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:
Spies in Hollywood: A conversation with Jonathan Gill
A ”Succession” Drama in Real Life: Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy.
Why Doesn’t Our Technology Live Up to Our Science Fiction?
Joe Biden Fought To Get To The White House. Is He the President We Need Now?: My conversation with Chris Whipple
We Have No Democracy Without Good Citizens: My conversation with Richard Haass
We each have the personal answer to our divisions: A Conversation with Pico Iyer
Citizenship Is Just A Commodity: A Conversation with Atossa Abrahamian
In Spite of Many Problem, Flying is Safer Than Ever...Why?: A conversation with John Nance
Another New Year, and More Promises to Sweat: A conversation with Bill Hayes
Art vs. Cable News: My Conversation with Amy Herman
How Much HBO Did You Watch This Holiday Break? A conversation with Felix Gillette
How Governance Was Saved During the Trump Years: A Conversation with David Rothkopf
The New Age of DNA Investigation: A Conversation with Edward Humes
Presidential Words Matter: My Conversation with Cody Keenan
The Life and Death of Anthony Bourdain: A Conversation with Charles Leerhsen
When Legendary CEOs Can’t Find a Successor: A Conversation with William Cohan
War As A Nonviolent Struggle: A conversation with Thomas Ricks
Democracy Will Likely Be Voted Out on Tuesday: A Conversation With Robert Draper
Of Boys and Men: A Conversation with Richard V. Reeves
Where Immigration and Education Come Together: A Conversation with Jessica Lander
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