Despite growing consensus on the dire nature of the nation's finances, straight talk about what we want government to do and how we plan to pay for government services is a rare commodity. "Facing Up to the Nation's Finances" is a nonpartisan initiative that is working to enable more Americans to confront and work through realistic choices for addressing the nation's long-term financial condition.

"Facing Up" is a nationwide project developed in partnership with leaders from The Brookings Institution, The Concord Coalition, the Heritage Foundation, Public Agenda and Viewpoint Learning. The project has received support from the Ford Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Public Agenda's own Wadsworth Program Development Fund.

Young People Taking on Federal Finances

Young people have been important voices in ChoiceDialogues across America. Now Public Agenda has introduced a new strand of work to the initiative by getting young people talking about how these issues are going to affect their future through campus dialogues.

This past fall, Public Agenda launched a pilot “Campus Conversation” at American University to gauge students’ views and ideas on the nation’s fiscal future. In this pilot, students took part in carefully constructed, moderated, problem-solving dialogues about critical issues related to the nation’s debt and finances, prefaced by a basic presentation on federal finances. More


"Facing Up to the Nation's Finances" will not make recommendations on how public monies should be allocated or how the long-term deficit should be reduced. Rather it aims to organize a non-partisan movement of citizens and leaders in honest public dialogue to call for meaningful action in confronting the various challenges to long-term fiscal stability. Among those challenges are the impending retirements of the Baby Boomers, the growth in health care costs, and the budget deficit and accumulated national debt. It involves new forms of opinion research, public engagement and intensive engagement of leadership.

BUILDING A MOVEMENT FOR ACTION

The "Facing Up to the Nation's Finances" initiative's most intense phase of public engagement is happening in 2007 and 2008. Over the two years, the initiative will roll out to targeted regions around the country. In each region, we will engage the public, elected and civic leaders, and local media in a serious consideration of our nation's finances and the future. In each region, the action will unfold in four steps:

  • ChoiceDialogues, innovative, invitation-only research sessions, will provide deeper insight into the views and values of the unorganized public in that region;
  • a visit to the region by The Concord Coalition's "Fiscal Wake-Up Tour";
  • a Stakeholder Dialogue in which citizens who participated in the ChoiceDialogues work with representatives from the Wake-Up Tour and other leaders to find common ground and identify steps that would move their shared vision forward; and
  • aggressive citizen movement building to give the public in the region the tools they need to move their vision forward, including online engagement activities, networking, and communications outreach.

Learn more about the regions we're working in and what we've done so far.

Newsletter

Project News Coverage

  • CQ Congressional Testimony- July 25, 2007
    "Pay As You Go Budgeting"
  • The Washington Post- June 21, 2007
    "Stumping for attention to deficit disorder"
  • Denver Post- June 17, 2007
    "It's time to pay our bills: Americans want fiscal responsibility" by Ruth A. Wooden
  • State House News Service- May 9, 2007
    "Nonpartisan coalition to political leaders: Public dialogue essential for progress on federal budget"
  • Yuma Sun- April 17, 2007
    "Placid taxpayers keep handing over hard-earned dollars"
  • 60 Minutes (transcript) - March 4, 2007
    "Wake-Up Call: David Walker, America's top accountant, going on tour to sound the alarm that America cannot sustain current level of spending" click here to watch Steve Kroft interviewing David Walker
  • The Washington Post- January 11, 2007
    "We're ready for tough choices" by Ruth A. Wooden
  • Christian Science Monitor - December 18, 2006 "Are Americans ready for fiscal sanity?"
  • The Columbus Dispatch- December 17, 2006
    "Americans would make sacrifices but have little faith in Congress"
  • Orlando Sentinel- December 14, 2006
    "A loss of trust; Our Position: Americans realize entitlements need reforming even if Congress doesn't"
  • Market News International - December 13, 2006 "Ex-fed V.Chair Rivlin urges dems to deal with admin on budget"
  • The Columbus Dispatch - December 13, 2006 "Cynicism hampering Social Security fix; Public doesn't trust officials, study says"
  • Wisconsin Public Radio- June 21, 2007
    Interview with Ruth A. Wooden on Facing Up to the Nation's Finances
  • USA Today- December 12, 2006
    "Taxpayers distrust how the government spends their dollars, reports say"
  • National Journal CongressDaily - December 12, 2006
    "Concord Coalition warns anew of coming budget problems"
  • The New York Times- July 30, 2006 "Public's deficit fix may stun politicians"

Recent Reports

Reports from FACING UP TO THE NATION'S FINANCES:

  • Regional Report: New Hampshire/Maine: Americans Deliberate Our Nation's Finances and Future: It's Not about Taxes - It's about Trust report
  • Regional Report: Tennessee: Americans Deliberate Our Nation's Finances and Future: It's Not about Taxes - It's about Trust report
  • It's Time to Pay Our Bills: Americans' Perspectives on the National Debt and How Leaders Can Use the Public's Ideas to Address the Country's Long-Term Budget Challenges report : press release
  • Americans Deliberate Our Nation's Finances and Future: It's not about taxes -- It's about trust report : press release
  • Understanding Public Attitudes about the Federal Budget: A Report on Focus Groups report : press release

Recent related reports from partners in the initiative:

For a full listing of reports, transcripts and statements on this issue from our partners, visit The Brookings Institution, The Concord Coalition and The Heritage Foundation.

The Resources section of FacingUp.org pulls together the best information on the federal budget and related issues from both our partners and from non-partner organizations.

Partners

The Brookings Institution

The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solutions. Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2006, Brookings analyzes current and emerging issues and produces new ideas that matter -- for the nation and the world. www.brookings.edu/


The Concord Coalition

The Concord Coalition is a nationwide, nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to sound, sustainable and generally responsible fiscal policy. The Concord Coalition was founded in 1992 by the late former Senator Paul Tsongas (D-Mass.), former Senator Warren Rudman (R-N.H.) and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Peter Peterson. Former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) was named a co-chair of the Concord Coalition in January 2002. www.concordcoalition.org


The Heritage Foundation

Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values and a strong national defense. www.heritage.org


Public Agenda

Public Agenda is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public opinion research and civic engagement organization. Founded in 1975 by former U.S. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and Daniel Yankelovich, the social scientist and author, Public Agenda is well respected for its influential public opinion polls, balanced citizen education materials and ground-breaking community-based engagement initiatives. Its mission is to close the gaps between leaders and the public. www.publicagenda.org


Viewpoint Learning

Viewpoint Learning, a research and consulting organization also cofounded by Daniel Yankelovich, conducts specialized dialogues that enable leaders to understand different perspectives in depth, increase options, anticipate obstacles and broaden support for difficult decisions. www.viewpointlearning.com