One of the National Issues Forums Institute’s issue guides, Gambling: Is it a Problem? outlines this public issue and several choices or approaches to addressing the issue. National Issues Forums do not advocate a specific solution or point of view, but provide citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those options, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. From the issue guide… Americans have mixed feelings […] (continue)

One of the National Issues Forums Institute’s issue guides, From Welfare to Work: Who Should We Help and How? outlines this public issue and several choices or approaches to addressing the issue. National Issues Forums do not advocate a specific solution or point of view, but provide citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those options, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. From the issue […] (continue)

This announcement comes from Allison Rizzolo, Communications Associate at Public Agenda — an NCDD organizational member.  Public Agenda’s nonpartisan voter guides are back for the 2012 election, premiering on June 13, 2012 with “The Federal Budget: A Citizens’ Solutions Guide.” This important resource offers an unbiased and realistic examination of government spending and helps voters understand the trade-offs and consequences behind policy scenarios that candidates have endorsed. Public Agenda has produced these trusty and crucial “crib sheets” in every presidential election since 1996, to help citizens […] (continue)

This 1996 report assembled by Doble Research Associates examines the results from National Issues Forums examining the state of the economy and how it affects citizens.  Find more details & order info on the NIF website.  From the report… This year, one of the issues that citizens discussed was Pocketbook Pressures: Who Benefits from Economic Growth?  In these forums, participants felt strained and uncertain about the future despite low inflation, low interest rates, and low unemployment. They said the middle class is shrinking, high-paying manufacturing […] (continue)

One of the National Issues Forums Institute’s issue guides, Making Ends Meet: Is There a Way to Help Working Americans? outlines this public issue and several choices or approaches to addressing the issue. National Issues Forums do not advocate a specific solution or point of view, but provide citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those options, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. From the […] (continue)

One of the National Issues Forums Institute’s issue guides, The Social Security Struggle: Fixing the Retirement System outlines this public issue and several choices or approaches to addressing the issue. National Issues Forums do not advocate a specific solution or point of view, but provide citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those options, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. From the issue guide description… […] (continue)

On January 21, 2012 the City of Bell convened a historic bi-lingual Community Forum that brought more than forty residents together to deliberate and to offer guidance to local officials on goals and budget priorities for the 2012-13 fiscal year. This process is one of several initiatives of the new Bell City Council to restore transparent, community-focused government to Bell. Following a welcome from Mayor Ali Saleh, and short presentations on the purpose of the forum and the overview of the City’s fiscal condition, small […] (continue)

One of the National Issues Forums Institute’s issue guides, Recobrando La Ventaja Competitiva (Regaining The Competitive Edge) outlines this public issue and several choices or approaches to addressing the issue. National Issues Forums do not advocate a specific solution or point of view, but provide citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those options, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. From the issue guide description… […] (continue)

A National Issues Forums issue guide, A Nation in Debt: How Can We Pay the Bills? (2011) outlines the effect of the growing national debt on our society and several choices or approaches to addressing the issue. National Issues Forums do not advocate a specific solution or point of view, but provide citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those options, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. […] (continue)

One of the National Issues Forums Institute’s issue guides, The $9 Trillion Debt: Breaking the Habit of Deficit Spending outlines this public issue and several choices or approaches to addressing the issue. National Issues Forums do not advocate a specific solution or point of view, but provide citizens the opportunity to consider a broad range of choices, weigh the pros and cons of those options, and meet with each other in a public dialogue to identify the concerns they hold in common. From the issue […] (continue)