Archive - Democratic Vistas

Power, Hope, and Freedom

In these troubled times, it is easy to lose hope—to believe that we have no power to act. If, however, we rethink power, we might find hope and even a…

23 hrs ago •

June 2025

May 2025

Dreams of Our Future

It is time for a little dream analysis—at a cultural level. Our collective dreams might reveal something about where we are headed.

May 12 •

The Evangelical Movement: A History of Our New Reality

Kobe du Mez’s "Jesus and John Wayne" can teach us about how we got here. It can also teach us that “here” doesn’t have to be forever.

May 3 •

April 2025

Propaganda, Power, Mimesis, and Community

Propaganda is about fear and safety. It will produce more fear. It never produces more safety.

Apr 27 •

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Oat Bran, and the Aristotelian Example

Arguing from example has benefits and problems, as we will see with the example of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Apr 22 •

Bureaucracy, State Terror, and Propaganda

We need bureaucracies, but "efficiency" is a tricky word. Just ask the cows on Animal Farm. They're pissed.

Apr 17 •

Words, Words, Words, and Propaganda

When was America great? Apparently, in 1984. As in the 1984 of Orwell’s dystopian future.

Apr 2 •

March 2025

Who’s Your Daddy? The Father and Propaganda

Propaganda establishes a clear hierarchy. At the top, the mythic father.

Mar 23 •

The Real Pronoun Problem

When we hear “we/they” invoked, we have left democratic dialogue and entered propaganda.

Mar 19 •

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