C. Flemming Heilmann: Democracy's Greatest Vulnerability

Speaker: C. Flemming Heilmann

Topic: Democracy’s Greatest Vulnerability - The Inadequately Informed Voter

Greek philosophers over 2000 years ago pointed to the many vulnerabilities of democracy - they remain valid to this very day The greatest challenge remains an inadequately informed electorate.

Flemming cites the Greeks along with Adam Smith and more recent sociopolitical thinkers as he laments the failings of our modern American democracy.  His views are divested of party politics and ideology: they are derived from personal and family exposure to fascism, extreme socialism, apartheid and various iterations of capitalism over seven decades on three continents.  Since he earned the right to vote he has not found a political home under our 2-party system and has long been a registered Independent.

Flemming believes that on average we fail to prepare our youth for contributing citizenship as required for a sustainable democracy, he sees our K-12 public schools…