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National Issues Forums

A Different Kind of Talk, Another Way to Act

NIF Issue Books


NEW 2008 Issue Books:

Health Care in America: How Can We Make it More Affordable? - Forty- seven million Americans lack health insurance while costs continue to spiral out of control for those who do have coverage. The nation spends more than any other country on health care, but many are still dissatisfied with what we have to show for it. Now it is time to face the difficult choices needed to make the U.S. health-care system function properly.

What is the 21st Century Mission for Our Public Schools? - From the very start, Americans have held widely divergent views on issues related to public schools. Many of these have to do with the methods by which we achieve an educated society. How do we ensure that our schools are accessible to all children? By what means do we hold students accountable for learning and schools accountable for teaching them? What is the role of families in the education of their children? What is the responsibility of schools in addressing social issues that affect their students? What is the most efficient and fair way to fund public education?

2007 Issue Books

The $9 Trillion Debt: Breaking the Habit of Deficit Spending - The U.S. national debt has reached record proportions. With the imminent retirement of the baby boom generation, pressures on the federal budget will soon get worse. what changes might most Americans be willing to accept in order to curb deficit spending?

The Energy Problem: Choices for an Uncertain Future - America's way of life seems threatened by unstable sources of energy and growing evidence of environmental damage. As demands for energy escalate, we may soon reach the point of no return. We have difficult choices to make to ensure a sustainable future.

Too Many Children Left Behind: How Can We Close the Achievement Gap? - Too many low-income and minority children are falling behind their peers in school. In an increasingly competitive global arena, the U.S. cannot afford to ignore this widening achievement gap. What can be done to close it? (Kettering Foundation & Public Education Research publication)


Links:
Gerald R. Ford Museum
Grand Rapids Public Library

Kettering Foundation
National Issues Forums Institute
Study Circles Resource Center


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The following NIF Issue Books may be purchased by contacting Kendall Hunt at 800-228-0810. Visit the NIF web site for additional resources, such as NIF Starter Kits and Community Issue Guides.

  • Preparing Today's Kids for Tomorrow's Jobs: What Should Our Community Do? (2008)
  • Health Care in America: How Can We Make it More Affordable? (2008)
  • What is the 21st Century Mission for Our Public Schools? (2008)
  • The $9 Trillion Debt: Breaking the Habit of Deficit Spending (2007)
  • The Energy Problem: Choice for an Uncertain Future (2007)
  • Too Many Children Left Behind: How Can We Close the Achievement Gap? (2007)
  • America's Role in the World: Building a More Secure Future (2006)
  • Democracy's Challenge: Reclaiming the Public's Role (2006)
  • Life & Death Decisions: Who Decides? (2005)
  • The Social Security Struggle: Fixing the Retirement System (2005)
  • Making Ends Meet: Is There a Way to Help Working Americans? (2005)
  • By the People: American's Role in the World (2003)
  • Examining Health Care: What's the Public's Prescription? (2003)
  • News Media and Society: How to Restore the Public Trust (2003)
  • The New Challenges of American Immigration: What Should We Do? (2003)
  • The New Science of Food: Facing Up to Our Biotechnology Choices (2003)
  • Terrorism: What Should We Do? (2002)
  • Crime and Punishment: Is Justice Being Served? (2001)
  • Money & Politics: Who Owns Democracy? (2001)
  • Racial and Ethnic Tensions: What Should We Do? (2000)
  • Violent Kids: Can We Change the Trend? (2000)
  • A Nice Place to Live: Creating Communities, Fighting Sprawl (1999)
  • Alcohol: Controlling the Toxic Spill (1999)
  • From Welfare to Work: Who Should We Help and How? (1999)
  • Public Schools: Are They Making the Grade? (1999)
  • Gambling: Is it a Problem? What Should We Do? (1998)
  • Jobs: Preparing a Workforce for the 21st Century (1998)
  • Protecting Our Rights: What Goes on the Internet? (1998)
  • At Death's Door: What Are the Choices? (1997)
  • Illegal Drugs: What Should We Do Now? (1997)
  • Our Nation's Kids: Is Something Wrong? (1997)
  • Environmental Protection: A Challenge Bigger Than All Outdoors (1996)
  • Governing America: Our Choices, Our Challenge (1996)
  • The National Piggybank: Does Our Retirement System Need Fixing? (1996)
  • Off Balance: Resetting the Scales of Civil Justice (1996)
  • How Can We Be Fair? The Future of Affirmative Action (1995)
  • Mission Uncertain: Reassessing America's Global Role (1995)
  • Pocketbook Pressures: Who Benefits from Economic Growth? (1995)
  • The Troubled American Family: Which Way Out of the Storm? (1995)
  • Admission Decisions: Should Immigration Be Restricted? (1994)
  • Contested Values: Tug-Of-War in the School Yard (1994)
  • The Health Care Cost Explosion: Why It's So Serious, What Should Be Done? (1993)
  • The Health Care Crisis: Containing Costs, Expanding Coverage (1992)
  • Politics for the Twenty-first Century: What Should Be Done on Campus? (1992)
  • The Boundaries of Free Speech: How Free is Too Free? (1991)
  • Energy Options: Finding a Solution to the Power Predicament (1991)
  • The Battle Over Abortion: Seeking Common Ground in a Divided Nation (1990)
  • The Day Care Dilemma: Who Should Be Responsible for the Children? (1989)
  • Growing Up at Risk (1989)