Why was the Commonweal Institute founded?

The Commonweal Institute was founded because there is a pressing need for a progressive / moderate organization that actively works to change public attitudes to be more receptive to moderate and progressive ideas, and thereby to change the American political scene.

Over the past quarter century, the conservative wing of American politics has invested aggressively in institutions determined to move public attitudes further and further to the right - and the investment is paying off. Today, elected officials and political parties have to deal with public opinion that continues to be powerfully influenced by a steady stream of messages originating with conservative think tanks and disseminated through sympathetic or uncritical media. We need an organization that will be structured and funded to counter conservative ideology strategically and effectively. The Commonweal Institute seeks to fill this role. There is currently no other organization set up to do so.

The founders of the Commonweal Institute consider it vital for our democracy, and for the world as a whole, that citizens have access to a more balanced perspective than is usually presented in the major media. The Commonweal Institute aims to foster a better society, one that considers the needs of all people and strives to create a reasonable equilibrium between competing interests. In addition to encouraging broader civic participation, we will help the many talented moderate and progressive scholars and opinion leaders gain a wider audience for their ideas. In the face of important social, economic, and environmental challenges, our society deserves more creative, more widely available, ideas and strategies for understanding our world and fostering a safe, healthy, and equitable society for both Americans and others around the globe.

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