Books by WSU alumni and friends

Political Science, Public Affairs

1. 

   Alternative Energy: Political, Economic, and Social Feasibility

   By Christopher A. Simon ('97 Ph.D.)

    

   As we experience an increase in the price of petroleum, energy experts caution us about the coming of a time when easily accessible petroleum will begin to decline. The United States is confronted with the challenge of meeting current energy demands in the face of a declining and unstable energy supply. Alternative Energy systematically explores the most viable alternative sources of energy, discussing the technical, political, economic, and social feasibility of each technology in understandable terms. In addition, the book discusses the history of energy policy as well as current policy. Intended for courses in energy and public policy and for those interested in developing energy-efficient plans for sustainable communities, Alternative Energy will help readers become active participants in making future energy choices for their communities. Alternative Energy includes an interactive model of alternative energy mixes and estimated prices.

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2. 

   Just Don't Get Sick: Access to Health Care in the Aftermath of Welfare Reform

   by Karen Seccombe and Kim Hoffman

    

   From the publisher: The ability to obtain health care is fundamental to the security, stability, and well-being of poor families. Government-sponsored programs provide temporary support, but as families leave welfare for work, they find themselves without access to coverage or care. The low-wage jobs that individuals in transition are typically able to secure provide few benefits yet often disqualify employees from receiving federal aid.

   Drawing upon statistical data and in-depth interviews with over five hundred families in Oregon, Karen Seccombe and Kim Hoffman assess the ways in which welfare reform affects the well-being of adults and children who leave the program for work. We hear of asthmatic children whose uninsured but working mothers cannot obtain the preventive medicines to keep them well, and stories of pregnant women receiving little or no prenatal care who end up in emergency rooms with life-threatening conditions.

   Representative of poor communities nationwide, the vivid stories recounted here illuminate the critical relationship between health insurance coverage and the ability to transition from welfare to work.

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