Complaining about government waste is almost a cliché. At the very least, sustainability does not seem to be on their checklist of mandatory considerations before making most decisions. Everything from policy to the execution of initiatives often misses the mark on the dire need to transition our society to one that is in alignment with nature, rather than at odds with it. What, if any, national government strategy exists to encourage social progress that meets the needs of everyone, effective protection of the environment, and prudent use of natural resources, while maintaining high and stable levels of economic growth and employment? Added to these ongoing issues is the unrest in the Middle East and its impact on the price of energy. These are questions to be explored with a panel of U-M faculty, alumni experts and government insiders.