I interviewed Adam Swart, founder of Crowds on Demand.
You can listen and make your own decision. Things aren't always what they seem,
After that I spoke to Scott Powell, author of Rediscovering America, about Christopher Columbus.
Your American Heritage 10 11 2025 Adam Swart and Scott Powell.
I also spoke with Joy Budensiek who created the By The Way series of books that are mini travelogues of the states.
Then I spoke with Katherine Bussard, COO of Salt and Light Global concerning the State Board of Education threatening kids with perversion in the classroom. Again.
The Japanese are known for civil protests — if not about a domestic issue, then about U.S. military presence or air or naval bases. There’s nothing personal about it, you understand. In fact, the only way you can get a Japanese person to join a protest is to pay them and arrange transportation to and from their homes. Otherwise, no one will show up. The point is that none of the “issues” are hot-button topics. Most Japanese couldn’t care less about how many bases the U.S. maintains in their country. Here’s how it works: a wealthy Japanese individual wants to cause trouble for a rival politician or businessman, so they organize a protest. They pay ¥20 per demonstrator. If they can get 500 people to show up, they’ll spend around ¥10,000, and the protest will be covered by the Japanese news media, often ignored by people reading the newspaper who just want to get to the Sudoku puzzle.
ReplyDeleteDid the protest change government policy? No, but it made at least one member of the Diet uncomfortable for a few days and could pose a challenge for them in the next election. After that, everyone goes back to sleep… just like here.
We talked about the intended effect of some of these protests.
DeleteMostly for media consumption. Which then left some observers to feel that their position had more support than they may have thought.
Ed notes, "Which then left some observers to feel that their position had more support than they might have thought." Of course, but it is also possible that we are today a society easily taken in by mumbo-jumbo. Whatever it takes to separate us from our hard-earned cash. What is that saying? A fool and their money are soon parted?
ReplyDeleteThat's not "possible", it's proven fact.
DeleteIncredible interview Ed. Very interesting guest and topic. Carry on!
ReplyDeleteThank you sir!
DeleteI have not watched Super Bowl halftime for years, We host a party at our house and change channels at halftime.
ReplyDeleteBut this time we all will be watching the Turning Point's alternate Halftime Show.