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Recognition Rising This graphic provides a snapshot of the dramatic transformation of public opinion in favor of legal relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples. In 1996, DOMA was thought to have ended the debate on marriage. But it seems to have been only the beginning of a more profound shift in favor of gay and lesbian couples. You can download a pdf here, or share this image via Flickr.

Recognition Rising

This graphic provides a snapshot of the dramatic transformation of public opinion in favor of legal relationship recognition for gay and lesbian couples. In 1996, DOMA was thought to have ended the debate on marriage. But it seems to have been only the beginning of a more profound shift in favor of gay and lesbian couples.

You can download a pdf here, or share this image via Flickr.

Saving Social Security In 2015, taxes won’t cover Social Security payments. In 2025, total income for Social Security will be less than total outlays. In 2035, Social Security will take in $500 billion less than it pays out. In 2045, the Social Security Trust Funds will be $8 trillion in arrears. In short, without changes, the inter-generational promise of Social Security—our nation’s most important social insurance program—is a false one. Third Way proposes a “Savings-Led” Social Security reform plan that actually increases the program’s progressivity. Our plan makes roughly two dollars in benefit reductions for every one dollar in revenue increases, and achieves solvency while enhancing economic growth. READ: Saving Social Security

Saving Social Security

In 2015, taxes won’t cover Social Security payments. In 2025, total income for Social Security will be less than total outlays. In 2035, Social Security will take in $500 billion less than it pays out. In 2045, the Social Security Trust Funds will be $8 trillion in arrears. In short, without changes, the inter-generational promise of Social Security—our nation’s most important social insurance program—is a false one.

Third Way proposes a “Savings-Led” Social Security reform plan that actually increases the program’s progressivity. Our plan makes roughly two dollars in benefit reductions for every one dollar in revenue increases, and achieves solvency while enhancing economic growth.

READ: Saving Social Security

Defense Spending Over Time This chart shows DOD spending in a historical context. During wartime, defense spending increases; following the end of conflict, America traditionally reduces its defense spending. As you can see, we are currently in a budgetary drawdown following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This graphic is from our new primer, “Defense Spending and Sequestration.” To learn more about the consequences of sequestration to the national and state economies, read our new report: ”Cheating the Future: The Price of Not Fixing Entitlements.”

Defense Spending Over Time

This chart shows DOD spending in a historical context. During wartime, defense spending increases; following the end of conflict, America traditionally reduces its defense spending. As you can see, we are currently in a budgetary drawdown following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This graphic is from our new primer, “Defense Spending and Sequestration.”

To learn more about the consequences of sequestration to the national and state economies, read our new report: ”Cheating the Future: The Price of Not Fixing Entitlements.”

Sequestration Timeline: August ‘11 - October ‘20 Congress adopted and then modified the sequestration. This timeline from our new primer, “Defense Spending and Sequestration” shows the major milestones in the two laws that congress has passed: The Budget Control Act (BCA) and the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA), as well as key external events that affected the course of legislation.  To learn more about the consequences of sequestration to the national and state economies, read our report: “Cheating the Future: The Price of Not Fixing Entitlements.”

Sequestration Timeline: August ‘11 - October ‘20

Congress adopted and then modified the sequestration. This timeline from our new primer, “Defense Spending and Sequestration” shows the major milestones in the two laws that congress has passed: The Budget Control Act (BCA) and the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA), as well as key external events that affected the course of legislation. 

To learn more about the consequences of sequestration to the national and state economies, read our report: “Cheating the Future: The Price of Not Fixing Entitlements.”

Sequestration - How Would it Impact the Everyday Lives of Americans? Third Way has calculated 10 ways that sequestration would impact the everyday lives of Americans, particularly those who see very little value in government. Our examination of sequestration includes bad and worse news: criminals evading incarceration, new cases of food poisoning, more time on the tarmac, unreliable weather reports, and gun purchase delays.  Read more in our memo: “Attention Tea Party! Sequestration Affects Your Lives Too”

Sequestration - How Would it Impact the Everyday Lives of Americans?

Third Way has calculated 10 ways that sequestration would impact the everyday lives of Americans, particularly those who see very little value in government. Our examination of sequestration includes bad and worse news: criminals evading incarceration, new cases of food poisoning, more time on the tarmac, unreliable weather reports, and gun purchase delays. 

Read more in our memo: “Attention Tea Party! Sequestration Affects Your Lives Too”

To compete and win in lucrative Asia-Pacific markets, America has some serious networking to do. This infographic illustrates a key reason for the sharp drop in the U.S. share of this booming region’s imports: the fact that 16 of the region’s major economies are tied together by an extensive (and growing) network of regional trade agreements. The United States has far fewer of these deals in the region. That’s why it’s vital that America forge new networks for our trade in the Asia-Pacific, beginning with market-opening trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

To compete and win in lucrative Asia-Pacific markets, America has some serious networking to do.

This infographic illustrates a key reason for the sharp drop in the U.S. share of this booming region’s imports: the fact that 16 of the region’s major economies are tied together by an extensive (and growing) network of regional trade agreements. The United States has far fewer of these deals in the region.

That’s why it’s vital that America forge new networks for our trade in the Asia-Pacific, beginning with market-opening trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

It’s a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod World The Republican Party focuses on mobilizing its conservative base to win elections. The Democratic Party focuses on mobilizing its liberal base. But the bulk of votes are in the middle. Presidential elections have featured more moderate voters than either liberals or conservatives in every year since exit polls began asking the question. In the battle for the White House, moderates dominate. View more graphics like this in our Politics of the Center 2012 Graphic Series.

It’s a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod World

The Republican Party focuses on mobilizing its conservative base to win elections. The Democratic Party focuses on mobilizing its liberal base. But the bulk of votes are in the middle. Presidential elections have featured more moderate voters than either liberals or conservatives in every year since exit polls began asking the question. In the battle for the White House, moderates dominate.

View more graphics like this in our Politics of the Center 2012 Graphic Series.

Swinging Indys Historically, Independents have tended to split their vote for House members between the Democratic and Republican Parties by only a few points. But recently, Independents have become more volatile. In 2006, Independents voted for Democrats by 17 points. But in 2010, they picked Republicans by 18 points. Independents aren’t party loyalists. They swing between the parties— more dramatically now than any time in the past 30 years. View more graphics like this in our Politics of the Center 2012 Graphic Series.

Swinging Indys

Historically, Independents have tended to split their vote for House members between the Democratic and Republican Parties by only a few points. But recently, Independents have become more volatile. In 2006, Independents voted for Democrats by 17 points. But in 2010, they picked Republicans by 18 points. Independents aren’t party loyalists. They swing between the parties— more dramatically now than any time in the past 30 years.

View more graphics like this in our Politics of the Center 2012 Graphic Series.

Moderates Hold The Keys: Dems need 60% to win the White House To win in the Electoral College, a Democratic Presidential candidate needs to dominate among moderate voters. A simple majority isn’t enough— Democrats generally need 60% to declare victory. The only Democrat to nab the White House without hitting that mark was Carter in 1976, but he pulled over 30% of conservatives, a level no Democratic candidate has even approached in the years since. View more graphics like this in our Politics of the Center 2012 Graphic Series.

Moderates Hold The Keys: Dems need 60% to win the White House

To win in the Electoral College, a Democratic Presidential candidate needs to dominate among moderate voters. A simple majority isn’t enough— Democrats generally need 60% to declare victory. The only Democrat to nab the White House without hitting that mark was Carter in 1976, but he pulled over 30% of conservatives, a level no Democratic candidate has even approached in the years since.

View more graphics like this in our Politics of the Center 2012 Graphic Series.