Last night, President Obama addressed the nation about Syria. Do you agree with Obama's decision to suspend Congress from voting on whether or not to strike Syria? Did his speech impact your opinion of what the U.S. should do? Next, a new California bill that's awaiting Gov.Jerry Brown's signature will let all drivers use the HOV lanes for a few hours a day. Will this help alleviate traffic? Then, we're talking with the FCC Commissioner about his quest to save AM radio. Lastly, should more public schools push for uniforms?
Decisions on Syria: Analysis of President Obama’s speech
President Obama addressed the nation last night in a speech in which he announced he was suspending a vote from Congress on whether to strike in Syria. Obama said he supports a call from Russia to have the Syrian government hand over their chemical weapons to international powers in an effort to resolve the issue diplomatically.
He also re-emphasized the need for a U.S. response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria saying, “What kind of world will we live in if the United States of America sees a dictator brazenly violate international law with poison gas and we choose to look the other way?"
A panel of experts join Larry to analyze Obama’s speech and the situation in Syria. Do you think the United States should be taking military action in Syria? Why? Why not? What do you think of these new diplomatic efforts? Did Obama’s speech impact your opinion?
Click here for more coverage of President Obama's speech
CA bill lets all drivers use select HOV lanes for a few hours a day
A bill approved this week by California lawmakers will allow solo drivers in carpool lanes on Los Angeles freeways for a few hours a day. Approval for the bill, which is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature, was overwhelming.
“Carpool lanes were designed to reward those who pool their rides during the busiest rush hour,” CA Assemblymember Mike Gatto, who introduced the bill, told CBS LA. “The Northern California freeways where this has been adopted, the carpool lane is a carpool lane only from 6 to 10 a.m. in the morning commute and then again from 4 and 7 p.m. in the evening commute, but any other time in the day or night solo drivers are free to access the carpool lane.”
If Gov. Brown signs the bill, test zones will be installed along the 134 and 210 freeways. Currently, tickets for non-carpooling drivers caught driving in HOV lanes cost over $300.
Not everyone is supportive of the idea, citing a dilution of environmental incentives.
"I think carpool lanes can promote two things: carpooling and its an incentive for people to buy electric and plugin hybrid vehicles," said Adrian Martinez, staff attorney in the Los Angeles offices of Earthjustice, on AirTalk. "Taking away these incentives poses a problem for the environment."
The trucking industry supports the idea, despite the fact trucks won't be able to use the carpool lane.
"Sometimes that extra lane is not used to its maximum benefit," said Michael Shaw of the California Trucking Association on AirTalk. "If we could allow additional drivers to utilize that extra lane, that would free up some space in the remaining lanes where the trucks would be driving. The benefit for the industry is we're able to move around with less congestion."
What do you think of the proposal? Do you applaud the move? Or does it confuse drivers unnecessarily?
Guests:
Adrian Martinez, Staff Attorney in the Los Angeles offices of Earthjustice - a non-profit public interest law organization dedicated to environmental issues
Michael Shaw, Vice President of External Affairs, California Trucking Association
FCC Commissioner’s quixotic quest to save AM radio
Flashback to 1978 and nearly half of all radio listeners were dialed in to the AM band. Kids listening to baseball games, teens counting down Casey Kasem’s Top 40 and parents getting “the world” in 20 minutes on KFWB. As of 2011, AM listenership fell to 15 percent – a mere 3.1 million people, compared to 18 million who tune in to FM.
These days, everything from satellite radio to tall buildings seems to be conspiring to kill AM. Add to that smartphones and consumer electronics, which interfere with many AM stations, and some say it’s time to let it die.
But FCC commissioner Ajit Pai says AM is “the audible core of our national culture.” And he’s on a personal mission to save it. Does AM radio need to be salvaged? Is it even possible? Is it just nostalgia or are there more practical reasons to hold onto AM radio? What are your favorite AM radio memories?
Guest:
Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Thom Callahan, President, Southern California Broadcasters Association
The pros and cons of school dress codes
As students across the country settle into their new classes the administrators are going to be paying close attention to what they're wearing. A string of high profile court cases lately has brought the issue of the school dress code back in focus. Last month, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that high school students were allowed to wear breast cancer awareness bracelets that said "I ♥ boobies!". Despite the favorable court rulings most schools haven't backed down on enforcing strict dress codes.
Are schools spending too much time worrying what students are wearing rather than their education? Do strict dress codes actually make a better, safer learning environment? Should more public schools push for uniforms to reduce the need for the school to police students’ wardrobes?
Guest:
Ruthann Robson, Professor of Law, City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law