Hirschman’s 1991 analysis of classic conservative rhetoric easily stands the test of time. It’s incisive, savvy about human psychology, and is empirically rooted in history. Inspired by his analysis, my review will include a couple topics. The first is (what I regard as) the depravity of conservative intellectuals…
It’s admirable that Ezra Klein has expertly explained why we are polarized, why it is worsening and is self-reinforcing, and why it will have a stranglehold on politics for a generation or more. Though, there are important nuances missing, and some of his conclusions are hasty.
Walter Lippmann’s trenchant 1922 analysis of the origins of public opinion happens to dovetail with my own program of fighting our modern political media complex. Lippmann identified realities that most of us today would accept, whether easily or grudgingly. Yet, in the past one hundred years …