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Steve Hochstadt

Steve Hochstadt is a writer and an emeritus professor of history at Illinois College.

  • Apr 23, 2019

    To His Followers, Trump is a Folk Hero

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Villainy unalloyed by any goodness has also propelled many people, almost all men, into the ranks of folk heroes, like Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, and Bonnie and Clyde. These criminals captured the popular imagination, not despite being bad, but because of it.

  • Mar 26, 2019

    The Weakness of Democracy

    by Steve Hochstadt

    When we extend our gaze beyond the US, we can more easily perceive that democracy often works badly.

  • Mar 20, 2019

    What is Antisemitism?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Many, perhaps most accusations of antisemitism are made in good faith for the purpose of calling attention to real religious prejudice. But such accusations are often made for less honest political purposes.

  • Mar 5, 2019

    Can Artists Remake Society?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    One of the most striking changes triggered by the November Revolution in Germany, and more generally the revolutions in eastern Europe provoked by the Russian Revolution, was the conquest of the art world by a radically new conception of the nature of visual expression.

  • Feb 19, 2019

    How Far We Have Yet to Go

    by Steve Hochstadt

    We don’t yet know all of the changes we will need to make in our attitudes and actions in order to create full social equality. The work will be difficult, but the goal will be glorious.

  • Jan 23, 2019

    The Real National Emergency

    by Steve Hochstadt

    The Republican Party has transformed itself into a political force that prioritizes its own power over the sanctity of electoral democracy.

  • Nov 14, 2018

    Where Is Our Country Now?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Lots of electoral commentators are comparing this “blue wave” with past waves, often to prove that their side did extraordinarily well. It’s more important to think about the future. Will the overwhelming liberalism of young Americans gradually replace the self-interested conservatism of my generation? Will women keep moving in a liberal direction? Will they take the men around them along?

  • Oct 30, 2018

    The Problem Is Not Civility

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Gullible Trump have been bombarded by Republican attacks on the morality and the patriotism of liberals for decades. Their fears have been stoked by conservative lies about liberals since the days of Sen. McCarthy. A FOX producer called it “riling up the crazies”. Now a pathetic march of frightened Central Americans has been turned into an invasion of disease-carrying terrorists.

  • Oct 23, 2018

    A Man For All Men?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Suppose you just met a man at a party, in a bar, at a meeting, or at a ball game. He talked only about himself. He told amazing stories about how wonderful and rich he was. He said he was a genius, one of the most successful businessmen in the world, and superior at everything he does. He commented on how attractive or unattractive the women around him were and bragged about his sexual exploits. He laughed about getting away with groping women he encountered. He made fun of the intelligence of well-known people. He made fun of the handicapped. Although flabby and overweight, he puffed up his chest praising men who were “tough” like him.

  • Oct 9, 2018

    Innocent Until Proven Guilty?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    A privileged segment of American society, white and male, has systematically victimized underprivileged Americans, female and not white, and walked away. The members of the Bronx district attorney’s office, who did not provide “potentially exculpatory evidence” to McKee’s defense, walked away long ago. All of the prominent men who have suddenly found themselves held responsible for their treatment of women, from which they walked away for years, are outraged by their new plight.
  • Sep 14, 2018

    Only The Best People

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Donald Trump constantly repeated that he would bring in “the best people” or “the best people in the world”. He said, “I know the best people.”  “You’ve got to pick the best people.” He boasted about how good he was at finding the best. Because he rarely mentioned anyone in particular, we never found out what he meant by “best”. Now we know a lot more.

  • Sep 4, 2018

    Science is Complicated, but True

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Science is increasingly complicated, and that provides an opening for political ideologues to question particular scientific conclusions and thus the whole scientific enterprise.
  • Aug 21, 2018

    I Love Private Property

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Public property is a political issue: Democrats want to maintain and expand public services and Republicans want to turn public resources and services into private property.