Journalist Colin Woodard says there’s a theme running through disagreements in American history: the struggle between individual rights and the good of the community. It started when the Mayflower limped onto shore and continues in today’s political rancor. Woodard argues though that democracy works best when we find the “sweet spot” between libertarianism and collectivism. Wednesday, he joins us to talk about these two impulses in our character and the risks of moving too far to either extreme.
- Colin Woodard is an author and journalist. He is currently State and National Affairs Writer for Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram. He's the author of American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America [Amazon|Indiebound|Audible] and his new book American Character: A History of the Epic Struggle Between Individual Liberty and the Common Good. [Indiebound|Amazon|Audible]
- Colin Woodward is also the author of The Republic of Pirates [Amazon|Indiebound|Audible]. He joined us back in 2014 to talk about it.
