Key insights

• 🗣️ People feel their voice doesn't matter in how they are governed
• 🤝 People hunger for belonging, pride, and solidarity
• 👀 Feelings of being looked down upon by elites due to stagnant wages and outsourced jobs
• 💰 Widening inequality of income and wealth, leaving the bottom half of the country with limited rewards
• 👥 The Democratic party used to support working people, but by 2016, it became more aligned with the credentialed and professional classes
• 🔄 Intergenerational upward mobility is higher in European countries with strong welfare state, public education, and healthcare
• 📊 2016 election influenced by economic and cultural grievances
• 🏘️ Widening inequalities lead to erosion of common spaces and sense of community

Q&A

• What progressive vision does Sandel emphasize, and how can it be achieved?

  Sandel emphasizes the need for a progressive vision of patriotism, national pride, and a sense of community. This includes renewing civil society by investing in public spaces, schools, and cultural institutions, as well as fostering economic patriotism through domestic manufacturing and public investments in key industries.

• How does widening inequality impact democracy, and what is important in addressing it?

  Widening inequalities lead to the erosion of common spaces and the sense of community, which in turn impacts democracy. It is important to connect economic programs with a sense of community and patriotism. This includes emphasizing the importance of common life and encounter among people from different walks of life.

• What were the influences on the 2016 election, and how did the Democratic party respond?

  The 2016 election was influenced by both economic and cultural grievances. The Democratic party neglected the dignity of work and focused on college degrees, which created a sense of condescension. Donald Trump successfully tapped into these grievances, leading to the need for the Democrats to address them more comprehensively. The notion of the commons and its importance in the context of rising inequality and diminishing social mobility were also discussed.

• Why are intergenerational upward mobility rates higher in European countries than in the United States?

  Intergenerational upward mobility rates are higher in egalitarian European countries due to their strong welfare state, public education, and healthcare. This contrasts with widening inequality and stalled mobility in the United States, prompting the need for the Democratic party to reassess its mission and appeal to address sources of grievance and discontent.

• How has the Democratic party's support base shifted, and what impact has it had?

  The Democratic party's support base shifted from working people to the credentialed and professional classes, leading to a feeling of insult and alienation among the working class. The emphasis on college degrees and globalization contributed to this shift, challenging the belief in social mobility and the possibility of rising in America.

• What are the main grievances that Michael Sandel discusses in the video?

  Sandel discusses the discontent that fueled Trump's campaign, including the crisis of self-government, the unraveling moral fabric of community, the grievances of working people, and the impact of market-friendly globalization. This encompasses the feeling of voicelessness, the hunger for belonging and pride, alienation and insult among the working class, and widening inequality and stalled social mobility.

• 00:00 Michael Sandel discusses the discontent that fueled Trump's campaign, including the crisis of self-government and the unraveling moral fabric of community. Trump tapped into the grievances of working people and the discontent with market-friendly globalization.
• 02:41 The shift in the Democratic party's support base from working people to the credentialed and professional classes has led to a feeling of insult and alienation among the working class. The emphasis on college degrees and globalization has contributed to this shift.
• 05:26 The rates of intergenerational upward mobility are higher in egalitarian European countries than in the United States due to strong welfare state, public education, and healthcare. Widening inequality and stalled mobility have led to demoralization, prompting the need for Democrats to reassess their mission and appeal to address sources of grievance and discontent.
• 08:28 The 2016 election was influenced by both economic and cultural grievances. The Democratic party neglected the dignity of work and focused on college degrees, creating a sense of condescension. Donald Trump successfully tapped into the economic and cultural grievances, which the Democrats have not fully addressed. The notion of the commons is important in the context of rising inequality and diminishing social mobility.
• 11:16 Widening inequalities lead to the erosion of common spaces and sense of community, impacting democracy. Connecting economic rejuvenation with a sense of community and patriotism is important.
• 14:32 Sandel discusses the concept of hyper nationalism and the need for a progressive vision of patriotism, national pride, and a sense of community. This includes renewing civil society, investing in public spaces, and fostering economic patriotism.