Alan Greenspan has argued that the essence of American capitalism is creative destruction. That our tolerance for change, for the new, for being willing to replace incumbents, even when painful, is the essence of what has moved the US to become, in a mere 400 years, the most powerful economic engine on the planet.
However, With respect to our governance, we have not been as tolerant or as flexible. We have clung to ideas and systems that have changed only under the most dire circumstances. The civil war changed us, but not entirely...The great depression changed us, but again, not entirely...just listen to Mitch McConnell last week looking to shred the social safety net.
As for the present, Donald Trump did not deliver all the problems we face today. He merely exploited them….just as demagogues often do.
And so as we once again face a huge disconnect between the reality of the world...a world of global integration, social and economic dislocation and division, siloed and self-reinforcing news and information, and a governmental system unattuned and unresponsive. All of this can’t help but leaveBen Fountain has examined this world from the first volleys of the 2016 election, right up until today. His observations are in his new work Beautiful Country Burn Again: Democracy, Rebellion, and Revolution
whole groups of people behind. Author and journalist
My conversation with Ben Fountain:
Charles and David Koch Are Not Who You Think They Are!
The Other Scandal: The College Dropout Scandal
How Women are Changing American Politics
Trump Even Screws Up Conspiracy Theories
To Live and Work In Hollywood
The GOP's Strategy To Embrace Racism
The Most Heinous Serial Killer You've Never Heard Of
A 2019 Way To Look At and Talk To Kids About Race
20 Years Ago Today, the Death of JFK, Jr., Extinguished the Last Flames of Camelot
The Welfare Queen and Political Mythology
The False Mythology of Roger Ailes
The Loudest Voice in the Room
War Today: We Pay and They Serve
Cities Represent the Ultimate Achievement of Mankind
Professor Ed Hess talks about Saving Capitalism
Imagine If We All Could Have Esther Wojcicki As A Parent
We Are Not Descended From Fearful Men: David Maraniss and "A Good American Family"
A Multi-Cultural Society, An Elite Senate, Good and Bad Leaders: How It All Went So Wrong
Fear, Loathing and Immigration: The Battle Was Once Much Worse
Democracies Are Not Forever...Is The US Headed Down The Same Path As Rome?
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Pharmacy Podcast Network
Jim & Bill (It‘s Another Day)
HauntingLive
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Tucker Carlson Show