Opinion: April 19 Buzz: Breast cancer and California politics -- suggestions for how we might fix the error of our ways

Those ubiquitous rubber bracelets are part of a new trend: sexy breast cancer. There is ‘Save the Ta-Tas.’ ‘Save 2nd Base.’ ‘Project Boobies.’ ‘Feel Your Boobies.’ ‘Jingle Jugs.’ And, of course, ‘I ♥ Boobies’ itself.

There’s so much young people could do to show they care about breast cancer: They could organize childcare or meals for mothers of small children going through treatment. They could volunteer in cancer resource centers. They could hold fundraisers for affected families whose mothers can no longer work. They could spearhead projects on potential carcinogens in beauty products (which, to be fair, is something ‘I ♥ Boobies,’ in the wake of criticism of its mission, has now begun to emphasize). All of that would take effort and time, but it would be more meaningful to women with cancer and, I imagine, to teenagers themselves. Because, among other things, the idea that you are taking action merely by wearing a titillating bracelet is not a great life lesson.

Through much of the 1970s and into the 1980s, the committee hearing rooms and the floors of the Assembly and state Senate were alive with stimulating deliberation on the issues. California legislation became the model for laws in other states, and California legislators became such experts in policy areas that they were sought-after for consultation across the nation.So where did it all come apart? The answer: We reformed our way into this mess.