Talking About Government & Taxes:

Successfully Navigating Difficult Terrain

As North Carolina faces daunting fiscal challenges it is critical to confront squarely the public’s negative attitudes towards government and taxes.   

If our state is to move past partisan bickering to practical solutions that preserve public structures for our future, it will be essential that advocates be better trained to make the case.

On Monday, March 21, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm, Together North Carolina and Blueprint North Carolina are hosting a presentation and training by Public Works: the Dēmos Center for the Public Sector for state and local issue advocates on how to fight the dominant negative view of government and taxes, and how to have a more rational conversation about the state budget, essential public functions, and revenue.

Location:  Children & Family Services Center, 601 E 5th St # 480, Charlotte, NC

The dominant public narrative about the current state fiscal situation is that we are facing yet another state budget crisis that has been brought on by decades of overspending and a legislature that is incapable of running the state responsibly.  In the current economic downturn budget cuts are viewed as unfortunate but tax increases are seen as the worst possible choice.

But a different story is possible--some think necessary.

This training will offer ideas about how to use enduring values and concepts to tell new stories about public issues and government. In addition, attendees will get an in-depth look at the research and recommendations that the Public Works program offers with a special focus on the challenge of talking about taxes, budgets and the role of government in the current North Carolina State fiscal context.  Participants will also spend time in discussion and working in small groups to apply the Public Works approach in the current state budget debate. 

Public Works: the Demos Center for the Public Sector (http://www.demos.org/publicworks) is engaged in a long term effort to rebuild public awareness of – and support for – a government that works for the common good.  Armed with extensive research into Americans’ perceptions of government and its role, Public Works offers workshops, trainings and consultation for those wishing to reengage Americans in a civic conversation about the public sector.  Public Works has been engaged in states across the country helping to create a different story about state budget challenges and the need to protect our public systems and structures in an economic downturn. 

Presenters:

·         Elaine Mejia, Senior Program Associate, Public Works http://sites.google.com/site/demospublicworks/who-we-are

·         Louisa Warren: NC Justice Center/TogetherNC, Budget update

·         Stephanie Bass, Blueprint NC: NC polls on citizen attitudes about budgets and spending