American Airlines, the world’s largest airline, plans to charge $15 for a passenger’s first checked bag, starting in mid-June.

The airline is trying to claw back more of its extra fuel costs but the move is unprecedented for a major American carrier. (More on American’s cost-cutting measures here). Will this lead to even more of a struggle boarding the plane as passengers force their bags into overhead bins? What impact will American’s move have on air travel in the U.S.?

The closest surviving relatives to President John. F. Kennedy are backing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Sen. Hillary Clinton brushed off the Kennedy endorsements, saying “at the end of the day this is not about anyone else other than the candidates.”

What impact - if any - do you expect this endorsement will have on Obama’s campaign?

Treasury Secretary Paulson thinks state and local governments should be permitted to issue tax-exempt bonds that would fund programs to prevent foreclosures.

Analysts caution Treasury’s plans to help subprime borrowers will not completely save banks from home loan pain. “If you postpone the inevitable, you’ll just draw out the pain for a longer period of time,” Nandu Narayanan, a portfolio manager at hedge fund Trident Investment Management, told Reuters.

Others, reacting to an expectation on Friday that Treasury is seeking to freeze mortgage rates, said it seems unfair to bail people out.

What are your thoughts on the government’s effort to try and stem foreclosures stemming from resets on subprime mortgages?

Google Inc. has confirmed plans to bid for the airwaves that will soon be given up by television broadcasters. The frequencies, known as the 700 MHz band, will be put up for sale in a government auction that begins on Jan. 24.

Google’s interest is sparking speculation on what they’ll do with the airwaves if they win. Blogger Om Malik breaks down the process and sees the potential for a broadband communications network. Robert X. Cringely, a tech writer, is speculating that Apple Inc. is linked to to Google’s bid.

What do you think Google plans to do if it wins? Build a nationwide WiFi network linked to the Internet via the new frequencies? An alternate cellphone network? Sound off in the comment box below.

Venezuelans vote on Dec. 2 in a referendum on constitutional changes proposed by President Hugo Chavez that will scrap term limits. The polls show the virulently anti-U.S. Chavez will likely win with the backing of the nation’s poor, who support his oil-financed food and health subsidies. Yet pollsters say voters appear evenly split over Chavez’s reform package after a campaign hit by violent demonstrations. Opponents of the left-wing leader say they fear his reforms will allow him to be president for life while supporters say he is giving more political participation to the poor.

What impact do you think a victory for Chavez will have on Venezuela, the rest of Latin American politics and U.S. foreign policy?

What’s the pain point for American drivers at the gas pump?

If the cost of crude remains high into next spring, analysts expect gasoline prices could rise to a never-before-seen $3.50 or $4 a gallon, Reuters Robert Campbell concludes here. (Check here for a Factbox on why oil prices are trading at a record high.)

Tell us what you think. Comment below.

In a Reuters Witness column correspondent Nelson Graves relates the experience of suffering a stroke while working last month. He writes that he first thought he had indigestion before realizing it was something much worse.

Have you or a family member suffered a stroke and had a similar experience? Was it difficult to recognize what was causing your symptoms at first? How did you react? How did your treatment and recovery progress?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment area below.

Former Fed chief Alan Greenspan has been called downbeat on the housing market in many of his numerous media appearances since Friday to promote his memoir. He told NBC’s “Today Show” that he expects more mortgage delinquencies and home foreclosures in U.S. and global housing markets.

What’s the housing market like in your region? Nationally, the average house price saw its slowest appreciation in a decade with a 3.2 percent rise.

Do you think health clinics at pharmacies fill a need? Is there a conflict of interest in getting health care advice at the same location that sells you your medicine?

As many as 2,000 health clinics will open at retail locations by 2008. The growth of these clinics comes amid a shortage of family physicians.

The American Medical Association is asking state and federal authorities to investigate whether there is a conflict of interest.

Some bloggers, like Every Patients Advocate, think that organizations critiquing these clinics worry about it cutting into their bottom line. What do you think?

Weak regulation and standards in China, in the U.S.? Multinationals that outsource manufacturing in poorer nations? Who or what should take the blame for hazardous toys on American shelves with the latest recall this week by Mattel Inc. ? Some bloggers are calling for a boycott of Chinese goods but is China really the culprit? Submit your comments below.

As expected, views vary on the Web. “It is a case of global economy and outsourcing meeting the safety of kids toys,” says business site Know More Media. “There is a third culprit in this,” surmises Product_reviews.com “and that is us the consumer.”

Toy store owners and bloggers at Spillingthebeans.net, who maintain a list of recalls - Chinese manufacturing-related and otherwise, conclude “every day, as parents we worry about our kids. Its so frustrating that we have to add toys to the list of potential dangers.”

This post was updated to correct the Spillingthebeans URL.