The seven-week online event will link thousands of Americans in a discussion with nationally known experts, policy makers, elected officials and others. The National Dialogue, funded by a grant to Info Ren from the Prudential Foundation, began this week and runs through June 4. Over the seven-week span of the National Dialogue, participants will be led through an introductory dialogue followed by four separate discussion topics, each addressing a different aspect of Social Security reform. Panels of experts will spark conversation by first describing the issue and their positions, answering questions from the public, and debating among themselves. A moderated online public discussion will parallel the experts' Roundtable conversation, and provide questions and input to the experts.
Registration is free.
Americans Discuss Social Security will provide extensive online background materials on Social Security reform, including an online briefing book that describes Social Security, the challenges it faces and the proposed reforms. The book also includes President Clinton's reform proposal, the broad range of competing proposals, and the white papers submitted to the December 1998 White House Conference on Social Security. Cato's own Darcy Olsen will participate in a roundtable panel from May 24-June 4 on the topic of women and minorites. Other panelists include Heidi Hartmann, Director of the Institute for Women's Policy Research, and Anna M. Rappaport, Principal with William M. Mercer, Inc. and Immediate Past President of the Society of Actuaries. The Cato Institute Project on Social Security Privatizaton E-mail the Webmaster 1000 Massachusetts Ave.