Wikiversity

Thom Hartmann on The Hidden History of the American Dream

This is a discussion of an interview 2024-11-21 with Thom Hartmann on his recent book on The Hidden History of the American Dream. A 29:00 mm:ss podcast excerpted from the companion video will be posted here after it is released to the fortnightly "Media & Democracy" show[1] syndicated for the Pacifica Radio[2] Network of over 200 community radio stations.[3]
It is posted here to invite others to contribute other perspectives, subject to the Wikimedia rules of writing from a neutral point of view while citing credible sources[4] and treating others with respect.[5]
[Video of the interview coming soon.]

Thom Hartmann discusses his recent book on The Hidden History of the American Dream with Spencer Graves.[6] This interview was originally produced for Radio Active Magazine[7] on KKFI, Kansas City Community Radio, and for the fortnightly "Media & Democracy" series[1] syndicated for the Pacifica Radio Network of over 200 community radio stations.[3] This conversation focuses especially on Hartmann's recent book and the contributions of overconfidence and media bias to the problems he describes.

Hartmann is a New York Times bestselling author of over thirty-five books and a leading progressive talk radio show host for more than a twenty years. His Hidden History of the American Dream: The demise of the middle class — and how to rescue our future[8] appeared earlier this year. It’s the tenth book he has published in the six years since 2019, in addition to at least 25 others published earlier.

Hartman has had a varied career. Born in 1951, he campaigned with his father for Conservative Republican Barry Goldwater for President in 1964 at age 13. He was expelled from high school during tenth grade for starting a newspaper that protested against the Vietnam War. He later earned a GED and studied electrical engineering at Lansing Community College and Michigan State. He founded his own electrical repair business before taking a job as an engineer with RCA. He also co-founded an herbal products company, a travel company and an advertising agency while also working as a DJ and news director for radio stations.

In 2003 he started a talk radio show, which he has continued in various incarnations since while writing multiple books. In 2016 his talk show was carried by at least 80 radio stations, with at least one each in Africa and England. It is currently offered to the Pacifica Radio Network of over 200 community radio stations as a daily show in three one-hour segments plus a compressed one-hour version. More than half of his guests are Conservatives, who are treated with respect. Hartmann’s goal is an informative discussion of issues, unlike some Conservative talk show hosts, who excel in insults.

Hartman was a keynoter at this year’s Grassroots Radio Conference in New Orleans in September.

Before his (2024) Hidden History of the American Dream,[8] his Hidden History series included:

  • (2023) American democracy,[9]
  • (2022) big brother in America,[10]
  • (2022) neoliberalism,[11]
  • (2021) American healthcare,[12]
  • (2021) American oligarchy,[13]
  • (2020) Monopolies,[14]
  • (2020) war on voting,[15]
  • (2019) guns and the Second Amendment,[16] and
  • ( 2019) Supreme Court.[17]

The threat

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Internet company executives have knowingly increased political polarization and violence including the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar, because doing otherwise might have reduced their profits. Documentation of this is summarized in Category:Media reform to improve democracy.

Discussion

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[Interested readers are invite to comment here, subject to the Wikimedia rules of writing from a neutral point of view citing credible sources[4] and treating others with respect.[5]]

Notes

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Media & Democracy, Director: Spencer Graves, Pacifica Radio, Wikidata Q127839818{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ↑ Pacifica Radio, Wikidata Q2045587
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 List of Pacifica Radio stations and affiliates, Wikidata Q6593294
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The rules of writing from a neutral point of view citing credible sources may not be enforced on other parts of Wikiversity. However, they can facilitate dialog between people with dramatically different beliefs
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wikiversity asks contributors to assume good faith, similar to Wikipedia. The rule in Wikinews is different: Contributors there are asked to "Don't assume things; be skeptical about everything." That's wise. However, we should still treat others with respect while being skeptical.
  6. ↑ Spencer Graves, Wikidata Q56452480
  7. ↑ Radio Active Magazine, Presenter: Spencer Graves, KKFI, Wikidata Q57451712{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hartmann (2024).
  9. ↑ Hartman (2023).
  10. ↑ Hartmann (2022b).
  11. ↑ Hartmann (2022a).
  12. ↑ Hartmann (2021b).
  13. ↑ Hartmann (2021a).
  14. ↑ Hartmann (2020b).
  15. ↑ Hartmann (2020a).
  16. ↑ Hartmann (2019b).
  17. ↑ Hartmann (2019a).

Bibliography

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  • Thom Hartmann (2024). The hidden history of the American Dream : the demise of the middle class - and how to rescue our future (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Wikidata Q131016053. ISBN 978-1-5230-0728-8. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2023). The hidden history of American democracy : rediscovering humanity's ancient way of living (in en). Wikidata Q131011141. ISBN 978-1-5230-0441-6. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2022b). The hidden history of big brother in America : how the death of privacy and the rise of surveillance threaten us and our democracy (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2022). Wikidata Q131011790. ISBN 978-1-5230-0104-0. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2022a). The hidden history of neoliberalism : how Reaganism gutted America and how to restore its greatness (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2022). Wikidata Q131013865. ISBN 978-1-5230-0232-0. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2021b). why sickness bankrupts you and makes others insanely rich (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2021). Wikidata Q131011157. ISBN 978-1-5230-9163-8. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2021a). The hidden history of American oligarchy : reclaiming our democracy from the ruling class (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2021). Wikidata Q131011437. ISBN 978-1-5230-9158-4. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2020b). Hidden history of monopolies : how big business destroyed the American dream (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2020). Wikidata Q131013576. ISBN 978-1-5230-8773-0. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2020a). The hidden history of the war on voting : who stole your vote, and how to get it back (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2020). Wikidata Q131017302. ISBN 978-1-5230-8778-5. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2019b). The hidden history of guns and the Second Amendment (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2019). Wikidata Q131012323. ISBN 978-1-5230-8599-6. 
  • Thom Hartmann (2019a). The hidden history of the Supreme Court and the betrayal of America (in en). Berrett-Koehler Publishers (published 2019). Wikidata Q131016701. ISBN 978-1-5230-8594-1. 
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