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Democracy, American-Style: "Athens to Now: Why Democracy Matters"

Series: "Democracy, American-Style"
From: Sharon Glassman
Length: 00:02:04

Bob, descendant of a Revolutionary-War Brooklyn family, explains the Why of Democracy -- now, and then. Read the full description.
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Also in the "Democracy, American-Style" series

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David, a law professor, explains why democracy works best in smaller units -- like his parents' commune
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Democracy, American-Style: "Love and Compromise" (00:02:07)
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Steve, a young Detriot politician, and his fiancee', Sharon, talk about why his career democracy involves major compromises -- and why they don't talk about the details at home.
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Democracy, American-Style: "You're Always Running" (00:02:06)
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Democracy, American-Style: "People Gotta Vote, Man!" (00:02:05)
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Democracy, American-Style: "We Don't Have to Agree" (00:02:04)
From: Sharon Glassman

If democracy is a marketplace of ideas, Judith asks, why are people scared to say what they believe, and so willing to vote for politicians who don't?
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Democracy, American-Style: "Sarasota Polls 2000" (00:02:06)
From: Sharon Glassman

Grace, a Brooklyn-born Democratic poll worker in Sarasota for Election 2000, explains how the experience changed her views on democracy.
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Democracy, American-Style: "Mandela...Bush" (00:02:03)
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Piece Description

Bob, a descendant of the Remsens, a 300-year-old Brooklyn family, explains what democracy is, and why it matters -- historically, and personally -- from ancient Greece through his ancestor's emmigration to America. (See also: Sarasota Polls 2000, narrated by Bob and his wife Grace). One of 15 chats with real people we recorded in front of an apple cider stand we set up in Brooklyn.

Public Radio Collaboration 2003 Features - The Culture of Democracy

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Review of Democracy, American-Style: "Athens to Now: Why Democracy Matters"

I listened to a few of the installments in this series and think the idea has a lot of potential: setting up a cider stand and interviewing the people who visit about democracy. It's a creative spin on the old "Interviews 50 cents" concept.
These pieces would make for an interesting drop-in during most types of news/info/call-in/discussion programs to stimulate conversation, reaction, or to provide a perspective that’s honest and markedly different from punditry.
The only problem is the open and close of these pieces, which all identify the two producers (twice—and often more often than the interview subject is introduced). There is a lot of information in those opens and closes, most of it completely unnecessary. They cause verbal overload—in the first few seconds!
This piece in particular also illustrates another occasional concern with this series—often the sound clip lacks sufficient punch or drags on too long. Several (this one especially) go on too long, really diluting the impact of what he says. If this piece was half as long, it would have twice the power.
Also, I think these segments would sound great if several were mixed together. As soon as you hear one, you want to hear the reaction of others.It isn't fair to an interested listener to expect them to catch them elsewhere. If you have their interest--deliver! Don't make them wait.