Living Through Revolutionary Times

"Revolutions in technology, politics and economics bring progress — but they also invite backlash. Fareed Zakaria discusses the rise of the modern republic through the Industrial Revolution to the age of globalization, and the reemergence of great power politics. David Brooks speaks with Fareed Zakaria.

Each June, the Aspen Ideas Festival welcomes the public to join the world’s most influential leaders—innovators in business, academia, public policy, science, and the arts—who are shaping the future. Engage in thought-provoking panels, intimate roundtables, and spontaneous conversations across our stunning 40-acre, art-filled campus in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Leave Aspen inspired to make a lasting impact in your community and beyond. #AspenIdeas

[shyamchaudhri]

The best Farid Zakaria interview on the topic of Age of Revolutions, thanks to David Brooks.

[PremjitTalwar]

There is nothing more stimulating (at my age) than to listen to two thoughtful and brilliant scholars.

[stevenhanson]

As the world chages, I really appreciate this kind of conversation. Thanks 😊

[lalitharavindran]

I could listen to these two the whole day.

[joangermain]

Wow! The broad and global perspectives of these two men are far reaching and somewhat comforting. Growing involves mistakes and pain, but it's still growing, and I, for one, want to grow. I have been so fortunate to experience many of the social and political turmoils and beauties of this period of time in history.

[vinayakkapatral]

Excellent ! Both are free thinkers and great mind!

Lovely🎉!

[marilyncallan-cxrk]

Touching on so many issues which seem lost in our current culture & society At least the ideas are alive & well. Thank you David & Zareed, Aspen Institute. Taking the long view rather than the short-term, profit motives. Socical & cultural chasms. Institutions of higher education have eliminated Humanities & other programs, concentrating on Business, the desire for profit .

[dallenpowell]

I'm from a small town in Utah that is predominately Mormon. I grew up in the church and found the community aspects of it very welcoming as a teenager but in my late 20's I left the church and now consider myself and atheist. I moved to the city to get away from the religious dominance of the community. Looking back, I see the church was a safe and comfortable community for the in-group and judgmental system of peer pressure for the out- group. Religion is often intrinsically authoritarian-leaning. The belief in God, saviors, and prophets sets you up to believe that change comes from above in the form of a leader who you can put your faith and trust in. The reality is closer to the old adage that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Real Democracy is the opposite. It's power from the people in a system of organization from the bottom up. Change comes from around us and through us, not from above. It's time to use the technology we've built under Representative Democracy to build a Direct Democracy of the people, for the people, and by the people. No one is coming to save us but together we can save ourselves and those around us. We need to build secular equivalents to religion in the form of community centers with local job postings, schools for all ages, kitchens, storehouses, and meeting rooms, emergency aid, and everything else that creates a better quality of life. We can do it collectively by cultivating cultural unity like cultivating a garden. It's time for a revolution away from greed, money, and power towards humanity, acceptance, and community.

[timotheusvanesch]

"Aristocracy is less anxious" - I can concur.
For the past 12 years I lived among aristocracy (in Europe) and they are less worried and more engaged, since money is not their problem when they grow up.
Their main goal is to help society progress. For real. Many of them have 5, 10, 20 year vision and education is just "something you do to get there".

The flip side is the restrictions and traditions which they abide by, though. 😉
The best example I have is this baron, which became a friend. His family owns a beautiful castle, they meet up there for the weekends, have a 17th century interior & personnel to serve them. Meanwhile he's driving around in a mediocre Volvo of 20 years old. He studied to be a doctor. He simply doesn't care. He runs around in the highest echelons of politics, and after his pension he didn't know what to do. He took his bike, travelled through Southern America for 6 months, came back and became a part-time night doctor for the homeless.

This is a man that has real influence on medical policies in his country, being a part-time doctor for the homeless.
These people really understand money is not to be chased after.
Then again; they were born in wealth, so they cán.

Without being pedantic, I think Universal Basic Income can help the 90% greatly; once they have a choice to work or not, it becomes wáy easier to be of service for society.

[detectiveofmoneypolitics]

Detective of Money Politics is following this very compelling content cheers VK3GFS and 73s Frank

[towanda]

I live in a wealthy community where $250, 000 income would be on the low end. There is definitely two different stratas…the workers and the wealthy class. I find that the wealthy class has no real knowledge of how life is for the working class. It’s very frustrating because they think they are “liberal” and inclusive, when they are not. The policies they support, from membership into a “club” that is beyond the reach of the working class, to the fact that they always vote down or block any attempts to build affordable housing in the area. They worry about the “riff raff” moving in. Their perspective unmediated by a working class perspective can be very destructive.

[Jxdemelo]

"Meaning is more important than prosperity." Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. Seek meaning, seek the immaterial first and the 5 brands of toothpastes will follow, if required. And btw Fareed, even a beginner in Bible study knows not take the Moses parting the red sea literally. There are layers of abstaction when interpreting stories in the Bible to arrive at a spiritual meaning that makes sense and can be applied to real life situation. Im sure if your daughter goes back to church when she is a little older, she will find that the "fairy tales" were metaphors pointing to deeper spiritual realities. Fascinating conversation. I'm a fan of both of you gentlemen.

[cambiacommunity]

I live very well under the poverty line, with my wife and two kids. But i see many people collapsing under the freedom, anomie and purposelessness of our society, when money and followers are the only remaining gods, and unlike the trancendental gods, they do not love everyone equally...

[Malavander]

As an atheist, I still like the idea of churches as places of community, contemplation, reverence, affirmation of shared values, etc. Why can't we have a secular version of that without all the sectarian dogma and supernatural bullshit?

[mattmoses]

what a great session. Only in America. . .

[jimvanderwood]

This was wonderful! Absolutely two of our country’s best thinkers - two of the world’s best thinkers!

[colingenge]

Fareed’s idea of service is essential to creating World citizens of Americans who famously are clueless about the rest of the World.

[lizgrazioli-talbot]

Fareed needs to push mission trips that religious institutions push for youth to grow towards social justice. Also, social justice is a huge part of the theology. It's not fairy tales, like your daughter expressed, it's a way of life we teach our children to partake of in their lives.

[thisperson]

"The Edge told me that was bullshit"
Great response.

[dorthymcbride]

One thing that bothers me in life....people who feel because of their riches they are better than we are???? No, no. When I ask myself what is my riches ? It's love!❤😊