Ralph Schoellhammer

and why I'm so frustrated with very often the shallow conversation, so I'm so glad that we have a non-shallow conversation here, is the beauty about democracy is not that it's a morally superior system. It might be that as well. The great thing about democracy is that you can vote new ideas into office without overthrowing the entire system. I mean, that's really the great thing about it, right?

and why I'm so frustrated with very often the shallow conversation, so I'm so glad that we have a non-shallow conversation here, is the beauty about democracy is not that it's a morally superior system. It might be that as well. The great thing about democracy is that you can vote new ideas into office without overthrowing the entire system. I mean, that's really the great thing about it, right?

So you can do things in a certain way, And then if that no longer works, you vote in new parties that want to do things differently, but you still maintain the democratic system.

So you can do things in a certain way, And then if that no longer works, you vote in new parties that want to do things differently, but you still maintain the democratic system.

The true threat to democracy, and this is true in the US and in Europe, is if people feel that no matter for whom they vote, they never get the change they desire, at some point, they will not just turn against the established party, they will turn against the established system. And then we are really looking at the potential for a new fascism to arise.

The true threat to democracy, and this is true in the US and in Europe, is if people feel that no matter for whom they vote, they never get the change they desire, at some point, they will not just turn against the established party, they will turn against the established system. And then we are really looking at the potential for a new fascism to arise.

No, I think it's more than that. I think you're absolutely right. And let me compare it to Europe. In the United States, if you're a conservative, you can move to Florida. If you are a liberal, you can move to California, right? I mean, crazy politics and reasonable politics, but both have great weather. So, you know, you can at least get some of the benefits in both of those places.

No, I think it's more than that. I think you're absolutely right. And let me compare it to Europe. In the United States, if you're a conservative, you can move to Florida. If you are a liberal, you can move to California, right? I mean, crazy politics and reasonable politics, but both have great weather. So, you know, you can at least get some of the benefits in both of those places.

In Europe, there is this idea from Brussels, right? They want to implement a worldview. And I can give a good example for this. Now, the Germans might be very open to the whole LGBTQ, QWERTY, divided by sign, you know, dash, whatever it is nowadays thing. The Hungarians are not. And the Hungarians are basically sanctioned by the authorities in Brussels.

In Europe, there is this idea from Brussels, right? They want to implement a worldview. And I can give a good example for this. Now, the Germans might be very open to the whole LGBTQ, QWERTY, divided by sign, you know, dash, whatever it is nowadays thing. The Hungarians are not. And the Hungarians are basically sanctioned by the authorities in Brussels.

So, you know, certain funds, student exchange programs, they cannot participate in this. So, in a certain way, within the European Union, member states... have less of an ideological freedom to chart their own path than they have in the United States. And I completely agree with you. I think the very fact that centralization is also, I would call it imperialization.

So, you know, certain funds, student exchange programs, they cannot participate in this. So, in a certain way, within the European Union, member states... have less of an ideological freedom to chart their own path than they have in the United States. And I completely agree with you. I think the very fact that centralization is also, I would call it imperialization.

And what saved the United States is right today at these independent states. And I think that was a wonder. It's still the United States and not the United States of America. And people should be aware of that.

And what saved the United States is right today at these independent states. And I think that was a wonder. It's still the United States and not the United States of America. And people should be aware of that.

It was great. I mean, we would definitely need a couple of hours more, but that's the German in me. We can never answer a question in 20 minutes.

It was great. I mean, we would definitely need a couple of hours more, but that's the German in me. We can never answer a question in 20 minutes.

Well, there's something to it, but the Germans tried it two times, it ended in catastrophe, so we might want to be a little bit more careful with the third time, because I have a sense it's just going to be as bad as the first two times.

Well, there's something to it, but the Germans tried it two times, it ended in catastrophe, so we might want to be a little bit more careful with the third time, because I have a sense it's just going to be as bad as the first two times.

Anytime. Thanks so much for having me.

Anytime. Thanks so much for having me.