Democracy Doesn’t Work Without a Shared Language (2/3): IP, XML, and the Grammar of Governance
How a shared language lets democracy scale Before the Internet became the Internet, it was a patchwork of isolated networks. […]
Too Many to Represent: A Structural Fix for a Cognitive Crisis
Late in the summer of 1787, as the Constitutional Convention strained toward consensus, one thing united even its most fractious
Too Many to Represent: A Structural Fix for a Cognitive Crisis Read More »
Waffle House and the Vanishing Value of Labor
Waffle House may seem like an unusual candidate for economic analysis, but as a fixed cultural and commercial institution in
Waffle House and the Vanishing Value of Labor Read More »
We the Justices: How the Supreme Court Became a Legal Priesthood
When the Founders envisioned the U.S. Supreme Court in 1787, they likely imagined a bench of wise, grounded citizens—people deeply
We the Justices: How the Supreme Court Became a Legal Priesthood Read More »
Why the South Seceded: Losing All Three Branches of Government (in 8 graphs)
We often explain the Civil War as a conflict over slavery, and while that’s true, the deeper constitutional rupture came
Why the South Seceded: Losing All Three Branches of Government (in 8 graphs) Read More »
The Difference Engine: Why Our Minds Prefer “Either/Or” Over Complexity
“The human mind is a difference engine—but it’s built for two speeds: friend or foe. Real wisdom is learning how
The Difference Engine: Why Our Minds Prefer “Either/Or” Over Complexity Read More »
Gramsci, Marxism, and the Philosophical Foundations—and Dilemmas—of DEI
I first learned about Antonio Gramsci over donuts with two friends at one of our “Donuts for Democracy” discussions. We
Gramsci, Marxism, and the Philosophical Foundations—and Dilemmas—of DEI Read More »
The Battle of Athens: When American Veterans Took Up Arms for Democracy at Home
On a recent visit to Athens, Tennessee, my daughter and I discovered a piece of history that few remember but
The Battle of Athens: When American Veterans Took Up Arms for Democracy at Home Read More »
When the Game Off the Field Goes Too Far: The Unfortunate Situation of Nico Iamaleava
There’s a sadness surrounding the recent developments involving University of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava—and not the kind that comes from
When the Game Off the Field Goes Too Far: The Unfortunate Situation of Nico Iamaleava Read More »
From Handmade to Mindmade: Preserving Human Creativity in the Age of AI
What we lose when machines begin to create for us When we say a product is handmade, we imply craftsmanship
From Handmade to Mindmade: Preserving Human Creativity in the Age of AI Read More »