Katrina's Wake

     The US government's response to Katrina and its aftermath may be a defining moment in US history.  It is the perfect lens through which to view the role our government plays in providing for the common good and underscores whether it protects the health and well being of communities throughout the country. 

       For years, our federal, state and local governments have pursued tax cuts and policies that undercut quality of life services for its citizens from education, housing, the environment and healthcare. The burden of providing for our citizens has shifted from federal to state to local governments, without regard for the social contract and how these changes will impact the day-to-day welfare of the citizenry that it serves.

Katrina's Wake: the US Government & the Common Good asks:  How can we understand this moment and redefine and reshape how our government serves its citizens and the common good?

    We want to explore how we use the tragedy of Katrina to refocus our vision of how our government serves its citizens. If our challenge is to create a common good, and ensure that all the people are better served, then we must begin seeking solutions that will find the proper balance of how we allocate our tax dollars; and how we create the proper balance among the various levels of government as well as to support the other policies to support this vision.

    Air America Civic Foundation seeks to educate and engage the community, by addressing how current issues affect us through dialogue and encouraging civic involvement.

    Continuing Education & Public Programs at The Graduate Center, CUNY provides education responding to the public’s broad range of personal and professional needs as well as larger community, ecological, and social issues.

For information about our guests, please visit their websites :
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Billy Sothern
Mark Green
National Priorities Project
ACORN