The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) charts a very broad spectrum of issues that affect us all, particularly those of us in the middle class. They keep track of and demystify legislation on health care, changes in bankruptcy law, food labeling, product safety, utility deregulation, etc. A good example is CFA's assessment of Commodities Futures Deregulation legislation that passed both houses of Congress in 2000 (H.R. 4541, S. 2697). This deregulation reduces regulatory oversight of derivatives markets. CFA opposed the bill on the grounds that it reduces or eliminates already minimal protections against fraud and manipulation in these markets. Further, back in 2000 CFA explained, prophetically, that consumers would be harmed both because derivatives markets affect prices throughout the economy and because those markets create enormous systemic risk through the high degree of leverage they produce.