Aspen Ideas to Go

James Fallows discusses the challenge of the 'virtual cloud'. There is a constant struggle, he describes, between maintaining 'open systems' while dealing with threats from the virtual world. Fallows explains that the 'American Idea' is influential yet in need of 'shoring up'. He states that America's success should be providing the arena where diverse people may come together to collaborate, innovate and dream up products. Ideally this success is "...seen not as one country's achievement but of the world's."

Cory Booker explains that there is genius equally distributed in every community, in every place. He states that we as a nation are squandering this genius by not allowing children to develop and cultivate their ideas and their greatness.

Dressing to match the set--haha Big National Challenges using impact investing that also has a social impact Anti-poverty efforts, food system, slow elimination of environmental degradation, clean energy economy

Bill McKibben dives into the indisputable science surrounding climate change—an analysis of data collected from around the planet. He says that regardless of how people "feel" about global warming, it is happening.

Paul Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, says it's imperative that we, as a nation, support returning veterans. He emphasizes the serious need to tackle issues including mental health, slow-moving VA systems, jobs, and assimilation of veterans into society—2012 Aspen Ideas Festival

Through the lens of history, Justice Stephen Breyer takes a sweeping and entertaining look at why we, the people, follow the Constitution and the courts.—2011 Aspen Ideas Festival

Barbra Streisand says understanding more about women's heart disease and gender discrimination will save lives.—2012 Aspen Ideas Festival

Sal Khan says we should upend higher education and consider new ways for workers to prove their job qualifications.—2011 Aspen Ideas Festival

Annise Parker says that in order for human beings to live in concert with one another there must be government; a mechanism for deciding what a community does. Annise explains that we need to break away from the consumer model of government, in order not to lose the concept of the common good.—2012 Aspen Ideas Festival

In a candid appeal, Lori Gottlieb says the secret to happiness and the way to live the so-called good life is to stop looking for happiness for our kids.—2012 Aspen Ideas Festival