Wisdom of Crowds Holiday Special: The Case for a New American Founding
Dec 24, 2025
Osita Nwanevu, journalist and author of 'The Right of the People', argues for a new American founding, highlighting democratic deficits and disenfranchisement in institutions. Sam Goldman, a political scholar from the Hamilton School, defends the Constitution’s stability and unity. The discussion unveils the balance between democratic ideals and historical inequalities while examining the Constitution’s role as a civic covenant. Both delve into the prospects of reforming the system while addressing fears of political upheaval and the importance of representation.
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Democracy's Core Principles And U.S. Shortfalls
- Democracy means the governed govern through equality, responsiveness, and majority rule.
- The U.S. system violates these principles via disenfranchised territories and extreme Senate malapportionment.
Comparative Perspective: Constitution As Practical Good
- Sam Goldman argues real-world comparison favors the U.S. over many populous countries.
- He emphasizes constitutional goods like stability, prosperity, and liberty over abstract measures of democracy.
Democracy As Human Agency And Culture
- Osita locates democratic value in agency: people deserving say over conditions shaping their lives.
- He invokes Whitman and a cultural vision that democracy is tied to human emancipation and civic culture.