A Country That Works
October 4, 2006, 3:00pm – 4:00pmIn A Country That Works: Getting America Back on Track, visionary labor leader Andy Stern powerfully challenges business, labor and policy leaders to more effectively respond to the hyper-competitive, globalized economy that has left the vast majority of Americans with significant debt, little or no money to save for retirement, and a serious lack of health insurance. Speaking openly about his experiences as a social worker, father, organizer, and now president of the fastest growing union in North America, Stern condemns the silence of many political leaders on issues that matter the most to the middle-class. Instead of pushing through fundamental reforms that could ensure the survival of workers in this rapidly changing economy, Washington, D.C. has put the average American at risk by manipulating the tax system, failing to fix our education system, and not making reforms to the health care system. Stern picks up where our politicians have left off and champions solutions that will benefit both workers and U.S. businesses in the global economy. He lays out a simple and achievable plan for reforms that would protect Americans from the looming economic crises, including: an overhaul of the tax system; a transformation of the health care system; changes to the retirement system; and overdue innovations in education.
Quiet Revolution
October 11, 2006, 12:00pm – 1:30pmAlliance for Justice has produced a provocative short documentary entitled Quiet Revolution. Narrated by Emmy award-winning actor Bradley Whitford, the film features U.S. Senator Barack Obama and describes how an increasingly influential movement on the far right has waged a sustained war on the Constitution as we know it. Ultra-conservative politicians, judges, professors, and activists would overturn decades of precedent to eviscerate popular laws protecting workers, consumers, and public health, expand executive power at the expense of basic civil liberties, and impose a narrow social agenda on the rest of the body politic.
Latinos & the Progressive Movement
October 12, 2006, 9:00am – 10:30amAs this year’s immigration debate has unfolded in Washington, D.C. and across the country, many have become aware of the increasing civic engagement of our burgeoning Latino communities. That civic engagement, however, transcends the immigration issue and presents opportunities as well as challenges not only for Latinos and the progressive movement, but also for the advancement of a progressive policy agenda. What animates Latino civic engagement and how does that compare to other elements of the progressive movement? What are the points of convergence or dissonance between the Latino communities and the broader progressive movement? What does the diversity of the Latino communities mean for their ability to influence the progressive policy agenda? What are the policy agenda implications of the demographic differences between the Latino communities and the broader population? To address these and other timely questions, The Americas Project at the Center for American Project will convene a distinguished group of experts and practitioners to discuss the dynamics of the Latino communities’ civic engagement in the context of the broader progressive movement.
Finding Quality Teachers for Public Schools
October 16, 2006, 9:30am – 11:00amThe United States is not alone in its increasing concern about attracting and keeping the quality teachers it needs to remain economically competitive in the 21st century and to prepare the knowledge workers of the future. Shortages of qualified teachers are pervasive in all advanced industrial countries today. Like the U.S., these countries are finding it especially difficult to recruit teachers in mathematics, sciences, technology, computer science, and foreign languages. The fact that most of the advanced industrial countries are encountering many of the same problems recruiting and keeping well-qualified teachers in public school classrooms is directly attributable to the fundamental changes taking place in the global economy.
The United States and its peer nations are only beginning to realize the depth of the problem, and it is no surprise that the relatively tentative measures being taken by most nations are no match for the severity of the challenge. To address these challenges, advanced industrial countries in Europe and elsewhere are trying many of the same remedies with which the U.S. is experimenting, such as across-the-board salary adjustments for teachers and incentives targeted at attracting individuals to particular shortage areas. Though many of these actions roughly parallel developments in the United States, there are interesting and important variations on these themes, and some substantial differences, that countries have tried and that could be very useful to American policymakers.
Join us as policy leaders consider a new paper by Susan Sclafani and Marc Tucker on international experiences with teacher and principal compensation systems.
Shut Up and Sing
October 17, 2006, 8:00pm – 10:00pmShut Up & Sing travels with the Dixie Chicks from the peak of their popularity as the national-anthem-singing darlings of country music and top-selling female recording artists of all time, through their infamy after the anti-Bush comment made by the group’s lead singer in 2003. Oscar-winning documentary director Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck follow the Dixie Chicks from 2003-2006 when they were under political attack and received death threats, all while continuing to live their lives, have children, and of course make music. At a time when the United States is fighting for democracy and freedom overseas, Shut Up & Sing raises questions about our own right to freedom of speech and documents the difficulty of having a genuine public debate on international policy in the political climate leading up to the Iraq War. The film also illustrates musicians’ power to influence and inform the public discourse on significant policy issues. Michael Rechtshaffen praises Shut Up & Sing in The Hollywood Reporter: “A bracingly candid documentary portrait of the artists in a career-defining transition, the film simultaneously offers a unique perspective of a nation at a similarly significant crossroads. It also happens to be a lot of fun.”
Please join us for a provocative panel discussion and Q&A session immediately following the film.
Common Good Conference
October 18, 2006, 8:15am – 12:00pmVisit the main conference web page.
President Bill Clinton and a panel of experts convened October 5 at Georgetown University to discuss the “common good,” a progressive vision for America and the world championed by the Center for American Progress and other allies.
The common good, as both a philosophical ideal and approach to governing, has a rich history in the civic strands of American thought and in the values and principles of the U.S. Constitution. It is also a powerful theme in the social teachings of many major faith traditions. In both the civic and faith realms, a commitment to the common good means pursuing policies and community actions that benefit all individuals and balance self-interest with the needs of the entire society. It recognizes that government -- while not the only tool -- is essential for helping people pursue their dreams, and that the business, labor, faith and NGO communities play a critical role as well.
The common good approach to politics represents a clear break with the radical individualism, corruption and greed that define contemporary American life. It marks the end of a politics that leaves people to rise and fall on their own.
“How Bush Rules” and “How Would a Patriot Act?” Perspectives on Presidential Power from Inside and Outside the Beltway
October 23, 2006, 12:30pm – 2:00pmMore than any other modern president, George W. Bush has sought to consolidate and expand the power of the presidency itself. In recent books, two authors examine this phenomenon from two different perspectives. In How Bush Rules, Sidney Blumenthal, renowned journalist and former adviser to President Clinton, argues that President Bush’s expansive views of executive power make him the most radical president in American history. In How Would a Patriot Act?, Glenn Greenwald, a constitutional lawyer and self-described independent, explains how he came to believe that “the concentrated and unlimited power now claimed by President Bush constitutes a true crisis for the United States.” Join these two distinguished writers in a discussion with Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Mark Agrast.
Minding the Stem Cell Gap
October 25, 2006, 8:30am – 10:15amThe United States pioneered embryonic stem cell research, first by isolating stem cells and then by providing millions of dollars for research. Since then, other countries from Singapore to Israel have flocked to support stem cell research as well. Advances in stem cell science hold promise for the treatment of many diseases and is regarded as one of the pillars of future medical research.
Community Town Hall Meeting
October 26, 2006, 6:00pm – 8:30pmFrom high credit card bills and predatory lenders to rising interest rates on mortgage loans, high debt is preventing many American families from getting ahead. To better understand why this is happening and the specific impact of debt, the Center for American Progress, Associated Ministries and the Pierce County Asset Building Coalition, are hosting a community town hall on Thursday, October 26th at Urban Grace Church in downtown Tacoma.
Bureaucratic Politics and Foreign Policy: Explaining U.S. Iran Policy
October 27, 2006, 9:00am – 10:30amWith revelations about the struggle within the government over planning for the invasion of Iraq, rifts within the administration over the direction of U.S. foreign policy have filled the headlines. It is no secret that disagreements exist within governments. However, what appears to be a uniform U.S. policy is often the result of a struggle for influence and power within the bureaucracy that can produce varying and nuanced policies.
High School Reform and Extended Learning Time
October 31, 2006, 9:30am – 11:00amMany of the American high schools succeeding at raising student achievement and closing the achievement gap have figured out ways to increase the length of their school day and/or year. The idea of expanding the time for learning as we raise standards and expectations for students deserves more attention in high school reform debates, particularly for students in low-performing schools who are unlikely to reach higher standards without more time and support. More time is not in and of itself a silver bullet. Successful schools often couple extended learning practices with other innovative approaches such as expanding learning opportunities outside of the classroom through internships and apprenticeships, making use of technology and distance learning, and focusing on transitions from middle to high school.