Columnists

Twenty-four states have enacted right-to-work laws.

Much has been made about the shrinking middle class in the United States where the wealthiest 160,000 families own as much as the poorest 145 million families. Income inequality is the gap in how much individuals earn from the work they do and the investments they make. Wealth inequality measures the difference in how much money and other assets individuals have accumulated. One of the contributing causes of wealth inequality is the labor movement’s diminished economic and political clout, as seen in the movement by states to enact right-to-work laws.

Thanks to collective bargaining, union members have higher wages and better benefits. In addition, union membership actually raises living and working standards for all working men and women, union and non-union. When union membership rates are high, so is the share of income that goes to the middle class. When those rates fall, income inequality grows and the middle class shrinks. -more-

Those who suffer from paranoid-type schizophrenia are subject to imagining elaborate plots to do harm to them, may incorrectly believe they are under surveillance and are constantly being watched, and may be fearful of the government--believing that it has an agenda of "getting" them. People with paranoid schizophrenia may inflate their importance and may believe that numerous people are malevolently monitoring and plotting against them--when in fact, they may not be noticed nearly as much as they think. -more-

Consider walking as exercise. Brisk walking can be an effective aerobic exercise. Walking provides the same benefits as jogging without the stress on joints.

“Unwind with a relaxing walk” advises the current issue of Senior Update…The Eyes and Ears of Alameda County Seniors. Chronic stress can produce too much cortisol, a hormone that can ramp up appetite and lead to overeating. A simple exercise like walking, just 30 minutes a day helps to incorporate a great way to minimize gaining weight and stress reduction all in one. (Get on the free mailing list by contacting the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging.) -more-