No Kings...and No Demagogues: America's Semiquincentennial, part 8

We discuss the rhetoric and argument of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and apply his lessons and warnings to our polarized politics. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss the end of the academic year. Common Sense (2:58) -  We discuss the context, rhetoric, and argument of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. Link: Common Sense.  Common Sense Today (28:41) - We discuss the shortsightedness of American political action today and the parallels between contemporary concerns about American elites and Paine’s critique of the British aristocracy. Link: Angelo Codevilla, The Ruling Class. Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (39:39) - We review our disastrous NBA playoff picks and then make projections for the PGA Championship. Links: List of PGA pros; List of LIV participants. Email: [email protected] YouTube: @DIAToday Intagram: @DemocracyinAmericaToday Keeping Our Republic at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The history of the American Revolution: Walter McDougall, Freedom Just Around the Corner; Robert Middlekauff, The Glorious Cause. David Corbin is the Provost of Colorado Christian University. Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.