Importance of Reacquainting with Fundamentals in a Broken Political Culture

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In the current societal landscape, there has been a degradation and deformation of the constitutional system due to an alternative constitutional vision and a mistaken cultural perception of election stakes. Despite the increasing sense of high stakes in elections, the reality is that winners in the 21st century have been constrained by narrow margins, leading to limited action post-election. This narrow margin in elections suggests that the actual stakes of elections are not as high as perceived, highlighting a broken political culture influenced by factors like social media and the fragmentation of American society.

Can a document unify a nation? Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute and author of American Covenant argues that the Constitution unified the United States at the founding of the country and that understanding the Constitution can help bring the country together today. Listen as Levin speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about how the Constitution not only took into account fractious politics, but also ensured that polarization would lead to a stronger democracy. Topics include the inherent limitations placed on the majority and how that affects policy formation, the vital if misunderstood advantages of the electoral college, and why, despite all the warnings to the contrary, this is far from a dangerous moment in American political history.