Prescription Drugs And TV Ads

If you traveled here from another planet and studied our culture from watching television on any given night you might suspect that we are a nation of hypochondriacs. The ubiquity of pharmaceutical ads can be interpreted as both humorous and troubling. Concerns exist because these advertisements have proven to be very fruitful and chances are very good that if you simply ask your doctor about a new product, he'll produce a prescription for it. The U.S. and New Zealand are the only two nations that allow for this advertising and there are voices now being raised over the dependency they seem to develop. Click on the link above to read the concerns of a prominent physician on this issue.

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Mexico decriminalizes small-scale drug possession

Mexico decriminalizes small-scale drug possession

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In the midst of by all accounts a devastating drug war in Mexico, the decision by the government to decriminalize possession of small quantities of all drugs may seem strange. But the additional problem of a corrupt police force shaking down detained small time suspects has authorities believing that this is a reasonable approach. Separating casual users and addicts from the hard core commercial traffickers should allow for a renewed focus on the most serious of the many problems, theoretically. Click on the link above to learn more about this unique response and consider whether this policy would work in the U.S.

What Happens In Vegas Apparently Doesn't Stay In Vegas

What a difference a year makes. Once touted as the fastest growing and most dynamic city in the country, Las Vegas is now mired in a devastating recession. The unemployment rate has doubled in a year and the city is feeling the effects of putting all of its fortunes on one industry. Gaming business is off dramatically and the construction boom associated with its development has come to a complete halt. The results are being felt all over Nevada but not as strongly in the more diversified economies of other cities. Only Michigan and Rhode Island have higher statewide jobless rates. The boom to bust scenario has the city fathers rethinking their gamble on one roll of the dice. Click on the link above to read further and consider the parallels that exist with Florida.

The Rich Ain't So Rich Anymore

The trend over the last thirty years has been an ever increasing disparity between the haves of America and the have-nots. The super rich of this country had been enjoying an uninterrupted explosion of their personal wealth while incomes in the middle have flat lined. Now, the good times seem to have come to end. The recent contraction in our economy has hit the "rarifieds" hard and magnificent fortunes have been decimated. It is hard to believe that recovery will be quick to arrive, though you'll hear little sympathy from the working man who has struggled to keep his head above water for decades. Click on the link above to read more about this turn of events and the calamity it's caused in that echelon.

Deprivation Is The Key To Happiness

All week long we have been talking about how Economics is the business of life. We are the product of our choices and a sound decision-making strategy is essential. In the din of distraction that we live in, it has become difficult to define opportunity cost as the enticement of short-term gain tests ability to reason. Self-discipline would have served many of the over-extended victims of our economy's collapse well. In the ashes of the devastation, your generation can sow a few lessons assuring the mistakes won't be repeated. It has never been more essential for young people to begin saving for their future, but in a society that celebrates consumption it is difficult. Click on the link above to learn more about the importance of delayed gratification and the rewards of patience.

Mickey Mouse Moves To Philadelphia?

By the year 2050, a growing number of climatologists believe that climate change will fundamentally alter the seasonal patterns and the economies of many northern cities. Philadelphia might seem more like Orlando from it's more equatorial temperatures. The impact could wreak havoc with local economies as it transforms energy needs and impacts the health of the citizens. The amount of snowfall and the severity of summer weather events could have a strong repercussions on recreation businesses and their revenues. Click on the link above and the embedded links in the reading to learn more.

Raising a Child Costs Some $221,000, Before College

Raising a Child Costs Some $221,000, Before College

Arnold Proposes A Flat Tax For California

Is Higher Education The Next Bubble To Burst?

What does the real estate market and a college education have in common? Their prices have risen faster than inflation in recent years, they are both expensive, they are often paid for with credit, the markets for that credit have dried up, they both have less expensive alternatives. We know what happened to housing, might the same thing happen to higher education. Many universities are concerned that cash strapped families will more commonly turn to community colleges to satisfy a portion or all of a child's post-secondary education. With many costs on a college campus unavoidable, this diminished revenue stream could be devastating.