Comments on: Democracy in America: Knowledge & Elitism

By: Carnival of the Liberals #65: Skepticism and Politics | Neural Gourmet

Carnival of the Liberals #65: Skepticism and Politics | Neural Gourmet — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:29:39 +0000

[...] Of course, as Richard Hofstadter showed 40 odd years ago and Susan Jacoby demonstrates today, American society has a strong current of anti-intellectualism running through it. Submitted to a Candid World examines one facet of anti-intellectualism and tells us why knowledge isn’t elitist. [...]

By: Democracy in America: Factual Relativism on the Hillary Clinton Campaign « Submitted to a Candid World

Tue, 06 May 2008 21:00:17 +0000

[...] recently posted about the tendency of American politicians to, when confronted with proof that their policies are [...]

By: Ames

Ames — Sun, 04 May 2008 20:03:22 +0000

Thanks Dana! I’m glad you liked it. I can’t claim sole credit: I had the help of another writer, who I think will join the site and post in her own right soon.

By: Dana Hunter

Dana Hunter — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:09:11 +0000

It’s not confusing in the least. I understood it perfectly, myself, but then again, I’d planned to write it! LOL. Well, something like it. You did a better job than I would have, so thanks for doing all the hard work! ;-)

Maybe it’s time to start redefining democracy as people sharing their varied expertise in order to elect the person most capable of governing wisely, not a bunch of people basing their voting choices on which candidate makes them look smart in comparison.

By: Ames

Ames — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:34:17 +0000

You got the message right :-). Perhaps I should rewrite it if it’s confusing. Apologies :-(

By: Progressive Conservative

Progressive Conservative — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:32:31 +0000

I’m confused. So is the message is that populism is part of the American tradition but we must be wary of taking it too far? If that is the case, then sure, I’ll agree to that.

Both parties are guilty of using a populist message to drive voters away from the other party. Liberals talk about the evil, rich, fundamentalist conspiracy to take over the country. Conservatives moan about those elitist professors on college campuses, in Hollywood and in liberal bastions like San Francisco.

Populism is indeed part of the American experience and for the most part, a suspicion of those at the top is usually a good thing. But of course, like anything, it can be taken too far.