FRESH AIR
Though John McCain and Barack Obama agree that America’s health care system needs reform, the candidates differ markedly in their vision of the remedy. Political scientist Jonathan Oberlander offers an in-depth comparison of the Obama and McCain health proposals. Oberlander compared the candidates in his report, “The Partisan Divide — The McCain and Obama Plans for U.S. Health Care Reform,” which was published Aug. 21, 2008 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Oberlander is an associate professor of social medicine and health policy and administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
RADIO TIMES
Lowering the Drinking Age. The Amethyst Initiative, led by former Middlebury College president, JOHN MCCARDELL, urges a “dispassionate public debate” of lowering the national legal age from 21. Over one hundred university and college presidents have signed on. We speak with MCCARDELL and GEORGE DOWDALL, who is against lowering the drinking age. Dowdall is a Professor of Sociology at St. Joseph’s University. His upcoming book is called, “College Drinking.” And we bring BRANDON BUSTEED, Founder and CEO of “AlchoholEdu for College” and “Outside the Classroom,” into the discussion to talk about online alcohol prevention programs. Listen to this show via Real Audio | mp3
THE WORLD CAFE
Kentucky natives and identical twins, Chandra and Leigh Watson first discovered their ability to harmonize while performing in 
their church choir. Influenced by the surrounding sounds of country and folk music, they formed the duet Black Swan, eventually changing their name to The Watson Twins. After singing backup for Rilo Kiley‘s Jenny Lewis, the Watsons step into the spotlight with their first full-length album, Fire Songs, a knock-out debut that showcases seamless harmonies and sweet vocals. Fire Songs was recorded using an analog method to capture the raw, ethereal nature of the vocals. With evocative, familiar harmonies that are both easygoing and melancholy, the twins perform seamlessly in this World Cafe session with David Dye.