Don't they use plastic in Europe? I doubt very much it is plastic. It is lack of exercise and eating too much. In other countires people rely less on their cars and use thier feet, bycles, and public transportation.

Granted I am slighlty overwight now, but was never overweight until after 55. Yesterday, while at the shopping center (upscale) my husband and I noticed how FAT the younger genrations are. All the older peope shopping were much thinner. I am constantly amazed at how BIG younger people in the 30 & 40s are today and they seem to accept it as a norm. Even though many people are exercising in thier cute little outfits at the gym and on thier cylces, they are really getting less exercise on a daily basis. Instead of moving about, they sit at thier computers, do little house or yard work, drive instead of walking.

When I was child we exercised alot more, were driven around less by our parents, and it was required we take PE all four yeas of high shcool. Sports did not subsitute to PE it was an extra curicular activity. Today Children are chauffered around to school and sports activites instead of let free to run and play or walk to school and spontaeous neighborhood games. Instead they go to higly orchestrated sports activites, then go home to play computer games. And then there is all the soda, juices, packaged prepared food. Not to mention the enormous portions of bad food served at places like Cheese Cake Factory. I am alwasy amused at the people getting Larger- than- life salads dripping with creamy drssings..and they think they are saving calories.

Just look at old news clips. Noitce how much thinner people were in the 30, 40s 50 60s 70s. There also used to be weight requirements for many jobs. Now our fire, police, service members are all large and overweight. Here's one clue. When we got sodas, in 50, 60s 70s what is now considered a SMALL was a LARGE.

I know my second letter. I just came back ffrom my morning walk.

As I passed our pool and tennis courts I noticed all the 7-10 year olds in tennis cmaps, look just ike thier yuppy parents.

They taking a break all driking from the plasticr gatorade bottles, Evian water bottles or even worse, the properly branded "in style" water containers. At least they all to put them in the recyle bin, before thier parents pick them up in the large-than-life vans and SUVs. In 50, 60s 70s, even 80s the neigborhood children used to walk home to their houses. God forbid they be let loose, to walk hone use thier imagninations, get some more exercies in this "very safe" neighborhood.

"It's a papier-mache baby pinata ."

On deeper reflection, the paper mache is a metahphor for the FETUS. Maybe they are acutally making fun of the antis who always use images of two year old baiies to represnetnt a 6-8 week FETUS, or the ohter option thier are lots of rewards inside a pinata, but Of course to get the rewards you must burst it apart.

You have to count on votes, not money to win an election. I compliment the Democrats on presenting a unified and cohesive message this election. They are not beating each other up. If they use the money strategically to present the "Democrats" broader agenda in advertising, then the money will pay off, for whoever gets the nomination.

Republicans are having problems raising money because of the candidates running. The wealthy educated Republicans (1) are embarassed by the anti science, diplomatic bungling of the Bush Administration (2) they have no candidates representing their views. The only Repulicans represented by the GOP candiates are the fanatical religous right, the war mongering neocons, and the 'Old Boys Club". Of course these people vote.

The Key to winning is getting people to VOTE. If the Democrats could just get the the apathitic 40-50 years old out to vote, or just skip them and concentrate on the older and younger generation of voters.

Elizabeth thank you for having the guts to stand up to Ann Coulter. I am just hoping AC will crawl back into the dark hole she crawled out of. Too bad more Democratic candidates or elected offcials don't have the guts to stand up to the LIES and HYPORCRACY of the right, who are running this country into the ground. I would also like to see a call :"Get GET GOD Out of Politics".

As far as feminist who understand the needs of women. Micheal Obama, and Elizabeth Edwards understand REAL FAIMILY VALUES and value women. I have been very impressed woby both of these women.

In reposne to a few other letters:

"She and all the Democrats are Socialists that want big & bigger government to take care of us." So you don't want government to take care of you. Ever here of "Government by the people, of the people and FOR the people. So I guess that means you want no help fmr teh government or for these government funded porgrams.. .... military, veterans, parks, police, fire fighters, the retired, schools, weapons, government workers, jails, etc, etc, etc. Oh and let's not foregt NOW our tax dollars are given to the religious right for faith-based programs so they can get paid to can hoist thier narrow views on us. Truth is righties just don't think the poor deserve a helping hand. A good and Just society helps all.

So Edwards got Rich. That doesn't mean he can't help the poor. Most help for the poor has come from the rich liberals in the past. Many rich replbicans like to save $$$$ on taxes for thier own selfish intersts. And many righties of the middle and working class seem to resent the educated and weathly who help others.

Kepp up the good work Elizabeth!!!