At the nearly two hundred fifty year mark, we’ve already lasted longer than most great nations. As with others which declined and fell, a loss of confidence led to anxiety and the impulse for a strong man to protect us with quick easy solutions. But those rigid autocratic monarchs do not evolve and in fact hasten the decline and fall.  The tribalism that inevitably evolves from that erodes any cohesiveness essential for a solid constitutional republic. On this show, special guest is Johan Norberg historian of ideas and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute. He suggests instead of demanding fealty to the strong man, we have to set free creative individuals to discover new solutions; be open to surprises. Does this top heavy ruling class mean a fall is inevitable?  Were we ever really the world’s essential nation? Give a listen.