Using the latest social, economic, attitudinal, and demographic data, this book tells us where we've been, where we are, and where we are going. This upbeat and incisive look at American life will surprise the doomsayers and encourage everyone who is looking for the facts instead of the myths about the state of the union promoted by the media. -- Book Jacket.

For at least 650 years, since the time of the Black Plague, the world's population has headed in only one direction: up. But within a few decades the number of people on earth will level off and then will likely decline over an extended period of time. In Fewer, the author explains how and why birthrates and fertility rates are now falling at an alarming rate in countries throughout the world--both modern and less developed. And he explores the major...

This program examines the issue of affirmative action with Lani Guinier, professor of law at the Univ. of Pennsylvania and President Clinton's controversial nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Among the many questions examined in the program are: How do blacks and whites differ in their understanding of affirmative action? Is affirmative action still necessary to remedy past discrimination? What changes, if any, should be made...

Critics of affirmative action say that it pits Americans against each other and elevates the importance of race, gender, and ethnicity at the expense of hard work and merit. Supporters claim that discrimination remains pervasive in the U.S. and that the government must continue to play a role in aiding minorities and women. This program explores the historical roots of affirmative action and the debate over its usefulness. The program looks at several...