Frank DiStefano
@distefanofj.bsky.social
If you want a rich and productive life, and to play your role as a citizen of a democracy, you must be curious.
We need to bring back the middlebrow.
We need to bring back the middlebrow.
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
If you want a rich and productive life, and to play your role as a citizen of a democracy, you must be curious.
We need to bring back the middlebrow.
We need to bring back the middlebrow.
Rulers don’t train their heirs in marketing and software engineering. They train them in history, philosophy, political strategy, mythical stories, and religion.
You must understand the world and humanity before you can govern them.
You must understand the world and humanity before you can govern them.
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Rulers don’t train their heirs in marketing and software engineering. They train them in history, philosophy, political strategy, mythical stories, and religion.
You must understand the world and humanity before you can govern them.
You must understand the world and humanity before you can govern them.
The world wants you to be a worker. It wants you educated enough to do the work it needs, but doesn’t care whether you have the skills necessary to govern yourself and the democracy as a citizen.
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The world wants you to be a worker. It wants you educated enough to do the work it needs, but doesn’t care whether you have the skills necessary to govern yourself and the democracy as a citizen.
Rich and famous people tell you it’s silly to study history, art, or philosophy because they won’t make you money or get a job. You should study engineering or STEM.
What they mean is it isn’t useful for you.
What they mean is it isn’t useful for you.
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Rich and famous people tell you it’s silly to study history, art, or philosophy because they won’t make you money or get a job. You should study engineering or STEM.
What they mean is it isn’t useful for you.
What they mean is it isn’t useful for you.
Some people blame the death of middlebrow on the supply—the people who make culture can make more money selling you things you already know you want.
I think the real reason is we’re no longer an aspirational culture that way.
I think the real reason is we’re no longer an aspirational culture that way.
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Some people blame the death of middlebrow on the supply—the people who make culture can make more money selling you things you already know you want.
I think the real reason is we’re no longer an aspirational culture that way.
I think the real reason is we’re no longer an aspirational culture that way.
Middlebrow culture used to be everywhere in America. If you watch old shows, you always find people learning French, reading literary novels, going to Broadway plays, or learning to cook fine cuisine.
Today you rarely find it.
Today you rarely find it.
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Middlebrow culture used to be everywhere in America. If you watch old shows, you always find people learning French, reading literary novels, going to Broadway plays, or learning to cook fine cuisine.
Today you rarely find it.
Today you rarely find it.
A lot of influencers will help you get fit, start a company, or meditate to gain focus and efficiency. It's about getting things—more money, more happiness, more effectiveness.
Middlebrow culture isn't about getting richer, but becoming a better, wiser, more complete person.
Middlebrow culture isn't about getting richer, but becoming a better, wiser, more complete person.
February 23, 2025 at 10:38 PM
A lot of influencers will help you get fit, start a company, or meditate to gain focus and efficiency. It's about getting things—more money, more happiness, more effectiveness.
Middlebrow culture isn't about getting richer, but becoming a better, wiser, more complete person.
Middlebrow culture isn't about getting richer, but becoming a better, wiser, more complete person.
This moment is one of transition in which our parties struggle to get to a new state (or otherwise get replaced if they fail). This isn’t the final form of either the Republican or Democratic Party.
February 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
This moment is one of transition in which our parties struggle to get to a new state (or otherwise get replaced if they fail). This isn’t the final form of either the Republican or Democratic Party.
The Brokenist-Denialist political spectrum means our current coalitions are only temporary. You can’t permanently organize politics around defending the indefensible, or around dismantling what’s broken without a coherent agenda that unites your coalition to fix it.
February 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The Brokenist-Denialist political spectrum means our current coalitions are only temporary. You can’t permanently organize politics around defending the indefensible, or around dismantling what’s broken without a coherent agenda that unites your coalition to fix it.
It’s because the "right" has become a rebellion against the system. It’s attracting anyone who thinks America is broken—as Oliver Wiseman called them Brokenists. The Democrats have become a coalition defending the status quo. They’re Denialist.
What does that mean for America?
What does that mean for America?
February 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It’s because the "right" has become a rebellion against the system. It’s attracting anyone who thinks America is broken—as Oliver Wiseman called them Brokenists. The Democrats have become a coalition defending the status quo. They’re Denialist.
What does that mean for America?
What does that mean for America?
We need an action bias for government.
If I were in charge, I wouldn’t go about it like DOGE, but maybe this will shake us loose to recognize that trying to fix problems, failing, making mistakes, and fixing them, is better than never trying to fix what’s broken at all.
If I were in charge, I wouldn’t go about it like DOGE, but maybe this will shake us loose to recognize that trying to fix problems, failing, making mistakes, and fixing them, is better than never trying to fix what’s broken at all.
February 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
We need an action bias for government.
If I were in charge, I wouldn’t go about it like DOGE, but maybe this will shake us loose to recognize that trying to fix problems, failing, making mistakes, and fixing them, is better than never trying to fix what’s broken at all.
If I were in charge, I wouldn’t go about it like DOGE, but maybe this will shake us loose to recognize that trying to fix problems, failing, making mistakes, and fixing them, is better than never trying to fix what’s broken at all.
It’s useful to remember the real story of the New Deal—not the one you heard in school, but the one with the mistakes and fumbles and wrong roads we abandoned. At the end we got some big things right like Social Security, which we locked in and benefitted from forever.
February 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
It’s useful to remember the real story of the New Deal—not the one you heard in school, but the one with the mistakes and fumbles and wrong roads we abandoned. At the end we got some big things right like Social Security, which we locked in and benefitted from forever.
American government used to do things. We built interstate highway systems, Marshall Plans, and moon rockets. Then we got too concerned with making mistakes and not enough about fixing problems, failing, and then trying again until we fixed them.
February 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
American government used to do things. We built interstate highway systems, Marshall Plans, and moon rockets. Then we got too concerned with making mistakes and not enough about fixing problems, failing, and then trying again until we fixed them.
Where was the liberal DOGE, the centrist DOGE, the progressive DOGE? Why didn’t Obama do a DOGE? Or Bush and Cheney, who claimed to care about wasteful government? Why didn’t Biden do a DOGE last year? (Don’t talk to me about Clinton and Gore’s failed “Reinventing Government.")
February 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Where was the liberal DOGE, the centrist DOGE, the progressive DOGE? Why didn’t Obama do a DOGE? Or Bush and Cheney, who claimed to care about wasteful government? Why didn’t Biden do a DOGE last year? (Don’t talk to me about Clinton and Gore’s failed “Reinventing Government.")
This is the self-help program I believe in. Bring back American virtues, and synchronize your heartbeat with the heartbeat of America.
February 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This is the self-help program I believe in. Bring back American virtues, and synchronize your heartbeat with the heartbeat of America.
What are those American virtues?
▪ Love of Democracy
▪ Industriousness
▪ Independence
▪ Curiosity
▪ Risk Taking
▪ Public Spirit
▪ Guardian Mentality
▪ Love of Democracy
▪ Industriousness
▪ Independence
▪ Curiosity
▪ Risk Taking
▪ Public Spirit
▪ Guardian Mentality
February 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
What are those American virtues?
▪ Love of Democracy
▪ Industriousness
▪ Independence
▪ Curiosity
▪ Risk Taking
▪ Public Spirit
▪ Guardian Mentality
▪ Love of Democracy
▪ Industriousness
▪ Independence
▪ Curiosity
▪ Risk Taking
▪ Public Spirit
▪ Guardian Mentality
I'm talking the American traits of figures from history we admire, and classic American archetypes like cowboys, outlaws, rock stars, iconoclasts, and bold entrepreneurs.
The traits of George Baily, Elvis Presley, Teddy Roosevelt, Wyatt Earp, Superman, and John McClane.
The traits of George Baily, Elvis Presley, Teddy Roosevelt, Wyatt Earp, Superman, and John McClane.
February 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I'm talking the American traits of figures from history we admire, and classic American archetypes like cowboys, outlaws, rock stars, iconoclasts, and bold entrepreneurs.
The traits of George Baily, Elvis Presley, Teddy Roosevelt, Wyatt Earp, Superman, and John McClane.
The traits of George Baily, Elvis Presley, Teddy Roosevelt, Wyatt Earp, Superman, and John McClane.
Sound familiar?
Personally, I do the opposite and work to restore America's tributaries to into reliable partners with vitality. I think a North Empire empire is a losing strategy, and the empire of tributaries is the only way to avoid the Thucydides Trap or win that war.
Personally, I do the opposite and work to restore America's tributaries to into reliable partners with vitality. I think a North Empire empire is a losing strategy, and the empire of tributaries is the only way to avoid the Thucydides Trap or win that war.
February 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Sound familiar?
Personally, I do the opposite and work to restore America's tributaries to into reliable partners with vitality. I think a North Empire empire is a losing strategy, and the empire of tributaries is the only way to avoid the Thucydides Trap or win that war.
Personally, I do the opposite and work to restore America's tributaries to into reliable partners with vitality. I think a North Empire empire is a losing strategy, and the empire of tributaries is the only way to avoid the Thucydides Trap or win that war.
4. You probably want to secure the Southern border and ensure a friendly government in Mexico.
5. You would consider trying to ally with Russia, a nuclear power on China's border that could turn into a Chinese ally.
5. You would consider trying to ally with Russia, a nuclear power on China's border that could turn into a Chinese ally.
February 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
4. You probably want to secure the Southern border and ensure a friendly government in Mexico.
5. You would consider trying to ally with Russia, a nuclear power on China's border that could turn into a Chinese ally.
5. You would consider trying to ally with Russia, a nuclear power on China's border that could turn into a Chinese ally.
2. You also might want control of Greenland, in the hands of an unreliable European nation like Denmark too.
3. You also probably want control over the Panama Canal, which China is gaining influence over.
3. You also probably want control over the Panama Canal, which China is gaining influence over.
February 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
2. You also might want control of Greenland, in the hands of an unreliable European nation like Denmark too.
3. You also probably want control over the Panama Canal, which China is gaining influence over.
3. You also probably want control over the Panama Canal, which China is gaining influence over.