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Steve Hochstadt

Steve Hochstadt is a writer and an emeritus professor of history at Illinois College.

  • Sep 18, 2020

    The Religion of Patriotism

    by Steve Hochstadt

    "Patriotic rituals were designed to indoctrinate young and old with the belief that the racist, sexist, antisemitic America of the 20th century was already perfect, that criticisms of racial injustice or gender discrimination were illegitimate, that America was God’s country and corporate capitalism was God’s handiwork."

  • Aug 26, 2020

    The Post Office in Trump's Mind

    by Steve Hochstadt

    The Post Office plays only a supporting role in a variety of Trump actions, but the place of the Post Office in Trump’s mind reveals the fundamental dishonesty of his entire presidency. 

  • Aug 19, 2020

    The Evangelical Error

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Evangelical leaders have bent and twisted their proclaimed moral precepts so far to embrace Donald Trump that they risk forfeiting any claim to moral authority and becoming a mere reactionary identitarian group in a society leaving them behind. 

  • Aug 4, 2020

    Dumb, Lazy Americans

    by Steve Hochstadt

    "It took me less than five minutes to find out that Dr. Immanuel has announced that extraterrestrials run our government and their DNA is used in medical treatments, that the Illuminati are using witches to destroy the world through abortion, gay marriage, and Harry Potter, and that she is a Tea Party fan."

  • Jul 28, 2020

    What Does it Mean to be Progressive in 2020?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    The political conspiracy theories of the right assume that Democratic voters actively support evil. The conspiracy theories of the “Never Biden” element of the left assume that we are just dumb.

  • Jul 22, 2020

    Republicans Versus Schools

    by Steve Hochstadt

    As the Coronavirus surges again, we are liable to be blinded by Trump's frequent displays of blustering self-pity and miss how Republicans are exploiting mass death to pursue their attack on American education.

  • Jul 7, 2020

    No Time to Celebrate

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Even if Trump loses in November, his hardcore supporters will remain an impediment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the rest of us.

  • Jun 24, 2020

    Has Something Finally Changed?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Both aggressive corporate responses to prejudiced action by their employees and sympathy for Black Lives Matter protests in conservative towns suggest that, at least potentially, big change is afoot in America. 

  • Jun 10, 2020

    He Is Crazy

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Trump repeating the theory that an elderly protestor was an ANTIFA agent shows the weakness of his judgment and his dangerous political desperation.

  • Jun 3, 2020

    Are Republicans Nasty People?

    by Steve Hochstadt

    A talk radio ethos that puts provocation above understanding and ideological rigidity over cooperation has become the core of the Republican Party. This is not a good thing. 

  • May 31, 2020

    Things Have Been Worse

    by Steve Hochstadt

    The broad anti-left political campaigns associated with Joseph McCarthy should remind us that pursuing justice requires courage. 

  • May 13, 2020

    Ideology Versus Life

    by Steve Hochstadt

    A recent report in the New York Times lists every environmental regulation overturned or attacked by the current administration, painting a picture of an ideology that puts profit ahead of life. 

  • Apr 26, 2020

    The Crystal Ball is Broken

    by Steve Hochstadt

    Only one thing is clear – recovery to “normal life” will take a long time, well beyond the end of 2020.

  • Mar 20, 2020

    Political Labels Aren't Helping

    by Steve Hochstadt

    The uselessness of labels has been demonstrated most forcefully by Trump’s presidency and his takeover of the Republican Party.

  • Feb 27, 2020

    The Day After the South Carolina Debate

    by Steve Hochstadt

    The Nevada debate made me uncomfortable. The South Carolina debate was hard for me to watch. The danger that has accompanied the months of campaigning and debates so far, that these varied and talented Democrats would kill each other off, was apparent.

  • Feb 18, 2020

    Trump the Great and Powerful

    by Steve Hochstadt

    It is not surprising that a president so unconcerned about Constitutional norms would try to add to his powers. It is disturbing and dangerous that the Republican Party as a body supports Trump going far beyond what they harshly denounced just a few years ago.