Fiscal High Road | Fiscal High Road

A very misleading story about huge risks of "unfunded liabilities" damaging future generations has dominated the public debate about how to think about budget priorities. This set of claims confuses the disparate issues of how we should provide adequate social insurance for young and old with issues of fiscal responsibility and reform.

As the nation confronts the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression, we believe it is time for a reasoned and balanced dialogue about the state of our nation's finances and our fiscal future. During this period of great anxiety, uncertainty, and confusion, the public debate would benefit from perspective that informs Americans rather than compounds their fears. Full-page advertisements in newspapers depicting an ominous iceberg close at hand, for example, are not constructive in promoting reasoned responses to the genuine but manageable challenges confronting the United States.

Demos and The Century Foundation have partnered together to help strengthen social insurance programs and develop a roadmap for a fair and responsible federal budget.

Recognizing that there is a wealth of sometimes competing and confusing information in our national discussions about the economic crisis and the path to a recovery, The Fiscal High Road project will provide information and analysis squarely aimed at strengthening America's social insurance programs, such as Social Security and Medicare. Social investments, along with robust infrastructure spending to support good jobs, education and opportunity for America's families, are the key to widespread economic stability and long-term prosperity.

In the coming months, The Fiscal High Road project will launch a data and policy resource center, develop an advocacy network, and will be engaged in educating journalists, legislators, and the public about issues critical to fair and sustainable economic policy at the national and state level. In the process, it will serve as a peacemaker in the generational wars that are being stoked by well-financed groups that want to cut Social Security and other successful government programs.

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