NEW YORK, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/—If the Internet had been around when William Jennings Bryan said, “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved,” he might have next exhorted the crowd to go online and make their voices heard at FacingUp.org.

Across the nation, citizens are taking part in “Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances” community forums, searching for common ground on issues like Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, managing the national debt and government accountability—finding ways to prepare our nation for the oncoming fiscal crisis brought on by the aging of the baby boom generation. With today’s official launch of FacingUp.org, citizens in every community can find thoughtful dialogue at the new hub for information, discussion and action on America’s financial future.

Site users can weigh in, listen to others and pursue avenues to action. At the heart of the site are “Citizen Choicework” issue guides that evenhandedly present different approaches to dealing with Social Security, Medicare, managing the national debt and government accountability with pros and cons linked to every approach at: http://facingup.org/forum

The nonpartisan “Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances” initiative is being lead by experts from The Brookings Institution, The Heritage Foundation, The Concord Coalition, Public Agenda and Viewpoint Learning.

In addition to “Citizen Choicework” issue guides, FacingUp.org also has:
—extensive background materials in easy-to-understand language
—video discussion starters
—a “Follow the Money” audio tour of the federal budget
—discussion threads
—blogs
—“national debt clock” and “count down to the baby boomer bomb” widgets
—questions to pose to candidates
—updates on activities around the nation
—lots of other resources and links

FacingUp.org is being produced by Public Agenda, whose own website is a major destination for journalists, policy makers, educators, students and concerned citizens for its non-partisan, in-depth issue guides. In 2005 and 2007 PublicAgenda.org was one of only five finalists for the most prestigious Internet award of all, the Webby Award, in the Politics category.

Source: Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances

CONTACT: Michael Hamill Remaley of Public Agenda, +1-212-686-6610 ext.
13, mremaley@publicagenda.org, for Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances

Web Site: http://facingup.org/forum