The Economy, Ctd.
In his column this morning, David Brooks, of The New York Times took a provocative stance: "What we need in this situation is authority," he wrote. "Not heavy-handed government regulation, but the steady and powerful hand of some public institutions that can guard against the corrupting influences of sloppy money and then prevent destructive contagions when the credit dries up." That statement won't carry favor with many Republicans, no doubt. What about the free market? It's the beau ideal of the conservative movement, isn't it?
Or is it?
Peter Goodman, who covers the national economy for The New York Times will join us, to talk about the free market. What is it? Has it existed? Could it? Does anyone want it to?
Forget that last question. Of course there are people who want an economy devoid of regulation. Devin Foley, who works at the Center of the American Experiment, is one of them. He'll tell us how Americans would benefit from a free market, and why regulation isn't the solution to this crisis.
Dean Baker, who was supposed to be on our program yesterday (we ran out of time!), runs the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a think tank here, in Washington, and he is no fan of free-market economics.
What do you think? In this financial crisis -- or, if you're more optimistic, economic turmoil --, do you think more regulation would help us? Or hurt us?
The Congressional plan was nobody's darling, but it was an effort to assert some authority. It was an effort to alter the psychology of the markets.
David Gura
1:59 PM ET
|
09-30-2008
|
permalink
Gustav And Ike Come To Party And Don't Bring Keg
Some places are out of grades... too bad for your fancy rides.
Source: xampl9
Remember when "pain at the pump" was a reference to how much gasoline cost? If you're in the Southeast, it might be more about how long it takes to get it. After a stormy couple of weeks, a gas shortage is its toll -- the worst lines are in Atlanta, Georgia, parts of the Carolinas, and Alabama. It's particularly frustrating when gas prices are slightly down in most parts of the country. We've heard tales of two hour lines -- our own David Gura heard that his dad was stuck in a gas line in Chapel Hill yesterday. Well, now it's your turn; tell us your tales from the shortage. What are you doing while you're in line? Catching up on a good book? Commiserating with other drivers?
Barrie Hardymon
1:58 PM ET
|
09-30-2008
|
permalink
Predicting Cancer
Faced with a family history of ovarian cancer and breast cancer, Joanna Rudnick got tested for a mutation in the BRCA genes, the so-called breast cancer genes. She tested positive, a diagnosis indicative of an incredibly increased risk of developing breast cancer (85-90% chance over her lifetime) and ovarian cancer (50-60% lifetime chance). She was only 27 when she got this result, and it changed her life. She decided to make a documentary about women like her, called In the Family.
Right now, the best chance for women with the mutation to avoid breast and ovarian cancers is to have their breasts and ovaries removed, and soon, as the risk increases with age. It's an almost unimaginable decision -- radical mastectomy of currently healthy breasts, and oophorectomy, forever prohibiting the woman from becoming pregnant -- but when? If you're not ready to have kids yet, do you push the surgeries back and hope for the right time to get pregnant, and soon? If you're ready for kids, do you have them... And risk passing on the mutation? And if you already have kids, and you're through, how will the loss of such critical elements of womanhood affect your relationships? Staggering. If you've been through the testing, like the women in her film, tell us your story. Whether you carry the mutation or not, what was it like to get tested, and how are you dealing with your results?
Sarah Handel
1:57 PM ET
|
09-30-2008
|
permalink
Political Smackdown: What's Said vs. What's Heard
Lalala! I can't hear you...
Source: striatic
Governor Palin did not ban books from the public library as mayor of Wasilla, and Senator Obama was not sworn into the Senate with his hand placed on the Koran. And yet, such misinformation persists, and plenty of voters believe one myth or the other, but not both. Why? The answer's simple, and once again Psych 101 rears its (ugly?) head: confirmation bias. Today, we'll talk to Bill Bishop, author of The Big Sort, about how, in politics, voters seek to confirm their beliefs by hearing what they want to hear, and ignoring what they don't.
Yes or no: Have you ever gone out of your way not to hear facts that might upset your existing political beliefs? All the liberals, say, "Haaay!" Did you skip George Bush's State of the Union? All the conservatives, say, "Haaay!" Did you skip Bill Clinton's State of the Union? Come on, be honest.
Ashley Grashaw
1:56 PM ET
|
09-30-2008
|
permalink
September 30th Show
You've probably heard by now that the $700 billion bailout bill was rejected in the House yesterday. While politicians blame each other over the failure of the bailout, some are saying if the bill had passed, it would have signaled the end of the "free market" structure in the United States. In our first hour, we'll talk with an economist, a supporter of free markets and a critic about what the bailout failure could mean for government regulation and free market economics. Then, we'll talk about the hurricane-induced gasoline shortage that has affected the southeastern region of the United States. And we'll read some of your comments on our past show topics.
When filmmaker Joanna Rudnick tested positive for the breast cancer gene, she faced an excruciating decision: either remove her breasts and ovaries, ending the chance of her ever becoming pregnant, or risk developing cancer. Rudnick documents her deeply emotional journey through treatments and life-and-death decision-making in her new film In The Family. In our second hour, Rudnick will join us, along with a doctor who will explain the mutations of the BRCA (breast cancer) gene. Following that, we'll go back inside the political sphere with author and blogger Bill Bishop. He will explain why, when it comes to politics, voters only hear what they want to hear, and seem to ignore the rest.
Gwen Outen
11:30 AM ET
|
09-30-2008
|
permalink
BOTN Commenters, Get Plucked!
Okay, so remember all those times that you left a comment on our blog, and then became instantly sore about the length of time it took for said comment to be posted? We totally heard your pleas -- and now, thanks to the magic of new commenting software -- you will no longer be instantly inflamed, you will be instantly posted. What new internet enchantment has taken hold of NPR.org, you might ask? It's Pluck -- and it's filled with delicious new features that will enable y'all to know each other better (within reason -- nobody wants to know your social security number).
You will notice at the top of THIS VERY PAGE a tempting little button marked Login. Go to it BOTN'ers, and get thee a profile -- a special NPR profile that can include as much or as little about yourself as you like. You must have a profile to comment on the site -- but once you have one, it's a key that can unlock your opinion all over NPR. You can comment on blogs and stories now, you can recommend stuff you like, and best of all, if you have something super clever to say that other NPRophiles appreciate, you can recommend it as a featured comment, and others can recommend you as well. Who knows, your comment might even be featured on the home page. And let's say you want to know a little more about your favorite NPR personalities -- go ahead and friend them -- you can see what stories they've done recently, and whether or not they're fans of Mad Men or Buffy, too!
But, with great power -- yes, that's right -- y'all have to take some responsibility here. Keep it civil, keep it smart, keep it going. If someone is being abusive or creepy -- it's up to you guys to report it. This is a self-moderated community; so let's keep it provocative, but not painful, okay? (If you need a primer about what we consider civil, here's a refresher.)
I bet you have questions! Cool. We've got answers. Our fearless online leader Dick Meyer has posted a far more eloquent explainer on all these changes, and you can also go right ahead to the NPR community explainers.
Best part? Coming soon -- the Blog of the Nation is going to become enlarged with delicious extra content. We think you'll like it. And people, please, please, please let us know what you'd dearly like to see on the BOTN. We want you to love it -- and most of all, we want you to be a part of it. So go forth and register! And stay tuned for even more BOTN changes...
Barrie Hardymon
10:49 AM ET
|
09-30-2008
|
permalink