THIS DISCUSSION GUIDE IS DESIGNED TO HELP AMERICANS DELIBERATE TOGETHER
about what we should do to address unprecedented challenges that may
hinder future generations from leading successful and economically
secure lives. The guide outlines three different ways of considering the
issue. Each suggests actions we might take, along with trade-offs we
would have to accept. Altogether, these options allow participants to
explore important values and tensions shared by many. Information in
this guide raises crucial questions for which there are no easy answers.
-Will the next generation, like those before it, be able to build an
economically secure future, or will it face too many unprecedented
challenges that undercut its prospects?
-Should present-day priorities be more important than our obligations to
future generations?
-Is the next generation receiving the education and support it needs to
succeed?
-Are there disparities that we should be addressing today to enable
future generations to prosper tomorrow?
Bolstering the chances of success for future generations requires us to
consider choices that cut across conventional partisan lines and
generational differences. What course of action should be a priority as
we plan for the future?
The research conducted in developing this guide included a review of
policy ideas and polling data from across the political spectrum,
interviews and conversations with Americans from all walks of life,
focus groups with young people, and appraisals of initial drafts by
experts with diverse views and experiences.
About National Issues Forum
The National Issues Forums (NIF) is a network of organizations that
brings together citizens around the nation to talk about pressing social
and political issues of the day. Thousands of community organizations,
including schools, libraries, churches, civic groups, and others, have
sponsored forums designed to give people a public voice in the affairs
of their communities and their nation. For more information about NIF
and for additional publications, see NIF's website at www.nifi.org.
