Amid the backdrop of rising inequality, the belief in merit has lead to condescension among the winners and a harsh sense of humiliation among those left behind. This is destroying the common good, according to Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel. He makes the case for a new way of thinking about success and failure in, "The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good?"

Michael Sandel: Why Merit is Destroying Democracy

The Agenda with Steve Paikin is TVO's flagship current affairs program - devoted to exploring the social, political, cultural and economic issues that are changing our world, at home and abroad. The Agenda airs weeknights at 8:00 PM EST on TVO - Canada's largest educational broadcaster.

News & Politics

Doug Ford promised to create incentives for more registered nurses and personal support workers in Ontario. But what does it take to attract people to study for the jobs needed in health care? The Agenda discusses how to train people for the right jobs, and what role the government plays in getting people into post-secondary institutions.

Training Ontarians for the Right Jobs

Earlier this week, Premier Doug Ford officially declared that COVID-19's second wave has hit Ontario. Raywat Deonandan is a Global Health epidemiologist and associate professor with the University of Ottawa's Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences. He talks to Nam Kiwanuka about what we can expect to see in the coming weeks and whether Ontario is on the right track in its approach to the current situation.

Making Sense of COVID-19's Second Wave

The Agenda this week looked at why urban dwellers are seeking to live in smaller communities; considered how policing might evolve; checked in with some American expats after the U.S. presidential debate; and heard the case for citizens helping to bolster democracy.

Challenges of City Living During COVID-19

Personal support workers have had to adjust to a new reality as the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on. But what about those who were in the midst of their training to become PSWs? Southwestern Ontario Hub journalist Mary Baxter spoke to some students about their experiences, and what drove them to seek the uneasy road of caring for ill patients in the first place.

PSW Training During COVID-19

Steve Paikin speaks to the editor and contributors of the new book, "Constitutional Democracy Under Stress: A Time for Heroic Citizenship." They discuss the fragile state of democracies around the world, the existential threats they face, and the "civic serum" needed to cure what ails them.

Michael Sandel: Why Merit is Destroying Democracy

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