You're invited: 'How to Preserve American Democracy: Civic Virtue and Checks & Balances'

My talk on June 20 at the Monteagle Chautauqua, open to the public, will introduce 'a general theory of democracy'

Recently at a powerpoint presentation at Philips Andover Academy, I made passing reference to a work-in-progress I am calling “a general theory of democracy.”

This theory is the culmination of the past seven years of my research and writing in history and political science fused with the awesome and anguishing experience of watching a presidential demagogue wreak havoc on our democracy during the same period of time.

In brief, the theory asserts that checks & balances against the rise of demagogues and authoritarians to executive power are co-equal in importance with the will of the people in sustaining a democracy.

How is it possible, you might be asking yourself, that a convicted felon is going to be nominated as a candidate for the U.S. presidency by the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, six weeks from now in mid-July?

The general theory of democracy asserts that checks & balances against the rise of demagogues and authoritarians to executive power are co-equal in importance with the will of the people in sustaining a democracy.

At the Monteagle Chautauqua on June 20, I will be elaborating on my general theory, arguing that the Republican Party nominated Donald Trump as its presidential candidate twice—and soon for a third time—due to a “fatal flaw” in our democracy.

That fatal flaw is the American presidential nomination system’s glaring absence of checks & balances against the rise of demagogues, authoritarians, and convicted felons to the White House.

It’s a gross defect in our system—in both parties, it is important to understand—that must be remedied, or else our democracy will continue its preventable downward sputter into corruption, violence, and authoritarianism.

I am excited at last to go deep into the general theory at the Monteagle Chautauqua on June 20.

You are invited:

'How to Preserve American Democracy: Civic Virtue and Checks & Balances'

Monteagle Chautauqua

June 20, 2024

7:45 pm CST

Also, stay tuned for more news about my book prize ceremony at the American Revolution Institute in Washington, D.C., on September 5. I will be posting more information on that event soon.