The Gray Area with Sean Illing Democracy’s existential crisis
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Sep 11, 2023 Astra Taylor, author of 'The Age of Insecurity' and co-founder of the Debt Collective, dives into the pressing need to defend democracy against rising authoritarianism. She reflects on our emotional connection to insecurity and how it shapes activism and engagement. The conversation critiques capitalism's role in fostering societal insecurities and advocates for community over consumerism. Taylor emphasizes grassroots organizing as essential in reclaiming political power and unity, linking various societal issues while fostering hope for a better democratic future.
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Unschooling Activism
- Astra Taylor grew up unschooling in Georgia and created a zine focused on social issues.
- She wanted to incite a kid revolution but struggled due to the social isolation of unschooling.
Democracy as a Horizon
- Astra Taylor's work explores the gap between the democratic ideal and reality.
- She sees democracy as a continuous process of improvement, striving for “the people” to have power.
Insecurity vs. Inequality
- Inequality is a snapshot, while insecurity describes the feeling and material conditions of precarity.
- Capitalism creates and thrives on insecurity.
