Jonathan Haidt

And let's say there was some distribution. Now then along comes Twitter, along comes Facebook, along comes social media. What happens? Mark Zuckerberg used to say, how could it be wrong to give more people more voice? That sounds great. But what if you're not giving the disempowered more voice? What if you're not giving everyone voice?

And let's say there was some distribution. Now then along comes Twitter, along comes Facebook, along comes social media. What happens? Mark Zuckerberg used to say, how could it be wrong to give more people more voice? That sounds great. But what if you're not giving the disempowered more voice? What if you're not giving everyone voice?

What if you're bringing everyone into the Roman Colosseum and saying, okay, let's fight it out for the entertainment of the people in the stands. And the great majority of people don't want to fight with swords. They just go quiet. And some people pick up the swords like, yes, let's go. And so the far left becomes super empowered. The far right becomes super empowered.

What if you're bringing everyone into the Roman Colosseum and saying, okay, let's fight it out for the entertainment of the people in the stands. And the great majority of people don't want to fight with swords. They just go quiet. And some people pick up the swords like, yes, let's go. And so the far left becomes super empowered. The far right becomes super empowered.

And the center left and the center right go silent. And that's what I think is, you know, that's I think a real disaster for our country

And the center left and the center right go silent. And that's what I think is, you know, that's I think a real disaster for our country

So don't think of it as though liberalism and conservatism have flipped. Think of it as though the left and the right have really changed. One thing I learned from studying conservatism from the intellectual historian, Jerry Mueller, is that conservatism in every era is a reaction to the excesses of the left.

So don't think of it as though liberalism and conservatism have flipped. Think of it as though the left and the right have really changed. One thing I learned from studying conservatism from the intellectual historian, Jerry Mueller, is that conservatism in every era is a reaction to the excesses of the left.

So if the left was the revolutionaries in the French Revolution, the right were monarchists. They wanted the restoration of the king. If the left... in America is about pulling down the founding fathers because they were slave owners. The right is going to be, no, we're gonna get extra patriotic. We're gonna wear funny hats like the 18th century Americans.

So if the left was the revolutionaries in the French Revolution, the right were monarchists. They wanted the restoration of the king. If the left... in America is about pulling down the founding fathers because they were slave owners. The right is going to be, no, we're gonna get extra patriotic. We're gonna wear funny hats like the 18th century Americans.

So you always have to understand the right as a reaction to what they perceive to be the excesses of the left. Now, a lot of what's happened is, as I said, the left is a political coalition that votes similarly in elections, same with the right. It's made of a mixture of different kinds of people.

So you always have to understand the right as a reaction to what they perceive to be the excesses of the left. Now, a lot of what's happened is, as I said, the left is a political coalition that votes similarly in elections, same with the right. It's made of a mixture of different kinds of people.

There's a wonderful study from More in Common that talked about the seven tribes or seven groups of Americans. The progressive activists, which is the group on the furthest left, they were never liberal. In fact, they're really illiberal. They're not even about bringing up the bottom. They're much more focused on pulling down the top. That's like the ugliest side of egalitarianism.

There's a wonderful study from More in Common that talked about the seven tribes or seven groups of Americans. The progressive activists, which is the group on the furthest left, they were never liberal. In fact, they're really illiberal. They're not even about bringing up the bottom. They're much more focused on pulling down the top. That's like the ugliest side of egalitarianism.

So they're very focused on restraining rich people, pulling down privilege. They don't seem as concerned about bringing up poor people. So that's the far left. They're not liberal. But now, but for a while, they were really dominant. Not in the Democratic Party. This is an important point. The Democratic Party has two wings. Which one usually wins? The liberal, the moderate wing, not the squad.

So they're very focused on restraining rich people, pulling down privilege. They don't seem as concerned about bringing up poor people. So that's the far left. They're not liberal. But now, but for a while, they were really dominant. Not in the Democratic Party. This is an important point. The Democratic Party has two wings. Which one usually wins? The liberal, the moderate wing, not the squad.

So if you just look at the parties, the Democrats are a functioning center-left party with an outspoken progressive wing. That's great. That's viewpoint diversity. I love that. The right is different. If you just look at the party, you used to have all kinds of true conservatives, George H.W. Bush through Mitt Romney. They were true conservatives, very decent men.

So if you just look at the parties, the Democrats are a functioning center-left party with an outspoken progressive wing. That's great. That's viewpoint diversity. I love that. The right is different. If you just look at the party, you used to have all kinds of true conservatives, George H.W. Bush through Mitt Romney. They were true conservatives, very decent men.

They believed in decency, family values. I mean, they have a lot of respect for traditional conservatives. But now it's the party of Donald Trump, and the Republican Party has gotten rid of nearly all its moderates. Now the Democrats pulled some dirty tricks that actually wiped out a few of those moderates, which I think they really have a lot to answer for.

They believed in decency, family values. I mean, they have a lot of respect for traditional conservatives. But now it's the party of Donald Trump, and the Republican Party has gotten rid of nearly all its moderates. Now the Democrats pulled some dirty tricks that actually wiped out a few of those moderates, which I think they really have a lot to answer for.