The idea that history is radically open, that anything can happen,

upset some people, you know, the idea that we could, yes,

we could, this could be the beginning of the end of American democracy.

We could be at the beginning of the end of American power.

I mean, there are many negative scenarios you can,

you can project into the future.

But I, but I wanted to tell readers that they're positive scenarios as well,

and that it's in their hands.

Hey, everybody, Mary M. Williams in here.

Thank you so much for being with me today.

I read an article recently by a man named Matthew McWilliams,

and he was talking about authoritarianism and democracy and listen to this.

He says what I found is that approximately 18% of Americans are highly

disposed to authoritarianism according to their answers to four simple survey

questions used by social scientists to estimate that disposition.

A further 23% or so are just one step below them on the authoritarian scale.

This roughly 40% of Americans tend to favor authority, obedience and uniformity

over freedom, independence and diversity.

I don't know about you, but I find that so scary, somewhat horrifying.

What is happening?

What is this ideal of democracy that so many Americans are willing to turn away from?

What is it about an open society where everybody gets to think whatever they want to

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