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Charles Chakkalo

President Obama Swung and Missed

Published over 1 year ago • 2 min read

To: Reader

I watched my part of the DNC.

Welcome Back Reader,

Welcome back to my Marketplace of Ideas. Any political aficionado at least knew the Democratic National Convention was happening this week where VP Harris's coronation as the Democratic nominee would be complete.

To get a read on the pulse of the enthusiasm, I watched a few nights of the DNC. The best speech was given by President Obama. For any of you who saw the speech, I wish you thought of me as soon as he said:

Even when we don’t agree with each other, we can find a way to live with each other. That’s Kamala’s vision. That’s Tim’s vision. That’s the Democratic Party’s vision. And our job over the next 11 weeks is to convince as many people as possible to vote for that vision. (Emphasis added)

Mr. President, you are wrong.

I hazard, but nonetheless consider Democrats and the ideological left the same camp. It is the left that just this week banned a liberal Zionist rabbi from presenting his book at their bookstore (this link should gift you the article free of charge).​

It is the left that believes in deplatforming people simply because they don't conform to leftist principles. It is the left that didn't agree to platform Palestinian voices of concern

I think back to a debate I watched where the motion was: "Liberals Are Stifling Intellectual Diversity On Campus" (the full debate is here, a great watch).

In agreement with my thesis, the left (that for the purpose of this newsletter equate to Democrats) was found to be stifling intellectual diversity on campus.

In sum, the debaters argued the below:

Arguments in favor of the motion:

  1. Liberal professors significantly outnumber conservative professors on college campuses.
  2. Conservative speakers are often disinvited or face protests when invited to speak at universities.
  3. Conservative students and faculty feel they need to hide their beliefs to avoid ostracism or punishment.
  4. A study found that 53% of faculty had negative feelings towards evangelical Christians, suggesting potential bias.
  5. The prevalence of liberal views on campus creates an environment where alternative viewpoints are not adequately represented or respected.
  6. Some liberal students and faculty mistake their beliefs for objective truth due to lack of exposure to diverse viewpoints.

Arguments against the motion:

  1. While professors tend to be liberal, this has been consistent since the 1930s and is not a new phenomenon.
  2. Incidents of censorship are often driven by administrators seeking to avoid controversy, not by liberal ideology.
  3. Liberal voices are also sometimes censored on campuses, indicating the issue is not solely about liberal intolerance.
  4. Criticism of ideas is not the same as censorship, and conservatives often conflate the two.
  5. The quality of education depends on hiring the best professors, regardless of their political ideology.
  6. Creating a balanced political faculty doesn't necessarily improve the quality of learning or intellectual inquiry.
  7. The real issue is ensuring professors create an environment where all ideas can be discussed, not balancing political ideologies among faculty.

I would apply the same argument towards the modern Democratic party. Or, if you wouldn't equate the ideological left with the Democratic party, I would charge the ideological left with not being tolerant of dissent. Not to say the right is any better.

I invite dialogue. Reply to this email, let me know your thoughts. Disagree, compliment, or insult me. All is welcomed!

No one knows anything. Keep learning. Stay curious. Never stop questioning.

Thank you again for joining Marketplace of Ideas (what I'm calling this for now). I look forward to embarking on this exciting journey with you!

To an independent-thinking, knowledge-seeking, and skeptical you.

P.S - If you think a friend would enjoy this, forward them a copy! Have them subscribe at ​Chakkalo.com​!

P.S.S - Did you miss any of the past newsletters? Check all my past posts out here.​

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Charles Chakkalo

It's our duty to constantly learn, question and discover. Join me in doing just that. Weekly takes on what's going on in our world from an independent perspective. "The wise learn from every person" - Ben Zoma

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