Pedestal
Raphael Rosen ‘s substack link [1]
America is an ideology that ideology says individuals can join with others as equals to govern themselves. This idea is America’s animating spirit
What creates stability in America is American culture.
His mission in writing the book is to help all Americans who are fearful about the future of their country —whether their views are on the right, center, or left—to do something about it.
What his site says about the purpose of the book. More than three-quarters of Americans today fear for their democracy. Popular anxiety centers on America’s political institutions–presidents, legislatures, courts, political parties, and elections–but this focus is backwards. The foundational strength of American democracy lies not within institutions, but inside the quotidian thoughts, words, and deeds of ordinary citizens. Merging insights across history, political philosophy, and modern psychology, Pedestal takes its readers on a tumultuous journey among ancient Israelite lawmakers, classical Greek philosophers, Roman emperors, Enlightenment aristocrats, America’s Founders, antebellum orators, Civil Rights leaders, and modern social psychologists to identify the three specific cultural practices that have allowed American democracy to survive its greatest threats. With forceful and compassionate clarity, Pedestal shows worried Americans—whether their views are on the right, center, or left— why their everyday words and actions are the key to preserving their mighty, fragile republic.