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Charles Murray, author of Losing Ground and coauthor of The Bell Curve, introduces his latest book, In Our Hands: A Plan to Replace the Welfare State (AEI Press, March 28, 2006). In this groundbreaking new book, Murray proposes to eliminate all income transfer programs at the federal, state, and local levels--including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, and corporate subsidies--and substitute an annual cash grant of $10,000 for life, beginning at age twenty-one.

Murray argues that his plan offers a way to bypass the financial crisis facing entitlements and is the most effective way to end poverty--but the plan’s ultimate purposes are more sweeping. In Murray's words, In Our Hands "is not a book about poverty. It’s about building a society in which people can run their own lives."

Charles Murray, W. H. Brady scholar at AEI, will present the arguments of In Our Hands and Jonathan Rauch, senior writer at National Journal and a guest scholar in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, will respond. Christopher DeMuth, president of AEI, will serve as moderator.