One to One with Bill Goodman
Bill Bishop
premiered December 21, 2008
On this edition of One to One with Bill Goodman, 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. 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.
A Louisville native who now resides in Texas, Bishop first talks about 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 United States to thrive while others remain stagnant.
Finally, Bishop analyzes the presidential election and examines the Commonwealth’s struggle to retain the people it educates.
About the Series
One to One features in-depth interviews with a variety of interesting people. Guests are drawn from a wide range of fields, and conversations cover an enormous array of topics. While many noteworthy Kentuckians are featured, Bill also talks with fascinating visitors from around the world.
As host of Kentucky Tonight, bookclub@ket, and KET election coverage, Bill Goodman has built a reputation as a skilled and even-handed moderator. One to One, he says, represents an opportunity for more relaxed, in-depth conversations with a variety of guests.
One to One is a KET production, produced by Bill Goodman and Cindy Asher. The program is closed-captioned for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.
