Steve Teles on cost-disease socialism, why American political parties need factions, and why abundance advocates should create their own faction.

Steve Teles on cost-disease socialism, why American political parties need factions, and why abundance advocates should create their own faction.

Author: Virginia Postrel November 1, 2024 Duration: 58:16

This is the first of two conversations with Steve Teles, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University and the Niskanen Center. In this conversation, which was recorded on September 13, we talk about why American political parties need more factions, why the abundance movement needs to be one,  and how scarcity emerged when, as Steve says, “we traded majority tyranny for minority tyranny.” 

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Come see me on Sunday

On Sunday, November 3, I will be selling and signing copies of The Fabric of Civilization and The Power of Glamour at the Southern California Handweavers’ Guild’s Weaving & Fiber Festival (WeFF) at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Admission and parking are free. Doors open at 10, and it’s a fun day for anyone with an interest in fiber arts. I will be working in the members’ boutique, where you can also buy beautiful handwoven items that make great holiday and hostess gifts and vintage garments, made from the 1940s to the 1970s with handwoven cloth, at incredibly low prices.

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In Virginia's Podcast: Virginia Postrel interviews interesting people, author and cultural observer Virginia Postrel sits down with a wide array of thinkers, makers, and doers. These conversations explore the intersections of technology, culture, and society, digging into how creativity and enterprise shape our world and drive progress. Each episode feels like a thoughtful, meandering discussion with a curious friend, one who asks the questions that get to the heart of what people are building, thinking, and discovering. You’ll hear from innovators explaining the human side of their work, artists discussing the systems around their craft, and analysts tracing the subtle forces that transform our daily lives. The tone is engaging and substantive, avoiding simple soundbites for deeper exploration. This podcast is for anyone who finds fascination in the mechanisms of a dynamic culture, from the design of our cities to the ethics of new technologies. Virginia’s skill as an interviewer allows her guests to unfold their ideas naturally, making complex topics accessible and personally relevant. It’s a consistent source of perspective on how change happens and who is behind it, offering listeners not just information, but a framework for understanding the ongoing conversation between progress and tradition. Tune in for episodes that consistently leave you with something new to consider about the world taking shape around us.
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