Debt, Despair, and Dialogue: Reimagining America's Fiscal Future

Debt, Despair, and Dialogue: Reimagining America’s Fiscal Future

With Lura Forcum,

President, Independent Center

In this episode of Gross Domestic Problem, William is joined by Dr. Lura Forcum, President at Independent Center, an organization dedicated to fostering thoughtful conversations and promoting policies that prioritize country over party, aiming to bridge America's political divide. The conversation highlights the complexities of fiscal policy, emphasizing the importance of fiscal health and the challenges of communicating the national debt's impact. Lura shares insights on younger generations' openness to entitlement reform and the need for equitable resource distribution. The discussion also touches on the evolving political landscape, the rise of independent voters, and the necessity for political parties to reconnect with their foundational values to address pressing issues effectively. Don’t miss this great conversation!

Key topics in today’s conversation include:

Welcoming Lura to the Show (1:00)
Fiscal Health and Individual Well-Being (2:26)
Connecting Government Spending to Personal Impact (4:44)
Visualizing the Fiscal Problem (8:21)
Understanding the Scale of Spending (10:08)
Millennials’ Views on Entitlement Reform (13:53)
The Political Challenge of Fiscal Reform (16:01)
Generational Misunderstanding in Fiscal Conversations (19:42)
Research on Voter Segmentation (23:57)
Polarization vs. Shared Values (26:31)
Demographic Shifts in Voting (31:15)
Non-Ideological Voting Trends (34:34)
Party Leadership and Direction (41:05)
Engagement in Local Government (46:34)
Understanding Political Dynamics (48:06)
Bridging Political Divides (51:47)
Final Thoughts and Takeaways (52:16)

Gross Domestic Problem is a podcast from the Millennial Debt Foundation focusing on America’s biggest financial crisis. Each episode, we break down how we got here, what happens if we don’t act, and the least painful way forward. There’s no do-nothing solution. Subscribe now at grossdomesticproblem.com and join the conversation.

About the Show

William Glass

William Glass is a leader in the national conversation on fiscal responsibility, serving as a key voice for the Millennial Debt Foundation. As a passionate advocate for responsible government spending and debt reduction, William works to engage policymakers, young professionals, and thought leaders in addressing America’s growing national debt crisis. Through his work with the Foundation, he champions bipartisan solutions and fosters meaningful dialogue on the economic challenges facing future generations. William brings a fresh perspective to fiscal policy, emphasizing the importance of long-term financial stability and responsible governance.

The Millennial Debt Foundation was launched in mid-2019 by Tennessean Weston Wamp and other millennial entrepreneurs to lead a generational conversation about fiscal stewardship, the role of the federal government and America’s deficit spending crisis. Inspired by the work of our early advisor, the late U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D., the Foundation’s first major project was the Millennial Debt Commission. The business-led Commission is made up of 20 millennial business leaders from across the country working towards a framework for long-term deficit reduction and stabilization of the national debt. The business leaders have been advised by a cohort of current and former members of Congress, leading economists and policy experts. MDF is a nonpartisan, Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by individual donors, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and Arnold Ventures.

Learn More at millennialdebt.org