Thanks for this lesson, Asha. My citizen advocacy passion is around the corrosive effects of unlimited political spending in our system enabled by an activist SCOTUS over decades but especially fueled by Citizens United in 2010. Since then, the escalating billions in outside money, with limited or no disclosure of sources, weaponizes the 'speech' of the wealthy, special interests, industry groups, and even foreign donors. That 'money is speech' ruling enables super-powered amplification to promote some ideas and drown out others with ads, front group 'think tanks', astroturf advocacy groups, etc,, etc that poison the so-called marketplace of ideas. American Promise is the citizen advocacy group that I have volunteered with for 7 years. Our goal is a constitutional amendment that returns the ability to regulate money in politics back to Congress and the states. Your analogy to the regulation of business is spot on! www.americanpromise.net
I have optimism that it can be done because American history shows a pattern of clusters of amendments passed in times of escalated political turmoil & dysfunction. That is exactly where we are right now. In addition, multiple polls over the 14 yrs since Citizens United repeatedly find supermajority, cross-partisan agreement that money in politics is threatening democracy and support an amendment to correct it. Now we need to overcome the ‘invisible rulers’ to break through and get it done.
First off, hope you get well soon! As to the 'marketplace of ideas' and social media, I wonder how many people are being convinced by what they read and how many are just 'victims' of their own confirmation bias. Based on conversations I've had, even using Socratic approach, facts just don't cut it anymore. Also, delete and block - though endangering siloing - are ways to 'walk away' from what one perceives as bad ideas. Lastly, and I'd be interested to read your perspective on your very select audience at Yale, my high schools students today were much more savvy about internet manipulation. This awareness was partially from them being social media natives rather than immigrants like so many of us are, but also because social media awareness is now a fundamental part of the Social Studies curriculum in the district in which I taught. Looking forward to our 'book break' today!
But if people don't have the critical thinking skills to tell truth from falsehood, it's not going to be possible to "reward the best ideas." And when people have wildly different primary goals - for example, keeping the planet alive, vs. expanding the rule of Christianity, then the choices are clear. And the United States are breaking apart.
Asha, thank you for the bonus lesson. Of course I will be renewing my subscription for year 3.
Feel better soon. I recommend a Bourbon hot toddie for the cough. 1 shot of Bourbon in mug, 1 t honey, 1/4 t lemon juice, 6-8 oz hot water, stir and sip. 🙏
Just finished book review zoom. Very informative, I will read the book. Renee mentioned tick tock use by young folks. I have an intelligent cool female friend in Canada, age early 40s. She swears all her Canadian and U.S. news is sourced from Tick/Tock. She keeps me supplied with the latest and most radical disinformation I would never see on my own. My 17 yo granddaughter keeps me updated via IG on cultural issues. My point, shoping different markets can yield valuable insights. Peace ✌️
Leaving comments, when permitted, provide an input for more ideas to enter the marketplace. Some may be reasoned and well thought. Others will be little more than snarks. I have done both and while a snarky comeback may be easier, writing a longer comment requires me to learn more about my own ideas and clarify them for myself.
The most difficult thing for me about the marketplace of ideas is giving space and oxygen to those ideas which aren't just wrong, but also harmful and dangerous. However, I've always felt like dangerous and harmful ideas need to be confronted, which means giving them just enough space to be said or heard and then dismantled and rejected. It's a difficult process and one I'm not sure I always get right. Your point about engagement is also key: I can tell you as a YouTube creator I get far more traction on my channel with petty drama than with thought-provoking, measured content. I much prefer the latter myself.
This is such an important topic as the current right wing social media ecosystem has overpowered most other sources of information to the point of distorting reality toward factually false ideas. It may have ultimately been what determined the election results. And I don’t see anything currently able to effectively combat this. It’s too entertaining and engaging. Look at the Fox broadcasting background of many of his cabinet picks.
..<><>.. Ms Asha .....there still is some common sense , just turned on TV an I read Retired Congressman Gaetz "withdrew from nomination" ....God of this universe, "thank YOU!!!" earlier was trying to finish a comment about how I enjoyed Twitter from a common sense perspective.....Election does NOT add UP
Pres.Joe won by 8k Popular in 2020.....Trump in 2024 got a million more than 2020 in 2024's Election 75 million Votes and 4million Votes more in Pop Total..... WHERE The HELL are the other 3 Million Votes goes comparing 2020 to 2024.....did millions Vote for Kennedy, Stein......where is the "SHORTAGE" of votes please.....my common sense Ms.Asha ....(wrongly)🤔 had You in Madrid, celebrating Your Birthday 🎂
am I losing my mind....the Head of "X" is threatening with/thru Trump the GOP Senate Yesterday.....I believe President Joe Biden should pick up on WHAT the Supreme Court Ruled and have Trump & Company Jailed, (a Presidential Act for the American People and Our Allies) Tried for his Crimes of
"coup AGAINST America" and " Stolen Top Secret Government Documents" and Disappear in the Bushes Until " Normality is brought back into Our American Government...."no one is above the Law" ...except You Pres.Joe Biden a acting in a Presidential Capacity"...." do it Joe" ...for God's sakes!!!
I have the book and plan to start reading at my earliest opportunity. Part of me wants to stick my head in the sand to limit the amount of emotion expended on such a worthless bunch of individuals, but then I think of the people who want to avoid it completely, for whatever reason: Sardinia is enticing Americans with subsidized housing, and someone mentioned to me a cruise line offering a four year cruise. I decided long ago to stay and fight. This is MY home despite some raucous neighbors trying to muscle in on my territory. This morning, I thought of one person who sued Donald and won. There was a story years ago about a woman in Atlantic City who that guy tried to force out for the purpose of building his now defunct white elephant casino there (yet another example of his track record of squandering other people's money). She sued and stayed put. I thought of her today and she has become a "patron saint". I don't want to be drawn in to unnecessary drama by mainstream news, but I think that the social media "competition" (or lack thereof) is key to the Democratic Party's strategy. I remember how Robert Reich said that Tik Tok has a strong presence of rightwing influencers, and he was argued how that needs to be countered. This should be part of a long term strategy determined by the Democratic Party. They need to reinvent themselves in the same way that the GOP seems to have reinvented itself under its authoritarian leadership. By nature, I think Democratic members are more rebellious, so it might be difficult for them to tow the line like the GOP. They at least need to present a front of unity, and lower echelon members need to remember that they are working for a greater good.
One priority is mastery of social media and the message reaching audiences is absorbed by the audience, digested, and a truly informed logical opinion sets like cement. That's essentially how Trump won because, lets face it, who amongst us thought this was even possible with him swaying on stage to iconic gay songs (YMCA) and religious masterpieces (Ave Maria)? HUH??? It's like Asha said about the price of eggs and the perception of the economy. There needs to be a juggernaut social media pushback on GOP. The election was not a landslide, and the popular vote closer than I had thought. The Democratic Party needs to directly connect with the people they are losing and properly communicate how the Democratic Party serves their needs and interests, and how the Republicans most certainly do not. "That guy" can only think in terms of dollars and cents (preferably added to his bank account), so he does not understand Macro issues where social programs are an investment in human capital (a healthy workforce is a strong workforce), and foreign aid (pennies on the dollar in return for influence). Make no mistake, we do not want to enable people, but what is happening at the billionaire and corporate level? Those individuals and companies get unlimited welfare. How is that free market? This guy is a cheap man who likes things that are showy and of no substance, just like himself. He is visual, and even "hires" appointees because they look the part, and they made an appearance on Faux Cable Rubbish (FCR). I think it was Rex Tillerson who Trump said "looks like he came out of central casting". It reminds me of the decline of General Motors, once under scrutiny for being broken up as a monopoly due to its nearly 60% share of the US cars market. An accountant named Frederick Donner became the Chair in the 1960s, and set a course of cut costs to the point of buyers seeing less content for more dollars, and many gradually left. Product was completely compromised. That's what I envision from what is going to happen under "this guy" and DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS NEED TO REPORT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IN REAL TIME, and undermine all the noise and misinformation (once called "lies"), that seeks to enlist people into something they don't understand. Bill Cosby (regardless of his misdeed) once made a comment, "Just because you say it louder doesn't mean you're right." GOP likes to shout, and all of us opposed to them need to shout THE TRUTH.
This video on Bonhoeffer's theory of stupidity (a sociological-psychological state, not a comment on intellectual ability) also has interesting implications for our social media age - especially given the social media environment in which he himself lived. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww47bR86wSc
Thanks for this lesson, Asha. My citizen advocacy passion is around the corrosive effects of unlimited political spending in our system enabled by an activist SCOTUS over decades but especially fueled by Citizens United in 2010. Since then, the escalating billions in outside money, with limited or no disclosure of sources, weaponizes the 'speech' of the wealthy, special interests, industry groups, and even foreign donors. That 'money is speech' ruling enables super-powered amplification to promote some ideas and drown out others with ads, front group 'think tanks', astroturf advocacy groups, etc,, etc that poison the so-called marketplace of ideas. American Promise is the citizen advocacy group that I have volunteered with for 7 years. Our goal is a constitutional amendment that returns the ability to regulate money in politics back to Congress and the states. Your analogy to the regulation of business is spot on! www.americanpromise.net
Great insights, Marie -- thank you!
Thanks for your comments Marie. I found the American Promise organization here.
https://americanpromise.net/
Would like to follow you on Bluesky but could not find you.
Thank you,Marie. I’ll check out your group because I’m sure you’re on the right path.
I have optimism that it can be done because American history shows a pattern of clusters of amendments passed in times of escalated political turmoil & dysfunction. That is exactly where we are right now. In addition, multiple polls over the 14 yrs since Citizens United repeatedly find supermajority, cross-partisan agreement that money in politics is threatening democracy and support an amendment to correct it. Now we need to overcome the ‘invisible rulers’ to break through and get it done.
Yes, Marie. And I gather you just watched the same excellent talk as I did. Now I have to get her book.
First off, hope you get well soon! As to the 'marketplace of ideas' and social media, I wonder how many people are being convinced by what they read and how many are just 'victims' of their own confirmation bias. Based on conversations I've had, even using Socratic approach, facts just don't cut it anymore. Also, delete and block - though endangering siloing - are ways to 'walk away' from what one perceives as bad ideas. Lastly, and I'd be interested to read your perspective on your very select audience at Yale, my high schools students today were much more savvy about internet manipulation. This awareness was partially from them being social media natives rather than immigrants like so many of us are, but also because social media awareness is now a fundamental part of the Social Studies curriculum in the district in which I taught. Looking forward to our 'book break' today!
But if people don't have the critical thinking skills to tell truth from falsehood, it's not going to be possible to "reward the best ideas." And when people have wildly different primary goals - for example, keeping the planet alive, vs. expanding the rule of Christianity, then the choices are clear. And the United States are breaking apart.
This is excellent…and hope your cough gets better soon! :)
Eye opening! Very well said.
Asha, thank you for the bonus lesson. Of course I will be renewing my subscription for year 3.
Feel better soon. I recommend a Bourbon hot toddie for the cough. 1 shot of Bourbon in mug, 1 t honey, 1/4 t lemon juice, 6-8 oz hot water, stir and sip. 🙏
Just finished book review zoom. Very informative, I will read the book. Renee mentioned tick tock use by young folks. I have an intelligent cool female friend in Canada, age early 40s. She swears all her Canadian and U.S. news is sourced from Tick/Tock. She keeps me supplied with the latest and most radical disinformation I would never see on my own. My 17 yo granddaughter keeps me updated via IG on cultural issues. My point, shoping different markets can yield valuable insights. Peace ✌️
Leaving comments, when permitted, provide an input for more ideas to enter the marketplace. Some may be reasoned and well thought. Others will be little more than snarks. I have done both and while a snarky comeback may be easier, writing a longer comment requires me to learn more about my own ideas and clarify them for myself.
I hope you feel better soon!
The most difficult thing for me about the marketplace of ideas is giving space and oxygen to those ideas which aren't just wrong, but also harmful and dangerous. However, I've always felt like dangerous and harmful ideas need to be confronted, which means giving them just enough space to be said or heard and then dismantled and rejected. It's a difficult process and one I'm not sure I always get right. Your point about engagement is also key: I can tell you as a YouTube creator I get far more traction on my channel with petty drama than with thought-provoking, measured content. I much prefer the latter myself.
This is such an important topic as the current right wing social media ecosystem has overpowered most other sources of information to the point of distorting reality toward factually false ideas. It may have ultimately been what determined the election results. And I don’t see anything currently able to effectively combat this. It’s too entertaining and engaging. Look at the Fox broadcasting background of many of his cabinet picks.
Thank you for everything, Asha. Sending ‘healing vibes’ through the airwaves. Looking forward to 1:30.
Your lessons are a good reminder about how we got stuck with Mr pig face — amplifications of support for him from Russia and China on social media.
Accountability. The End. I'm still waiting to see the original tax forms. Is the audit done yet?
..<><>.. Ms Asha .....there still is some common sense , just turned on TV an I read Retired Congressman Gaetz "withdrew from nomination" ....God of this universe, "thank YOU!!!" earlier was trying to finish a comment about how I enjoyed Twitter from a common sense perspective.....Election does NOT add UP
Pres.Joe won by 8k Popular in 2020.....Trump in 2024 got a million more than 2020 in 2024's Election 75 million Votes and 4million Votes more in Pop Total..... WHERE The HELL are the other 3 Million Votes goes comparing 2020 to 2024.....did millions Vote for Kennedy, Stein......where is the "SHORTAGE" of votes please.....my common sense Ms.Asha ....(wrongly)🤔 had You in Madrid, celebrating Your Birthday 🎂
am I losing my mind....the Head of "X" is threatening with/thru Trump the GOP Senate Yesterday.....I believe President Joe Biden should pick up on WHAT the Supreme Court Ruled and have Trump & Company Jailed, (a Presidential Act for the American People and Our Allies) Tried for his Crimes of
"coup AGAINST America" and " Stolen Top Secret Government Documents" and Disappear in the Bushes Until " Normality is brought back into Our American Government...."no one is above the Law" ...except You Pres.Joe Biden a acting in a Presidential Capacity"...." do it Joe" ...for God's sakes!!!
..wAc
@CrowBwell
@VP @AshaRangappa
@POTUS @JoeBiden ...... TRUTH MATTERS
I have the book and plan to start reading at my earliest opportunity. Part of me wants to stick my head in the sand to limit the amount of emotion expended on such a worthless bunch of individuals, but then I think of the people who want to avoid it completely, for whatever reason: Sardinia is enticing Americans with subsidized housing, and someone mentioned to me a cruise line offering a four year cruise. I decided long ago to stay and fight. This is MY home despite some raucous neighbors trying to muscle in on my territory. This morning, I thought of one person who sued Donald and won. There was a story years ago about a woman in Atlantic City who that guy tried to force out for the purpose of building his now defunct white elephant casino there (yet another example of his track record of squandering other people's money). She sued and stayed put. I thought of her today and she has become a "patron saint". I don't want to be drawn in to unnecessary drama by mainstream news, but I think that the social media "competition" (or lack thereof) is key to the Democratic Party's strategy. I remember how Robert Reich said that Tik Tok has a strong presence of rightwing influencers, and he was argued how that needs to be countered. This should be part of a long term strategy determined by the Democratic Party. They need to reinvent themselves in the same way that the GOP seems to have reinvented itself under its authoritarian leadership. By nature, I think Democratic members are more rebellious, so it might be difficult for them to tow the line like the GOP. They at least need to present a front of unity, and lower echelon members need to remember that they are working for a greater good.
One priority is mastery of social media and the message reaching audiences is absorbed by the audience, digested, and a truly informed logical opinion sets like cement. That's essentially how Trump won because, lets face it, who amongst us thought this was even possible with him swaying on stage to iconic gay songs (YMCA) and religious masterpieces (Ave Maria)? HUH??? It's like Asha said about the price of eggs and the perception of the economy. There needs to be a juggernaut social media pushback on GOP. The election was not a landslide, and the popular vote closer than I had thought. The Democratic Party needs to directly connect with the people they are losing and properly communicate how the Democratic Party serves their needs and interests, and how the Republicans most certainly do not. "That guy" can only think in terms of dollars and cents (preferably added to his bank account), so he does not understand Macro issues where social programs are an investment in human capital (a healthy workforce is a strong workforce), and foreign aid (pennies on the dollar in return for influence). Make no mistake, we do not want to enable people, but what is happening at the billionaire and corporate level? Those individuals and companies get unlimited welfare. How is that free market? This guy is a cheap man who likes things that are showy and of no substance, just like himself. He is visual, and even "hires" appointees because they look the part, and they made an appearance on Faux Cable Rubbish (FCR). I think it was Rex Tillerson who Trump said "looks like he came out of central casting". It reminds me of the decline of General Motors, once under scrutiny for being broken up as a monopoly due to its nearly 60% share of the US cars market. An accountant named Frederick Donner became the Chair in the 1960s, and set a course of cut costs to the point of buyers seeing less content for more dollars, and many gradually left. Product was completely compromised. That's what I envision from what is going to happen under "this guy" and DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS NEED TO REPORT THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IN REAL TIME, and undermine all the noise and misinformation (once called "lies"), that seeks to enlist people into something they don't understand. Bill Cosby (regardless of his misdeed) once made a comment, "Just because you say it louder doesn't mean you're right." GOP likes to shout, and all of us opposed to them need to shout THE TRUTH.
Please feel better and take good care of yourself 🙏
This video on Bonhoeffer's theory of stupidity (a sociological-psychological state, not a comment on intellectual ability) also has interesting implications for our social media age - especially given the social media environment in which he himself lived. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww47bR86wSc