We are a fractured nation, but there is still hope

Body

“The Founders worried about ‘factionalism’ becoming tyranny, but thought the nation so large and scattered that it would be impossible for the ‘like-minded’ to come together for evil ends. But modern social and mass media have helped turn citizens into mobs determined to destroy their political enemies. Do we have anything in common anymore?” - Acton

Discussion

Direction from James Madison

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“I was struck by how well [The Federalist No. 10] anticipated and addressed issues and problems we are having to deal with today: polarization, conflicting ideologies, political involvement of religion, diversity. And his insights also have application to smaller questions, such as whether a president can pardon himself.” - Cranach

Discussion

“...it’s hard to have a nation or a rule of law or a culture when the major factions do not recognize each other’s legitimacy”

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“Will our election perpetuate and even intensify our divisions–with Republicans claiming Democrats stole the election, just as Democrats claimed that Republicans stole the election in 2016, with a ‘Resistance’ this time of the right–or might it usher in a new national mood that is tired of the constant conflict?” - Veith

Discussion

How Not to Have a Civil War, Part 1: Introduction

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“Anybody currently over the age of 40 knows that every election since 1992 has been ‘the most important election of our lifetime.’ Even so, it feels like this year is extraordinary. There’s been fighting in the streets that reminds us old-timers of 1968, combined with a general sense of being on edge due to all the coronavirus issues.

Discussion