Opportunity 08 - Our Society
Election Reform | Housing | Immigration | Judicial Policy | Media | Poverty | Social Insurance | Youth Outreach
Election Reform
Re-engaging Moderate and Independent Voters
Redistricting has resulted in an extraordinarily high number of “safe districts” where an incumbent party is likely to gain reelection. It has also essentially resulted in leaving moderate and independent voters out of the election process. Former Congressman John Porter recommends that the next President promote "instant runoffs” to help elect less partisan, more mainstream candidates and encourage more voters to go to the polls.
Empowering Moderate Voters »
Author: John Porter
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Housing
Affordable Rents, Strong Communities
 With one-third of Americans in renter households, more families cannot find apartments or homes that they can reasonably afford. The nation’s housing challenges undermine other top domestic priorities: making work pay, leaving no child behind, growing the economy and protecting the environment. If we are serious about these commitments, Bruce Katz and Margery Austin Turner argue, we must build on local innovations aimed at expanding decent, moderately priced, conveniently located housing for all Americans.
Rethinking U.S. Rental Housing Policy »
Authors: Bruce Katz; Margery Austin Turner
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Immigration
Growing Workforce, Brewing Debate
 Roughly 12 million people reside illegally in the United States. More are joining the workforce, and nearly half of these households have children. Congress tried but failed to pass legislation to change the functioning of current immigration policy. Audrey Singer offers ideas.
Reforming U.S. Immigration Policy »
Author: Audrey Singer
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Judicial Policy
Prevent Federal Court Nomination Battles
 Infected by polarization, confirmation rates for federal judges have plummeted and long delays are commonplace. Brookings’s Russell Wheeler recommends that the next president should create a bipartisan commission and set a timetable to prevent the lengthy nomination battles.
Prevent Federal Court Nomination Battles »
Author: Russell Wheeler
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Media
Horse sense for horse race journalism
 The media’s focus on who’s ahead or who’s behind in the polls—rather than on candidates’ positions on specific issues—is worrisome. Brooklings journalist-in-residence Ron Nessen advises that 2008 Presidential candidates seeking to define themselves to voters must pay attention to major changes in the media and public attitudes toward it.
Reaching American Voters »
Author: Ron Nessen
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Poverty
Rewarding Work, Supporting Families
 The nation’s poverty rate is higher now than it was in the 1970s, but no President since Lyndon Johnson has made fighting poverty a major administration goal. The time has come for a reinvigorated fight against inequality and despair. Brookings scholars Isabel Sawhill and Ron Haskins offer a plan that focuses on supporting education, work, and marriage.
Attacking Poverty and Inequality »
Authors: Ron Haskins; Isabel V. Sawhill
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Social Insurance
Creating a New Social Contract to Promote Financial Security
Americans are living longer, but not necessarily living better. With fewer Americans saving adequately for retirement or their long-term health needs, and the corresponding decline in public and private pension plans, we are facing both a retirement and health security crisis. Brookings scholar William Galston argues that the next President must create a new social contract to promote individual financial security enabling older Americans to lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives.
Reviving the Social Contract »
Author: William A. Galston
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Youth Outreach
The Young Vote: Engaging America's Youth in the 2008 Elections and Beyond
 Nearly one quarter of eligible American voters is between ages 18 to 30. According to Harvard's Institute of Politics, many young voters are not yet well defined along party lines-nearly two out of five 18 to 24 year olds identify themselves as "independent." While the lack of party affiliation may prevent many young voters from voting in the primaries, the large number of independents makes the youth vote unpredictable when played out in the general election.
The Young Vote: Engaging America's Youth in the 2008 Elections and Beyond »
Author: Cali Carlin
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