Preserving Democracy: A Call for Civility
The Great Simplification #148 with Richard Gephardt
As the trust in the U.S. presidential election process continues to be in question, alongside growing polarization and dwindling good-faith conversations, the precarity of our democratic systems is becoming increasingly worrisome. Amongst the rising tensions, calls for civility are sorely needed – regardless of who wins.
In this conversation, I’m joined by former Congressman Richard Gephardt to discuss the importance of democracy as a system of self-governance, as well as the need for respecting differing views in order to keep that system intact. Richard highlights the unique historical context of U.S. democracy, emphasizing the ongoing commitment of citizen participation required for its survival.
How can we encourage bipartisan collaboration and compromise toward effective policy action beyond the current election cycle? In what ways do our rapidly evolving information systems, including social media and artificial intelligence, deepen our political divides? Despite the domestic and global challenges facing us, is there hope for the future of the American "democratic experiment"?
In case you missed it…
In this week’s roundtable discussion, I was joined by financial analysts Luke Gromen and Michael Every to explore the precarious nature of current fiscal practices, the relationship between military power and economic stability, and the potential need for radical policy shifts worldwide. We also delve into the future of the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency and the importance of price, availability, and stability of energy resources for thinking about future economic strategies.
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"I think our information culture has dramatically changed and is serving to drive people to the far right and the far left. You have to look at social media, internet communication. It's the biggest change in human history..." Gephardt
We are letting it destroy our ability to have self-government.
The condition of the GOP renders the notion of bipartisanship absurd. They are on record that their intent is to end the republic amidst a violent purge of all their enemies. They are the murder party, in word and deed. The “middle ground” of slicing a baby in half has been remarked on in the past.