Robotics, unemployment, and the democracy of the future

In their new book “People Get Ready: The Fight Against a Jobless Economy and a Citizenless Democracy,” Robert McChesney and John Nichols argue for a return to democratic ideals, or else. Their dire warnings point to the possibility of a massive failure for our economy and political system without the renewal of core democratic infrastructures: “a credible free press, high quality education for all and checks on inequality, militarism and corruption.”

Robert McChesney is a professor of history and communications at The University of Illinois and the former host of the public radio program Media Matters. John Nichols is the Washington correspondent for The Nation magazine. They spoke at Town Hall Seattle on March 9. Anna Tatistcheff recorded their talk.