Democracy in America: Heather Cox Richardson with Rebecca Solnit / Democracy Awakening

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Heather Cox Richardson with Rebecca Solnit / Democracy Awakening

Two smart meliorists, on the instructive past and hopeful (but insecure) future of democracy

https://youtu.be/SYtE8_f3-oE?si=eaJQb_CijJIEPwRS

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MALA 6050-Democracy in America

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That was a fun course! --in spite of its ominous implications for the future of democracy in America... And this site remains, as archive and repository for continuing reflection...

“Silent No More: The Story of American Women’s Suffrage" has won major recognition... Congrats to our classmates who were involved in creating it! What a wonderful legacy and tribute to the memory of our friend Don Enss.

Coming Summer '21-MALA 6050, "Enlightenment Now"

Coming Fall '21-MALA 6010, "The Education of a Good Citizen"

Coming Fall '21-PHIL 3160, "The Philosophy of Happiness"

Syllabus...

phil.oliver@mtsu.edu, 300 James Union Building (JUB)

*Remote Office Hours Spg 2021 -- email anytime, text or call (615) 525-7865 during these hours only: MW 4-5, TTh 4-5:30, indicate if you want to set up a private zoom meeting.

See "Previously" below for old announcements

On democracy

“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”
― Issac Asimov

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
― Winston S. Churchill

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
― H.L. Mencken, On Politics: A Carnival of Buncombe

“Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have researched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
― H.L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy

“If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.”
― Mark Twain

“Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man, and our politicians take advantage of this prejudice by pretending to be even more stupid than nature made them.”
― Bertrand Russell, New Hopes for a Changing World

More quotes on democracy here-add yours...