We discuss Alexis de Tocqueville’s account of the merit and demerits of democracy and consider how cancel culture emerges in a democratic society.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (0:58) - We discuss the state of former president Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Link: Wall Street Journal impeachment trial coverage.
Required Reading (07:02) - Professor Corbin leads us through part one of Alexis de Tocqueville’s case for and against democracy in volume 1, part 2, chapters 6-7 of Democracy in America and a discussion of the different types of democracy in book 4 of Aristotle’s Politics. Assignment for next week: chapter 9 (pages 264-291 in the Mansfield/Winthrop edition).
Headlines (33:23) - We consider how cancel culture intersects with Alexis de Tocqueville’s worries about the power of the majority over the minds of democratic citizens. Links: Cato Institute study; Gallup poll on political ideologies; Pew Poll on the makeup of the Democratic Party; backstory of the firing of Don McNeil; Bret Stephens column; NY Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet’s first statement; NY Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet’s second statement.
Open the Gradebook (51:21) - We discuss three ways to use your free time now that football is over and baseball hasn’t begun. Links: Andrea Mitchell tweet; Ben Shapiro response.
Tocqueville's Crystal Ball (56:49) - Dave hit on both of his Super Bowl picks while Matt went one for two. This week, we project the number of total votes to convict former President Donald Trump.
Opening and closing music is from the beginning of "Happy Life" by Ryan Andersen from his 2018 album, Americana volume 1. Available here. Licensed by Creative Commons.
Instagram: @DemocracyinAmericaToday
Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com
Matt Parks is an Associate Professor of Politics at The King’s College in New York City. David Corbin is a Professor of Politics and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California. All views expressed in this podcast are their own.
