Family & Children

Women are the primary caregivers in a family . . .

• 70 percent of women in dual-earner couples report taking greater responsibility for routine child care than their male partners in 2002. 70 percent of women also report responsibility for taking time off work because of children.s needs, in comparison with 30 percent of men (Families and Work Institute).
• More than 20 percent of households are responsible for some or all of the care of elderly relatives (US Department of Labor).

Women have more contact with the health system than men do . . .

• Because of women's decision-making role in their families' health care, their caregiving responsibilities, and their own health needs, women have more contact with the health system and, on average, use the health system more than men.
• Women have ongoing reproductive health needs that men don't have. About half of women have a regular obstetrician or gynecologist in addition to a general primary care provider (Kaiser Family Foundation).

The brightest and most original minds in America offer a penetrating analysis of the state of the union and the policy challenges facing the nation as the 2004 election approaches.

This year's presidential race underscores a curious truth about American politics today: Elected officials love to talk about "family values" and "investing in our kids," but shy away from proposing anything big or new that would actually help them. The only item in President Bush's new budget directed at parents is a call for making his temporary increase in the child tax credit (from $600 to $1,000) permanent. His Democratic challengers have offered a few modest ideas, such as universal after-school programs ($4 billion a year).

On the heels of Friday's glum Labor Department report, Americans have a right to be confused. Soaring growth, stocks and consumer confidence have heartened investors. And yet, the country remains mired in a jobless recovery. The reality is that the economy has become more uncertain and anxiety-producing for most of us -- not just over the past three years, but over the past 30. But by fixating on the day-to-day ups and downs, analysts have largely missed the more telling trend: an increasing shift of economic risk from government and corporations onto workers and their families.

Every now and then a study comes along whose chief interest lies in how peculiarly askew its findings seem to be from the common perception of things. Sometimes, of course, the "surprising new study" itself turns out to be off in some way. But if the data are fundamentally sound, then what you really want to know is why sensible people hold such a contrary view.

The Extreme skate park in downtown Louisville, Ky., sits between a loop of interstate highway and the headquarters of a grain company whose sign reads "Producer Feeds -- Since 1869." The park looks a little like a homemade Hot Wheels track, something a resourceful toy-deprived child might make out of flour-and-water paste. It has every feature a skateboarder could want, though.

All over the United States politicians face a dilemma: They need to pay for rising school costs without raising taxes. For example, when the federal government imposes unfunded mandates on local school systems, such as the $35 billion unfunded portion of the No Child Left Behind Act, the money must come from somewhere. Often at least part of the money comes from tolerating -- or even encouraging -- depressed public school enrollments.

One July morning last year in Oklahoma City, in a public-housing project named Sooner Haven, twenty-two-year-old Kin Henderson pulled a pair of low-rider jeans over a high-rising gold lamé thong and declared herself ready for church. Her best friend in the project, Corean Brothers, was already in the parking lot, fanning away her hot flashes behind the wheel of a smoke-belching Dodge Shadow. "Car's raggedy, but it'll get us from pillar to post," Corean said when Kim climbed in.

Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain came to Washington last week to bolster President Bush against his critics on Iraq. Let's hope the two leaders found a moment to discuss domestic policy as well -- particularly Mr. Blair's effort to give every child a stake in Britain's economic future.