I’m well familiar with that Carlin bit. I probably should have mentioned and linked to it. For a truly radical perspective—one that savaged liberals—recall Phil Ochs.
What makes the present time qualitatively different from the 1960s, though (as I seem to continue to harp on), is the presence of cable tv, talk radio, and the internet, things we didn’t have or need to endure during the 1960s. They pour gasoline on the normally low-level flames of political disagreement.
A lot of important insight here, Professor. I like the thought that elections are not really about the candidates, rather they’re about who the American people are. That’s what has me worried.
Indeed, we’re increasingly living in two completely different mindsets about the value of character in our leaders, about the worthiness of government, and about whether citizens should be helping their fellow Americans or whether they should be grabbing as much as they can for themselves and the he’ll with everybody else.
Thanks, Dennis. The closest period in U.S. history that I personally experienced, which might reflect the current clash of different paradigms, would be the 1960s—with Vietnam, civil rights, and the rise of women’s advocacy.
I believe one political faction today, the MAGA movement, disproportionately benefits from division and polarization, continually reinforcing lies, threats, and fear-mongering. The separation of groups into distinct, often conflicting, paradigmatic causes serves MAGA’s agenda more than any other group.
Additionally, I argue that many Americans are poorly educated in history and lack the tools to appreciate differing political perspectives and cultural backgrounds. Public leaders, too, are inadequately trained in working collaboratively, particularly with those who dissent from their views. About 25 years ago, I helped establish the Iowa Institute for Public Leadership to address this very issue. Achieving a more cooperative political culture will require the work of writers and thinkers like you and your readers to create new frameworks and structures for dialogue.
On a lighter note, for some humor—George Carlin did a brilliant stand-up comparing baseball and football. Worth a watch. George Carlin: Baseball vs. Football
“Not an American in any sense of the word”? What an outrageous and ignorant proposition. ALL are Americans - some simply don’t buy your view of our constitutional republic.
I’m well familiar with that Carlin bit. I probably should have mentioned and linked to it. For a truly radical perspective—one that savaged liberals—recall Phil Ochs.
What makes the present time qualitatively different from the 1960s, though (as I seem to continue to harp on), is the presence of cable tv, talk radio, and the internet, things we didn’t have or need to endure during the 1960s. They pour gasoline on the normally low-level flames of political disagreement.
Great analysis.
A lot of important insight here, Professor. I like the thought that elections are not really about the candidates, rather they’re about who the American people are. That’s what has me worried.
Indeed, we’re increasingly living in two completely different mindsets about the value of character in our leaders, about the worthiness of government, and about whether citizens should be helping their fellow Americans or whether they should be grabbing as much as they can for themselves and the he’ll with everybody else.
Thanks, Dennis. The closest period in U.S. history that I personally experienced, which might reflect the current clash of different paradigms, would be the 1960s—with Vietnam, civil rights, and the rise of women’s advocacy.
I believe one political faction today, the MAGA movement, disproportionately benefits from division and polarization, continually reinforcing lies, threats, and fear-mongering. The separation of groups into distinct, often conflicting, paradigmatic causes serves MAGA’s agenda more than any other group.
Additionally, I argue that many Americans are poorly educated in history and lack the tools to appreciate differing political perspectives and cultural backgrounds. Public leaders, too, are inadequately trained in working collaboratively, particularly with those who dissent from their views. About 25 years ago, I helped establish the Iowa Institute for Public Leadership to address this very issue. Achieving a more cooperative political culture will require the work of writers and thinkers like you and your readers to create new frameworks and structures for dialogue.
On a lighter note, for some humor—George Carlin did a brilliant stand-up comparing baseball and football. Worth a watch. George Carlin: Baseball vs. Football
“Not an American in any sense of the word”? What an outrageous and ignorant proposition. ALL are Americans - some simply don’t buy your view of our constitutional republic.
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