America is engaged in difficult and complex policy
debates over critical issues. There are conflicting claims and
disagreements over the meaning of the facts and figures relating
to health care, poverty, tax reform, Social Security, and block
grants. The Twentieth Century Fund hopes to help clarify these
issues by collecting the best available information and presenting
it in a series of pamphlets called "The
Basics."
The intent of this series is in keeping with the Fund's
mandate. Since 1919, the Twentieth Century Fund has sponsored and
supervised research on economic, social, and political issues. As
a nonpartisan, but not neutral, organization, our underlying
philosophy regards government as an instrument, not an enemy, of
the people, and therefore we strive, in the words of our bylaws,
for the improvement of economic, industrial, civic, cultural, and
educational conditions.
The Twentieth Century Fund also believes in the power of
well-reasoned, well- researched ideas. These pamphlets are
presented in that spirit. They are the Fund's contribution to
increased citizen understanding and wiser governmental
decisions.
