Oops, We Put the Watchdog To Sleep

Can Anything Take the Place Of Hard-Hitting Newspapers?

In America, vigilance is a virtue. We are told that we must keep watch over our government. But we also have busy lives. For much of our history, vigilance has been the work of newspapers and, more recently, other media organizations. But traditional media are falling on hard times, and, with the greater size and complexity of government and business, the cost of vigilance has become too high for many institutions to play. In advance of a Zócalo and Cal Humanities event in San Diego, “What Does Vigilance Mean After …

Democracy’s Diversity Problem

Does Diversity Make Democratic Transition Harder—Or Simply More Worthwhile?

 

Diversity is a strength of American democracy, or so the country’s political leaders like to proclaim. In the next breath, though, they’ll complain about how the country’s diverse array of …

Shove Your Civility

Can Americans—Should Americans—Disagree Less Bitterly?

Yes, Americans are polarized. Yes, we’re also uncivil about it. We shout at our fellow citizens across barricades, leave enraged posts on websites, and tune in to watch people shouting …

Are We Less Civil Now?

America’s Political Past Was Nastier in Some Ways-And Nicer In Others

 

In 21st-century American politics, the combatants don’t agree on much. But they do agree that political discourse isn’t as civil it should be. This is a very old complaint, since …

Is It Time We Started Looking For a Dictator?

Contemplating the Future of Democracy in an Age When Authoritarians Are Kicking Our Rears

Why can’t the United States build a rapid transit system like China’s? Is a firmer hand needed to guide the European Union through the financial crisis? Does California’s direct democracy …