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 InfoRen from the Prudential Foundation, begins on Monday, April 19 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. Projects like this help fulfill the promise of the Internet to connect citizens with policy makers and advance our democratic process. Info Ren is a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of computer networks to support public participation in policy issues. Americans Discuss Social Security is a nonprofit, nonpartisan project funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts to engage Americans from all walks of life in a national conversation about Social Security, so their views can help policy makers shape its future.