http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher en-us Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:01 -0400 Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:01 -0400 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013051700 Decisions about sustaining life, allowing it to end or even hastening death are among the most difficult choices terminally ill patients and their families can face. Such decisions also are at the heart of a debate about what is commonly called “physician-assisted suicide” — or “aid-in-dying” by supporters. Oregon and Washington — and now likely Vermont — allow physicians to write a prescription for lethal drugs if requested by someone who is terminally ill and mentally competent. A Montana court also has allowed the procedure. Supporters of assisted suicide say it allows the terminally ill to avoid unnecessary suffering and meet death on their own terms, and they say safeguards in the laws prevent abuse of the procedure. But opponents say assisted suicide devalues life, opens patients to exploitation by relatives or others and could lead to widespread euthanasia of the sick and vulnerable. Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013051700 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013051000 An estimated 58 million American adults, or one in four, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Eleven million live with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression. Yet it can take years for some individuals to see a mental health professional. Some don't want help, but the majority say treatment is often unaffordable. Others don't know where to go for treatment or say that insurance coverage isn't adequate. The contentious debate over gun control since the December massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School has been accompanied by a less polarizing discussion about improving access to mental health care. Still, some proposals have split mental health advocates, including encouraging states to make court-ordered outpatient treatment easier to obtain. In addition, critics say new definitions of mental illnesses will lead to over-diagnosis. Meanwhile, insurers and patient advocates struggle to interpret federal laws requiring equal treatment of mental and physical illnesses. Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013051000 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013050300 An unprecedented number of Americans view the news media as biased and untrustworthy, with both conservatives and liberals complaining that coverage of political races and important public policy issues is often skewed. Polls show that 80 percent of Americans believe news stories are often influenced by the powerful, and nearly as many say the media tend to favor one side of issues over another. The proliferation of commentary by partisan cable broadcasters, talk-radio hosts and bloggers has blurred the lines between news and opinion in many people's minds, fueling concern that slanted reporting is replacing media objectivity. At the same time, newspapers and broadcasters — and even some partisan groups — have launched aggressive fact-checking efforts aimed at verifying statements by newsmakers and exposing exaggerations or outright lies. Experts question the future of U.S. democracy if American voters cannot agree on what constitutes truth. Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013050300 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013042600 Governments around the globe have been weakening free-speech protections because of concerns about security or offending religious believers. After a phone-hacking scandal erupted in the British press and Muslims worldwide violently protested images in the Western media of the Prophet Muhammad, European nations enacted new restrictions on hate speech, and Britain is considering limiting press freedom. Autocratic regimes increasingly are jailing journalists and political dissidents or simply buying media companies to use them for propaganda and to negate criticism. Muslim countries are adopting and rigidly enforcing blasphemy laws, some of which carry the death penalty. Meanwhile, some governments are blocking or monitoring social media and cybertraffic, increasing the risk of arrest for those who freely express their thoughts online and dashing hopes that new technologies would allow unlimited distribution of information and opinion. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013042600 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013041900 Rising tuition and declining job prospects are creating a crisis for law school students and graduates, who face the likelihood of earning incomes below what they need to finance staggering debt. Students leave law school these days with debts averaging more than $100,000. The legal job market is difficult, partly because of the recession and partly because of technological changes that allow outsourcing of legal work or do-it-yourself lawyering. Nearly half of the 2012 graduates failed to find a long-term, full-time legal job nine months later. The median income for graduates who do find jobs is about $60,000 per year. Law school tuition rose rapidly over the past decade, but schools are now facing pressure to cut costs as the number of applicants shrinks. Some professors and outside observers bluntly warn that law school is a bad investment for many students. But others insist that a legal education is still valuable as a path to a profitable career and an active role in public affairs. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013041900 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013041200 More than 1,000 American and foreign journalists have been killed or seriously injured over the past 20 years covering wars, insurgencies, popular uprisings and other conflicts abroad, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Arab Spring revolutions. As the Internet has spurred the global appetite for minute-by-minute news updates and established news organizations worldwide have shuttered overseas bureaus and cut back their staffs, more and more inexperienced young freelance reporters and photographers and local hires have ventured into harm's way in search of dramatic stories and photos. Meanwhile, insurgents are using YouTube and Facebook to publicize their cause, making them less inclined to protect journalists in hopes of getting good press. In fact, combatants today often consider journalists not as partners or even impartial observers, but as high-value targets for hostage-taking — and murder. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013041200 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013040500 Students who change schools often because they lack stable housing are less likely to graduate, have lower attendance rates and are twice as likely to repeat a grade. Researchers say 75 percent of those who become homeless during their teen years drop out. Under federal law, most school districts have programs designed to help homeless students enroll and remain in school. In the 2010–2011 school year, the number of homeless students topped 1 million for the first time ever. A steady rise in that statistic since the 1980s, when the majority of homeless children did not attend school, shows that efforts to identify homeless students and get them into the classroom are beginning to pay off. But advocates for the homeless say more needs to be done to make sure they graduate and that the root causes of homelessness — poverty and a lack of affordable housing — have not been adequately addressed. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013040500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013032200 A century-and-a-half after Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution, scientists and people who read the Bible literally remain locked in conflict. They are divided over a wide range of issues, from evolution and climate change to stem-cell research and homosexuality. But nowhere is the division stronger than in education. Despite court rulings barring public schools from teaching creationism, some authorities continue to promote it alongside evolution or have curbed the way evolution is taught. A controversial group of “New Atheist” scientists stridently advocates the total elimination of religion from society. But other scientists — some religious and others not — argue that condemning religion not only disrespects the majority of Americans who profess a faith but also undermines the public's support for science and ultimately threatens America's economic competitiveness. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013032200 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013031500 The Supreme Court is set to confront the issue of gay marriage for the first time in 40 years in two cases set for argument in late March. Same-sex couples are asking the justices to strike down California's Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in the state just six months after a court ruled that preventing gays and lesbians from marrying was unconstitutional. In a second case, a New York City widow is urging the court to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which limits federal benefits for same-sex couples. Edith Windsor had to pay a $363,000 federal tax bill on her late wife's estate that would not have been levied on an opposite-sex spouse. The Obama administration says both laws are unconstitutional. House Republicans stepped into the Windsor case to defend DOMA. Court watchers say the justices are likely to be closely divided along conservative-liberal lines, with Justice Anthony M. Kennedy widely seen as having the pivotal vote on the nine-member bench. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013031500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013030800 The debate over gun control has been inescapable since last December, when Adam Lanza killed 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., before taking his own life in one of the nation's most horrific mass shootings. There have been marches and protests, Super Bowl advertisements, emotional and contentious congressional and state hearings and a new, tough gun-control law in New York state. Polls show broad bipartisan public support for expanding background checks to include private gun purchases, although support is weaker and more polarized for a ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines. Yet momentum may be fading in Congress for passage of any new gun-control legislation as members grapple with the federal government's looming debt limit and this month's automatic budget cuts. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013030800 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013030100 As the world marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the war is fast fading from the memories of many Americans. After more than eight years of combat, the U.S. and Iraqi governments couldn't come to terms on keeping U.S. combat troops in the country. They were withdrawn at the end of 2011 except for a small contingent involved in training Iraqi forces. But Iraq remains mired in sectarian and religious conflict. In the United States, debates about the justification for the invasion have given way to arguments about whether Iraq is a budding democracy — an objective of the George W. Bush administration — or a new dictatorship. That dispute intersects with the question of whether U.S. withdrawal from Iraq will spur the country to solve its own problems or push it into friendlier relations with its anti-American neighbor, Iran. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013030100 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013022200 Superstorm Sandy, which devastated portions of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut last October, has revived longstanding debates about coastal development. Congress has approved more than $60 billion in relief funding for Sandy, which ranks as one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. Future storms could be even worse because of climate change, which is raising global sea levels. New York officials are considering building floodgates to protect against storm surges, one of many strategies under consideration. Some experts argue that to make coastlines better able to withstand extreme weather, storm-damaged houses in vulnerable zones should not be rebuilt. Meanwhile, critics blame the federal flood insurance program, designed to help homeowners who cannot get private coverage, for subsidizing risky development with taxpayer dollars. But advocates say the program is needed to protect homeowners against catastrophic loss. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013022200 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013021500 The Internet has brought profound changes across the globe, but its rapidly expanding criminal side threatens to undermine both its achievements and its promise. Today, thieves using computers can rob banks and steal corporate trade secrets from the other side of the world. Hackers opposed to U.S. policies can sabotage government websites, and some experts warn that a hostile country could bring the United States to a virtual standstill without firing a shot, such as by hacking into the power grid or disrupting transportation. New cybersecurity legislation has not been passed since 2002, and with new laws stalled in Congress, President Obama announced on Feb. 12 he had signed an executive order aimed at protecting government and businesses from “the rapidly growing threat from cyber-attacks.” Meanwhile, some countries are moving to control Internet content, often in the name of cybersecurity. Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013021500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013020800 School groups, sports teams and other organizations often initiate members by requiring participation in degrading or violent rituals. Hazing can escalate from silliness to cruelty, sometimes causing emotional scars or even death. Experts say hazing is becoming increasingly brutal and sexual in nature, even at middle schools. Last December, Northern Illinois University fraternity members were charged in the hazing of a freshman who died after a night of extreme drinking. In 2011 a Florida A&M University drum major was beaten to death by fellow African-American band members, sparking concerns about the nature of hazing at mostly black institutions. In Afghanistan two U.S. servicemen committed suicide in 2011 after being abused, sparking congressional condemnation and pledges by military brass to crack down on hazing. Some argue hazing can build character and camaraderie, but critics advocate stronger enforcement, coupled with education, to curb it. Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013020800 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013020100 The wave of popular uprisings that toppled dictators in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya is still roiling the Arab world, but other governments have held on by cracking down on protests or instituting modest reforms. Meanwhile, Syria is engulfed in a bloody civil war that many experts predict will force President Bashar Assad from office but leave the country devastated and politically unstable. Some experts say the events have transformed political attitudes in Arab nations. Others stress that a majority of those countries still have authoritarian regimes. The political dramas are playing out against the backdrop of pressing economic problems, including high unemployment among Arab youths. In addition, the growing power of Islamist parties and groups is raising concerns among advocates of secular government and creating risks of sectarian disputes among different Muslim sects. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013020100 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013012500 From Facebook to the photo-sharing site Pinterest to virtual adventure games, software that helps people meet, converse, work and compete with others is drawing billions online. The use of social media comes with a price, however. Every photo upload or click of a “like” button deposits users' personal data online, much of which is sold to help businesses target advertising. To some, such data mining endangers long-cherished privacy rights, but social media supporters say it is a small price to pay for the benefits of online socializing. Meanwhile, critics of social media express concern that many members of the digital generation may fail to develop vital communication skills because they prefer virtual contact over face-to-face conversations. But proponents say most people use social media not to avoid others but to stay in touch with them. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013012500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013011800 Massive changes are buffeting America's public colleges and universities, spurring experts to predict a radically different higher-education environment in coming years. A weakened economy has forced drastic cuts in state higher-education funding, leading many schools to raise tuition to record levels and put the brakes on expansion after years of pell-mell growth fueled by government spending. Meanwhile, colleges and universities are under pressure to rethink their traditional modes of operation as they try to compete with an explosion of new educational models, including for-profit institutions, distance learning and so-called MOOCs — massive online open courses that offer free, high-quality instruction to thousands of digitally connected students simultaneously. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013011800 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013011100 The Peace Corps has long stood as one of America's most idealistic efforts — a program founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to send young Americans to some of the world's poorest countries with a mission to spread good will and offer assistance. The agency still sends volunteers on two-year assignments and is active today in 76 countries. But the idealism in the Peace Corps’ charter has come up against some troubling accusations. Volunteers who say they were sexually assaulted while overseas complain that the Peace Corps ignored or downplayed their allegations. Other volunteers say they received inadequate training, and still others question the agency's accomplishments. Yet supporters say there has never been a greater need for the kind of person-to-person, international understanding promoted by the Peace Corps and that the agency is addressing many of the recent concerns. Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013011100 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013010400 Cheating scandals among some of the nation's best students at Harvard University and New York City's Stuyvesant High School have highlighted a problem experts say is widespread. In surveys, a majority of college and high school students admit to cheating on a test or written assignment. Some experts blame the cheating culture on cutthroat competition for college admissions and jobs. The simplicity of copying from the Internet or cribbing from smartphones makes plagiarism and cheating easier, teachers say. However, in the case of works of art and entertainment, some see a refreshing new ethic of sharing and “remixing” creative material in digital media. Researchers find that cheating increases when educators “teach to the test” instead of emphasizing learning. But experts question whether shifting to learning for learning's sake is realistic when public school funding now depends on standardized-test results and families think their children's future depends on high grades. Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2013010400 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2012121400 The housing market is finally showing signs of recovery after the housing crash and Great Recession of the late 2000s. The number of foreclosed homes is shrinking, sales of homes are climbing, prices are rebounding and builders are ramping up construction. Yet the share of Americans who own their homes dropped to 65.5 percent in the third quarter — the lowest since 1997. Many of today's buyers are investors who are snapping up houses in some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods and converting them into rentals, which experts say is a new trend. Analysts wonder whether many Americans are permanently rejecting homeownership in favor of renting. Meanwhile, policymakers are weighing how much the government should help the millions of remaining distressed homeowners and how to reform mortgage financing to avoid another housing debacle. Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500 http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2012121400