Category: American Political Thought

Fair Labor Standards in the United States: A Conversation With Constitutional Law Expert John Fliter

December 20, 2025

Dr John Fliter, author of U.S. vs. Darby Lumber Co.: The Triumph of Fair Labor Standards (University Press of Kansas, 2025), is our guest today. The interview covers the history of the struggle for fair labor standards in the US, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the state of labor today. … More Fair Labor Standards in the United States: A Conversation With Constitutional Law Expert John Fliter

Romantic Democracy: The Blind Following the Blind. (Kosinski’s Being There, 4)

August 23, 2025

We continue with our discussion of Jerzy Kosinski’s novel, Being There, at the point where “Chauncey Gardiner,” mistaken for a wealthy and handsome businessman, meets the President of the United States and the American press–and a desperate heiress. … More Romantic Democracy: The Blind Following the Blind. (Kosinski’s Being There, 4)

Being There by Jerzy Kosinski Movie Poster

From Gardener to Politician: The Impact of Media in ‘Being There’ (1)

July 22, 2025

We begin a new series inspired by Jerzy Kosinski’s classic novel, Being There (1971). Being There is a satirical and allegorical tale about the adventures of Chance, a simple gardener who has previously lived a sheltered life saturated with television as his main source of human contact. Chance is thrown into the media spotlight by accident, propelling him to the top echelons of American politics, as people read wisdom into everything he says. … More From Gardener to Politician: The Impact of Media in ‘Being There’ (1)

Are Checks and Balances Necessary in the US Constitution? (Federalist 51, Part 1)

April 19, 2025

The American founders were concerned about one branch of government becoming too powerful and trampling on the freedoms of Americans by suppressing the other branches’ freedom. Here Madison or Hamilton (which one is not clear) discusses how the new constitution tries to reduce the chances of this happening through separation of powers and checks and balances. … More Are Checks and Balances Necessary in the US Constitution? (Federalist 51, Part 1)

Did Madison Foresee the Demise of Democracy? (Federalist 10, Part 3)

March 29, 2025

Madison devoted the majority of Federalist paper #10 to the dangers of a violent majority faction and corrupt demagogues. In this part of the paper, we see Madison hoping that a large republic will prevent such a faction from existing, or if it exists, will blunt its ability to tyrannize over the rest of the citizens. … More Did Madison Foresee the Demise of Democracy? (Federalist 10, Part 3)