30-second soundbites and democracy
'Democracy is not possible without the written word. You cannot carry on an intellectual debate in the market-place of ideas via 30-second soundbites. For that you need books.'
Al Gore speaking at this week's Hay Festival, an event described by Bill Clinton as 'the Woodstock of the mind' (what is it about American politicians?)
* Follow this link for a report on Al Gore's Hay speech.
Now playing - Keith Jarrett's Book of Ways, The Feeling of Strings: 2CDs of improvisations on the clavichord which simply confirm that great music, like great books, should make you question every thing you have previously accepted.
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If you enjoyed this post take An Overgrown Path to A campaign no blogger can ignore
Al Gore speaking at this week's Hay Festival, an event described by Bill Clinton as 'the Woodstock of the mind' (what is it about American politicians?)
* Follow this link for a report on Al Gore's Hay speech.
Now playing - Keith Jarrett's Book of Ways, The Feeling of Strings: 2CDs of improvisations on the clavichord which simply confirm that great music, like great books, should make you question every thing you have previously accepted.
Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as "fair use", for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s). Report broken links, missing images and other errors to - overgrownpath at hotmail dot co dot uk
If you enjoyed this post take An Overgrown Path to A campaign no blogger can ignore
Comments
This famous store held tragic resonances because just a few months earlier Sweden's Social Democrat Minister for Foreign Affairs Anna Lindh had been assassinated while shopping there.
Her loss as a politician and European visionary was inestimable. May her memory live on.
And that's why he made a movie.
In my experience people directly involved in party politics react with puzzlement or bemusement if you try to talk about anything intellectual not directly related to the cut and thrust of practical politics (for example try talking about epistemology or ethics or economics with an member of parliament/congress etc. of ANY party and you will have them looking nervously for their minder within 3 minutes).
Al Gore is a typical example of an amoral professional politico of the type found in any modern democracy (regardless of party) and he does not have a rigorous intellectual bone in his body.