This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called Can You Pull Yourself Up By the Bootstraps? The phrase “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” is a credo that is heard over and over again in the U.S. It is paired with the idea of rugged individualism, that you have to
American Hustle
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called American Hustle. The emphasis in America is on individualism and self-reliance, so if you want to make it, you have to earn it. And for many, it’s believed hustle is the only way to do so. While many developed nations around the
How Woke is My Veggie Burger?
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called How Woke is My Veggie Burger? You may not know this, but if you eat veggie burgers, you are woke. How do I know this? I have it on expert advice. You see, the anti-woke crowd says when Chick-fil-A, Cracker Barrel, and
Fear of a Red Planet
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called Fear of a Red Planet. In the US, the attitude towards getting ahead has always been that you have to pull yourself up by the bootstraps through rugged individualism and self-reliance, because it’s a dog eat dog world and you can’t expect
Bye Bye Baby!
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called Bye Bye Baby! With the potential indictment of Donald Trump coming soon—he may have already been indicted by the time you see this video—and other indictments possibly to follow, maybe this marks the beginning of the end of what Donald Trump has
What’s Eating America…and What’s America Eating
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called What’s Eating America…and What’s America Eating? America has a systemic issue that has created large cracks in the system: mental health. Mental health issues are a major problem, and with it, the so-called deaths of despair—which are deaths from suicide, drugs, or
The World’s Poorest Rich Nation
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called “The World’s Poorest Rich Nation,” and tells how the US, while being the world’s richest nation, with the highest GDP of any nation, is also the world’s poorest rich nation. Why is that? Because the US is the only developed nation that
When the US Was a Social Democracy
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called “When the US Was a Social Democracy,” and examines when the US became the world’s first social democracy–which unfortunately, the US is no longer. A social democracy is a country that’s concerned with the common good and making sure everyone is taken
Love (Special Valentine’s Day Edition)
This episode of the web series Toward a More Perfect Union is called “Love,” and is a special Valentine’s Day edition — since this episode is being posted on Valentine’s Day, it seems appropriate to make it about love. It is love that can help us create a caring society that is more fair, just,
Is Money a Psychedelic Drug?
This episode of the web series, Toward a More Perfect Union, is called “Is Money a Psychedelic Drug?” Now you might say, that’s a ridiculous question. But here’s the thing: money activates the same parts of the brain that psychedelic drugs do—it mobilizes the dopamine and serotonin receptors of the brain to light up, and