Category: Public Intellectuals

  • Noam Chomsky on Money in Politics

    Noam Chomsky on Money in Politics

    Noam Chomsky is a highly influential public intellectual known for his incisive social criticism and political activism. In this post, we present Chomsky’s critique of wealth and power concentration, the influence of neoliberalism, and the resultant detrimental impact on democracy. See also About Noam Chomsky Noam Chomsky, born in 1928, is a renowned American public…

  • Joseph Stiglitz: Democracy, Justice, and Inequality

    Joseph Stiglitz: Democracy, Justice, and Inequality

    Why is inequality bad for democracy and justice? What can be done about it? In this post, we present the works of Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate, economist, and professor at Columbia University. Focusing on three of his key books, “The Price of Inequality,” “The Great Divide,” and “People, Power, and Profits,” we present Stiglitz’s…

  • Jane Mayer: Dark Money in Politics

    Jane Mayer: Dark Money in Politics

    How does “money in politics” work? Is there a plan by some billionaires to seed the political landscape with “dark money”? In this post, we present the research of investigative journalist Jane Mayer who exposed the immense influence of the Koch brothers on American politics. The Koch brothers are wealthy libertarians who have used their…

  • President Obama on Money in Politics

    President Obama on Money in Politics

    The influence of money in politics continues to undermine American democracy. Despite former President Obama’s well-intentioned efforts to tackle this pervasive problem, his administration’s attempts fell short.  We explore Obama’s fight against the corrupting power of money in politics, including the various initiatives he championed and the obstacles he faced, such as the Citizens United…

  • Piketty: Policy, Institutions, and a Brief History of Equality

    Piketty: Policy, Institutions, and a Brief History of Equality

    Does equality rise? What is the role of policy, institutions, and collective mobilization for increasing equality?  This post delves into the work of French economist Thomas Piketty, whose influential books examine wealth and income inequality. Piketty highlights the long-term trend towards greater political, economic, and social equality, driven by political mobilizations, social struggles, and institutional…

  • Ray Dalio on Power, Money, and Societal Collapse

    Ray Dalio on Power, Money, and Societal Collapse

    What is the relationship between money, power, and the collapse of society? This blog post presents the ideas of Ray Dalio, billionaire investor and author of “Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail.”  Dalio explores his ideas about a Big Cycle and international relations, highlighting the interplay of how…