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Seeing Through the Fog: Why Citizen Knowledge Matters w/ Jeff Jacoby | Navigating The Fog of Change
Seeing Through the Fog: Why Citizen Knowledge Matters
“In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
— George Washington
In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change™, I’m joined by Jeff Jacoby, veteran columnist for The Boston Globe and author of the influential Arguable column. Together we dive into a core challenge facing American democracy today: citizens who vote, speak, and form opinions without truly knowing the facts.
Jeff and I explore why an informed citizenry is not just a civic virtue — it’s a survival skill in times of massive, fast, and continuous change. In an era when social media, sound bites, and partisan messaging drown out nuance, the responsibility to dig deeper falls squarely on all of us.
We discuss how political narratives can mislead even well-intentioned voters. One striking case: during the 1992 presidential election, strategist James Carville framed the race around a single line — “It’s the economy, stupid!”
A brilliant and winning slogan. But wrong.
The recession was over. The economy had already begun to rebound.
When messaging eclipses reality, citizens make poor decisions — and democracy pays the price.
In this conversation, we examine:
· Why popular media often oversimplifies complex truths
· How voters can discipline themselves to look beyond headlines
· The danger of letting emotion replace evidence
· Practical steps for becoming the “enlightened public opinion” Washington saw as essential
If leadership is the light that cuts through the Fog of Change™, then informed citizens are the fuel that keeps that light burning.
To get Jeff's Globe columns by email, sign up here: https://jeffjacoby.com/list_subscribe.php
To subscribe to the Arguable newsletter, go here: https://bit.ly/ArguableNewsletter
To email Jeff directly, the address is [email protected]
Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.
To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/
View all episodes
By Sage PartnersSeeing Through the Fog: Why Citizen Knowledge Matters
“In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.”
— George Washington
In this episode of Navigating the Fog of Change™, I’m joined by Jeff Jacoby, veteran columnist for The Boston Globe and author of the influential Arguable column. Together we dive into a core challenge facing American democracy today: citizens who vote, speak, and form opinions without truly knowing the facts.
Jeff and I explore why an informed citizenry is not just a civic virtue — it’s a survival skill in times of massive, fast, and continuous change. In an era when social media, sound bites, and partisan messaging drown out nuance, the responsibility to dig deeper falls squarely on all of us.
We discuss how political narratives can mislead even well-intentioned voters. One striking case: during the 1992 presidential election, strategist James Carville framed the race around a single line — “It’s the economy, stupid!”
A brilliant and winning slogan. But wrong.
The recession was over. The economy had already begun to rebound.
When messaging eclipses reality, citizens make poor decisions — and democracy pays the price.
In this conversation, we examine:
· Why popular media often oversimplifies complex truths
· How voters can discipline themselves to look beyond headlines
· The danger of letting emotion replace evidence
· Practical steps for becoming the “enlightened public opinion” Washington saw as essential
If leadership is the light that cuts through the Fog of Change™, then informed citizens are the fuel that keeps that light burning.
To get Jeff's Globe columns by email, sign up here: https://jeffjacoby.com/list_subscribe.php
To subscribe to the Arguable newsletter, go here: https://bit.ly/ArguableNewsletter
To email Jeff directly, the address is [email protected]
Navigating The Fog of Change™ is presented by Sage Partners. This podcast is hosted by Tom Doorley and edited and produced by Rei Haycraft.
To learn more about Sage Partners, visit: https://www.sagepartners.net/