Opportunity 08 Independent Ideas for America's Next President

by O'Hanlon, Michael E.

• ISBN13: 9780815764649
• ISBN10: 0815764642
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-10-30
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Summary

American voters say they want to hear more about the issues and less about partisan politics. An unusually wide-open presidential race presents a unique opening for frank discussion and innovative solutions to pressing policy challenges. Opportunity 08 takes advantage of this political space to help presidential candidates, political observers, and the informed public focus on critical issues facing the nation. Opportunity 08 tackles a broad range of issues, organized under three categories: Our World, Our Society, and Our Prosperity. On the latter, for example, Brookings scholar Isabel Sawhill joins former Congressmen Bill Frenzel (R) and Charles Stenholm (D) and longtime budget counsel Bill Hoagland to provide a clear picture of the American budget deficit situation and what should be done about it. Sawhill also collaborates with Ron Haskins on a plan to provide greater support for education, work, and marriage. Hugh Price puts forth a strategy (and price tag) for boosting academic achievement among American schoolchildren. Brookings scholar Henry Aaron and Harvard professor Joseph Newhouse describe America's health care predicament and discuss options for expanding coverage and reducing costs. Mark McClellan, until recently the administrator of Medicare and Medicaid, takes another angle on the same subject, In the realm of international affairs, Jeffrey Bader and Richard Bush as well as former Bush administration official Michael Green discuss how best to deal with China. Jeremy Shapiro calls for a more analytic and threat-based approach to homeland security, arguing that many proposals are too ambitious and costly. On the Middle East, Martin Indyk and Tamara Cofman Wittes emphasize the need for a moderate coalition that will counter Iran's ambitions in the region, while also discussing political reform in Arab states and the Arab-Israeli peace process. Peter Rodman, until recently a Bush administration Pentagon official, also addresses the challenge posed by a radical Iran.These are just a few of the critical issues and renowned authors included in this timely book. Insightful, informed, and independent, Opportunity 08 truly is Brookings at its best.

Table of Contents

Big Ideas for the 2008 Race	p. 1
Our World
Countering Iran's Revolutionary Challenge: A Strategy for the Next Phase	p. 7
Engaging the Muslim World: A Communication Strategy to Win the War of Ideas	p. 21
Contending with the Rise of China: Build on Three Decades of Progress	p. 38
Constructing a Successful China Strategy: Promote Balance and Democratic Ideals in Asia	p. 51
Tackling Trade and Climate Change: Leadership on the Home Front of Foreign Policy	p. 63
Ending Oil Dependence: Protecting National Security, the Environment, and the Economy	p. 80
Waning Chances for Stability: Navigating Bad Options in Iraq	p. 96
Back to Balancing In the Middle East: A New Strategy for Constructive Engagement	p. 114
Bent but Not Broken: How the Next Commander In Chief Can Prevent the Breaking of the U.S. Military	p. 133
Our Society
Empowering Moderate Voters: Implement an Instant Runoff Strategy	p. 165
Rethinking U.S. Rental Housing Policy: Build on State and Local Innovations	p. 171
Attacking Poverty and Inequality: Reinvigorate the Fight for Greater Opportunity	p. 185
Pathways to the Middle Class: Ensuring Greater Upward Mobility for All Americans	p. 199
Our Prosperity
Taming the Deficit: Forge a Grand Compromise for a Sustainable Future	p. 217
Realistic Approaches to Head Off a U.S. Economic Crisis	p. 233
Extending Deregulation: Make the U.S. Economy More Efficient	p. 249
Strengthening Higher Education: Simplify Student Aid and Emphasize Vital Science, Math, and Language Skills	p. 262
Meeting the Dilemma of Health Care Access: Extending Insurance Coverage while Controlling Costs	p. 276
Meeting the Challenge of Health Care Quality: Achieve Reforms In Medicare, Quality, and Malpractice	p. 288
Slowing the Growth of Health Spending: We Need Mixed Strategies, and We Need to Start Now	p. 303
Promoting Retirement Security: Make Saving Easier and More Rewarding	p. 321
Fixing the Tax System: Support Fairer, Simpler, and More Adequate Taxation	p. 331
Strengthening U.S. Information Technology: Keep America No. 1 on the Net	p. 342
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