New Issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas Now Available

New Issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas Now Available September 16, 2013 Dear John, A quarter-century ago, one of the most influential white papers in modern American politics was published. "The Politics of Evasion," by William A. Galston and Elaine C. Kamarck, was a wake-up call to a Democratic Party that had lost three straight presidential elections and seemed completely at sea. All these years later, there's another party on a losing streak. And this is why we asked Bill and Elaine to revisit their seminal essay and see how it's held up. We present "The New Politics of Evasion," in which the authors size up what they got right, what they got wrong, and how it came to be that the Republicans became the party that can't face up to uncomfortable truths about itself. The issue next features a very sharp and timely piece on U.S.-Russia relations by Andrew Weiss. While he is tempted to say that as long as Putin is around an enduring improvement in relations is hopeless, he does see some areas where cooperation is possible. We also have Richard V. Reeves, Isabel Sawhill, and Kimberly Howard on what they call the "parenting gap," which leaves millions of children behind long before school has started. It's high time, they write, that progressives get over concerns about appearing to lecture poor parents, while also ensuring that they get the tools to be better parents. Finally, Henry Farrell takes on the new technology intellectuals who purport to explain how technological advances are changing our societies, but all too often settle for attention-grabbing (and meaningless) jargon. In our Responses slot this issue, labor leaders Bruce Raynor and Andy Stern reply to Rich Yeselson's "Fortress Unionism" essay. And as usual, we love our book reviews: Joan Walsh on George Packer. Seyla Benhabib on the recent biography of Albert O. Hirschman. J.J. Goldberg on Daniel Jonah Goldhagen's new book on anti-Semitism. Meg Jacobs on austerity politics. And Diana Wueger on how progressives can change the terms of the gun debate. We have a Facebook page, so please take a moment to "Like" us. If you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us @demjournal. If you're not a subscriber, sign up for a subscription. Or give a tax-deductible donation to keep the magazine going strong! Thank you as always for reading, and enjoy! I'm sure you will. Michael Tomasky Editor FALL 2013: TABLE OF CONTENTS Features The New Politics of Evasion by William A. Galston & Elaine C. Kamarck New thinking and favorable demography have largely addressed the Democrats’ old problems. Now it’s the Republicans who can’t face reality. Winter Has Come by Andrew S. Weiss The "reset" with Russia worked, until Putin sabotaged it. Now the relationship is in tatters. Here's how to save it—if we even want to bother. The Parenting Gap by Richard V. Reeves, Isabel Sawhill, & Kimberly Howard The first two years of life are crucial. We need to help lower-income parents do better—and demand that they do. The Tech Intellectuals by Henry Farrell The good, bad, and ugly among our new breed of cyber-critics, and the economic imperatives that drive them. Responses Build Bridges, Not Fortresses by Bruce Raynor & Andy Stern Waiting for the workers to rise up isn't a new idea—it's the same idea that got labor into its mess in the first place. A response to Rich Yeselson. Reviews Unwound by Joan Walsh A review of The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer Hatreds Ancient and New by J.J. Goldberg A review of The Devil That Never Dies: The Rise and Threat of Global Antisemitism by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen Oracle's Odyssey by Seyla Benhabib A review of Worldly Philosopher: The Odyssey of Albert O. Hirschman by Jeremy Adelman Fiscal Drag by Meg Jacobs A review of Debtors' Prison: The Politics of Austerity Versus Possibility by Robert Kuttner and Austerity: The History of A Dangerous Idea by Mark Blyth Pistol-Whipped by Diana Wueger A review of The Last Gun: How Changes in the Gun Industry Are Killing Americans and What It Will Take to Stop It by Tom Diaz Recounting Life of the Party by Ethan Porter Party platforms don't matter—but they can, and they should. A platform-writing process that included party faithful could energize our politics. About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as "what Obama's reading." dajoi@democracyjournal.org http://www.democracyjournal.org

New Issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas Now Available December 11, 2013 Dear John, Five years ago, the Tea Party burst onto the scene, animated by resentment toward Barack Obama and economic anxiety. Far from a fleeting populist eruption, it has been arguably the defining political movement of our time—a sobering thought considering what we hoped the world would look like after Obama's historic 2008 election. A government shutdown and a near-default later, it must be asked: Has the Tea Party finally exhausted itself? Or is its grip on the conservative establishment as tight as ever? We assembled a symposium of some of the finest thinkers and writers on politics and conservatism—Theda Skocpol, Alan Abramowitz, Sean Wilentz, Leslie H. Gelb & Michael Kramer, Christopher Parker, and Dave Weigel—to tackle these and other questions about Tea Party America. Next, three very sharp essays: First, from Nick Hanauer & Eric Beinhocker, is a vital interrogation of the way we measure growth and prosperity—and how progressives can redefine those terms and make our country a more just place. Next is Jonathan Lusthaus on the growing problem of cybercrime, and why we need to rethink our defensive approach to the problem. Finally, Heather Hurlburt ruminates on the changing nature of warfare in an age of unbound drones and limitless surveillance—a subject that will likely be at the center of our security debates for years to come. In our previous issue, William Galston & Elaine Kamarck wrote about what today's GOP can learn from the Democrats of 25 years ago. In this issue, Ramesh Ponnuru and Jamelle Bouie each give their take on Galston & Kamarck's argument. Elsewhere, Jillian York responds to Henry Farrell's much-discussed piece on technology intellectuals. The reviews, as usual, are stellar. Jeffrey Goldberg on Pakistan's dysfunctional relationship with the United States. Sheri Berman on Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, and how their debate informs our politics today. Mike Abramowitz on Raphael Lemkin, the man who coined the term "genocide." And Emily Bell on the twilight of the Rupert Murdoch empire. It's the season of giving, so we hope you'll consider giving a tax-deductible donation or signing up for a subscription, for yourself or a loved one. If you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us @demjournal. And we have a Facebook page, so please take a moment to "Like" us. We are also debuting a brand new mobile site. If you visit our website on your mobile device, you'll find reading Democracy on your smartphone a smoother, more user-friendly experience. Thank you as always for reading, and enjoy! I'm sure you will. Michael Tomasky Editor WINTER 2014: TABLE OF CONTENTS Symposium Is the Party Over? The Tea Party came out of the October fiscal fiasco looking pretty awful—to everyone, that is, except Tea Partiers. With establishment conservatives now starting to push back, what comes next? Our experts examine the movement's staying power, its historical antecedents, its foreign-policy impacts, and its chances of nominating the GOP candidate in 2016. Why the Tea Party's Hold Persists by Theda Skocpol Republican Leaders' Two Choices by Alan I. Abramowitz The Anti-Jacksonians by Sean Wilentz R.I.P. Republican Internationalism by Leslie H. Gelb & Michael Kramer Will the Tea Party Outlast Obama? by Christopher S. Parker The Tea Party and the 2016 Nomination by Dave Weigel Features Capitalism Redefined by Nick Hanauer & Eric Beinhocker What prosperity is, where growth comes from, why markets work—and how we resolve the tension between a prosperous world and a moral one. Electronic Ghosts by Jonathan Lusthaus A technological approach to cybercrime will only lead to a tech arms race. We need a new plan that starts with figuring out who cybercriminals are. Battlefield Earth by Heather Hurlburt This year, Congress will reconsider our expansive, post-9/11 definition of war. It must start with a realistic assessment of the existing threats. Responses Evasive Maneuvers by Ramesh Ponnuru Today's GOP hasn't bottomed out, but it still needs to be more open to change than it is. A response to William A. Galston and Elaine C. Kamarck from the right. Demography Is Not Destiny by Jamelle Bouie It might be true that the GOP's appeal will remain limited to whites. But it might also be true that the definition of "white" will change. A response to William A. Galston and Elaine C. Kamarck from the left. Closed Network by Jillian C. York Technology may be redefining our intellectual life, but some things never change—especially for women. A response to Henry Farrell. Reviews Ignorance, Meet Self-Pity by Jeffrey Goldberg A review of Magnificent Delusions: Pakistan, the United States, and an Epic History of Misunderstanding by Husain Haqqani Paine and Burke Now by Sheri Berman A review of The Great Debate: Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, and the Birth of Right and Left by Yuval Levin Lonely Prophet by Mike Abramowitz A review of Totally Unofficial: The Autobiography of Raphael Lemkin edited by Donna-Lee Frieze News Corpse by Emily Bell A review of Murdoch's World: The Last of the Old Media Empires by David Folkenflik Recounting Follow the Leader by Michael Tomasky Why haven't today's right-wingers crossed Ronald Reagan off their list of idols? And could our side learn something from them? About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as "what Obama's reading." dajoi@democracyjournal.org http://www.democracyjournal.org

Dear Democracy Reader,

When we think about fighting poverty, we tend to think first and automatically of programs. Head Start. Job Corps. Medicare. Medicaid. But there's another way to fight poverty, and we've been doing it for decades, and arguably with more success than the programs: through the tax code.

In our latest issue, Jason Furman, Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers, unveils the Administration's new proposal in the continuing War on Poverty: an expansion of the earned-income and child tax credits. These tax credits have been instrumental in fighting poverty for decades, and have consistently won bipartisan support. The time has come, Furman argues, to expand them to benefit millions more.

Next, four very sharp essays: First, from Mike Konczal, is a sharp critique of the conservative fantasy of voluntarism--that voluntary organizations and the private sector are enough to provide social insurance for the public. Next is Brian Katulis on the progressive drift toward disengagement on foreign policy--and why that's a dangerous thing. Richard D. Kahlenberg writes on an important American institution that rarely gets the attention it deserves: the community college system. Finally, Molly Ball pens a response to our previous issue's symposium on the Tea Party.

The reviews, as usual, are stellar. James Surowiecki on the history of economic forecasting. Molly Worthen on religion and the postwar intellectuals. Tom Perriello on our affluent Congress. Vanessa Williamson on grassroots movements for the one percent. And Monica Potts on poverty journalism.

Readers like you make Democracy possible, so please consider giving a tax-deductible donation or signing up for a subscription, for yourself or a loved one. If you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us @demjournal. And we have a Facebook page, so please take a moment to "Like" us.

Thank you as always for reading, and enjoy!

Michael Tomasky
Editor

SPRING 2014: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

Poverty and the Tax Code by Jason Furman
Tax credits have arguably done more to reduce poverty than programs have. It's time to expand them once again.

The Voluntarism Fantasy by Mike Konczal
Conservatives dream of returning to a world where private charity fulfilled all public needs. But that world never existed -- and we're better for it.

Against Disengagement by Brian Katulis
Today's progressives are often as muddled in their thinking about U.S. involvement in the world as conservatives are divided.

Community of Equals? by Richard D. Kahlenberg
Few elites give much thought to community colleges. But they educate 44 percent of our undergraduates -- and they need help.

Response

Weak Tea by Molly Ball
Far from getting stronger, the Tea Party is now just another faction within the GOP, and an arriviste one at that. A response to the "Is the Party Over?" symposium.

Reviews

The Dismal Art by James Surowiecki
A review of Fortune Tellers: The Story of America’s First Economic Forecasters by Walter A. Friedman

Faithless by Molly Worthen
A review of The Twilight of the American Enlightenment: The 1950s and the Crisis of Liberal Belief by George M. Marsden

Capital Hill by Tom Perriello
A review of White-Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policy Making by Nicholas Carnes

Brother, Can You Spare a Tax Cut? by Vanessa Williamson
A review of Rich People’s Movements: Grassroots Campaigns to Untax the One Percent by Isaac William Martin

The Other Americans by Monica Potts
A review of The American Way of Poverty: How the Other Half Still Lives by Sasha Abramsky

Recounting

Virtual Brutality by Jack Meserve
For many women, the Internet has become a pit of sexual harassment and death threats. Government—and tech companies—can do something about it.

About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as "what Obama's reading."

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Dear Democracy Reader,

National service is a cause that has long enjoyed broad bipartisan support—support that has somehow failed to translate into political reality. For the last 30 years, presidents have called for expanding national service. Yet all we’ve seen is incremental progress, and we’re still a long way from a truly comprehensive national service program.

In this issue, we take on this challenge. In conjunction with the Franklin Project, we present a symposium on national service, featuring General Stanley McChrystal, former Senator Harris Wofford, Clive Belfield, and Shirley Sagawa. With high school and college graduates facing a bleak job market, and rural and urban communities still needing assistance with economic recovery, we believe there is no better time than now to embed national service in the American ethos.

The issue also features several terrific essays. The distinguished Lawrence H. Summers reviews the intellectual book of the season, Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century—a work that Summers deems hugely important, even if its theorizing doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Our editorial chair (and esteemed Washington Post columnist) E.J. Dionne Jr. has a new essay assessing the emergent reform conservatives. Michael Cohen of the Century Foundation makes a case for a smaller Army. Cristina Rodríguez of Yale Law argues why immigration policy should be left to state and local governments.

There’s more: Paul Starr on the New Democrats. Todd Gitlin on the deep inequalities of American life. Rachel Kleinfeld on progressives and disengagement. Diana Carew on the problem with community colleges. And Bernard Schwartz on the rise of our transactional corporate culture.

Readers like you make Democracy possible, so please consider giving a tax-deductible donation or signing up for a subscription, for yourself or a loved one. If you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us @demjournal. And we have a Facebook page, so please take a moment to "Like" us.

Thank you as always for reading, and enjoy!

Michael Tomasky,
Editor

SUMMER 2014: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Symposium

A Nation in Service
A large-scale program of national service would benefit the young people doing the work, the folks being helped—and, most of all, our increasingly divided country. We have today far more young people anxious to serve than we have slots for them to do so. What’s needed most now isn’t money. It’s political will.

Securing the American Character by Gen. Stanley McChrystal

Can National Service Become Integral to Our Culture? by Harris Wofford

The Economics: Why National Service Is Worth It by Clive Belfield

From Idea to Reality: A National-Service Platform by Shirley Sagawa

Features

The Reformicons by E.J. Dionne Jr.
We all wonder if the reform conservatives can change their movement. But first, we ought to wonder if they really want to.

Law and Borders by Cristina Rodríguez
Leaving immigration policy to the states may sound scary. But not every state is Arizona, and immigration federalism can work.

A Reality-Based Army by Michael Cohen
Iraq and Afghanistan notwithstanding, our modern (and happy) reality is that war is on the decline. We need an army sized to that reality.

Responses

Empathy and the Water’s Edge by Rachel Kleinfeld
Progressives can’t check their values at the door just because the President is a Democrat. A response to Brian Katulis.

Course Correction by Diana G. Carew
Community colleges should be matching students to jobs, not funneling everyone into a four-year degree. A response to Richard D. Kahlenberg.

Reviews

The Inequality Puzzle by Lawrence H. Summers
A review of Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

From the Frame-Maker by Paul Starr
A review of The New Democrats and the Return to Power by Al From

The Indignado by Todd Gitlin
A review of The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap by Matt Taibbi

Recounting

Just Say Yes by Bernard Schwartz
The rise of a purely transactional culture—unfettered by obligation and accountability—lies at the heart of our decline. How do we reverse it?

About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred.
Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as "what Obama's reading."

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Dear Democracy Reader,

In the age of smartphones, disruptive sharing economy apps, and big data, government must keep pace with technology in order to play the role that it must: to ensure that the playing field is level and open to all, to set and enforce clear rules of the road, and to protect the public from any negative effects of these advances. But like their IT departments, government regulators are struggling to keep up.

In this issue, we venture onto this new terrain for government policy. In conjunction with the Georgetown Center on Business and Public Policy, we present a symposium on “Regulating the Digital Economy,” featuring Jessica Rosenworcel, Larry Downes, John W. Mayo, Karen Kornbluh, Beth Simone Noveck, and Cass R. Sunstein. Should the government be regulating Uber, or Airbnb, or maybe some types of businesses but not others? How do we protect values we hold dear—fairness, competition, equality, and privacy, to name a few—without thwarting innovation?

If you’re in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, please join us for a panel discussion about these topics and more, moderated by E.J. Dionne Jr. and keynoted by FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. Click here to RSVP.

The new issue also features several terrific essays. Gara LaMarche of Democracy Alliance looks at the role of foundations and philanthropists in our democracy—and asks whether they have too much sway over policy. Ben Merriman wades into the thicket of regulation governing genetic research and suggests a surprising alternative. Sue Holmberg and Mark Schmitt tackle the problem of exorbitant CEO pay, and explain why past attempts to curb it have failed. And Joy-Ann Reid of MSNBC responds to E.J. Dionne Jr.’s essay on the “reformicons” in the last issue.

There’s more: Jacob Weisberg on Rick Perlstein’s Reagan. Karen Ho on Wall Street’s young recruits. Dayo Olopade on China’s investments in Africa. David France on David Boies and Ted Olson’s book about the same-sex marriage fight.

Readers like you make Democracy possible, so please consider giving a tax-deductible donation or signing up for a subscription, for yourself or a loved one. If you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us @demjournal. And we have a Facebook page, so please take a moment to “Like” us.

Thank you as always for reading, and enjoy!

Michael Tomasky,
Editor

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FALL 2014: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Symposium

Regulating the Digital Economy
The role of regulation in our economy is simple: to protect consumers and to ensure fair competition. But as the economy has become increasingly powered by innovations that seem to pop up by the day, government—a perpetual laggard when it comes to technology—has failed to keep up. How can regulators protect the values of fairness, competition, and consumer protection without impeding innovation?

Sandbox Thinking by Jessica Rosenworcel

Managing the Big Bang: The Regulator’s Dilemma by Larry Downes

Beyond Ideology: A Results-Based Approach by John W. Mayo

Beyond Borders: Fighting Data Protectionism by Karen Kornbluh

Bridging the Knowledge Gap: In Search of Expertise by Beth Simone Noveck

Democratizing Regulation, Digitally by Cass R. Sunstein

Features

Democracy and the Donor Class by Gara LaMarche
Foundations and philanthropists do much good, but these unelected actors have acquired enormous power to shape policy. Should they be reined in?

The Overpaid CEO by Susan Holmberg & Mark Schmitt
There have been many attempts to curb exorbitant executive pay. But we won’t fix the problem until we address the nature of the corporation.

Genetic Code by Ben Merriman
Our regulatory regime for genetic research is a confusing thicket of rulings and guidelines. But there’s an elegant solution to the problem: copyright law.

Responses

Race and the Reformicons by Joy-Ann Reid
The reform conservatives are tackling a number of issues that could change their movement. But there’s one matter on which their silence is notable. A response to E.J. Dionne Jr.

Reviews

A Bridge Too Far by Jacob Weisberg
A review of The Invisible Bridge by Rick Perlstein

The Pups of Wall Street by Karen Ho
A review of Young Money by Kevin Roose

Enter the Dragon by Dayo Olopade
A review of China’s Second Continent by Howard French

Stonewalled by David France
A review of Redeeming the Dream by David Boies and Theodore B. Olson

Recounting

Self-Made in America by Elbert Ventura
Self-reliance is a good thing—but its fetishization has created an elite oblivious to the role luck and privilege play in people’s lives.

About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as “what Obama's reading.”

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Dear Democracy Reader,

In the wake of the Iraq War, the neoconservatives behind that debacle were sidelined from our national-security conversations. As ISIS has strengthened and the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated, the neocons have reasserted themselves—and this time they seem to have found receptive audiences in President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other Democrats.

In this issue, Leslie H. Gelb, president emeritus of the Council of Foreign Relations and Democracy advisory committee member, takes aim at the rejuvenated neocons and puts forward an alternative path for progressives to follow: a new American realism.

Next: three terrific features. First, Rich Yeselson dives deep into the world and work of the New Left historians and ponders their legacy. Next, Margo Schlanger calls for reviving civil liberties as a priority in our national security apparatus—and that begins with getting more civil libertarians in government. Finally, Samuel R. Bagenstos offers his solution to the problem of the “disability cliff,” that parlous threshold when state programs for disabled children disappear and disabled adults are left to navigate a confusing bureaucracy.

There’s more: Rick Perlstein on the reason for Reagan. Matthew Duss on American progressives and Israel. Linda Robinson on the rise of drone warfare. Lee Drutman on Zephyr Teachout’s new book. Beth A. Simmons on human rights law and its discontents. And Christine Rosen on automation and what it means to be human.

Finally, do check out our website for exclusive web content. There’s Marvin Ammori and Adam B. Kern on the need to rethink our regulatory frameworks in the digital age; Eric Alterman on why liberals need radicals—sometimes; Monica Potts on who the poor are and who gets to define them; and, last but not least, our blog, Arguments, where Nathan Pippenger files regular dispatches from a distinctly Democracy perspective.

Readers like you make Democracy possible, so please consider giving a tax-deductible donation or signing up for a subscription, for yourself or a loved one. If you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us @demjournal. We also have a Facebook page, so please take a moment to “Like” us. And we have a new app for the iPhone! Download it now at the Apple Store.

Thank you as always for reading, and enjoy!

Michael Tomasky,
Editor

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WINTER 2015: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

Countering the Neocon Comeback by Leslie H. Gelb
The neocons are back, and they’re trying to get Hillary Clinton’s ear. Which makes this exactly the moment for Clinton to forge her own distinct path.

What New Left History Gave Us by Rich Yeselson
The New Left historians’ withering critiques of liberalism have proven enormously influential. But do they hold up in our more conservative age?

Infiltrate the NSA by Margo Schlanger
To re-establish the balance between security and civil liberties, we don’t just need more laws. We need more civil libertarians in the security state.

The Disability Cliff by Samuel R. Bagenstos
We’re pretty good about caring for our disabled citizens—as long as they’re children. It’s time to put equal thought into their adulthoods.

Responses

The Reason for Reagan by Rick Perlstein
Understanding Ronald Reagan requires looking beyond clichés to the cultural climate of the time. A response to Jacob Weisberg.

Reviews

American Progressives and Israel by Matthew Duss
A review of Making David Into Goliath: How the World Turned Against Israel by Joshua Muravchik and Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel by Max Blumenthal

Pilotless Program by Linda Robinson
A review of Predator: The Secret Origins of the Drone Revolution by Richard Whittle

Bring Back Corruption! by Lee Drutman
A review of Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizens United by Zephyr Teachout

What’s Right with Human Rights by Beth A. Simmons
A review of The Twilight of Human Rights Law by Eric A. Posner

Automation for the People? by Christine Rosen
A review of The Glass Cage: Automation and Us by Nicholas Carr

Recounting

The Age of Insolubility by Michael Tomasky
The world seemed to spiral into crisis this past summer. But what’s really new aren’t the crises—it’s the fact that they are now unignorable.

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About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as “what Obama's reading.”

---

Dear Democracy Reader,

In the wake of the Iraq War, the neoconservatives behind that debacle were sidelined from our national-security conversations. As ISIS has strengthened and the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated, the neocons have reasserted themselves—and this time they seem to have found receptive audiences in President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other Democrats.

In this issue, Leslie H. Gelb, president emeritus of the Council of Foreign Relations and Democracy advisory committee member, takes aim at the rejuvenated neocons and puts forward an alternative path for progressives to follow: a new American realism.

Next: three terrific features. First, Rich Yeselson dives deep into the world and work of the New Left historians and ponders their legacy. Next, Margo Schlanger calls for reviving civil liberties as a priority in our national security apparatus—and that begins with getting more civil libertarians in government. Finally, Samuel R. Bagenstos offers his solution to the problem of the “disability cliff,” that parlous threshold when state programs for disabled children disappear and disabled adults are left to navigate a confusing bureaucracy.

There’s more: Rick Perlstein on the reason for Reagan. Matthew Duss on American progressives and Israel. Linda Robinson on the rise of drone warfare. Lee Drutman on Zephyr Teachout’s new book. Beth A. Simmons on human rights law and its discontents. And Christine Rosen on automation and what it means to be human.

Finally, do check out our website for exclusive web content. There’s Marvin Ammori and Adam B. Kern on the need to rethink our regulatory frameworks in the digital age; Eric Alterman on why liberals need radicals—sometimes; Monica Potts on who the poor are and who gets to define them; and, last but not least, our blog, Arguments, where Nathan Pippenger files regular dispatches from a distinctly Democracy perspective.

Readers like you make Democracy possible, so please consider giving a tax-deductible donation or signing up for a subscription, for yourself or a loved one. If you're on Twitter, be sure to follow us @demjournal. We also have a Facebook page, so please take a moment to “Like” us. And we have a new app for the iPhone! Download it now at the Apple Store.

Thank you as always for reading, and enjoy!

Michael Tomasky,
Editor

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WINTER 2015: TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

Countering the Neocon Comeback by Leslie H. Gelb
The neocons are back, and they’re trying to get Hillary Clinton’s ear. Which makes this exactly the moment for Clinton to forge her own distinct path.

What New Left History Gave Us by Rich Yeselson
The New Left historians’ withering critiques of liberalism have proven enormously influential. But do they hold up in our more conservative age?

Infiltrate the NSA by Margo Schlanger
To re-establish the balance between security and civil liberties, we don’t just need more laws. We need more civil libertarians in the security state.

The Disability Cliff by Samuel R. Bagenstos
We’re pretty good about caring for our disabled citizens—as long as they’re children. It’s time to put equal thought into their adulthoods.

Responses

The Reason for Reagan by Rick Perlstein
Understanding Ronald Reagan requires looking beyond clichés to the cultural climate of the time. A response to Jacob Weisberg.

Reviews

American Progressives and Israel by Matthew Duss
A review of Making David Into Goliath: How the World Turned Against Israel by Joshua Muravchik and Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel by Max Blumenthal

Pilotless Program by Linda Robinson
A review of Predator: The Secret Origins of the Drone Revolution by Richard Whittle

Bring Back Corruption! by Lee Drutman
A review of Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizens United by Zephyr Teachout

What’s Right with Human Rights by Beth A. Simmons
A review of The Twilight of Human Rights Law by Eric A. Posner

Automation for the People? by Christine Rosen
A review of The Glass Cage: Automation and Us by Nicholas Carr

Recounting

The Age of Insolubility by Michael Tomasky
The world seemed to spiral into crisis this past summer. But what’s really new aren’t the crises—it’s the fact that they are now unignorable.

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About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as “what Obama's reading.”

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Dear Democracy Reader,

We're proud to present the newest issue of Democracy. Our Summer 2015 edition features provocative and penetrating essays on economics, energy, foreign policy, and more:

• Nick Hanauer and David Rolf look at how our changing economy has given rise to a nation of freelancers and contractors, and they call for a new safety net, one where part-time employees receive some benefits, where those benefits are portable from job to job, and more.
• In a new installment in the "Our Digital Future" series, White House veteran Ron Klain explains why the Internet hasn't been the great equalizer so many hoped for, and what might make it so.
• Austerity and the failures of the technocratic elite have sparked a populist backlash in Europe. Esteemed scholar and translator Arthur Goldhammer examines France and finds ominous signs.
• Michael Levi of the Council on Foreign Relations tells the story of how environmentalists fell out of love with natural gas, and why the energy source can still help us get to a carbon-free future.
• Jim Sleeper of Yale makes the case for the Puritans, a group that has had a terrible reputation since Mencken. It's high time we rediscover the good.
• Geneive Abdo of the Stimson Center on why the Gulf States are unifying — and why they don't need Washington's help.

And we have our usual selection of sharp reviews:

• Health-care expert Adrianna McIntyre on Steven Brill, and why his diagnoses of the ills in our health-care system are more useful than his prescriptions.
• Kim Ghattas of the BBC on the prospects for a women's sexual revolution in the Middle East, and its surprising potential partner: men.
• David Greenberg of Rutgers on the BDS movement in academia, and how its virulence may infect mainstream politics.
• Amanda Hollis-Brusky, professor at Pomona College, on the Supreme Court and its overstated role in our politics.

Nathan Pippenger at our Arguments blog has been covering everything from Christian thinkers who want to retreat from democracy to how Charles Murray is indicative of the problems in Washington's "ideas industry."

For readers in the Washington, DC area, we will be co-hosting an event with Third Way on Friday, June 19 to discuss how to rebuild trust in government through transparency. See more and RSVP here.

Readers like you make Democracy possible. Subscribe. Donate. Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook.

As always, thank you for reading!

Sincerely,

Michael Tomasky

Read Democracy's Summer 2015 issue now.

---

About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as “what Obama's reading.”

---

Dear Democracy Reader,

We're proud to present the newest issue of Democracy. Our Summer 2015 edition features provocative and penetrating essays on economics, energy, foreign policy, and more:

• Nick Hanauer and David Rolf look at how our changing economy has given rise to a nation of freelancers and contractors, and they call for a new safety net, one where part-time employees receive some benefits, where those benefits are portable from job to job, and more.
• In a new installment in the "Our Digital Future" series, White House veteran Ron Klain explains why the Internet hasn't been the great equalizer so many hoped for, and what might make it so.
• Austerity and the failures of the technocratic elite have sparked a populist backlash in Europe. Esteemed scholar and translator Arthur Goldhammer examines France and finds ominous signs.
• Michael Levi of the Council on Foreign Relations tells the story of how environmentalists fell out of love with natural gas, and why the energy source can still help us get to a carbon-free future.
• Jim Sleeper of Yale makes the case for the Puritans, a group that has had a terrible reputation since Mencken. It's high time we rediscover the good.
• Geneive Abdo of the Stimson Center on why the Gulf States are unifying — and why they don't need Washington's help.

And we have our usual selection of sharp reviews:

• Health-care expert Adrianna McIntyre on Steven Brill, and why his diagnoses of the ills in our health-care system are more useful than his prescriptions.
• Kim Ghattas of the BBC on the prospects for a women's sexual revolution in the Middle East, and its surprising potential partner: men.
• David Greenberg of Rutgers on the BDS movement in academia, and how its virulence may infect mainstream politics.
• Amanda Hollis-Brusky, professor at Pomona College, on the Supreme Court and its overstated role in our politics.

Nathan Pippenger at our Arguments blog has been covering everything from Christian thinkers who want to retreat from democracy to how Charles Murray is indicative of the problems in Washington's "ideas industry."

For readers in the Washington, DC area, we will be co-hosting an event with Third Way on Friday, June 19 to discuss how to rebuild trust in government through transparency. See more and RSVP here.

Readers like you make Democracy possible. Subscribe. Donate. Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook.

As always, thank you for reading!

Sincerely,

Michael Tomasky

Read Democracy's Summer 2015 issue now.

---

About Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas is a quarterly journal of progressive thought edited by Michael Tomasky. E.J. Dionne Jr., of The Washington Post and the Brookings Institution, serves as Editorial Chair. Founded by Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny, Democracy serves as a place where ideas can be developed and important debates can be spurred. Democracy is the progressive analogue of conservative journals such as Commentary, the Public Interest, and the National Interest, and it showcases breakthrough thinking on the major domestic and foreign policy issues of our time. Democracy is sold in bookstores nationwide, and its readers—in print and at www.democracyjournal.org—can be found in 90 countries around the world. It was named Best New Publication by the Utne Independent Press Awards in 2008, and has been described by Politico as “what Obama's reading.”

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