Although he hasÂn’t served in govÂernÂment for more than 30 years, HenÂry Kissinger still exerÂcisÂes more powÂer interÂnaÂtionÂalÂly than JimÂmy Carter, George HW Bush and Bill ClinÂton comÂbined. That’s a strong claim, and it comes from ProÂfesÂsor JereÂmi Suri, who has a new book out on the forÂmer SecÂreÂtary of State. In a wide-rangÂing and fast movÂing conÂverÂsaÂtion (MP3 — iTunes — Feed), Suri talks about Kissinger’s legaÂcy and how his realpoliÂtik forÂeign polÂiÂcy shapes AmerÂiÂcan deciÂsion makÂing down to this very day.
Open Sourcing Congress
The truÂism goes that laws and sausages are the two things you don’t want to see being made. NevÂerÂtheÂless, if more of us paid attenÂtion to what our conÂgresÂsionÂal repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtives are realÂly up to (and let them know when they screw up), we’d probÂaÂbly be a litÂtle hapÂpiÂer with how the sysÂtem works overÂall. Two thirds of AmerÂiÂcans think we’re on the wrong track (if recent polls are to be believed), and with the presÂiÂdenÂtial elecÂtions comÂing up there’s no betÂter time to start payÂing attenÂtion.
All that’s a long run-up to menÂtionÂing a new webÂsite iniÂtiaÂtive called Open ConÂgress designed to help the averÂage citÂiÂzen figÂure out what the heck is going on in WashÂingÂton. Track repÂreÂsenÂtaÂtives and bills that you’re interÂestÂed in; interÂact with othÂer users who share your conÂcerns; sort through data by issue or indusÂtry. It just got a litÂtle easÂiÂer to make your vote count.
Who Do We Vote For This Time Around? A Letter from Michael Moore
The Iowa cauÂcus is finalÂly and merÂciÂfulÂly upon us. And right in time, filmÂmakÂer Michael Moore has offered an analyÂsis of the DemoÂcÂraÂtÂic field of canÂdiÂdates. There’s much here that I don’t parÂticÂuÂlarÂly agree with here, but Moore makes two large claims that strike me as being funÂdaÂmenÂtalÂly (and regretÂfulÂly) true:
- The “DemoÂcÂraÂtÂic front-runÂners are a less-than-stelÂlar group of canÂdiÂdates, and … none of them are the slam dunk we wish they were.”
- “For months I’ve been wantÂiÂng to ask the quesÂtion, “Where are you, Al Gore?” You can only polÂish that Oscar for so long. And the Nobel was decidÂed by ScanÂdiÂnaÂvians! I don’t blame you for not wantÂiÂng to enter the viper pit again after you already won. But getÂting us to change out our incanÂdesÂcent light bulbs for some irriÂtatÂing fluÂoÂresÂcent ones isn’t going to save the world. All it’s going to do is make us more agiÂtatÂed and jumpy and feelÂing like once we get home we haven’t realÂly left the office.”
A Conversation with Benazir Bhutto
Again, no comÂmenÂtary needÂed. InforÂmaÂtive in many ways, BhutÂto’s talk was taped at the CounÂcil on ForÂeign RelaÂtions in August. More info here.
Nixon and Kissinger: Best of Allies and Rivals
Robert Dallek’s latÂest book recounts in plenÂtiÂful detail (752 pages) the odd workÂing relaÂtionÂship that existÂed between Richard Nixon and HenÂry Kissinger (Nixon’s nationÂal secuÂriÂty advisÂer and, latÂer, secÂreÂtary of state). They were partÂly allies, in many ways strongÂly depenÂdent upon one anothÂer, parÂticÂuÂlarÂly when it came to makÂing AmerÂiÂcan forÂeign polÂiÂcy. But they also disÂtrustÂed one anothÂer, someÂtimes deeply, and they’d occaÂsionÂalÂly maneuÂver behind each othÂers’ backs. Dallek’s book, Nixon and Kissinger: PartÂners in PowÂer, has just come out in paperÂback, which brings us to this NPR interÂview with the author (iTunes — Feed — Web Site). Dallek, who has preÂviÂousÂly writÂten extenÂsiveÂly on Kennedy and JohnÂson, gives a good interÂview that outÂlines “Nixinger’s” subÂstanÂtive accomÂplishÂments and the many behind-the-scenes intrigues. Give a lisÂten.
A Short History of Man, God, and Political Philosophy
In case you missed it, The New York Times pubÂlished a lengthy artiÂcle — The PolÂiÂtics of God — last weekÂend which essenÂtialÂly traces how the thought of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and othÂer major politÂiÂcal philosoÂphers gave us secÂuÂlar polÂiÂtics, and parÂticÂuÂlarÂly the sepÂaÂraÂtion of Church and State. They’re innoÂvaÂtions with many upsides, but also the downÂside that they put us at an intelÂlecÂtuÂal disÂtance from entire regions where faith still govÂerns politÂiÂcal affairs. This includes large swathes of the MidÂdle East and othÂer areas withÂin the “MusÂlim orbit.” It’s a good piece to read if you’ve ever wonÂdered how phiÂlosÂoÂphy tanÂgiÂbly shapes our modÂern world. WritÂten by Mark LilÂla, a ColumÂbia UniÂverÂsiÂty proÂfesÂsor, the highÂly-readÂable artiÂcle is adaptÂed from his new book, The StillÂborn God: ReliÂgion, PolÂiÂtics, and the ModÂern West. Get the artiÂcle here, and don’t forÂget to subÂscribe to our feed.
RelatÂed ConÂtent for PhiÂlosÂoÂphy Buffs:
- PhiÂlosÂoÂphy Bites (PhilosoÂphers InterÂviews on PodÂcast)
- EnlightÂenÂment on iTunes: The PhiÂlosÂoÂphy of Immanuel Kant
- PhiÂlosÂoÂphy Talk and IntelÂliÂgent Design
- PlaÂto To Go (The RepubÂlic Now on iTunes)
Jon Stewart on 1994 and 2003 Dick Cheney
Strange culÂture we live in these days. It’s the comeÂdiÂans that ask the hard quesÂtions. See John StewÂart below and the refÂerÂenced Dick Cheney video below that.
America’s Philosopher President
What’s gone wrong with AmerÂiÂca’s democÂraÂcy? It’s a quesÂtion that Al Gore takes a hard look at in his recent (and well-reviewed) book, The Assault on ReaÂson. Below, Gore gives you the gist of his arguÂment in a half-hour video. It’s a bit heady. He’s invokÂing the Ancient Greeks, the EnlightÂenÂment, Edward GibÂbon, Adam Smith and John StuÂart Mill. What’s more, his thinkÂing is heavÂiÂly informed by JurÂgen HaberÂmas and his writÂings on ratioÂnal politÂiÂcal disÂcourse. And it all loops into an explaÂnaÂtion of how we’ve takÂen a wrong turn on the Iraq war, the enviÂronÂment, civÂil libÂerÂties and beyond. Yes, it’s heady stuff. But if Open CulÂture readÂers can’t hanÂdle it, who can?
The link to the origÂiÂnal video is here.
Support Us
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Receive our Daily Email
About Us
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.
Advertise With Us
