The End of Citizenship and Our Current Cultural Crisis - A Conversation with Victor Davis Hanson 

53:12 To hear such an educated person talk about the value to society of a tradesperson warms my heart. We really are the backbone of our society.

Whenever I wanna improve my vocabulary, I just listen to Victor Davis Hanson

Victor is excellent. He thinks thoroughly before he speaks. You can tell all that he says is backed by detailed observation of history and statistics. Which is what this nation needs more of.

I’m a total VDH disciple.. I read and or listen to something from him every single day of my life without any exception.. the only voice that keeps me from becoming insane

Thank you for this program. Every time I hear Dr. Hansen speak about the founders I get a greater appreciation for the incredible accomplishment their drafting of our system of government was. At the same time my anger deepens toward the malicious ideologues who relentlessly work to destroy it and the worthless fools who follow them. Please, God, gather them all in one spot and drop a flaming meteor on them.

I wish I could have been taught by this gentleman. Thank you

Thank God for Victor.

Kim Kardashian and The Rock and too many inconsequential celebrities have millions of followers, while extremely consequential and careful, thoughtful, well read and highly intelligent thinkers like VDH and Thomas Sowell have thousands. THAT, my American CITIZEN friends is one of the more pressing problems in our Republic!

I have followed VDH for many years and can deeply empathize with him as a Californian as well as an ex-border patrol agent. His commentaries are both adroit and informative, not just about conservative personal opinion. In your discussion Dr. Hanson reference Augustine Hippo's comment regarding the 'earthly' city imploring the citizen not to allow fields to go fallow and plant and return to the virtues of the citizen farmer and how American society have discarded the work ethic of physical labor exporting such labor abroad for cheaper costs. I can remember the days of the Washington- Labor union corrupt marriage where especially the steel/auto/trucking unions extorted wages from those corporations making them wholly non-competitive as the union workers literally paid into the coffers of such corrupt politicians. The idea of joining something like that was anathema to me! But the greater anathema that has not passed but become much worse are the woke religious denominations and theologians propelling them. The autonomy of the local church under the spiritual gifts as as illustrated in Ephesians 4 is really our only hope against this cosmic onslaught of a very perverse moralism ensuring that this bankrupt nation never makes it to "Chapter 11' as it were. In short, pastors need to start studying and teaching daily and the gifts of their congregations must begin supporting them.....witness ministries like Dr. Andy Woods of Sugarland Bible Church and R. B. Thieme Jr of Berachah church. They actually TREAT their professions as professions.

VDH should be an advisor to any WH cabinet. He's the American common sense.

VDH is a national treasure. I’m 44, a member of Generation X and as the millennial generation has emerged like mindless, ravenous locusts, I’ve come to look back to the minds of my parent’s generation in hopes they could impart wisdom to those who would listen who might help save the nation from the wolves at the door. Often I think many of us who are secular but moral take for granted how important our parent’s and our childhood’s exposure and emphasis on the church was in forming our sense of morality and I regretfully admit to being a young 18 year old father who didn’t allot enough importance to Christianity when raising my son. And though he has a very similar morality to mine, I see what he’s missing and where I’ve gone wrong as a father, now that he’s 25 and has not met the challenge of fatherhood as well as I did, as flawed as I was as a father. Fortunately for my two grandchildren, they were both born to Mexican-American mother’s who still retain stronger religious traditions within their families than existed in my own upbringing. So in that I can find temporary solace, but I hope the culture finds God again, at least in the best sense so that morality can be reestablished so that America can once again know that it’s best days lie ahead once more. I’m very concerned at how technology was used to blindside and subvert the population while they were distracted with fabulously vacant technological distractions.

Victor Davis Hanson has the amazing ability to speak smoothly, bluntly, and quickly enough to hold my attention indefinitely. Hanson tells me a great deal while using no "filler" words whatsoever. This is why he's my primary go-to guy when I need accurate answers to a given pertinent issue that concerns me.

Victor David Hanson is Brilliant! I've read and recommend his books. He Truly is an American Treasure.

VDH is an Oracle and a National Treasure!

Man! These two men need to have more talks on whatever public avenue they can. I love these men...and such intelligence and subject matter. Thanks for posting.

Enjoyed this great dialogue. There are some fantastic insights throughout the duration of this podcast. 💯

I have lived in California for 56+ years. No one has the pulse of this culture better than Victor Davis Hanson. Like me, he has lived the deliberate decline in citizenship here, and he was paying close attention. California is the poster state for the disintegration of the roles and responsibilities of citizenship. And, progressives want it that way. No distinctions between people who are invested in these things and those who are not are permitted. To a progressive, distinctions are mere discrimination. When everyone has the privilieges and rights once reserved for citizens, then no one is really a citizen, because citizenship is an empty concept. It was gutted by social justice zealots. Illegal immigration is at the heart of this catastrophe. It won't be reversed.

I think this interviewer got a better discussion out of VDH on citizenship than anybody else I've seen. Great stuff!

An orphan who is a ward of the State learns a kind of citizenship that veers near Tyranny. Citizenship needs the institution of Family to bestow meaning in the ideal sense.

Passing a citizenship class was a requirement for graduation from grade school 🏫 n my day. Understanding how our state functioned how people are elected what they do this is important to understand our government and also adds to the pride a student feels for their country

Excellent conversation. Thank you, gentlemen!

VDH a national treasure. His final segment makes me smile (cynically). When the sewage system packs up, when the electrical wiring is a hazard, you can sit and cogitate on your degree in French Literature. All this wokery comes at a price.

VDH has that rare wisdom that this world truly lacks .

Our Founding Fathers understood the fragility of man. They knew that halfwits would be elected to govern. Hence, the balance of powers.

Some interesting points. I usually find I learn a few things when listening to Thinking in Public.

This Victor makes better sense to me than Noam Chompsky and Jordan Peterson, very lucid, well informed, and God's truth-based thinking. Great session!

I love his dispassionate, reasonable dissemination of truth after truth after truth. Amazing. Profound insight and understanding. This man needs to be heard by EVERYONE. Thank God for keen minds that can "see" and reason!

Thank you for showing that history is essential in giving us perspective on what's going on now. It's critical that that we get the Gospel out, (living & speaking it) to a dying world.

Absolutely brilliant conversation.. Albert impressive as VDH. Thank you both.

The man is a genius. ✨VDH!

Absolutely essential wisdom

Very good video. It only highlights how primitive (or advanced) we are as humans. We blame the past saying that we were tribals and underdeveloped without borders, without racism, without any significant demand for wealth or consumption..and now we feel we have evolved (for the better) with cleaner air, more poverty and disparity, enslavement to machines, geographical borders. We need to rethink everything on the way we live in this world.

I enjoy listening to Victor sharing his thoughts. Thank you Victor

Sure appreciate learning about this book--have ling admired and appreciated VDH as I myself have a minor in ancient Greek and appreciate both military history as well as Thucydides.

I feel like I've been such a Philistine for so many decades because, while I knew of VDH, I had never heard him speak or read his works until the last few years. What a tremendous and tragic dearth in my intellectual world! Now I'm "bingeing" on anything and everything Victor Davis Hanson!!

Great talk, gentlemen!

Great conversation. Thinking in Public is one of my favorite podcasts!

This is the best conversation I've ever heard from Victor Davis Hanson. Thank you.

His book "The Dying Citizen" is fantastic. 👍

Great work Albert! Scooby snacks for you and Dr. Hanson. My allegiance is to Liberty, the Repubic and Democracy.

VDH is the man .

Thanks Victor and Albert!

Great man. Everyone needs to listen to him. Buy his books.

Why is Al Mohler considered an enemy within the church? What did I miss over the years? Love Victor Davis Hanson!

I read/listen to all I am able to of these two remarkable men. Robert Mohler, a very fine Christian theologian has also this capacity to take on so effectively all (and I sense any other serious, important thing we have to deal with in life.) Victor D. Hanson is simply remarkable and now at 79 and nowhere close to these men's minds, I still get what they say...mostly. I am always amazed when I see such persons as these how great our God to have given us such teachers that is such an extraordinary help in understanding things we seldom get most anywhere else. Alistair Begg, Scottish theologian/Pastor spoke of another colleague of his that was so gifted...as these two...that the friend had a brain size 18, while his own was (six?) Anytime anyone wants food for the mind/soul, and we all need more learning, GO to these men. What a delight this was! wl

I really love listening to Victor, but I’m not really optimistic about the future when I listen to him, I feel deep concern for the lack of knowledge & education most Americans suffer with

Love Victor Davis Hanson...

This will age VERY WELL... it is a very interesting time ( to say the least)

That was a great interview

"I read constantly and try to get as much out of every book...as it deserves, frankly." Legend !

good guys both that i listened to, not always agreed, but I am thankful for their lives and contributions

Two great minds!

Thank You for standing up for Clarifying clearity. Decline pre- post Pandemic. 🤔🇺🇸🇩🇰🌷🙏🌅

VDH is a national treasure.

VDH is amazing! A national treasure, must be protected!

Love n. Blessings from Australia.

I could listen to this guy all day.

Very, very good thinking in public! My thoughts are pretty much the same.

very good

Describing in real time the end of the United States culture.

Really enjoyed this discussion. Regards from UK

Get these two on internet more! I follow Al Mohler.

Awesome interview. Subbed

Unalienable Rights Unalienble Rights are the Inherent, Sovereign, Natural Rights that existed before the creation of the State, and which, being antecendent to and above the State, can never be taken away, diminished, altered, or liened upon by the State, subject only to the Due Process of the Common Law. Nor can any Unalienable Right be fundamentally removed, whether mistakenly by contract through non-disclosure, which is fraud and unenforceable in Law, or knowingly by renunciation, which is contrary to Natural Law. The Original, Permanent, Unalienable Rights of every Man or Woman, include: The Right to Life, Freedom, Health, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Right to Contract, or Not to Contract, which is Unlimited. The Right to Earn a Living by being Compensated with Wages, a Salary, or any Trade Goods, in Fair Exchange for one's Work The Right to Travel in the Ordinary Course of one's Life and Business. The Right to Privacy and Confidentiality, free from Unwarranted Invasion. The Right to Control, and Hold one's Property, Lawfully without Trespass. The Right to Self-Defence when threatened with Harm, Loss, or Deceit. The Right to Due Process of Law, with Notice and Opportunity to Defend. The Right to be Presumed Innocent, suffering No Detention or Arrest, No Search or Seizure, without Reasonable Cause. The Right to Remain Silent when accused, to avoid Self-Discrimination. The Right to Equality in the Eyes of the Law, and to Equal Representation. The Right to Trial by Jury, being an Impartial Panel of One's Peers. The Right to Apeal in Law against Conviction or Sentence, or both. The Right to Expose Knowledge necessary to one's Rights and Freedoms. The Right to Peaceful Association, Assembly, Expression and Protest. The Right to Practice a Religion, and to have Beliefs, of one's Choosing The Right to Love, and to Consensual Marriage, with Children, as a Family. The Right to Security, from Abuse, Persecution, Tyranny, and War. The Right to Refuse, to Kill, under command, by Reason of Conscience. The Right to Live, in Peace, and be left alone when Law Abiding. Surely, the most Critical Failure of the People, is their failure to ensure the Teaching and Common Knowledge of their Unalienable Rights. If you do not know your Rights, you effectively have none. By the Path of Ignorance, whether by Apathy or Deception. The People arrive in a State of Exploitation, Oppression and Tyranny.

This man is brilliant. I wish I was half as smart as VDH

Thanks again!!

I forget who originally said it but they defined freedom as the liberty to do what is right. It sounds like Mr. Hanson's understanding of freedom is ever so slightly different but I don't have the vocabulary to precisely describe it.

Best Administration EVER!!!!!

V.D.H. is a National Treasure Fountain ⛲️ of Knowledge

Happy 70th Birthday Victor

Victor is the spitting imagine of my father, kind, wise and articulate. Except my father was a Che socialist

The middle class pays all the taxes then where will the politicians get their money we are the salt of the earth we are the ones with families values morals common sense and citizens and and are voters and are people who believe in God

If men like Hanson could be running the country,we wouldnt be in the shape we're in today.

Super !

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams

His conclusion - last five minutes - wow, I hope he is right.

The country is finished. Move to areas of like minded people of the same demographic.

Victor💕💕💕🙌🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏

Think this might be the next book I read....and actually finish

45:53 "Even people who shop at Whole Foods have to have food." 🤣

Concerning the British peoples move to America, I think that the initial move was away from a theocracy in England to a theocracy, for instance in Mass. of Puritans. When others later came to Mass., they were treated poorly if they were not Puritans. Similarly there was a theocracy in Virginia of Anglicans and a theocracy in other states (colonies) of other religions. But Roger Williams left Mass., after being punished for not being puritan and he ended up, along with others settling Rhode Island and beginning the first colony that ensured freedom of conscience. It would be interesting to find out what that had on the founding of the US. He was Baptist, but te state of RI, became known as RC, I think because of the freedom of choice.

Word.

Bought 2 of his books 📚 today. History of wwll. And The case for Trump.

Know your enemy and know yourself - Bring his and your values, goals, and methods into the public discussion. What works and what does not?

Go VDH!

In the old times when no visas and passport existed, the people and authorities gave permission to stay. How good was that!!!

VDH is the wisest man in the world.

Who will pay all the taxes if there is no middle class. It is not sustainable

Sir there is the GRE. But some individuals could not improve the SAT or Act scores by more than 1 % from the scores received at 17 years old. I was one and I know of others!

Keep sipping on your sippy cup sir!!!

Dr Hanson is right on, Latinos can see the wokeness & will vote red. Arriba Trump.

Have you interviewed Adam Andrzejewski (Angie-effski) recently?

Key insight about # people working for government (40:44) and how the trend is for them to make-up new laws (41:03) #scary #bloat

I love VDH

I met students while I was in college at age 40, not all of them young, who were borrowing enough student loans to live on while they "messed around" changing majors and dropping classes at the last minute. So I wonder if much of the Trillion $ student loan debt is for living expenses, trips to Florida, cool tech, clothes, and cars.

Interesting

Hi Al 👋

He should have a talk with Mark Lilla. They are different men politically but I do think there is good common ground. The problem is with excessive progressivism to the far left and libertarianism on the right. The loss of genuine religious faith and practice and/or real political philosophy is the problem as well. So education becomes trivialized.

Senators should be appointed by governors so they would represent the state governments as intended in the constitution. 17th amendment is a problem

Makes perfect sense and helps me to think: TURN-TUCK - LEFT. THANKS