Our Society Reimagined is a four-week discussion series that brings community members together to explore timely domestic issues that shape our modern society. Participants are given reading materials that will be used as background for lively, moderated discussions each week. Using the practice of civil dialogue, moderators will facilitate conversations that will help participants gain perspective on the underlying values and ideas that we hold as individuals and as a society and will explore how these tenets shape our lives.
The 2025 series will take place in person on our Aspen Meadows campus from 6:00-8:00 pm MT on four consecutive Wednesdays, October 15-November 5. Tom Morrison and Clint Kinney will return to moderate the series. Registration will open in early September.
Please contact Ari Mizrahi at ari.mizrahi@aspeninstitute.org with any additional questions.
The 2024 topics were the following:
October 16
Session 1: The Economy
America has one of the healthiest economies, generating high wealth and maintaining low poverty rates. Capitalism rewards initiative and allocates resources efficiently. However, growing wealth disparity, with CEOs earning 100 times more than entry-level workers and paying lower tax rates, raises concerns. Housing shortages and rising costs have fueled debate about whether capitalism or government is at fault. Some argue for less government intervention, while others call for empowering unions, increasing taxes on the wealthy, or imposing tariffs. Are market forces still effective in creating the society we want, or is reform needed?
October 23
Session 2: Population and the Birth Rate
Declining birth rates in the developed world may not sustain populations or economies. For example, Japan’s population could shrink by 80% over three generations. Should we worry about the economic consequences, or view fewer people as a positive for the environment? Should society promote having children as a responsibility, or leave it as a personal choice? Some governments have tried, with little success, to encourage higher birth rates. What role should immigration play in addressing this issue? Should governments intervene in managing birth rates, and if so, how?
October 30
Session 3: Free Speech
Has free speech become too much of a good thing? The First Amendment allows individuals to express almost anything, as long as it’s truthful or based on honest opinion. Has society gone too far in this freedom, or is it what makes us great? Are we regulating open dialogue effectively, or allowing harmful propaganda? How are college campuses managing free speech? And is big money in politics amplifying messages or stifling genuine communication? Has free speech gone too far, or not far enough?
November 6
Session 4: Elections and the Justice System
For democracy to function effectively, it must resolve social and individual conflicts successfully. In our system, elections and juries are crucial for this resolution, but their effectiveness relies on public trust. Unfortunately, political divisiveness is undermining this trust. Political parties are exploiting the election process for advantage, and many citizens are questioning election legitimacy, as seen with ongoing doubts about the 2020 results despite numerous failed fraud claims. How can we restore confidence in our election systems? In the criminal justice system, defendants are challenging the integrity of trials by suggesting that only a jury of similar political views can deliver a fair verdict. Will the public’s perception of election integrity worsen or improve following the 2024 election? What steps can ensure that these foundational institutions continue to resolve conflicts effectively and maintain public trust?