Much has changed in US politics since the historic 2008 election. While the press covers the actions and agendas of the new administration, other impacts of this political shift have not received as much attention. These changes have forced the nation to rethink the necessary role of government, the role of the private market, the impact of science, technology, and information, and, ultimately, our place in the world. What Do We Expect From Our Government? provides a glimpse at this set of developments by focusing on a number of policies, such as climate change, immigration, and terrorism, as well as governance processes such as oversight, elections and campaigns, and regulation. It highlights the role of research in public sector decision-making, the role of the academy, the relationship between economic imperatives and scientific information, and dealing with uncertainty and change. In addition, it includes attention to broader issues such as national economic and fiscal policies and strategies for assuring equity and access in programs.

In this eleventh volume in The World Over series, Simon and Brooks examine and compare the rights and responsibilities of citizenship across twenty-one countries. The countries included are Canada, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, South Africa, India, China, Japan, and Australia. In addition to reporting on the rights that citizens enjoy in these countries, as for example the right to run for and hold public office, vote, obtain scholarships, and hold government positions, the authors also describe the responsibilities that are attached to the role of citizen_for example, to serve in the military, serve on a jury, and pay taxes. When available, Simon and Brooks report on public opinion data on how proud respondents are of the country in which they are citizens, as measured by such variables as whether they would rather be a citizen of their country over any other country in the world, how proud they are of their country's political influence in the world, how democracy works in their country, and whether they believe they should support their country even if it is in the wrong. Following a brief chapter on the history of citizenship, the book is organized such that the first section provides a country-by-country profile of each of the issues describing rights and responsibilities and reports on the public opinion data. The second part is explicity comparative and describes the countries against each other.

Families affected by autism are thrown into chaos and despair. Parents ask, "How did this happen to my child?" To date, no one has provided a definitive answer as to what causes autism. Although there's much speculation, nothing has been proven scientifically. As a traditional Naturopathic Doctor, I've served families with an autistic family member for many years--and it is the entire family that suffers this syndrome. I have also observed triumphs in bringing autistic children forward to productivity on the road to self-sufficiency and an independent life. But I've also seen failures. I've watched as parents promoted, even exacerbated their child's autism syndrome. I have drawn a straight line between a family's lifestyle, the hidden dangers in the food fed to children, digestive health issues and the many nutritional deficits that ensue, and the manifestation of autistic behavior. This book speaks to how our quick-fix, multi-tasking, always on-the-go lifestyle promotes autism. It's a checklist of those things we do, that we must stop doing, and a guide to reducing or eliminating autistic behavior--a path you can take to end your child's suffering. "In this short work, Dr. Brooks encapsulates the core actions required to bring a child out of the depths of autism, regardless of where he or she may fall on the spectrum. Her principles are sound and methods are scientific. 'If you're not testing, you're guessing, ' is a mantra of hers that I have adopted. Testing then knowing, planning then acting. It seems so simple, yet has profound results. Dr. Brooks' stepwise progression is built on solid ground." Robin D. Ader, Executive Director Innovative Health Foundation, Inc. IHF is a 501(c)(3) organization funding treatments for autism and other psychological, neurological, and learning disorders for children of families in financial need.