Polls consistently show voters wanting more choices in political parties... but they never get them. After four, on At Issue, Ben Merens and his guest discuss why third parties fail.
Guest: Joel Sipress, professor of history, UW-Superior.


Looking for a good book for the beach? Join Ben Merens and his guest, after five, for a look at some great summer reads.
Guest: Teddie Meronek, research librarian, City of Superior.

Join Ben Merens as he hosts his June open line. Call in with your topic and guest suggestions for future shows.


Summer break is here and many parents are asking how they can help their children remember information learned in the previous school year, avoiding the infamous “summer brain drain.” On this month’s Education Today, Ben Merens’ guest says that summer does not have to equal a lack of mental stimulation.
Guest: Ron Fairchild, executive director, Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. www.summerlearning.org

Care giving for an aging parent or family member can be stressful, yet rewarding. Ben Merens and his guest explore the ups and downs of transitioning from having your parents take care of you, to you taking care of them.
Guest: Patricia Bruce, director of the Family Caregiver Support Network at Interfaith Older Adult Programs. www.caregiversupportnetwork.org 1-800-449-4481


Most Wisconsinites are generally dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S. today. And many are unhappy with the war in Iraq. After five, Ben Merens and his guest flush out the findings of the latest Badger Poll on national issues.
Guest: Katherine (Kathy Walsh – on air) Cramer Walsh, professor of political science, UW-Madison. Faculty director, UW Survey Center, Badger Poll.

Last week, for the first time since the early 1990s, the federal government released information on hospital mortality rates. Ben Merens and guest look at what this means for patients.
Guest: Dana Richardson, vice president of quality, Wisconsin Hospital Association.



A lot of people say they don’t like the Iraq War, but what are they doing about it? On at Issue, after five, Ben Merens and his guests talk about ways to peacefully protest war.
Guests:
5:00 - 6:00 Julie Enslow, organizer, Peace Action Wisconsin.
www.peaceactionwi.org
5:00 - 5:30 Don Schiever, peace activist. www.ackme.info/peace_waukesha/ObeyTheLawForPeace.htm

Despite pressure from Congress, the White House and top military commanders, Iraq’s political leaders have failed to reach agreements on several laws that the U.S. demanded as benchmarks. After four, Ben Merens will ask his guest what not reaching these benchmarks would mean for the Iraqi government, the Iraqi people, and U.S. overall involvement.
Guest: Ivan Eland, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Peace & Liberty at The Independent Institute.


With gasoline prices at record highs, and the summer driving season in full swing, drivers are feeling the pain at the pump. After five, Ben Merens guest says if more drivers practiced gas-saving tips, their mileage could be improved by nearly 13-percent.
Guest: Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America. www.consumerfed.org

This week the Senate is debating energy legislation being promoted by the Democratic leadership, but automakers and green activists are unhappy with provisions of the bill. Join Ben Merens and his guest, today after four.
Guest: Daniel J. Weiss, Senior Fellow and the Director of Climate Strategy, Center for American Progress. www.americanprogress.org



Summer is here...and so are more teen drivers. After five, Ben Merens's guest says that research shows that far too many teens engage in risky driving behavior in the summer, and he gives parents a few solutions to keep their teens safe behind the wheel.
Guest: Stephen Wallace, Chairman and CEO, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) www.SADD.org

Bush says that it is time to stop stalling immigration legislation. After four, Ben Merens and his guest discuss what parts of the President’s bill are dividing factors, and what it means for illegal immigrants, their families, future immigrants, and the work force.
Guest: Edward Alden, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations. www.cfr.org


Six-point-six billion people now live on our planet earth. After five, At Issue, Ben Merens and his guest discuss the impact of population growth on the earth and ourselves.
GUEST: Larry Smith, President, The Population Institute www.populationinstitute.org