Policy questions, taken apart.
For each major American policy question: the facts most experts agree on, the strongest case from every group that argues for something, and a Pragmatist analysis, labeled as our sponsor's view.
Long-term capital gains are taxed at lower rates than wagesfact, which encourages investmenttestable claim, and that's only fair to saversvalue judgment.
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Every question links back to one short lesson on why what we ask government for and what we get don't match.
Read the lessonEconomy and taxes
6How the government raises money and shapes work, wages and trade.
Taxes › Taxing income versus investment
Should capital gains be taxed when the owner dies?
When someone dies, heirs receive the person's assets at their value on the date of death, so the increase in value during the owner's life is never taxed. The question is whether to keep this "step-up in basis," tax the gains at death, or pass the original cost on to heirs so the gain is taxed when they sell.
4 groups make a case9 agreed facts Explainer 1:51Updated Oct. 20, 2026Draft, not yet checked
Taxes › Taxing income versus investment
Should investment income be taxed at the same rates as wages?
Long-term capital gains and most dividends are taxed at lower federal rates than wages, and they don't pay the payroll tax at all. The question is whether to keep that gap, close it, or change what the tax system reaches in the first place.
4 groups make a case9 agreed facts Explainer 1:54Updated Oct. 20, 2026Draft, not yet checked
Work and wages
Should the federal minimum wage go up?
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since July 2009, while most states now set higher floors of their own. The decision is whether Congress should raise the national floor, by how much, whether to tie it to inflation, or leave wage floors to states and help low earners in other ways.
5 groups make a case9 agreed facts Explainer 1:55Updated Oct. 20, 2026Draft, not yet checked
Taxes › Taxing income versus investment
Should carried interest be taxed as ordinary income?
In preparation
Taxes › Business taxes
What should the corporate tax rate be?
In preparation
Trade
Who pays for tariffs?
In preparation
Federal budget and debt
1What the federal government spends, what it collects, and the gap between them.
Deficits and debt
Should the debt limit exist?
In preparation
Retirement and health
2Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the cost of care.
Social Security
How should Social Security's funding gap be closed?
Social Security's trust fund reserves are projected to run out in the early 2030s, after which incoming taxes would cover only about four-fifths of scheduled benefits. The decision is how to close that gap (more revenue, slower benefit growth, a mix, or new money from somewhere else) and how soon to start.
5 groups make a case10 agreed facts Explainer 1:51Updated Oct. 20, 2026Draft, not yet checked
Health care
Should Medicare negotiate the prices of more drugs?
In preparation
Defense and foreign policy
1How much should the United States spend on defense?
In preparation
Immigration
1How many immigrants should the United States admit each year?
In preparation
Energy and environment
1Should the United States put a price on carbon emissions?
In preparation
Housing
1What would make housing more affordable?
In preparation
Education
1What should happen to federal student loans?
In preparation
How government works
1Elections, Congress and the rules that shape what leaders do.
Elections
Should more elections use ranked-choice voting?
In preparation