Patt Morrison for Wed, 1/11/2011 L.A. TIMES COLUMNIST DAVID LAZARUS IS GUEST HOST

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

1-3 p.m.

 

CALL-IN @ 866-893-5722, 866-893-KPCC; OR JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

 

L.A. TIMES COLUMNIST DAVID LAZARUS IS GUEST HOST

 

1:00 – 1:40

OPEN

 

1:40 – 2:00

Supreme Court rules in favor of business seeking to force arbitration with unhappy consumers

In a decision being heralded as a win for business, the Supreme Court this week ruled that disputes between consumers and companies that issue low-rate credit cards to people with bad credit ratings can be handled in “business-friendly” arbitration, an alternative dispute resolution, rather than in federal court. The 8-1 ruling reverses a federal appeals court decision that upheld consumers’ rights to sue such companies in federal court, a right that was established by a 1996 law signed by President Bill Clinton. The ruling follows a recent pattern of high court decisions, all favoring businesses and arbitration over consumers and their right to sue in federal court. Why is arbitration more business-friendly and what does this ruling mean for the consumer? David breaks down the legal issues with a Supreme Court scholar.

 

Guests:

NOT CONFIRMED

Emily Bazelon, Slate senior editor

 

2:00 – 2:40
Ask the Chief
Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck had a busy fall contending with the Occupy LA demonstrations. The situation ended largely without incident, but Los Angeles officials soon had their hands full with an arson wave over the New Year’s holiday. Hundreds of extra firefighters and police officers were involved in the fires, and although the prime suspect is behind bars the investigation into the fires continues. And Chief Beck and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced yesterday the year-end results of the Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction and Youth Development program. Overall gang crime dropped 15% in 2011, which is nearly 850 fewer gang-related crimes than in 2010. The crime numbers reflect declining crime across L.A. County despite the struggling economy. Although crime may be down, a recent study published by the University of North Carolina-Charlotte says that 30.2 percent of young people will be arrested by age 23. And even if there are fewer crimes taking place, Los Angeles police may not know about them due to reports that most of the city’s downtown crime cameras have been non functional and off line for two years. Taking time out of his busy schedule, Chief Beck joins us for our regular Q&A on these issues and more.

 

Guest:

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck

IN STUDIO

 

2:40 – 3:00

Health policy expert Gary Taubes on why we get fat

You exercise, you diet, but you still get fat. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many of us have heard that over one third of adults in the United States are obese, as documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but many of us do not know exactly why… why do we get fat? In his book “Why We Get Fat” health policy expert and author Gary Taubes answers this question by explaining the scientific causes of obesity. Taubes insists that obesity is widely attributable to a history of misleading nutritional science. The author shatters many conventional myths about human biology, diet, and exercise and explains how misinformation has been detrimental. Taubes emphasizes that our dietary choices are what primarily lead to obesity and that avoidance of weight-gain can be achieved by simply reevaluating how we approach nutritional choices. What method do you employ for losing weight? How successful have you or people in your life been at losing weight and keeping it off? How much do you truly understand about the scientific causes of obesity?

 

Guest:

Gary Taubes