The latest episode of the podcast Ways & Means explores one of the most vexing issues in politics -- how to get more ordinary people to run for office. “It really matters that almost none of our politicians come from the working class jobs that most Americans do every single day,” says Sanford assistant professor Nick Carnes, who has written a book on the subject. “That made me want to understand what exactly is keeping ordinary Americans from getting into politics.”
Record-breaking temperatures are occurring with alarming frequency in the United States, but Americans are reacting with a collective shrug. One explanation: For a vast majority of Americans, the weather is simply becoming more pleasant.
Removing politics from redistricting -- the practice of redrawing boundaries of districts from which public officials are elected -- could produce more candidates for elected office in North Carolina and boost public confidence in government. That was the gist of a day-long discussion Thursday at Duke involving former North Carolina judges, academics, a demographer, legislative attorney and political advocates.
“Sanders has actually put forth a plan to actually curb emissions, whereas in Clinton’s place really right now it’s just continued rhetoric, and there’s no clear plan put forth.”
Sweeping primary victories Tuesday in New York by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump signal the pair will likely win their respective party nominations for president, and that Clinton’s victory, in particular, means the race against fellow Democrat Bernie Sanders is “virtually over,” says Duke political scientist John Aldrich.
A Divinity School professor says the question for Christian voters “is whether they can turn their vote into a petition for more love in the world. … My hunch is that if they do, we might see politicians who give them something to vote for.”
Law professor Jedediah Purdy believes that rather than being widely accepted, democratic capitalism “will continue to generate its own opposition, because it leaves both material needs and the appetite for recognition unsatisfied.”
“Given the inhuman scale of ecological crises like climate change and food insecurity, family farming offers a seductive mythology, anchored in a fantasy of permanence and human scale.”
Blue-Collar Politicians
The extraordinary search for ordinary politicians
The latest episode of the podcast Ways & Means explores one of the most vexing issues in politics -- how to get more ordinary people to run for office. “It really matters that almost none of our politicians come from the working class jobs that most Americans do every single day,” says Sanford assistant professor Nick Carnes, who has written a book on the subject. “That made me want to understand what exactly is keeping ordinary Americans from getting into politics.”
the podcast Ways & Means
Climate Change
Global warming feels quite pleasant
Record-breaking temperatures are occurring with alarming frequency in the United States, but Americans are reacting with a collective shrug. One explanation: For a vast majority of Americans, the weather is simply becoming more pleasant.
The New York Times
NC Politics
Taking the politics out of redistricting in N.C.
Removing politics from redistricting -- the practice of redrawing boundaries of districts from which public officials are elected -- could produce more candidates for elected office in North Carolina and boost public confidence in government. That was the gist of a day-long discussion Thursday at Duke involving former North Carolina judges, academics, a demographer, legislative attorney and political advocates.
Climate Change
Sanders’ climate change plan endorsed by economists studying carbon tax initiatives
“Sanders has actually put forth a plan to actually curb emissions, whereas in Clinton’s place really right now it’s just continued rhetoric, and there’s no clear plan put forth.”
the Real News Network
Presidential Race
Expert: NY primary reveals race ‘virtually over’ for Sanders
Sweeping primary victories Tuesday in New York by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump signal the pair will likely win their respective party nominations for president, and that Clinton’s victory, in particular, means the race against fellow Democrat Bernie Sanders is “virtually over,” says Duke political scientist John Aldrich.
Redistricting
N.C. can get beyond gerrymandering. Here’s how.
“Tilting a single election is bad enough. But the true harm of warped districts comes from the long-term erosion of faith in our democratic values.”
The Charlotte Observer
Politics and Religion
Donald Trump’s prosperity preachers
Prosperity preachers “are like him, they are outsiders with an unusual amount of popular support but not as … much cultural credibility.”
TIME magazine
Conscientious Voting
What Makes a Christian voter?
A Divinity School professor says the question for Christian voters “is whether they can turn their vote into a petition for more love in the world. … My hunch is that if they do, we might see politicians who give them something to vote for.”
The Huffington Post
Democratic Capitalism
How the 2016 election undermines the ‘end of history’ argument
Law professor Jedediah Purdy believes that rather than being widely accepted, democratic capitalism “will continue to generate its own opposition, because it leaves both material needs and the appetite for recognition unsatisfied.”
Vox
Family Farms
How family farms are central to America’s political mythology
“Given the inhuman scale of ecological crises like climate change and food insecurity, family farming offers a seductive mythology, anchored in a fantasy of permanence and human scale.”
Boston Globe