A bit more than forty years ago the hand-held calculator was the big thing; now the digital revolution and social media are transforming the world and hand-held devices and smartphones are ubiquitous.  Forty years ago the Hispanic population of the United States was 4.7% now it is 16%.  Racial tensions and disparities still affect American society.  Society and culture are changing in ways large and small, but at the base are traditional values of faith, family and freedom.  Debate arises over the details.  In particular, cultural or "family values" issues such as abortion, same sex marriage and the role of faith in the public square can prompt heated discussions. 


GENERAL
OECD - Better Life Index

"allows you to compare well-being across countries, based on 11 topics the OECD has identified as essential, in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life."

Social Science Research Council - Measure of America

"provides easy-to-use yet methodologically sound tools for understanding the distribution of well-being and opportunity in America and stimulating fact-based dialogue about issues we all care about: health, education, and living standards."

Pew Research Center - Social & Demographic Trends

"studies behaviors and attitudes of Americans in key realms of their lives, including family, community, health, finance, work and leisure."

Gross National Happiness-American Project

"seeks to change what we measure from wealth to well-being"

New Economics Foundation - Happy Planet Index

"the leading global measure of sustainable well-being."

Maryland's Genuine Progress Indicator

an example of a state effort "to measure how development activities impact long-term prosperity, both positively and negatively."

Socialnomics (Eric Qualman)

...social media...

"The Digital Universe in 2020" (IDC/EMC Corporation) [PDF]


Public Citizen - Commercial Alert

"...to keep the commercial culture within its proper sphere, and to prevent it from exploiting children and subverting the higher values of family, community, environmental integrity and democracy."

U.S. Census Bureau - Topics  |  Facts for Features

"collections of statistics from the Census Bureau's demographic and economic subject areas intended to commemorate anniversaries or observances or to provide background information for topics in the news."

Institute of Museum and Library Services - Data Analysis Tools

"national, state, and county-level statistics on a range of public policy issues including education, child and family well-being, labor and employment, and small business development."

[ProQuest® Statistical Abstract of the United States 2014]/The 2011 Statistical Abstract (final one published by U.S. Census Bureau)

"the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States."


FAITH
The Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life Project

"launched in 2001, seeks to promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs."

American Center for Law and Justice

"engages in litigation, provides legal services, renders advice, counsels clients, provides education, and supports attorneys who are involved in defending the religious and civil liberties of Americans."

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

"a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute with a mission to protect the free expression of all faiths."

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

"brings together Americans of many faiths and political viewpoints to defend church-state separation."

Interfaith Alliance

"equally committed to protecting the integrity of both religion and democracy in America. We champion religious freedom by respecting individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism and build common ground."

Faith in Public Life

"a strategy center for the faith community advancing faith in the public square as a powerful force for justice, compassion and the common good."

White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

"forms partnerships between government at all levels and non-profit organizations, both secular and faith-based, to more effectively serve Americans in need."

FAMILY VALUES
Family Research Council 

"Since 1983, Family Research Council (FRC) has advanced faith, family and freedom in public policy and public opinion."

Faith and Freedom Coalition

"committed to educating, equipping, and mobilizing people of faith and like-minded individuals to be effective citizens. Together we will influence public policy and enact legislation that strengthens families, promotes time-honored values, protects the dignity of life and marriage, lowers the tax burden on small business and families, and requires government to tighten its belt and live within its means."

Eagle Forum 

"to enable conservative and pro-family men and women to participate in the process of self-government and public policy making so that America will continue to be a land of individual liberty, respect for family integrity, public and private virtue, and private enterprise."

National Fatherhood Initiative

"To improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers."


RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES
abortion and family planning
American Life League
National Right to Life Committee 

Wikipedia - Pro-Life Organizations
NARAL Pro-Choice America
Planned Parenthood Federation of America  |  Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Wikipedia - Pro-Choice Organizations


same sex marriage
NCSL-Same-Sex Marriage

Freedom to Marry
Marriage Equality USA
National Organization for Marriage


liberty and justice for all
American Civil Liberties Union

"our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country."

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

consumer information and consumer advocacy on privacy

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

"...to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination."

The Anti-Defamation League

"founded in 1913 'to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.'  Now the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency, ADL fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all."

MALDEF

"the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization."

Human Rights Campaign

"...working for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equal rights."

Alliance Defense Fund

“The Alliance Defense Fund is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.”

USDOJ-Civil Rights Division

"works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, familial status and national origin."

2nd Amendment
National Rifle Association

"America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights."

Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

"dedicated to protecting your firearms rights. Our role is to educate grass root activists, the public, legislators and the media. Our programs are designed to help all Americans understand the importance of the Second Amendment and its role in keeping Americans free."

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

"The Brady Campaign works to pass and enforce sensible federal and state gun laws, regulations, and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support common sense gun laws, and increasing public awareness of gun violence."

Mayors Against Illegal Guns

"protecting the rights of Americans to own guns, while fighting to keep criminals from possessing guns illegally."


CRIME
Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Crime Prevention Council

Families Against Mandatory Minimums


ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Urban Institute: Cultural Vitality Indicators
Creative Cities International - The Vitality Index TM

National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Humanities



SERVICE
United Way

"...a world where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives."

Points of Light Institute

"helps people get involved in solving some of the world’s greatest challenges. ...by inspiring, equipping, and mobilizing people to make that change happen."

Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

"helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world."

Serve.gov

"your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own."

AmeriCorps

Corporation for National and Community Service brings "the full range of domestic community service programs under the umbrella of one central organization."


THINK TANKS
American Enterprise Institute - Society and Culture

Cato Foundation - Civil Liberties | Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
Center for American Progress - Civil Liberties | LGBT | Race and Ethnicity | Religion and Values | Women's Rights

Heritage Foundation - Family and Marriage | Religion and Civil Society

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