The Empire Strikes Out: Rick Atkinson on 1776, Is Britain Broken?, and Socialists in New York
About this episode
Rick Atkinson discusses the American Revolution and its implications, followed by a conversation on British politics and the rise of democratic socialism in the US.
On paper, it was a mismatch: a fledgling republic seeking freedom from the world’s mightiest empire. And yet the American Revolution ended with the upstart colonists’ victory over the mighty British military. Rick Atkinson, a military historian and author of a “Revolutionary Trilogy” on the fight for America’s independence, discusses the military tactics, geopolitical shifts, and economic conditions that factored into the war’s outcome. After that, the fellows discuss why serving as the British prime minister has become a game of musical chairs and how Labour lost its way, as well as the rise of “democratic socialism” and the appeal of class warfare and expansive government in the US – most notably, a California ballot initiative that imposes a “wealth tax” on the state’s billionaires. Finally, in the “lighting round”, John's thoughts on the passing of former Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan; H.R.’s take on the Pentagon putting its generals out to pasture; and Niall reflecting on European World Cup fans descending upon the US, only to discover a land of abundance (i.e., plenty of ranch dressing even if there’s not enough beer to go around). Subscribe to GoodFellows for…
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