The Yin and Yang of Society: What Can Athens and Sparta Tell Us?

In this episode - Netflix issues, no more masks on planes, an ex-Navy officer and journalist is now fighting in Russia, Ukraine is being creative in exposing Russian atrocities, and Alex dives into what Ancient Athens and Sparta may tell us about the “yin and yang” of democracy and why balance is crucial. 

• Before going into a deep dive into a theory he is working on, Alex discusses the new show he likes on Disney+, how Netflix is struggling and what this may tell us about the future of streaming, and why he thinks streaming has lost its allure. He discusses that the oversaturation of choice/options may be to blame. Also, people may not be able to share their passwords anymore. 

 

• Alex discusses how overnight, the federal mask mandate for transportation was lifted. Apparently, the Florida judge found that the CDC did not “justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking procedures that left it fatally flawed.” Alex thinks that the Biden administration will not challenge this issue because it has been looking for an offramp for this mandate for a while.

 

• Malcolm Nance, a former United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, and MSNBC contributor are in Ukraine, serving with the International Legion of Territorial Defense. He has been quoted as discussing how he is tired of talking and wants to help. Of course, he has received criticism, but Alex is impressed.

 

• Alex looks at what Ancient Sparta and Ancient Athens can tell us about the balances in society and how cultures can go in different ways. He thinks that in a sense, Sparta and Athens are different sides of the same coin. One was focused on order and militaristic control, the other on openness and progressive (for its time) change. After a chaotic century of revolts and war, Sparta became regimented and based on loyalty to the military and state. Athens, on the other hand, seemed to be focused on civil society and the future of democratic discourse. Alex looks into how these two views, may explain how a balance is needed between freedom and control — order versus chaos. He applies to how populism or fascism can occur when an extreme comes out of the balance.