abiding by environmental regulations, Department of Health and Human Services, because it does raise health concerns on our nations families, and Senate Standing Committee on Health.  Many are already involved and have been for quite some time. 

For more information, see: HealthyToys.org and U.S. Public Interest Research Group: Trouble in Toyland: The 22nd Annual Survey of Toy Safety.  MomsRising.org has developed a text messaging system that uses the HealthyToys.org database.

1.) American Chemical Society. "'Toxic Toy Crisis' Requires Fresh Solutions, Experts Say." ScienceDaily, 12 November 2010. Web. 17 November 2010. <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/11/101110123941.htm>.

2.) Baker, Ralph and Losco, Joseph.  "World Trade Organization."  AM GOV.  2010 ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 396.

3.) http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/412/toxins-in-toys.html

4.) http://healthychild.org/main/

5.) http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es1009407

Response to student article "Food Stamps Getting the Boot"

After reading Briana Zak's well written article, "Food Stamps Getting the Boot", regarding government spending cuts to food stamp allocations, http://govsmalltalk.blogspot.com/, my forethought was, absolutely cut funding in this program, for several reasons.  I am a firm believer that while the welfare system assists families with food and resources they need to raise a family, it additionally stunts growth, adds to our deficit, affects tax paying citizens, and impedes the need for people to get a job.  I have seen different states handle the welfare system, so I know it doesn't entirely rely on the national government to be fool proof however, I definitely think that control over the system has been lacking, which could be the reason for upcoming bills to cut spending in this area.  If there was a system in place that would monitor and authorize what each person uses their food stamps on, it could more sufficiently track copious amounts of wasted money.  People who have not abused the system should be rewarded for following the program as it was designed to, but unfortunately some of those who use the system, abuse the system, and make it more difficult for others to reap good benefits.  The government should be able to assess an individuals need, given their age, history of spending, case worker notes, etc. and more money should be given to those who show exceptionally higher needs or inability to care for themselves at all.  They should immediately try to implement some source of spending habit tracking system, that would allow them to view trends in each person's spending, so that when they were evaluated at a later date, they could be compared to their spending history which would help negate the amount of funds that should or should not be reduced.  Each person should be evaluated to assure the accurate amount of allocations reduced or increased.  By stating funds could increase it would reduce the amount of upheaval that will happen when people find out about the government cuts in their welfare spending.

I have seen people have more children to receive more aid, without ever attempting to get a job.  I have also seen people spend most of their welfare checks on alcohol and cigarettes.  I have heard stories from past employers, of people who were caretakers of the elderly, children and disabled, spend their food stamps on themselves instead of using the food stamps to help the people they were issued to.  Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to the amount one person gets to the next.  I have referred to several flaws in the system that I have seen first hand.  Some of these practices hopefully no longer exist, and it's quite possible the government has become more aware of the funding that it allocates and where it is spent over the past few years, which may have lead to such budgetary cuts in spending.  

Medicaid is important and I believe that some of the food stamp funding could be appropriately be spent in this area.  Many physicians do not receive any money for services they provide to many people without insurance, which is one of the reasons for the current change in the health care reform, and Medicaid provides at least some relief for populations that need it, which is a growing number every day as our nation ages. More people seem to be stereotyped as disabled and incapable of providing payment for medical services now then ever before.  I don't necessarily agree that some of the allocations should be going to teacher funding, although I do believe teachers are important.  The 'No Child Left Behind Act' has proven to be an extremely expensive government program that has needed funding since 2001.  With a poor economy, and more teachers then ever before, it makes sense that the government is looking at every possible angle where they can increase revenue for such programs.  If they want to take money from people who don't have jobs, have kids, and no education, and give it to people who need medical assistance, and better benefits for educating our future America, in attempt to prevent us from being in the current situation we are in now, is it really wrong, or communicated inappropriately?  I believe the government and the tax paying citizens of America, have spent enough money on welfare, I'd much rather help provide care for people who need it, and reward teachers for ensuring a better education system then give people money for their unnecessary spending habits.  There are numerous amounts of community programs, non-profit organizations, and churches that support local and state poverty stricken areas.  Additionally there are farmers who could also benefit from the change within the system and people could be taught how to volunteer at farms in exchange for free produce, or possibly get involved in gleaning programs; that allow you to pay a small price and pick as much produce as you can at the end of the season.  WIC is a fantastic program, that should continue to thrive, and  should become better with the change in government spending.  The option could be given to some people if they wanted to donate money towards food programs annually in their taxes, similarly to what they do for election support, as a type of tax deductible donation.  

Briana Zak states "Eventually the funding will run out and those jobs saved by the bill will be just another casualty of this recession, creating more need for food stamps.  So when the cuts take effect in 2014, the poorest of poor will have to give up food for health care and education, what a life."  I think this is an excellent point to her editorial, and strongly gets the reader to become more cognizant of what our future may become.  I think her interest in this topic will make people become more engaged in the issue and people will put forth more of an effort to speak up regarding such topics that directly effect their pocket books.  

I do believe that the government should designate a new program to those welfare recipients who will receive a cut in food stamps to teach them additional life learning skills including how to get a job, how to save money, meal saving tips, where to find additional resources for necessities, non-profit organizations who lend a hand, etc.  For the programs that are already offered, they need reviewed, rewritten, and re-taught, with the challenges of today in mind.  We can not keep giving people a chance to live off the servitude of others for nothing, it's not ok to just be given free money at the cost of someone else laboring endlessly to have enough to pay their own bills.  It isn't fair to the people who work for minimum wage, although I agree that there are some exceptions to the rule; elderly, disabled, etc.  If the government is taking a stand to move forward with this bill, they need to provide assistance to make up for the difference that $50 more or less a month will make; to some of us that's a tank of gas.  For most of the people who work for a living, we want our money to be useful, and help people help themselves.  The last place we want our money to go is towards frivolous spending or getting taken advantage of, from people who abuse the system.  In any regard, there must be accountability for all programs, so that tax payers feel confident about where their money goes, once it's in the bank, beyond government reform.

Jail Cell Clangs Soften by Stories from Mother

Hard times call for extraordinary measures, which is why The Storybook Project Outreach Program was formed.  Originally it started in Chicago, Illinois at Cook County Jail, by the organization titled Companions, Working Together, Inc.  Within that same year, in Lincoln, Illinois, the Lutheran Social Services decided to add a similar program to Logan Correctional Center, in "attempt to offset the damage that can be caused by a prolonged separation between mother and child."  

From the very beginning this program was popular.  The news rang out as loud as a jail cell clangs across the country.  Geared for mothers in prison, it was possible for a child to continue a relationship with mom while she was behind bars. The magazine that really helped other states to connect was printed by the Southern Poverty Law Center; titled, Teaching Tolerance. By 2000 the second "Storybook Project" called, Aid to Inmate Mothers, began in Alabama.  By 2001 Maryland Chapter’s National Association of Women Judges Storybook Project, began at the Jessup Correctional Institution for Women.  The goal that remains constant within all of the organizations, is their mission to offset the damage, just by reading a book.    

A statistic from the Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin in Washington D.C. on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice, released a Special Report in August of 2008 titled "Parents in Prison and their Minor Children." The report indicates that "since 1991, the number of children with a mother in prison has more than doubled, up 131%. Approximately 75% of incarcerated women are mothers, and two-thirds have children under age 18."  That is perhaps another reason why several states throughout the country have began other chapters of the Storybook Project.  

 The sole purpose of this organization is to minimize the disconnect that happens between families during a period of time that a parent is incarcerated.  Children suffer from a variety of disparities, including separation anxiety, depression, emotional dysfunction including feelings of neglect and loss of a loved one, and economic hardships.  Children can become so developmentally disengaged that it limits their interaction in daily tasks, and socially they digress.  Children may become part of Child Protective Services while their parent is away, causing siblings to break up and live in different households.  Some children may never see their mother again if they so choose and are embarrassed to even think or talk about the situation.  A lot of children believe that it is their fault, and that they did something wrong.  These emotions can escalate to a level of distrust, disrespect and rebellion that may lead to drug and alcohol experimentation, dropping out of school,  misdemeanors, and felonies.  Some grow up to be so deeply wounded by being separated from their mother, that they end up in prison too, because they believe that their life has no worth or value.

The Storybook Project in Texas began in 2003.  The program involves volunteers going into the prison system and recording mothers reading a story on cassette.  The child then gets a copy of the tape and the story that their mother is reading.  A caretaker that had been taking care of some children wrote to a mother in prison regarding the effect the story had on them. “When the books and tapes arrived the girls didn’t quite understand the concept.  As the tape began to play, and it was their mother’s voice, there was such a mixture of laughter and tears.  One of the twins wrapped her arms around her body as if she were embracing her mom, it brought tears to my eyes.” 

In 2010 the Women's Storybook Project of Texas mailed 3,208 books and tapes to children in Texas and throughout the United States.  This won them the prestigious “Susan Cranford” Award on behalf of the Female Offender Program.  The award was in memory of a hero, who died from cancer in 2007.  "Susan Cranford’s innovative thinking and relentless desire to improve criminal justice programs for females gained her a well-deserved national reputation as an expert on women’s issues in the field of corrections, both from the staff and offender perspectives."  

Judith Dullnig,a Women's Storybook Project of Texas Volunteer, receives many letters from grateful family members.  The following letter she received last Christmas additionally thanked all of the volunteers for their work too.  

"I am writing on behalf of my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter, Meredith, as well as myself.  Words can not express the gratitude or the magnitude of the sheer joy of the program that this project brings.  If only you could have seen the happiness on this child's face the second she heard her mama's voice.  I get so emotional every time I think about it.  After the story, the message at the end, her mom said Merry Christmas and I love you.  And Meredith immediately hollered back to the recording, "I love you too Mama!"  As if she was right there in her lap.  It was the sweetest thing.  She listened and read along to the recording over and over again."

As we pave a brighter tomorrow for America, we hope that more women and men will be inspired to help impact the lives of children and their mothers.  Find a Storybook Project near you and get involved locally.  If you can't find a program in your state but you're interested to learn more, read on!  In Texas there are several ways to help the Women's Storybook Project.  You can volunteer to record a mother reading a book to her child, donate padded envelopes for parents to sent the package in, assist in financial support of equipment, transportation, or postage, or simply donate packaged books.  You can even choose to purchase a book from Border's Book Store at the Arboretum on the University of Texas Campus, and the Women's Storybook Project will pick it up, and deliver it for you.  For more information check out http://www.storybookproject.org/.

1.) http://www.nawj.org/programs.asp

2.) http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/announcements/announcement-governors-2010-governors-crim-justice-award-womens_storybook_project.htm 

kk ponders: The Atlantic Magazine Inspires American Citizens t...

kk ponders: The Atlantic Magazine Inspires American Citizens t...: "All War Is Local published in Sept issue of The Atlantic inspired the following letter to the editor, I hope it gets published: ..."

The Atlantic Magazine Inspires American Citizens to do more!

All War Is Local published in Sept issue of The Atlantic inspired the following letter to the editor, I hope it gets published:

Dear Letter to the Editor:                                   Oct.23.2010                                                                                                     I was pleased to read your heartwarming article in The Atlantic October 2010 issue, about troops fighting in Afghanistan.  It was nice to see family and freedom brought to words.  Civilians in America are not exposed to the war in Afghanistan enough, and I was thrilled when I saw your cover story in the November issue. (The Last Patrol is definitely worth reading too.) The All War Is Local article by Brian Mockenhaupt is what initially made me want to send this letter.  The article really did a great job of grabbing readers attention by simply making citizens feel more engaged in the soldiers lives by writing about their memories from home. This especially hit close to home for me.  By telling military stories on a regular basis, it allows the )American people to maintain a more personable relationship with them, however far away the soldiers are.   People can be more connected to patriotism, freedom, and our service men and women.  Perhaps it will inspire others to get more involved as a nation, and help us to gain respect from other countries.  Perhaps that is why your articles have continued. My brother, originally from Michigan too, deployed for the fourth time, this past June, to just outside Kandahar City.  Just days before that he moved from North Carolina to Germany, after several years of planning.  He's been married for almost a year, and was just transitioning into his new unit when he heard the news.  During his tenure of 10 years in the US Army, he has deployed 4 times to the middle east.  Three times to Afghanistan, and once to Iraq.  Though he volunteered for a couple of those missions, my hat goes off to him for demonstrating simple liberties.  I am forever grateful, as we all should be, for all the soldiers who have served us in every past and present war. I like many others have grandfathers, and a father who have served in various branches; Navy, Army, and Air Force.  Collectively they served in World War I & II, the Cold War, the Korean War, and Vietnam.  I even have lineage that connects us to Ethan Allen from the American Revolutionary War.  My husband is additionally an Active Duty Army National Guard Sergeant, currently stationed at Camp Mabry; while a part of the 36th Infantry unit that deployed September 30th to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.  While civilians go about living their daily lives these soldiers can only dream of going home and being with their families, the threshold must feel like eternity.  Once they return to the states, the struggle continues because many of them suffer from a number of physical and emotional disorders including PTSD.  Many of them aren't comfortable being around people, even those they love.  These women and men that serve our country give us freedom, fight for justice in America, and protect our families with pride.  It's time we started giving them more respect, by simply saying thank you every time we see them, by buying them lunch when they're sitting next to us at the diner, by sending them a care package in Afghanistan or simply just hanging a flag at our house. God Bless our American troops, the excellent writers like Brian Mockenhaupt, and the media recognition from The Atlantic!  You help keep the soldiers dreams alive by continuing to write about the day and the life of a soldier.  You help bring their stories home, and share them with the rest of the world, so that civilians can become more connected and somehow make a difference too.

Just because it's prescribed, doesn't make it ok...

In a recent article that I browsed in The Austin American Statesman, I found a topic that seems to have hit home in many states.  Earlier this year previous discussions happened in other parts of the US; Science Daily speaks their mind with more facts regarding the well being of children being treated with pharmaceutical medications, in lieu of a solution to their behavioral issues.

The subject that caught my eye was pharmaceutical medications that have deemed fit for many children under 13. I noticed there was a discussion regarding the distribution of Serequel on behalf of the Texas Youth Commission.  Although this anti-psychotic drug has been designed to help people get a handle on their bipolar and schizophrenia disorders, it has been proven to be more of a hindrance then a helper.  Earlier this year there were stories regarding doctors prescribing anti-psychotic medications to children as young as 3 years old. "According to this recent article in the New York Times, the use of anti-psychotic drugs among even children as young at two years old has soared in recent years." In fact it seems to have become an easier option for some parents, who would rather have their children heavily sedated then have to deal with their ADD or ADAD episodes.  To diagnose Seroquel, Zyprexia, or Risperdal, is more than not ok.  It's setting up children for a life on a pharmaceutical path.  Not to mention the fact that children are merely trying to be children, and how can a doctor diagnose someone who is in the beginning learning stages of childhood, and behavioral issues.  The side effects of these anti-pshychotic drugs are even worse!  Anti-psychotic medications do not make you feel all warm and fuzzy, but the rather, they make you feel fuzzy and like you were dragged behind a train for miles on end, some of them can cause you to gain an astronaumical amount of weight, as many of these drugs were first prescribed to treat diabetes and seizures.  Sometimes the medications doses are prescribed at a higher dose then is recommended, and the results from that include lethargy, inability to talk, eat, and walk properly.  Yet this is ok to be given to our youth, our future of America, because teenagers are too hard to handle, or we don't understand what's going on?  Many of these teens have been mentally or physically abused and may not even have parents or guardians.  They are dealing with adolescence which is probably the most awkward and uncomfortable time in most peoples life.  Teenage years are unnatural with out the sedation. 

Although their claim is to help reduce the amount of aggression in the living facilities, it isn't healthy, and it doesn't teach teenagers how to adapt and deal with difficult situations in a productive manner.  Having youth sleep through their days instead of having a meltdown in the lunchroom helps no one.  They are already detained in a lock down facility with plenty of preventative measure options available.  Teenagers who hurt themselves more then they hurt others are in another class entirely, and each child should be evaluated properly before getting their forehead stamped "manic".  The writer is clearly addressing not only Texans but Americans in this blog.  This issue directly effects children, teens, parents, schools, doctors, hospitals, and our communities.  The writer states some facts regarding the dangers of the medication and what Seroquel and what other anti-psychotic meds were designed to do.

In TYC's $60,000 a month Seroquel Bill Eric Dexheimer writes about a report found in Youth Today, a newspaper published for workers in the youth corrections field.  It notes that "in 2008, the Texas Youth Commission was spending an average of $60,000 a month on the powerful anti-psychotic drug Seroquel.
For those keeping score, that’s a rate of $720,000 a year; on the powerful anti-psychotic drug Seroquel, and before the agency changed its policy this year, following an in-house review, psychiatrists working on behalf of the agency prescribed Seroquel 2,553 times in 2008".

Many of the other "atypical" drugs have been prescribed for less severe mental disorders than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which both are very hard to diagnose at a young age because the signs truly start to peak in the late teens and early twenties.  "This appears to be especially true with children, despite little research on how the powerful atypicals affect adolescents. According to the youth commission, in 2008 more than a quarter of the 1,600 to 1,900 incarcerated juveniles in the agency’s care were on the anti-psychotic medications. Many already had prescriptions when they entered the Texas system."  It noted that Seroquel was being used as a sleep aid and that 70% of the TYC youth were using the drugs off-label.

The article goes on to quote the newspaper further by stating the "TYC Executive Director Cherie Townsend at length, said a total of 4,000 prescriptions for atypicals were written in 2008, suggesting that many of the incarcerated Texas youth were on more than one of the drugs. The agency reported that only 29 percent of the TYC adolescents taking the drugs had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder."  They have shown that they have put forth in an effort to get those numbers down however, and in "October 2009, TYC spent about $61,000 on Seroquel. By January 2010, it was down to about $38,500. For June, the last month for which Hurley said the agency had numbers, TYC spent $16,021 on the anti-psychotic drug.  According to the agency, 123 incarcerated youth were on Seroquel at the beginning of the year. Last month it was only 23.  The cost of atypicals generally has also dropped. Last October, TYC reported spending $127,737 on a half-dozen different brands of anti-psychotic. By this past June the figure was $54,000."

It seems that the organization is putting forth an effort to change and greatly reduce numbers that were much greater than they should of been.  It makes me wonder if organizations get an incentive to prescribe copious amounts of certain prescriptions, and that is an anterior motive if they aren't truly concerned with the teen or child's well being.  I am glad that they are changing their ways substantially and trying to become part of the system that fixes the problem at the core; for this issue its adolescents struggling with change.  It's good to keep an eye on programs that are putting forth the effort to develop solutions and not just rearrange the situation and circumstance, by adding more problems and prescribing something else.  Anti-psychotic meds or any prescription for that matter, should not always be, "just what the doctor ordered."

 Dexheimer, Eric. (2010, October 14). TYC's $60,000 a month Seroquel Bill.  Statesman.com. Retrieved October 21, 2010 from http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/investigative/index.html

Struggles That Will Never End: Israel vs. Palistine

National Editorial: Extended Freeze on Settlement Work Essential to Peace Hopes 

                                                  from Detroit Free Press Oct. 13, 2010

 Before even reading this article, I didn't believe that Israel and Palestine could keep peace quite yet, they've been fighting for decades.  It is unfortunate really, the amount of torturing each side does to the other, from poisoning animals, to neglecting a birthing mother's access to get emergency childcare she needs, children throwing rocks and getting shot by military men, in any case, someone or something dies or gets injured because of their religion, pride, and possession.  I became more familiar with the war between the 2 countries after I received a book from a Jewish American Woman who wrote of the struggles in the bordering countries.  Anna Baltzer, titled her book, "A Witness in Palestine".  Check out: Anna Baltzer: A Witness In Palestine.  Between 2000-2003 I was a part of the Peace Coalition for Hillsdale County Michigan, and Anna Baltzer came to speak in our town.  

So when I saw this article it brought me back to reality once again and I agree with what Mike Thompson had to say.  Apparently, President Obama has intersected the issue at hand regarding gaining rights for land territories between Palestine and Israel, and  there are hopes that we will increase military aid. According to the editorial from Detroit Free Press, it highlights, "Israel's refusal to extend a freeze on settlements in the West Bank, while not without reason, will jeopardize not only fledgling peace talks but also prospects for a viable permanent settlement with the Palestinians."  Detroit Free Press Newspaper National Editorial 

The author's intended audience is American Citizens, and even some readers quite possibly being Palestinian and Israeli Immigrants that may have settled to the United States since the revolt began.  There was a 10 month freeze on new construction on the West Bank as the permit expired September 26, 2010.  The author states that President Obama must get involved and stay involved on this pressing issue in order to prevent negotiations from ending.  The two-state side solution was a temporary fix for a long term problem, the editorial states, "that a two-state solution is the only just answer for the Palestinians and the best way to ensure Israel's security interests and future as a Jewish state. Israel has said it will recognize a Palestinian state as legitimate and permanent, with the right to self-determination. But the two-state solution presupposes a viable Palestinian state, which expanded settlements threaten to undermine."

Furthermore the West Bank is occupied by, "roughly 500,000 Israelis live in more than 120 settlements" and

"These settlements are served by a network of roads open only to Israelis. Palestinians fear that the West Bank is becoming so carved up by connected settlements that it can never be anything but a dependent colony that will continue to embroil the region and world. Israel has argued that any freeze must exclude "natural growth" in the settlements, a loophole that could be used to legitimize almost any activity. Despite U.S. protests, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in July that a building project in East Jerusalem would proceed, and Israel evicted Palestinian families from their homes.  Netanyahu, facing pressure from his right-wing coalition and understandably frustrated by a lack of progress in negotiations, says the future of the settlements should be negotiated, not made a precondition for talks."  It is uncertain "whether the prime minister's latest initiative, an offer to extend the settlement freeze in exchange for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish State is intended to buy time to rescue the talks or simply shift the onus for failure to the other side. But the Palestinians long ago recognized Israel, and requiring negotiators to specifically sanction its religious or ethnic character seems an odd precondition for negotiations."

As it seems Mike Thompson maybe favoring one side he sums up the article by stating that the Palestinians are going to have to be flexible, and that this issue is a hard one to uphold in order to keep the countries from maintaining peace.

Source: Thompson, Mike. (2010, October 13). Extended freeze on settlement work essential to peace hopes. Freep.com. Retrieved October 13, 2010 from http://www.freep.com/article/20101013/OPINION01/10130319/1322/Extended-freeze-on-settlement-work-essential-to-peace-hopes