I’m happy with how this turned out, here’s one episode:
I think we are overestimating the dangers of American democracy. The intellectual class is very pessimistic. They are not used to hard and falling, but they have been for most of the world’s history. It’s okay to think that’s not fun. But by breaking up and yelling at each other, we actually work things out and eventually move forward. It’s not always the right way. I don’t always like the decisions he makes. But I think American democracy will be fine.
Polarization has its advantages. In most cases, you say what you think, and sooner or later, someone wins. Abortion is very polarized, for example. I’m not saying which side you should think is right, but the states are reevaluating it. Kansas recently voted to legalize abortion, and Arizona is in the middle of the debate. In time, it will be resolved—somehow. Taking things out is less.
At that time, consideration for your partners is excessive. Look at Germany, which has a non-partisan, non-discriminatory politics. They have every decision wrong. Their whole strategy of buying cheap energy from Russia to sell to China was a big mistake. They are betting a lot of their economy on it, and neither of these two things will work. They also have no war at all. It’s not like, “Okay, they’re not spending enough money.” They actually had soldiers without guns that they were training and were forced to use broomsticks.
Germany has really suffered and will not face it. But if you listen to their politicians speak – and I understand German – they always sound intelligent and rational. They can use a dose of polarization, but they are afraid because of their history, I get it. But if you look at their politics, you end up liking ours, I would say.
I would note that the various German “centrist” or “centrist coalition” regimes have brought us the AfP, which is extremely divisive and is considered an extreme party to watch out for.
And this:
What art do you spend your whole life honing?
Shooting a basketball. I did that for a very long time, without eating or breathing. I’m not very good at it.
I started doing it when I was eight. We moved near the house with the oven, and all the other children would gather there and play. It was a social thing, and I started doing it. I’ve been keeping it going in all the different places I’ve lived. The only country where I could not continue this practice was Germany. But when I lived in New Zealand, I made a special point about it. Good exercise, it’s relaxing, you get to be outside. It’s a little cold today, but I did it yesterday, and I’ll do it tomorrow.
It is important to repeatedly do something you are not good at. Most successful people know what they are doing, but if so everything they do, they lose their humility. They find it difficult to understand a large part of the world that does not have their talent or is not perfect. It helps you keep things in balance.
I am not badly in it. I’ve gotten better, I mean lately. But no one can say that I am really beautiful.
It’s interesting throughout, as they like to say.
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