Democracy

Krist Novoselic: The Rock Star / Political Activist On How to Fix Our Democracy

Bill Thompson

It’s been almost 40 years since bass guitarist Krist Novoselic and his buddy Kurt Cobain formed a band they called Nirvana Novoselic wound up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a result.

He continued his music for over 20 years after the end of Nirvana.

But he also had a deep and abiding interest in politics and democracy. And that’s how he came to write a book in 2004, that he called Of Grunge and Government.

His publisher offered me a few minutes with him in the fall of 2004, and, being the father of teenage daughters who loved Nirvana, I couldn’t say no.

So here now, from 2004, Krist Novoselic.

Krist Novoselic turned 60 last month. Last year he founded the Cascade Party of Washington.

Redefining Freedom and Democracy: Fareed Zakaria

Bill Thompson

Most Americans might define a “democracy” as a form of government in which the people have their say, typically by way of free and fair elections.

And most Americans would probably agree that a democracy is better than, say, a dictatorship.

For generations the United States has actively encouraged and nurtured democracies around the world, but with mixed success. And that may be because of a fundamental misunderstanding of what a democracy is.

Journalist and political commentator Fareed Zakaria has long been a student of democracy and other forms of government, how they work and how they succeed or fail.

And in a 2003 book called The Future of Freedom Zakaria explained why American-led democracy building often fails.

And at the time that he and I talked about the book it was more than just an academic exercise. The interview you’re about to hear took place just days after the fall of Baghdad in the early days of the Iraq War.

So here now, from 2003, Fareed Zakaria.

Fareed Zakaria is 61 And lives in New York. You can see him on CNN and read him in the Washington Post.