WASHINGTON—A new study, to be released
September 22, reveals that the American people are willing to make sacrifices –
in the form of spending cuts and tax increases — to address growing federal
fiscal imbalances, yet would do so only if they see greater government
accountability.
WASHINGTON—A new study, to be released
September 22, reveals that the American people are willing to make sacrifices –
in the form of spending cuts and tax increases — to address growing federal
fiscal imbalances, yet would do so only if they see greater government
accountability.
It is vital for Americans to have a serious
conversation about national priorities, burgeoning entitlement programs, what
we expect from the Federal government, and what we are willing to pay for
government services. But building public understanding of, and support for,
difficult choices is easier said than done. Leaders are not sure whether or how
they can reach Americans on these issues — let alone what solutions the public
would find acceptable if they did.
To help better understand Americans’ attitudes about
these issues, Viewpoint Learning – in partnership with Public Agenda, The
Concord Coalition, The Brookings Institution and The Heritage Foundation – has
conducted a nationwide series of ChoiceDialogues™
over the last two years. In these daylong sessions, representative samples of
Americans worked to come to terms with the challenges facing America’s finances
and future. What they found, in dialogue after dialogue across the country, is
that the
main obstacle to building public support for the difficult choices we face is
not public opposition to tax increases or program cuts, nor is it public lack
of interest. The main obstacle is a deeply felt and pervasive mistrust of
government.
Perhaps as important, the dialogues, along with a
follow-up survey conducted this summer, revealed the leading edge of a
significant, and widespread, shift in what Americans expect of their leaders
and themselves. This shift is surfacing powerfully in the current presidential
campaign, and it has real implications for what it will take to reduce mistrust
of government and build public support for major reform. Americans emphasized that trust is a two-way
street:
- They
want leaders to provide an honest, straightforward assessment of the
challenges facing the nation. They
are increasingly suspicious of easy answers, and are more aware of when
they are being pandered to; such tactics tend to reinforce mistrust. - They
do not expect leaders to provide all the answers – but they do expect
leaders to give people the chance to wrestle with the tough choices and
take citizens’ viewpoints seriously. - They
want to be challenged and play a role in problem solving; being asked to
consider hard choices is not a poison pill.
You are invited to a presentation and discussion of
these findings next Monday, September 22 at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of
The National Press Club:
WHAT: Press Conference Releasing Findings of Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances Project
WHEN: Monday, September 22, 2008
8:30 a.m. (Continental Breakfast will be provided at 8 a.m.)
WHERE: The National Press Club, The Conference Room
529 14th Street NW, Thirteenth Floor
Washington, DC
Featured speakers
- Robert Bixby, Executive Director, The Concord Coalition
- Paul Cullinan, Research Director, Budgeting for National Priorities Project, The Brookings Institution
- Alison Acosta Fraser, Director, Roe Institute for Economic Studies, The Heritage Foundation
- Heidi Gantwerk, Vice President, Viewpoint Learning
- Steven Rosell, President & Co-Founder, Viewpoint Learning
- Andrew Yarrow, Washington Director & Vice President, Public Agenda
RSVP/Contact: Jonathan DeWald of The Concord
Coalition 703-894-6222 [email protected]
###
The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots
organization dedicated to balanced federal budgets and generationally
responsible fiscal policy. Former U.S. Senators Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Bob
Kerrey (D-NE) serve as Concord’s co-chairs and former Secretary of Commerce
Peter Peterson serves as president.
Jonathan DeWald
