Uniting America : restoring the vital center to American democracy / edited by Norton Garfinkle and Daniel Yankelovich.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Garfinkle, Norton, 1931-

Yankelovich, Daniel.

Series:

The Future of American Democracy Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--United States.

Political culture--United States.

Social conflict--United States.

Polarization (Social sciences).

United States--Politics and government--2001-2009.

United States--Social conditions--1980-.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (298 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Haven : Yale University Press, c2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In Uniting America, some of the country's most prominent social thinkers-among them Francis Fukuyama, Daniel Yankelovich, Amitai Etzioni, Alan Wolfe, Uwe Reinhardt, and Thomas E. Mann-reject the myth of polarization. On topics ranging from the war on terrorism, health care, economic policy, and Social Security to religion, diversity, and immigration, the authors argue that there are sensible, centrist solutions that are more in keeping with prevailing public sentiment and that would better serve the national interest. On issue after issue, the authors show how the conventional framing of the debate in Washington has misled Americans, creating a series of false dilemmas and forcing choices between two extremes-at the expense of more balanced and pragmatic policy solutions based on enduring American values.Uniting America provides a blueprint for a fresh approach to American politics, grounded in moderation, pragmatism, and the shared values that unite Americans.

Contents:

Introduction

Overcoming polarization / Daniel Yankelovich

Nurturing economic growth and the values of American democracy / Norton Garfinkle

Social security and medicare reform for the twenty-first century / Will Marshall

The ethics of America's health care debate / Tsung-Mei Cheng and Uwe E. Reinhardt

Religion as unifier and divider / Alan Wolfe

Diversity, community, and government / Peter H. Schuck

Immigration and social disorder / Peter Skerry

Fighting the War on Terrorism / Francis Fukuyama

Constitutional responsibility in the war on terrorism / Michael Vatis

Character education and the challenge of raising a moral generation / Chester E. Finn, Jr

Citizenship, civic unity, and national service / William A. Galston

The fair society / Amitai Etzioni

Toward a sustainable environmentalism / Mark Sagoff

Is reform of America's electoral system possible? / Thomas E. Mann.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786611731380

9781281731388

1281731382

9780300133189

0300133189

OCLC:

1023998415