Democracy

Change is Still Possible

Without a theory of change, there is no politics: elections and other news become nothing more than a site of trauma, from which we must, out of self-care, protect ourselves and withdraw.

Democracy

What Happens Outside the Ballot Box is Just as…

Democracy is as much about what happens outside the ballot box: impartial rules, practices, institutions — and political culture — that are not only inclusive, but that foster the reasoned discourse, negotiation and compromise necessary to reach a governing consensus in diverse societies.

Democracy

Illiberal Democracy is What We Will All Now Get

Despite the headline statistics trumpeted by the Democrats, or the barely manifested results of President Joe Biden’s industrial policies, the ongoing reality of inflation and the unequal conditions in daily life could not be masked. As recently reported, the top 20% account for 40% of all consumption, which drives the American economy, while the bottom 40%

Culture

Our emerging common culture is chillingly nihilistic.

“Nihilism,” according to the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, is “not only the belief that everything deserves to perish; but one actually puts one’s shoulder to the plough; one destroys.” A nihilistic culture is defined by the drive to destroy, by the will to power. And that definition now describes the American nation. The evidence for this? Consider

Capitalism

In a Society Defined by Consumption

In a global society defined by consumption rather than production, voters loathe price increases and are ready to punish rulers who preside over them.  Perhaps America elected a dictator because Frosted Flakes hit $7.99 at the grocery store. How do we move to a different model? A world defined by consumption is not sustainable. And

Capitalism

Wealtherty

Wealtherty is the state or condition of prosperity in abundance of possessions or riches, plus concomitant political power and influence, and resultant risks to the democratic process. This articulation assumes that the social (of social policy) is made up of richer and poorer people. It assumes that there is such a thing as morally and