Educating Americans about Public Policy

The digital media revolution has transformed the way people obtain information and form opinions. Countless partisan outlets peddle assertions and “sound bites” as indisputable facts. Few people have the knowledge and analytical skills to navigate this torrent of misinformation. They crave credible and accessible sources of facts, analysis, and information about proposed policies and the effects of those already enacted.

The Hoover Institution

Since its founding nearly 100 years ago, Stanford University’s Hoover Institution has sought to promote economic opportunity and prosperity, secure peace, and improve the human condition. Unique among policy research organizations, Hoover is part of a world-renowned university. In addition to being scholars, our fellows are educators.

Seeking to become the foremost source of policy knowledge, wisdom, and insights, we have launched the Mary Jo and Dick Kovacevich Initiative at the Hoover Institution, Educating Americans in Public Policy. The initiative seeks to:

• Equip Americans with accurate facts and information, as well as a discerning analytical perspective, so they can better perform their civic duties, hold their elected leaders accountable, and “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
• Provide political leaders with reliable knowledge and analysis—tools with which they might assess alternatives in the shaping and execution of public policy.

This effort will build on our legacy of substantive policy inquiry where partisan advocacy has become the norm.

 
The Hoover Institution acknowledges significant gifts in support of its Education Americans in Public Policy initiative from the following generous and committed family foundations and individuals:

    Mary Jo and Dick Kovacevich Family Foundation
    S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
    Kurt and Julie Hauser
    E.A. and Suzanne Maas
    Frank and Mona Mapel