For Release: 2008-12-08 00:00:00
Author Bill Bishop, former columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, discusses his first book, The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart, on the next One to One with Bill Goodman. The book examines the polarization of U.S. politics and concludes that the American people -- not politicians, the media or religious leaders -- are the primary cause. The program airs Sunday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m./noon CT on KET1 and Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7:30/6:30 p.m. CT on KET2.A Louisville native who now resides in Texas, Bishop first relays his family 's history of traveling between the two states. He offers a comparison of Kentuckians and Texans, explaining why he believes Texans to be more open and exuberant.
Then, Bishop discusses The Big Sort, saying that people tend to move to places where they are surrounded by others with similar lifestyles and politics, a phenomenon that he calls "clustering." He describes the pros and cons of clustering, including how it can lead to a failure to compromise in local and national government. Bishop also explores how clustering causes some cities and communities in the U.S. to thrive while others remain stagnant.
Finally, Bishop analyzes the presidential election and examines the Commonwealth's struggle to retain the people it educates.
One to One with Bill Goodman is a KET production, produced by Goodman and Cindy Asher. Following the broadcast, One to One is available for on-demand videostream viewing at www.ket.org/onetoone and podcasting at www.ket.org/rss. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.
Contact: Amanda Stroud
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