JHK’s Three-Act Play
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Blake Pagenkopf is the author of The Great Conflation; Why Left Versus Right Isn’t Right Versus Wrong, which asserts that a simple spatial model can be used to explain the political misunderstanding that now rages across America. (See the chart below in these show notes.) He is also an architect and construction manager currently renovating mixed-use buildings on small town Main Streets in the Midwest. He lives in the Kansas City metro area.
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Excellent episode. The anecdote about information being piped-in to the suburbs via TV is crucial. Websites, apps, social media.
There is no discussion or debate with the TV, and comments on Twitter and Facebook are mostly argumentative.
But why do people leave their suburban enclaves with resort amenities?
1) Consumption (shopping)
2) Consumption (dining)
3) Consumption (entertainment)
4) Work
5) Children/school/sports
In cities?
Is there really a cafe culture?
Where do they go for civic interaction?
I’m not so sure they do.
Truth is, people avoid speaking about politics and these issues… unless after a few drinks at a dinner party or a restaurant.
Just too contentious these days. Perhaps by design?
It’s incumbent upon the media consumers to not simply absorb the programming. They must have the initiative to question it themselves and to seek out other voices. Most often… electronically
Hi James,
I just listened to your latest podcast #315 with Blake Pagenkopf and I realized that I have something to contribute! Please Google ‘The Nolan Chart’ or the ‘World’s Smallest Political Quiz’. This also expanded the left right axis with a vertical (Y) axis. The top is ‘Libertarian’ and the bottom of the axis is ‘Authoritarian’. It was developed and promoted by David Nolan in the early 1970’s(?). He was an early founder of the Libertarian Party. There has been much libertarian work and talk on this two-axis model. Indeed, the vertical axis is the much more interesting axis. In fact, the vertical axis predates the horizontal axis. It is the axis of the enlightenment of John Locke, Thomas Paine, etc (libertarian). versus the old ideas of monarchy (authoritarian). The industrial revolution of the 1800’s created the bizarre horizontal axis that we have today. It is a really interesting story! – I would love to expound, but this ain’t the right format 🙂
Mr. Pagenkoptf is a really bright guy to have deduced this on his own. Please forward this information to him. I would love to correspond with either of you and give you some additional information. I am an old libertarian and followed this stuff in much depth, many decades ago. Thanks so much for your work,
Mr. Lynn Fogwell
Jim, how did you find this guy? 1 Amazon review? By seemingly a relative no less?!
Interesting stuff as always!
I’ve been trying to make this same argument (libertarian v authoritarian) amongst my friends for years. It is very easy to find common ground when discussing the need for decentralization. Sadly there are too many who have given in to the brainwashing of international Marxism and believe all must be united in values. I think this is due to the loss of feeling connected to the local environment (physically and socially)… A whole book could be written regarding that thesis…
A great many people would never agree with my own life values and religious beliefs, and no one should be forced to. I’m comfortable enough in my own beliefs that I can sleep at night whether someone agrees with me or not. But I won’t be able to sleep at night if others try to force me to live a certain way.
The libertarian mindset is the only way to live in this world, otherwise it would be downright depressing to know how few people agree with you, or how many think you’re crazy.