Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

The mayor of New York City recently announced a plan to build 5 government-run grocery stores in New York City.  While the idea of providing affordable groceries to city residents may seem feasible on paper, the likely reality is far different.  Today, we explore this idea and discuss how such a concept would be enacted and the likelihood of delivering on its promise.  Could these stores lower grocery bills or might they lead to empty shelves and fewer choices?  We are pleased to welcome Emma Camp, senior newsletter editor at the Wall Street Journal, as our guest this week.

Poll after poll show young people view socialism more favorably than even capitalism.  It's a stunning trend for which the root cause needs to be explored and understood.  From social and economic inequality to the failed "promises" socialism pretends to offer to cultural and educational influence, the cause for this trend is quite vast.  To help us understand why socialism appears favorable to this segment of our population and what past experiences will teach us about its further spread, we are delighted to welcome Sunny Rose Kutcher as our guest today.  Sunny is the CEO of Young Americans Against Socialism.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution can be viewed as companion documents in that one lays out grievances as cause for independence and the other established institutions to protect our rights and freedoms so eloquently described in the Declaration.  In our current political climate, it is important to understand this companion relationship  especially when there's a renewed interest in political systems that are antithetical to those two documents.  What happens if we allowed the destruction of those Constitutional institutions that protect our rights?  What happens if we were to further concentrate political power in the hands of the state?  To lend his expertise to this topic, we are honored to welcome Dr. Eric Patterson, President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, as our special guest this week.

Today, we contrast the political philosophies of two of history's most influential thinkers: James Madison and Karl Marx.  Their core philosophies could not be more different. Madison believed concentrated government power posed a fundamental threat to liberty.  Marx argued against private property and capitalism, arguing both created fundamental inequalities.  With the current rise of socialism and Marxism, especially in younger Americans, this conversation could not be more pertinent.  To lead this conversation with our student panel, we are honored to welcome Dan Mahoney, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Assumption University and Senior Research Fellow for the Heritage Foundation's B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies.

Today, we contrast the political philosophies of two of history's most influential thinkers: James Madison and Karl Marx.  Their core philosophies could not be more different. Madison believed concentrated government power posed a fundamental threat to liberty.  Marx argued against private property and capitalism, arguing both created fundamental inequalities.  With the current rise of socialism and Marxism, especially in younger Americans, this conversation could not be more pertinent.  To lead this conversation with our student panel, we are honored to welcome Dan Mahoney, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Assumption University and Senior Research Fellow for the Heritage Foundation's B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies.