Monitoring State Fulfillment of Economic and Social Rights Obligations in the United States

This article adapts the economic and social rights fulfillment index (SERF Index) developed by Fukuda-Parr, Lawson-Remer, and Randolph to assess the extent to which each of the 50 US states fulfills the economic and social rights obligations set forth in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It then extends the index to incorporate discrimination and examines differences in economic and social rights fulfillment by race and sex within each of the states. The overall SERF Index score varies between states from below 70% to almost 85%, with wider variation on some of the six substantive rights that comprise the overall SERF Index score. The findings reveal limited sex discrimination but pronounced race discrimination.     

Standing Pat: The First Lady in Oliver Stone's Nixon

Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb And, for I should not deal in her soft laws, She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe … … … … … … … … To disproportion me in every part, Like to a chaos, or an unlicked bear whelp That carries no impression like the dam. Shakespeare's III Henry VI, 5.2.153-162 America cannot stand pat. Richard M. Nixon