The Brian Lehrer Show

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Your average teen uses the internet to research school papers or update her myspace page. But a growing number are visiting “pro-ana” pages—websites that promote anorexia as a lifestyle choice, not a disease. What does the proliferation of these sites mean, and what can parents and schools do? Also: a summit convenes to combat the high school dropout crisis, and out-of-state telecommuters rise up against New York State’s commuter tax.

Listen to the whole show

Strange Bedfellows

At least 20 states are considering mandatory vaccination of young girls against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. But the backlash has been fast and furious--and has led to some unlikely alliances. Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, and Moira Gaul, director of women's and reproductive health at the Family Research Council, talk about their opposition to mandatory inoculation. Sheila Krumholz, executive director, Center for Responsive Politics, talks about the lobbying efforts and legislative influence of the pharmaceutical industry.

Anti-Social Networking

Lynn Grefe, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association talks about the proliferation of "Pro-Ana" websites.

Tune In, Don't Drop Out

Robert Jackson, member of the New York City Council (D-Manhattan), Malaika de Jesus, a high school junior, and Elizabeth de Jesus, a high school senior, talk about the high school dropout epidemic and the LINK Directions for Our Youth summit convened to create a prevention campaign.

Does Not Commute

Rob Plattner, a tax attorney in Albany and the author of the New York State Tax Handbooks, and attorney Nicole Belson Goluboff, advisory board member of the Telework Coalition, a Washington-based advocacy group for telecommuters and the author of The Law of Telecommuting (American Law Institute, 2001), explain why telecommuters pay taxes to New York for money they earn working from their out-of-state homes.