Viewpoints 2014

Arianna Huffington and Leon Wieseltier are speakers for this session.

With the disappearance of Malaysia Air Flight 370 and the capsizing of the Seoul ferry top of mind, Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.), former commandant of the US Coast Guard and national incident commander for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, talks about the overwhelming odds and occasional miracles he has seen and encountered in decades of disaster rescue and recovery. How can we better prevent man-made tragedies and reduce the casualties from natural disasters? What kinds of successes and improvements are there? What happens when international interests and assets don’t align in disaster-scene investigation? Thad Allen, Derek Thompson

Jonathan Alter relates the untold story behind Obama’s highs and lows, from the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound to the frustration of the debt ceiling fiasco to his unexpected run-ins with black and Latino activists. There are fresh details about the Koch brothers, Grover Norquist, Roger Ailes, and the online haters who suffer from “Obama Derangement Syndrome.” Alter takes us inside Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s Boston campaign as well as Obama’s disastrous preparation for the first debate. We meet Obama’s analytics geeks working out of “The Cave” and the man who secretly videotaped Romney’s infamous comments on the “47 percent.” Jonathan Alter

24 states with 50% of the nation’s population is moving in one direction. 13 states with 25% of the population is moving in another. What gridlock? Underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton Grover Norquist, Mickey Edwards

Newt Gingrich and Mickey Edwards are speakers featured here.

They buzz around, we fear their sting, but they work almost nonstop and their pollination efforts are a critical component to our food system. Honeybees or "Apis mellifera" are faced with health challenges that cause colony collapse and other issues that threaten their ability to pollinate, which in turn threatens our food supply. Will this trend continue, or are the efforts of the public and private sectors addressing this threat? What are those efforts and how are they working? One takes for granted just how much of the food on a plate is because of honeybees. Jerry Hayes, Diana Cox-Foster, Chris Lane

Drawing on the latest groundbreaking research and scientific findings in the fields of psychology, sports, sleep, and physiology that show the profound and transformative effects of meditation, mindfulness, unplugging, and giving, Arianna Huffington shows us the way to a revolution in our culture, our thinking, our workplace, and our lives. Arianna Huffington

A decade after the 9/11 Commission issued its report on the greatest act of terrorism on US soil, is the nation as safe as it could and should be? Have we been smart in plugging gaps in our security since 9/11, or simply lucky? Will reducing our military footprint in trouble spots overseas help or hurt? And what new and emerging threats—such as attacks on cybersecurity—will the US need to anticipate and thwart in the next ten years? We will discuss how to tackle the nation’s most urgent vulnerabilities and what reforms are still necessary to help ensure our national security. Underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton Tom Kean, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Jane Harman, Thad Allen

Paul J. Zak's proclivity for taking blood samples has earned him a nickname as the "vampire economist." But his sanguinary habit is backed by his scientifiic quest: What if there was a master switch for human behavior? On, and people are loving and generous. Off, and they revert to violence and greed. By studying thousands of blood samples, Zak has pinpointed just such a switch: a brain chemical called oxytocin. Sprinting around the globe and into the human brain, -The Moral Molecule is a dazzling narrative as erudite and entertaining as bestsellers like "Flow", "Drive", and "Why We Love". Paul J. Zak

How we engage our citizens in the future will be a marker for the strength of our communities and, ultimately, our democracy. The very good news is the spirit of entrepreneurship that our discussants apply to the formidable task of involving all kinds of people -- young, old, and in between-- in improving the civic life of our communities...for good. Thomas J. Wilson, Jennifer Pahlka, Perri Peltz

Mike Bracken, Tim O'Reilly, and Jennifer Pahlka re speakers here.

America has changed dramatically since the first Aspen Ideas Festival ten years ago. The Aspen Ideas Festival/Atlantic “Imagining 2024 Survey,” in partnership with Burson-Marsteller, examines where Americans think our country and our lives are heading in the next ten years. The Survey, conducted by Penn, Schoen, Berland, paints a vivid picture of the type of country Americans expect to live in a decade from now, exploring expectations for America’s place in the world, its politics and economy, issues like education and healthcare, forces like climate change and technology, and changes in society and our personal lives. Don Baer, Mark Penn, Elliot Gerson, James Bennet

Matthew Bishop and Corby Kummer are speakers here.

John Hickenlooper and Katie Couric are speakers here.

The data proves it: from the dropout rate to incarceration to unemployment, boys and young men of color — regardless of where they come from — face startling odds and barriers to success from cradle to college to career. America cannot afford to have millions of youth disengaged, disenfranchised, and disconnected from school or meaningful work. That's why President Obama launched My Brother's Keeper this year — and why so many foundations, corporations and individuals have stepped up in response to this call to action in a major way to tell boys and young men of color if they work hard and play by the rules, we have a responsibility to help them succeed. Learn what’s being done, what recommendations have been made, and what any citizen can do to contribute. Jim Shelton, Pete Dominick

From human rights to economic opportunity, bold and rigorous thinking about gender equality can lead us to a safer, more prosperous, and more just world. As we think about the next ten years, how will the lives of women improve and prosper? What are the big ideas from women, and about women, that will help transform the next decade into one of real opportunity at home and abroad? Remarkable leaders across a variety of sectors will present their thoughts about ways to advance the cause of women and girls, and in so doing, advance the entire world. Underwritten by PepsiCo. Monique Villa, Arianna Huffington, Pamela Reeves, Christina Paxson, Jane Harman, Shiza Shahid, Sally Blount, Lori Gottlieb, Sherrilyn Ifill, Joanna Lipper

Ernest Moniz and David Monsma are speakers.

Joe Manchin and Mickey Edwards are featured here.

In a victory for nine students who brought a case against the State of California arguing that laws forced districts to provide tenure despite teacher quality, the Vergara Trial ended in June with a ruling that state laws governing the hiring, firing, and job security of teachers violates the California Constitution. Teacher tenure, layoffs, and teacher talent will be newly evaluated. Will the rest of the country follow suit? What are the means, now, to bring California in line with the requirements of the law? Underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton John Deasy, Randi Weingarten, Ray Suarez