Kinghorn, Jon Rye

English

Research Papers in Economics

NATIONAL  ISSUES  FORUMS
Jon Rye Kinghorn
National Issues Forums
The National Issues  Forums (NIF) program  is a method whereby
the public can learn the public's business-learn how to deal with
major policy issues of concern throughout the country.
These public  Forums/study  circles,  that  bring citizens  together in
communities  all over the country,  do not advocate any specific  solu-
tion or point of view, but provide a means by which citizens may join
in the nation's  public policy  dialogue  and gain  an influential  role  in
the making of policy.
Each spring, the National Issues Forums identify three issues of
pressing national concern for discussion in the Forums and study cir-
cles  that will begin the following  fall.  An attractive,  clearly written,
nonpartisan issue book for each issue is developed  and distributed.
The books  are written  in  a manner  to  encourage  participants  to
weigh the pros and cons of the choices  each issue presents.  By
weighing our opinions about these options together,  we can begin to
work toward  a common ground.  The books have received high
marks  for  objectivity,  comprehensiveness  and  readability  from the
political, educational and public service communities.
Organizations  using the  NIF  approach  to policy discussions  in-
clude colleges,  universities,  schools,  libraries,  leagues,  churches,
synagogues,  extension  programs,  leadership  programs,  student  as-
sociations and senior citizen centers.  Participants come from a broad
spectrum of citizens. Each  organization proceeds  in an independent
fashion to adapt the Forums to its own institutional  objectives.  In
that sense there is no one Forum; there are many Forums,  all locally
controlled  and  financed.  Each  Forum/study  circle  is  locally  con-
trolled and organized,  yet all have  common guidelines.  After our
Forum/study circle everyone  is able to:
*  identify the range of realistic alternatives  and move toward a
choice;
*  make  a good case for those positions  one dislikes as  well as the
position one likes,  and consider the choices one has not consid-
ered before;
81*  understand  others  have  reasons for their choices  and that their
reasons are very  interesting,  not dumb,  unreasonable,  or im-
moral;
*  realize  one's own knowledge  is not complete  until one under-
stands why others feel the way they do about the choices;
*  consider the underlying values of each choice; and
*  leave the Forum/study circle "stewing"  over the choices.  (Some-
times this is called  "thinking.")
The Forums/study circles are not  a lecture series.  They encourage
everyone to be an active participant.
Each  year,  outcomes  of the  Forums  and study  circles  held
throughout the nation are presented  at a gathering of citizens and
policy makers  in Washington,  D.C.  Participants'  responses  to the
questionnaires  in each issue book are used  in preparing  a written
summary of the participants'  concerns that is released at this annual
National  Forum.
At this  meeting,  participants  gather  to share,  not only  the out-
comes,  but also the  methods  or techniques that have encouraged
participation  in Forum discussions  in their own communities.  And
representatives  from local NIF programs join in briefing representa-
tives from Congress  and the Executive Branch,  as well as other pol-
icy experts,  about the discussions that took place in their Forums.
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NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS

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Research Papers in Economics