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The 47% charge in U.S. history

Claude Fischer, professor of sociology | September 19, 2012

There are many angles — and many comments on each angle — to Mitt Romney’s statement that 47% of American voters are “dependent upon government, … believe that they are victims, … believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, … that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to … Continue reading »

Unique, sovereign, American

Claude Fischer, professor of sociology | January 12, 2012

It is as foolish to characterize a nation by only one trait as it is to characterize a person by only one trait. Yet such simplifications can be helpful. A “happy-go-lucky” person, for example, will regularly respond to a range of situations differently than a chronic worrier (and probably live longer, too). Identifying key traits … Continue reading »