Spokane Civics Salon: The Rise of Populism

Join us for a monthly ‘salon’ centered around the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States. This month, we’ll discuss David Brooks’s column “What If We’re The Bad Guys?”

Join Spokane Public Library’s Current Affairs Specialist, Dr. Shane Gronholz, for a monthly ‘salon’ centered around discussions on what you believe the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States are.

Spokane Civics Salon meets from 2:00-3:30 PM on the last Sunday of every month. Each Salon will be focused on a particular text.

This month, we will discuss David Brooks’s recent column, “What If We’re The Bad Guys Here?”

The column challenges the self-perception of liberal elites, highlighting societal divides and the evolving lexicon that often excludes the working class. While critical of Trump, Brooks suggests that the behavior of the elites contributes to the rise of such figures. Come discuss this compelling perspective and its implications for our political landscape.

Accessing the Article:

You can access the article on the New York Times Website

Alternatively, if you have a library card, login here and search for the column and you can read it for free!

What is a salon? 

A Salon is a gathering of people guided by a host who come together to exchange ideas and increase their knowledge through meaningful conversation. 

Shane holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Colorado Boulder. He has taught courses in logic, ethics, social and political philosophy, and the philosophy of law. He has been published in the areas of the nature of rationality, human well-being, and the ethics of personal relationships.