With the 2019 Federal Election just a couple of months away, it's time to delve head-first into David Moscrop’s book, Too Dumb for Democracy? Why We Make Bad Political Decisions and How We Can Make Better Ones. A perfect read for an afternoon on a summer patio alone or with friends.
In an era overshadowed by income inequality, environmental catastrophe, terrorism at home and abroad, and the decline of democracy, David Moscrop argues that the political decision-making process has never been more important. We’ll all need some of his friendly advice before the year is up.
Here are some recent interviews and coverage of Too Dumb.
David on CBC.
David on CPAC.
Review in the Toronto Star and the Literary Review of Canada
Interview on CKNW: The Simi Sara Show.
Did you know?
Too Dumb For Democracy? got its initial conception from a 2014 radio documentary featuring Moscrop’s work that aired on CBC Radio’s Ideas when he was 30. (It’s now available as a podcast.)
CBC: Why Our Brains Aren’t Built for Democracy
“We don’t have the mental capacity to process everything in our environment with conscious awareness and intent, so we pay attention to a small percentage of the environment at any given time. But in the background, we’re non-consciously processing much, much more. And non-conscious processing later influences the decisions we make.” Read the full article here.
Ted Talk: David Moscrop
Bombarded by fake news, 24-hour news cycles, social-media posts, internet trolls, advertisements, and countless other sources appealing for our attention, how can we still make informed decisions? A democracy relies on its citizens to make educated and informed choices, yet very real forces conspire against the average person's ability to do this every day. Watch a clip from the author’s Ted Talk here.
The Globe and Mail: The United States’ perpetual state of emergency is a democratic state of emergency
“Mr. Trump’s latest proposal, citing an emergency to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border — a monument, it should be noted, to xenophobia, paranoia, fear, and the cult of securitization — is different.” Read the full article here.