Pay attention to this one, people. We’re on the brink of a(nother?) financial meltdown. Cliff notes version below, full info here. Just finished watching this and found it pretty compelling. Did a nice job of driving home some common sense-ish facts and figures. I was a little lost (tired?) at times, but will rate it as a ‘good’ flick overall. Definitely some important gloom and doom stuff for our future.

Also check out:

• Peter G. Peterson Foundation
• The Concord Coalition

Fiscal Wake Up Tour

Fiscal Wake Up Tour | The Concord Coalition

U.S. GAO – Fiscal Wake-up Tour

The Fiscal Wake Up Tour brings together a group of speakers from diverse perspectives including:

• David Walker, President and CEO, The Peter G. Peterson Foundation
• C. Eugene Steuerle, Senior Fellow, The Urban Institute
• Robert Bixby, Executive Director, The Concord Coalition
• Harry Zeeve, National Field Director, The Concord Coalition
• Diane Lim Rogers, Chief Economist, The Concord Coalition
• Isabel V. Sawhill, Senior Fellow and Co-Director of The Center on Children and Families, The Brookings Institution
• Alice Rivlin, Senior Fellow and Director, Greater Washington Research Program, The Brookings Institution
• Stuart Butler, Vice President for Domestic and Economic Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation
• Alison Fraser, Director, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation
• Brian Riedl, Lead Budget Analyst, The Heritage Foundation
• Joe Minarik, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Committee for Economic Development
• Andrew Biggs, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
• Will Marshal, President, Progressive Policy Institute

Alumni

• Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director, Congressional Budget Office
• Paul R. Cullinan, Former Research Director, Budgeting for National Priorities, The Brookings Institution

Special Guests

At various events we sometimes bring in guest speakers familiar to the local audience.  Below are some guests from recent events:

Gables, FL

• Donna Shalala,  President, University of Miami

Houston, TX

• Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian, Founding Director, James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University
• Professor John Diamond, James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University

Denver, CO

• Richard Caldwell, Director, University of Denver Institute for Public Policy Studies

Kennebunkport, ME

• Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Milwaukee, WI

• Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI-1st), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee

Pittsburgh, PA

• Paul H. O’Neill, former Secretary of the Treasury

Tallahassee, FL

• Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL-2nd), House Budget Committee

San Francisco, CA

• Leon Panetta, former White House Chief of Staff and former U.S. Representative
• Tom Campbell, former U.S. Representative

Nashville, TN

• Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN-5th), House Budget Committee

Tampa, FL

• Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL)
• Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL-12th), Chairman of the House Republican Conference
• Jason Furman, The Brookings Institution

Syracuse, NY

• John L. Palmer, former Trustee for Medicare and Social Security

Cincinnati, OH

• Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)

Columbus, OH

• Rob Portman, Director of Office of Management and Budget
• John Glenn, former U.S. Senator from Ohio

Seattle, Washington Forum and Town Hall

• Mark Emmert, President, University of Washington
• Sandra Archibald, Dean, The Evans School of Public Affairs
• Norman B. Rice, The Evans School of Public Affairs

Denver, Colorado Town Hall

• John Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver
• Richard Lamm, Former Governor of Colorado
• Jeffrey Hart, Association of Government Accountants

Austin, TX

• Michael Granof, Professor of Accounting, University of Texas

Wilmington, Delaware Panel Discussion

• Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)
• The Honorable Michael Castle (R-DE)

Portland University Panel Discussion:

• Ridge Multop, Senior Representative for Federal Affairs, AARP
• John Radford, State of Oregon Controller

Humphrey Institute Panel Discussion: Deficit Politics from a Congressional Perspective

• Former Minnesota Senator Dave Durenberger
• Former Minnesota Congressman David Minge
• Former Minnesota Congressman Tim Penny

Richmond, Virginia Panel Discussion: Why We All Have a Stake in Finding Solutions

• Ridge Multop, Senior Representative for Federal Affairs, AARP
• Scott Pattison, Executive Director, National Association of State Budget Officers

Presentations

“Saving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today,” By David Walker, President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation

“Pitfalls on the Pathway to a Sustainable Fiscal Future,” By Robert Bixby, Executive Director, The Concord Coalition

“Possible Solutions to the Fiscal Problem (PowerPoint Presentation),” By Isabel V. Sawhill, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

“The Budget in Free-Fall,” By Joe Minarik, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Center for Economic Development

“The Budget and Entitlements: Time to Take Action (PowerPoint Presentation),” By Stuart Butler, Vice President for Domestic and Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation

“The Budget, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security: Time to Take Action (PowerPoint Presentation),” By Alison Fraser, Director, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation

“Facing America’s Long-Term Budget Challenges,” By Brian Riedl, Lead Budget Analyst, The Heritage Foundation