The emergence of the swine flu has become a moment for our domestic swine to surface with anti-immigrant bashing. What has been amazing has been the intensity of it. As you may have noticed, the political Right has been using the rise of the swine flu (H1N1) as a way of challenging Mexican immigrants, documented and undocumented. . . .

Who says entrepreneurship is only for the young? After all you need energy, stamina, relentless focus, and the most important thing, time on your side. Maybe! But a key to successful entrepreneurship is simply doing it. Regardless of age or circumstance, make your own opportunities and go for it.
According to Department of U.S. Labor Statistics, the self-employed aged 55 -65 rose 33 percent in 2008, double the number of self-employed 25 - 35 year-olds. Research shows that approximately 22 percent of all new startup businesses are registered by people between 47 and 65 years of age. . . .

After falling for many years, the teen pregnancy rate is again on the rise. According to a report released in March by the National Center for Health Statistics, the teen birth rate increased 5 percent between 2005 and 2007. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveals that the declines in teenage sexual activity and increases in teenage contraceptive use have come to a standstill. . . .

There is an economic tsunami rumbling through urban America, more destructive than anything we have seen on Wall Street. A new report commissioned by the America's Promise Alliance, headed by Colin and Alma Powell, shows that while the national graduation rate has climbed to a still less than acceptable 71 percent, the average high school graduation rate in the nation's 50 largest cities stands at a devastatingly low 53 percent – an 18 percent gap. . . .

... right on cue, a question was directed to President Barack Obama at his press conference on April 29, by BET journalist Andre' Showell, who asked him, "…given this unique situation [where Blacks face double-digit unemployment and communities of color experience a deep recession] what specific policies can you point to that will target these communities and what's the timetable for us to see tangible results?" . . .

Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit for seniors, now offers an online service for beneficiaries. Called "Plan Finder," it allows seniors to find and compare prescription drug plans. This user-friendly online tool is just one of the ways Medicare Part D is helping seniors make informed decisions about their health care -- and save money. More than 25 million Part D participants fill more than 100 million prescriptions each month . . .

The political Right has dismissed any notion of so-called bi-partisanship in favor of an all out war against President Obama. 
It is not a matter of simply offering serious criticisms. I have serious criticisms of the President. No, what we are witnessing is something different.  It is reminiscent of the rabid attacks that took place against President Bill Clinton when efforts were made by the political Right to defame his character, intelligence and policies. The most recent so-called ''TEA Parties'' were an interesting example of contemporary right-wing insanity and mischief. . . .

According to the U.S. Department of Labor in March 2009, the U.S. registered over 690,000 job losses. Are you looking for a job? Consider creating your own. There are numerous valuable resources to help you connect with aspiring entrepreneurs and get your business ideas off the ground using one of the over 57 million social networks and blogs worldwide that generate over one million new website postings each day. . . .

The struggle to end the lock 'em up and throw away the key policies that resulted in the U.S. jailing more of its citizens than any other industrialized country has just won a significant victory.
For more than 35 years, families in New York have been plagued by the notorious Rockefeller Drug Laws. The policy which included long mandatory prison sentences for first time non-violent drug offenders resulted in major drug lords often going free while non-violent first offenders were given harsh sentences. The rule was particularly harsh for African Americans and women . . .

It's plain that our nation's health insurance system is broken: 46 million people in America lack health coverage — nine million of them children — and the number of uninsured is growing during the current recession.
Since 2001, the cost of family coverage from an employer has climbed by almost 80 percent, while workers' earnings have risen only 24 percent. And the number of businesses offering employees health coverage is declining. . . .