As you know, I love Pete Buttigieg - and he is doing well fundraising.
But one of the key reasons I love him is his view of America.
On an Ezra Klein podcast (link), Ezra asked Mayor Pete about being an American. And he had the most interesting answer (which I have to paraphrase).
He said that it is oddly about process. The process of democracy and choosing to be American. For example, the word un-American means to cheat or to renounce democracy or to play unfairly. There is no real equivalent like un-French or un-German. We choose to be Americans every time that we participate in democracy and society.
There wasn't a real equivalent to the process of inclusion, except (maybe) the failed policies of Communism.
He lamented that Trumps idea of "American" seems to exclude brown or black people, but that wasn't the Americanism of Republicans in general.
I love that.
(From On Tyranny) 2. Defend institutions. It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about -- a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union -- and take its side.
Monday, April 1, 2019
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I like him too and I am beginning to think he might have a chance.
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