In today's episode, Linda examines taboo. Normally when we think about taboos we think about good and evil. Linda shows us how taboos point to the inheritance of the endowment and have nothing to do with identifying good and evil.

In addition, Thomas Jefferson's words give us information about this thing that we call racism. This is because Thomas Jefferson wrote about the endowment men receive from their God and he wrote about his outrage at the presence of men with African heritage on colonial soil. Thomas Jefferson was enraged because the men of African heritage had lost their right to pass on the endowment (because they had beendispossessed of their lands). Thomas Jefferson was very clear--when those in possession of the land are forced to live with others who have been dispossessed, peace is impossible. In essence, Thomas Jefferson was writing of a taboo regarding male behavior--a generalized fear of being possessed by those who have been conquered.

We have the ability to uncover this taboo--to speak of it--to limit its ability to destroy our lives because as long as the taboo remains, humanity will be at war with itself.

https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/ruffdrft.html

In today's episode Linda examines the meaning of "endowed by their Creator." What did the signers of the Declaration think they were endowed with? Linda also examines the consequences of being endowed in today's world.

We commnly refer to the Ten Commandments as "Gospel." But we are mistranslating the Ten Commandments. Rather than "Thou Shalt Not Kill" or "Thou Shalt Not Murder" we can read the words of the 6th Commandment to be "No Assassination" or "No War." This gives an entirely new way to look at the current events of our day.

We normally measure a democracy's health by seeing how many people vote and by making sure that elections are free and fair. This is a good measure of democracy except for one thing--it leaves no way to respond to tyranny. This means that when tyranny comes to roost, it does so unopposed. Thus, our understanding of democracy should include a resistance to tyranny.

Transcript

Brnovich v. DNC

We argue and fight over Supreme Court decisions but our biggest concern isn't the decision as much as it is WHO is making the decision. Arguing and Fighting only make democracy weaker. Our democracy is lacking supports in the same way that the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was lacking support.

Transcript of Episode

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Roe v. Wade

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

Daniel Ziblatt's book How Democracies Die--sorry, I said David Ziblatt. It's Daniel Ziblatt.

"Why Democracies Collapse: The Reasons for Democratic Failure and Success" Abraham Diskin, Hannah Diskin and Reuven Y. Hazan

"Why Do Democracies Fail?" The Atlantic. David Frum

"The Shocking Paper Predicting the End of Democracy" by Rick Shenkman, Politico Magazine

Welcome to Theoretical Democracism, the podcast where we discuss all aspects of the practice of democracy.