The Future of Our Former Democracy  - Podcast Rankings and reviews

This podcast is a breath of fresh air in a subject that too often dives headfirst into the murky waters of math, parties, and punditry. George and Colin have a gift for keeping the focus on real people participating in elections to decide what they want to do together. It’s entertaining, informative, thought-provoking and so consistently refreshing that you might forget you are learning about one of the most important issues of our time.

I really enjoyed this podcast and learning about the Proportional Representation electoral system primarily based on its use in Northern Ireland. The information is presented very well, and the hosts are very engaging. Even my kid enjoyed the show, and complimented their government class in high school.

The vast majority of Americans want more choices of parties, and parties that have to compete to serve them. They want everyone to be represented reflecting the diversity of opinions that Americans hold. They don’t want a government run by a group of politicians that no voters like.

George and Colin pull back the curtain on one of the world’s best kept secrets — Irelands election system, the history of how and why it came to be, and how it’s working to remedy longtime problems and satisfy modern Ireland’s needs.

What’s extra special about this is the parallels between Ireland’s history of colonialism and racial (religious) oppression, polarization, and the United States past and present. It gives real hope! It worked for them, and it could work for us Americans, too. Better is possible.

I love this podcast! Fresh, thoughtful, thought provoking and well produced. I hung on every word. Can’t wait to listen to more

Herr im Himmel! I was really looking forward to this podcast. I worked as a political journalist in Germany for more than 20 years. I just returned to the States in November after my last tour, which lasted ten years. I also studied German history and speak German. So I like to think that I have a reasonable understanding of the situation in Germany.

This podcast is just so inferior and poor.

It is one thing that it is clearly biased from a far-left perspective. Well, if you know that, you can listen to it with a certain scepticism, knowing that it is not neutral and unbiased. But above all, this podcast is really poorly made.

If you only ask people who confirm your own opinion, then nothing better can come of it. In fact, only one expert, a professor, is given a chance to speak, and he is only allowed to contribute a few sentences. The other people who want to explain the world to us are either some random people at an election party (exclusively for the Green Party, of course). Or tour guides!!!! They are always praised to the skies, but they make incredible mistakes (for example, that the Verfassungsschutz, Germany's domestic intelligence service, is subordinate to the Bundesverfassungsgericht, the German Supreme Court. Of course, it is not; it is subordinate to the Home Secretary). These are not minor details, but fundamental errors that suggest complete ignorance (or deception?). And they also create a completely false picture.

I will probably listen to the second episode as well, but I don't expect much. If you are interested in the topic, you are better off reading Wikipedia.