I discussed the role of anti-intellectualism in the U.S. presidential election with Anne-Marie Mediwake of Canada’s CTV this week. Nice that Canadian media is interested in this issue. Too bad we can’t say the same about U.S. media, which of course is part of the problem. The interview can be seen at this link.
My latest piece in Salon warns that Hillary Clinton, despite her impressive resume, has shown herself to be a weak politician. Strong credentials don’t make a strong candidate. Will this be a problem for Democrats in November? Full article here.
My latest Psychology Today article is called “Beware America’s Shocking Loss of Empathy: The Symptoms of a Society Coming Unhinged.” It considers whether dwindling empathy might be responsible for the dysfunction that is plaguing the country, particularly in the political realm. I hope you enjoy it.
In a piece today for Truthout, I discuss the underlying dynamics of the Clinton-Sanders contest. Despite her recent rhetoric of economic populism, Hillary Clinton is not seen as a threat by the corporate establishment that actually owns and runs the country. I use a concept known as “the limits of acceptable opinion” in discussing how power brokers maintain control over a population. That phenomenon is on display in this election. Full story at this link.
Interesting piece in the Washington Post discussing the religious beliefs (or lack thereof) of Bernie Sanders. The article speculates that he may be an agnostic.
I contacted his office a few years ago on this subject in connection with work I was doing for secular nonprofits. I asked his office staff if we could discuss his religion. The response I got: “Bernie doesn’t like to talk about religion.”
At the time Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) was the first and only open atheist in Congress. He has since retired, so now there are none, though we know that there are at least a couple dozen who are closeted atheists and agnostics. Like Bernie, however, those who are personally secular tend to not like talking about religion. Too bad, as openly secular candidates and office holders could help change the hyper-religious atmosphere in politics, and that could have a big effect on public policy.
David Niose is author of the bestselling books Fighting Back the Right: Reclaiming America from the Attack on Reason and Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of...
