'The Curse of Demagogues' is Now Available in Print, ebook, and free PDF formats
The book explains Alexander Hamilton's theory of democratic collapse and the reforms needed to block the next demagogue from ascending to the Oval Office
The Curse of Demagogues: Lessons Learned from the Presidency of Donald J. Trump is now available in print, ebook, and free PDF format.
The greatest value of this collection of essays is that more than other other book in print, it makes the story of Donald Trump’s rise to the White House coherent and understandable. Here is the simple truth of what happened:
Trump, a demagogue, gained ascendancy in a laissez-faire political culture wherein neither the Republican Party nor the other gatekeepers of democracy, including the news media, effectively counteracted him. Once in the highest office in the land, Trump devolved into authoritarianism in order to retain power, as demagogues are well-known to do.
This is Alexander Hamilton’s theory of democratic collapse. And if it’s true, which it is, that means the only pathway back to a safe, effective democracy is to restore gatekeeping systems. Most importantly, reform must begin with political parties.
Parties must shift gears from do-nothingness in the presidential nominating process to the fierce rejection of demagogues and authoritarians, thereby blocking their advancement to the general election and presidency altogether.
One of the book's core messages is that, going forward, political parties must be duty bound to block the rise of presidential candidates who do not pass the fundamental litmus test of constitutionalism—that is, an unequivocal commitment to upholding the Constitution, the rule of law, free and fair elections, and the peaceful transfer of power.
It is indeed a question of essential checks and balances. We have removed checks on the rise of demagogues, and, not surprisingly, we and our children are suffering the consequences.
On Nov. 29 Illinois radio host John Howell challenged me on these ideas.
Listen to the 5-minute interview:
There’s much more grist for improving our democracy in this nonpartisan book, including essays by Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian; Jeff Flake, former Republican U.S. senator; Barbara Comstock, former Republican U.S. congresswoman; Jill Abramson, former executive editor of The New York Times; Andrew Sullivan, former editor of The New Republic; and Jesse Wegman, editor at The New York Times, among numerous others.
I would be honored if you bought the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, but much more than that I hope you will absorb its insights. So, here are four easy ways to get the book:
Thanks for your support.