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America’s Future: Protecting the Fiscal Health of Our Democracy

Topic:

America’s financial future is clouded. Federal debt and national deficits are rising at an alarming rate. Prior to 1980, our national debt remained relatively small, less than a trillion dollars over a period of 40 years. By the end of 2009, the US will be approximately $12 trillion in debt. The rising cost of entitlement programs, particularly Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, threaten to take so much of the available funding as to eliminate all other services and operations of the national government; Medicare already spends more than it takes in. At the same time, the US spends more on defense than all other nations on earth combined. In the face of these increased costs in entitlement programs and military spending, the American public is resistant to raising taxes. Our dismal national fiscal circumstances could permanently weaken America’s ability to respond to the needs of a new generation and could severely harm our nation’s future.

Goals:

The goal of the America’s Future initiative is to educate AASCU students about our looming national debt and deficits, while exploring ways in which they can interact with policy makers to end this era of financial irresponsibility. Faculty members assist students in exploring this complex issue as well as developing potential solutions and ways of addressing the risks posed by both national debt and deficit.

Achievements:

Both curricular and co-curricular programs are underway on the eight America’s Future campuses, including personal debt awareness events, art competitions, essay contests, and the use of Public Agenda’s Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances curricular materials. The America’s Future scholars will lead an America’s Future Institute at the American Democracy Project (ADP) National Meeting in June 2010. This Institute will be open to all ADP participants who are interested in implementing the America’s Future Initiative on their campus.