Latest news with #AlexisdeTocqueville
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Let's get rid of this embarrassing King's birthday holiday
Those distilled values – whether in the American or Australian vernacular – are shorthand ways of referring to the driving force of democracy; the fight for equality. As that greater observer of democracy Alexis de Tocqueville noted, equality is the basic theme that has maintained itself through the ages, that has prevailed through the obstacles and contradictions of Western intellectual history. Loading Equality doesn't mean that some people don't hold power or status. What it does mean is that power and status are earned – and that they can be taken away and exercised by someone else. No matter what King Charles does, his reign will endure until he dies or abdicates, at which time it will be immediately embodied in another family member. This is incontestable, inherited superiority – the opposite of equality. Equality doesn't mean sameness either – in fact, it means the freedom to be different. Perhaps the growing supremacy of sport in Australian culture, and all that goes with it, is the reason behind Australia's lack of interest in the source of our democratic freedoms. We don't do difference very well any more. We were far more eccentric in the past. We shy away from discussions about politics or ideas, content with the distraction of betting on who kicks the next goal. Patrick White might have been right when he predicted that ' sport could sink us '. Loading The inclination to run away from political discussion is passed off as endearing Aussie nonchalance – 'she'll be right, mate'. But it's not admirable – it's a sign of privilege and immaturity. Every Australian should be able to explain what it means to be a democratic country, and how it aligns with our freedoms, including the freedom to celebrate the natural beauty, the clear skies and clean waters of our land. Every Australian should recognise their freedom to observe, judge and criticise their nation – a marker of democracy. This includes a vigorous questioning of today's celebration, and the right to wonder what the hell it means. If our right to criticise were taken from us, we would certainly feel its loss. But would we even be able to articulate what went wrong? As in the US, the greatest threat to our political freedoms may be indifference and lack of interest. All new Australians are informed of what citizenship means; of the freedom that it bestows. Perhaps it will be these Australians – many from less democratic nations and more attuned to what democracy looks like – who will question the incongruity of a loudly egalitarian nation participating (however feebly) in the birthday party of an unelected figurehead – an elderly King on the other side of the world. Let's hope a new and inquisitive generation of Australians will reignite the flame of republicanism. Let's hope sometime soon we'll give the King his final birthday greetings, and tell him, finally, belatedly, to nick off.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
10 Eerie predictions from history that shockingly came true
Predictions have fascinated humanity for centuries, whether they came from prophets, scientists, or writers. While most forecasts miss the mark or fade into obscurity, a rare few have turned out to be incredibly accurate. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These striking insights offered glimpses into the future that seemed almost too precise to believe. Some were rooted in deep observation, while others appeared to be the result of sheer intuition. From world wars and space travel to the internet and organ transplants, these predictions came true in ways that continue to amaze us today. Here are ten historical forecasts that remarkably became reality. From Wi-Fi to World War, predictions that came true across the world 1. The Cold War- Alexis de Tocqueville (1840) French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville predicted the rise of two dominant global powers during his travels in the United States. In Democracy in America, he wrote that Russia and America would one day "hold the destinies of half the world in their hands." This seemed unlikely in the 19th century, but Tocqueville's foresight was remarkable. His prediction came true during the Cold War era in the 20th century, when the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers locked in a tense global rivalry that shaped world politics for decades. 2. His own death- Mark Twain (1909) Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was born shortly after Halley's Comet passed in 1835. In 1909, Twain made a striking prediction about his own death. He famously said, 'I came in with Halley's Comet… it is coming again, and I expect to go out with it.' This eerie prediction proved accurate when Twain died on April 21, 1910—just one day after the comet's return. His statement is often cited as one of the most personal and accurate prophecies ever made by a public figure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 3. Wireless communication- Nikola Tesla (Early 1900s) Nikola Tesla was far ahead of his time in predicting the future of communication technology. In 1909, he envisioned a world where wireless messages could be transmitted easily and widely, so simple that anyone could own and operate their own device. Tesla also described a 'global brain' connected by wireless networks, anticipating the modern internet. His remarkable foresight paved the way for mobile phones, Wi-Fi, and other wireless technologies that have become essential to everyday life, transforming the way people communicate, access information, and interact worldwide. 4. World War II- Ferdinand Foch (1919) French general Ferdinand Foch expressed deep concerns over the Treaty of Versailles, signed after World War I. He believed the treaty was far too lenient on Germany and warned that it was not a true peace but merely an armistice that would last twenty years. His fears were tragically realized in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, triggering World War II. Foch's statement showed his sharp understanding of the political realities and tensions that would soon escalate into another devastating global conflict just two decades after the end of the first. 5. Photo and colour technology- John Elfreth Watkins (1900) In 1900, engineer John Elfreth Watkins published an article titled What May Happen in the Next Hundred Years. He made several striking predictions, including the ability to 'telegraph photographs from any distance,' foreseeing real-time image sharing and live broadcasts. Watkins also anticipated the development of full-color photography at a time when black-and-white photos were the norm. His vision accurately forecasted technological advances that have since revolutionized media, communication, and entertainment, shaping how people capture and share moments in vibrant color and instant detail. 6. Organ transplants- Robert Boyle (Mid-17th Century) Robert Boyle, a founder of modern chemistry, imagined future medical breakthroughs long before they were possible. Among his scientific hopes was the 'cure of diseases by transplantation,' despite having no scientific basis or technology to achieve this at the time. Nearly three centuries later, Boyle's vision became reality when the first successful human kidney transplant was performed in 1954. His foresight reflects the spirit of scientific progress—anticipating life-saving treatments that continue to evolve and transform modern medicine today. 7. The Moon landing- Jules Verne (1865) Jules Verne's science fiction novel From the Earth to the Moon described a manned mission to the moon launched from Florida. The story included a capsule called the 'Columbiad,' carrying three astronauts who splashed down in the ocean upon return. Verne's imaginative details were astonishingly accurate. Exactly 100 years later, NASA's Apollo 11 mission launched from Florida with a spacecraft called 'Columbia,' a crew of three astronauts, and a splashdown recovery in the ocean. His visionary writing remains a remarkable example of fiction predicting reality. 8. The Titanic disaster- Morgan Robertson (1898) In his novella Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan, Morgan Robertson eerily described the sinking of an 'unsinkable' giant ship named Titan, which struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The story included details such as a lack of enough lifeboats, resulting in massive loss of life. Fourteen years after the novella's publication, the real Titanic met almost the exact same fate in 1912. The parallels between Robertson's fictional ship and the Titanic's disaster continue to fascinate and shock readers and historians alike. 9. Satellite communications- Arthur C. Clarke (1945) In 1945, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke proposed using geostationary satellites to enable global communications. At the time, this idea was purely theoretical. Clarke's vision became the blueprint for modern satellite technology, which today supports GPS navigation, television broadcasts, and worldwide internet connectivity. The orbit Clarke described is now known as the 'Clarke Orbit,' and his prediction helped shape the way people around the world communicate and access information from space-based systems. 10. Smartphones and AI assistants- Ray Kurzweil (Early 1990s) Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil foresaw a future where people would carry portable devices connected to a global network, offering real-time information and voice interaction. In the early 1990s, Kurzweil predicted the rise of smartphones and AI-powered digital assistants like Siri and Alexa. Today, these technologies are a part of everyday life, transforming communication, productivity, and personal convenience. His predictions highlight how artificial intelligence and mobile computing continue to reshape society in profound ways.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion - Civil society is not dead just yet
For most people these days, the rapid and oscillating shifts occurring in the federal government are impossible to keep up with in real-time. How many of the cuts initiated by DOGE will be actualized? Will federal layoffs and reorganization stick or be reversed by the courts? Which new executive orders will be implemented? Will the 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill cut Medicaid, youth programs and housing assistance? How much should we worry about a backlog of disaster aid requests as hurricane season approaches, or about the extreme economic uncertainty of an escalating trade war? Given the pace and intensity of the changes happening in Washington, it is understandable for citizens to feel overwhelmed — to worry about who will come out ahead, who will be left behind and how each of us will be affected. But before we let those questions turn to doubt over whether America can survive so much political turmoil, we should ask one more: Since when have we relied on politicians to provide for all of our economic, political and social needs? After all, civil society has always connected and provided for Americans as much as, if not more, than the government. A federal government that does less may even reinvigorate our penchant for working together, reminding us that we are less divided and more capable than politicians would have us believe. When French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville traveled across the U.S. in the 1830s, he was struck by the thriving associational life he found in the burgeoning democratic republic. Seemingly everywhere he turned, he saw local newspapers, workers' collectives, neighborhood groups and religious organizations actively participating in self-governance. He saw individuals who primarily relied on themselves for their own needs eagerly join their neighbors in order to pursue collective goals and address social ills. For every problem or concern, Tocqueville claimed, you could find a group gathering to address it. Ever since Tocqueville first observed this uniquely American art of association, observers have cautioned about its waning importance in daily life. To some degree, they may have a point. Technological advancements have led to fewer bowling leagues and book clubs and more nights in front of the television or doomscrolling through social media. A decline in religiosity has stunted private social services, and perhaps vice versa. Critically, the federal administrative state crowds out some charity and weakens our capacity for self-governance. Federal funding for research has made universities less independent. Municipal consolidation and federal policies have made schools larger and less adaptable. Many nonprofits rely on funding from federal grants. In 2021, for instance, over 100,000 U.S. charities received over $267 billion from the government. It seems that in our search for government solutions to the complex challenges of modern society, we've ended up more reliant on Washington to ease our troubles. Viewed this way, the changes the Trump administration is attempting could very well sever the already fraying political, economic and social fabric of America. A closer examination of America's commitment to the art of association, however, may help alleviate our fears. As state and federal governments enact restrictions on educational curriculum, for example, parents, nonprofits and companies have stepped in to fill the gap. Barnes and Noble offers a summer reading program where kids can earn free books. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library distributes free books to children across the world. Banned book clubs have sprouted up across the country. Private tutors, summer camps and homeschooling all provide alternative educational experiences that can spark creativity and provide the intellectual rigor that standardized curricula and testing often lack. After disasters, it is often local associations that help spur recovery. They keep up communication among neighbors, provide necessary goods and services and signal a commitment to their communities. Churches, coffee shops and community centers become hubs for providing meals, recharging electronics and accessing the internet and strategizing about next steps. Neighbors help one another and come together to petition the government for resources. While it is understandable to worry about politics in Washington, it is also vital to remember that Americans also have a vibrant associational life. Our ability to come together, discuss issues, and experiment with solutions is what, in Tocqueville's eyes, made America great. A modern America thrives on the recognition that everyday citizens can and do come together to solve problems. Stefanie Haeffele is a senior fellow with the Mercatus Center's F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Virgil Henry Storr is Mercatus' vice president for Academic and Student Programs and the Don C. Lavoie Senior Fellow with the Hayek Program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Civil society is not dead just yet
For most people these days, the rapid and oscillating shifts occurring in the federal government are impossible to keep up with in real-time. How many of the cuts initiated by DOGE will be actualized? Will federal layoffs and reorganization stick or be reversed by the courts? Which new executive orders will be implemented? Will the 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill cut Medicaid, youth programs and housing assistance? How much should we worry about a backlog of disaster aid requests as hurricane season approaches, or about the extreme economic uncertainty of an escalating trade war? Given the pace and intensity of the changes happening in Washington, it is understandable for citizens to feel overwhelmed — to worry about who will come out ahead, who will be left behind and how each of us will be affected. But before we let those questions turn to doubt over whether America can survive so much political turmoil, we should ask one more: Since when have we relied on politicians to provide for all of our economic, political and social needs? After all, civil society has always connected and provided for Americans as much as, if not more, than the government. A federal government that does less may even reinvigorate our penchant for working together, reminding us that we are less divided and more capable than politicians would have us believe. When French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville traveled across the U.S. in the 1830s, he was struck by the thriving associational life he found in the burgeoning democratic republic. Seemingly everywhere he turned, he saw local newspapers, workers' collectives, neighborhood groups and religious organizations actively participating in self-governance. He saw individuals who primarily relied on themselves for their own needs eagerly join their neighbors in order to pursue collective goals and address social ills. For every problem or concern, Tocqueville claimed, you could find a group gathering to address it. Ever since Tocqueville first observed this uniquely American art of association, observers have cautioned about its waning importance in daily life. To some degree, they may have a point. Technological advancements have led to fewer bowling leagues and book clubs and more nights in front of the television or doomscrolling through social media. A decline in religiosity has stunted private social services, and perhaps vice versa. Critically, the federal administrative state crowds out some charity and weakens our capacity for self-governance. Federal funding for research has made universities less independent. Municipal consolidation and federal policies have made schools larger and less adaptable. Many nonprofits rely on funding from federal grants. In 2021, for instance, over 100,000 U.S. charities received over $267 billion from the government. It seems that in our search for government solutions to the complex challenges of modern society, we've ended up more reliant on Washington to ease our troubles. Viewed this way, the changes the Trump administration is attempting could very well sever the already fraying political, economic and social fabric of America. A closer examination of America's commitment to the art of association, however, may help alleviate our fears. As state and federal governments enact restrictions on educational curriculum, for example, parents, nonprofits and companies have stepped in to fill the gap. Barnes and Noble offers a summer reading program where kids can earn free books. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library distributes free books to children across the world. Banned book clubs have sprouted up across the country. Private tutors, summer camps and homeschooling all provide alternative educational experiences that can spark creativity and provide the intellectual rigor that standardized curricula and testing often lack. After disasters, it is often local associations that help spur recovery. They keep up communication among neighbors, provide necessary goods and services and signal a commitment to their communities. Churches, coffee shops and community centers become hubs for providing meals, recharging electronics and accessing the internet and strategizing about next steps. Neighbors help one another and come together to petition the government for resources. While it is understandable to worry about politics in Washington, it is also vital to remember that Americans also have a vibrant associational life. Our ability to come together, discuss issues, and experiment with solutions is what, in Tocqueville's eyes, made America great. A modern America thrives on the recognition that everyday citizens can and do come together to solve problems. Stefanie Haeffele is a senior fellow with the Mercatus Center's F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Virgil Henry Storr is Mercatus' vice president for Academic and Student Programs and the Don C. Lavoie Senior Fellow with the Hayek Program.
Chicago Tribune
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Sophia Shaw: Nonprofits may fill in the gap left by federal abandonment. But that isn't desirable.
It has been a painful few months watching federal support for health and human services, museums, libraries, public broadcasting, science, education, diplomacy and environmental protection be intentionally and indiscriminately gutted by President Donald Trump. What's more troubling is that neither Congress nor the courts have meaningfully stopped him. To me — and to many — public investment in these areas has always been a backbone of our nation's health, prosperity and rich cultural life. These investments give muscle to the promise of 'liberty and justice for all.' Yet clearly, there are those who see these same programs as bloated, ineffective or ideologically expendable. Since the founding of our republic, nonprofit organizations have supplemented the work of government. This hybrid model of public and private investment is, in many ways, part of what makes America unique — and even admirable. Alexis de Tocqueville recognized this spirit in 1831 when he observed: 'Americans of all ages, conditions, and dispositions constantly unite together. … Americans group together to … build inns, construct churches, distribute books. I have frequently admired the endless skill with which the inhabitants of the United States manage to set a common aim to the efforts of a great number of men and to persuade them to pursue it voluntarily.' Even in times of federal austerity, nonprofits have rallied. We sharpen our pencils. We fundraise harder. We merge, streamline, evolve. We try — desperately — to fill the gaps. In theory, I support this hustle. There is no shortage of wealth in America, and nonprofits are capable of supporting the most vulnerable and creating immense positive social change. But here is our sector's catch-22: What if nonprofits actually were able to close the funding gaps caused by federal abandonment? What if private philanthropy — individuals, foundations, corporations, donor-advised funds — steps up enough to replace the billions once invested by the government? What if nonprofits were able to absorb the shuttered missions, personnel and responsibilities of gutted agencies? Is that a win? It might look like one. But it would be a hollow victory. One that weakens — not strengthens — the American social contract. In such a scenario, public goods are preserved but no longer publicly governed. Scientists, teachers, librarians, rangers, curators and nurses would serve at the pleasure of private funders. The people who benefit from their work would have lost their democratic stake. No longer accountable to voters or taxpayers, these public servants become beholden to the values and priorities of private wealth. Yes, funding might still flow, at least for a time. But what gets funded — and who gets left out — shifts in troubling ways. Which causes align with a donor's ideology? Which communities are deemed 'marketable'? Who sets the terms of success? What if the tides turn again? These are not just practical questions. They are philosophical ones. If we believe the services provided by public agencies — and the nonprofits that partner with them — are essential, then those services must remain accountable to the people. To all people. Yes, nonprofits can — and certainly should — pursue efficiencies. Yes, more strategic mergers, stronger governance and better planning would help the sector thrive. That is not what's in question. What is on the table is that we are witnessing the dismantling of public institutions without warning or reckoning. And then we're told to fix it. And who even knows. Maybe the nonprofit sector, and with it the Internal Revenue Service 501(c) code, could be gone before we know it. This isn't American ingenuity or government efficiency. It's a slow-moving abdication. When the government fails to honor its commitments — and asks others to pick up the pieces — we risk not only inequality and inconsistency but also something deeper: the erosion of civic trust. It's time to ask ourselves: By cutting federal funding and turning to nonprofit philanthropy, are we preserving the safety net, or replacing it with a patchwork quilt sewn by donors? Either way, the threads are fraying, and we all have to stand up to the evisceration of our federal agencies and federal granting systems. Their existence is part of what makes America great — now and throughout its history. What can we do? Let's come together across sectors and across parties and look out for one another. Corporations, individuals, nonprofits, Republicans, independents and Democrats, we are all Americans. Our North Star blazes in the words of our bold and beautiful Declaration of Independence: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' Let's get online, to the voting booth and to peaceful in-person uprisings — together — before it's too late. Sophia Shaw is the co-founder of PlanPerfect, which provides artificial intelligence-assisted strategic planning for nonprofits. Shaw is a former president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden and an adjunct professor of social impact at the Kellogg School of Management.
