I didn’t intend to record a series, but it has turned out that way. First, Dr. (Charles) Murray was in. (Here.) Then Dr. (Charles) Krauthammer was in. (Here.) Now we have Bill Bennett, Dr. William J. Bennett, in a new Q&A.
I regard him as one of America’s great teachers. He has been in that role for years. In the classroom. At the National Endowment for the Humanities. As education secretary. As book-author. As radio host. And so on.
In our podcast, I ask him about some things important to me (and many of us, to be sure). First, he tells some Reagan stories — marvelous. And some Bush 41 stories — marvelous. Those are worth the price of admission alone.
But we also talk about drug legalization. And Common Core. And such terms as “neocon.” I also ask him to identify big problems with 1) liberals, 2) conservatives, and 3) libertarians.
In the course of this podcast, Bennett talks about the fundamental importance of education. He cites the recent novel by Michel Houellebecq, Submission. It imagines an alliance in France between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Socialist Left. In fact, they form a coalition together (as I understand it). The Muslim Brothers demand control of just one thing: education. The rest will follow.
Doesn’t it, though?
Bill also quotes Plato, to the effect that he who gets to teach children, and decide the content of that education, wins. (I’ve put it crudely, but that’s the gist.) “Teach the children well,” a song went. (Mondale-Ferraro used it in a campaign ad!)
Anyway, enjoy Bill Bennett, on the podcast. I’m not sure there’s a better, clearer, more patient talker and explainer — on left or right — in America.
A Podcast with Bill Bennett, Conducted by Jay Nordlinger