An exchange online with congressional candidate Eddie Speir left me wondering at one point heated debate reaches for nihilism.

Speir last year filed against Republican Vern Buchanan and continues to challenge him ostensibly “from the right.” The two candidates face off in an Aug. 20 Primary, the winner a likely favorite in November. Speir claims he’s the conservative choice, and it’s Buchanan who provides lip service to voters. But does that framing cast conservatism as any type of philosophy on its own, or just as an effort to denigrate institutions from the outside while destroying them from within?

The conversation I had involved the apocalyptic nature of Speir’s campaign rhetoric. It started after he posted a photo of a Buchanan sign in front of a psychic shop, a sign he said of "dark forces aligned with political power." Mind you, I don’t think much of psychics, though I consider them more con artist than venders of sacrilege. Regardless, Speir he made a leap tying Buchanan to what he perceived as an unholy business.

“We are in a spiritual war,” Speir posted. “… The enemy of our souls is hard at work eroding our foundational values.”

As I reset my vision from a painful eyeroll, I shared online my own pessimistic forecast for Speir’s campaign based the language he employs. Forgive the editorializing, and one forgotten word I’ve filled in here: “If you see the appearance of a Vern sign near a psychic's existing business as a signal of a coming apocalypse, and (one) that only your GOP Primary victory can stop, I have some very bad news about the impending end of days.”

Speir ultimately offered a detailed response that touched on COVID protocols, Ukraine funding, the Green New Deal and the general failure by media figures like myself to properly share “the truth” with consumers. Feel free to read his post here.

Speir also interpreted my response as accusing him of being a “megalomaniac,” though that wasn’t my intention. Rather, I meant to satirize the seemingly high stakes he assigned to defeating Buchanan. I reject the notion this race represents anything more than a congressional primary. Speir chose to challenge a lifelong Republican and long-time member of Congress, arguably now the most powerful member in Florida’s congressional delegation as vice chair of the House Ways & Means Committee.

Honestly, it’s silly to suggest Vern Buchanan isn’t conservative. Most likely, Speir as a Republican himself agrees with Buchanan on more fundamental questions about government than I do. Sure, Buchanan represents a particular element of the broader Republican electorate. He’s a pro-business, Chamber Republican, not a culture warrior. But he’s also pro-life, anti-regulation and fairly hawkish on foreign policy.

He's also squishy on gun rights and relatively solid on environmental issues. I’d argue that shows he also listens to his entire electorate, even many not inclined to vote Republican. Democrats in the fall will surely argue he doesn’t do that enough. But the moderation he does sometimes draws criticism from the right. That’s the process.

Still, one can’t help but wonder if Speir takes so many positions contrary to Buchanan not because he’s “more conservative,” but because he’s utterly contrarion. I don’t mean he cynically opposes anything Buchanan supports. I mean his anti-establishment viewpoint derives entirely from opposing whatever consensus can survive in Washington these days.

Phrases like “the uniparty” became vernacular in today’s self-proclaimed “hard right,” casting aspersions against anything Democrats and Republicans agree upon as inherently wrong. Sometimes that even aligns so-called conservatives with the far left, though Speir assures voters he hates those heathens as well.

This happens when agendas exist not as philosophies themselves but as resistance to a surely evil status quo. But democracy works best when powered by constructive agendas, not self-righteous demonization of fellow Americans.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor of SRQ MEDIA. 

Image courtesy Pixabay.

Last weekend's Socratic Stage Dialogue Symposium at New College of Florida, co-hosted with the Global Liberty Institute, served as a beacon of hope in an increasingly polarized world. Reflecting on the symposium held alongside an esteemed collaborator Dr. Scott Atlas, where more than a dozen preeminent scholars and over 200 attendees engaged in wide-ranging discussion and debate.

The symposium stood as a refreshing oasis of civil exchange in an era where echo chambers and ideological divisiveness often dominate public discourse. One of the most remarkable aspects of the symposium was the diverse array of perspectives represented on stage. Experts from disparate fields — humanities, law, public health, economics and beyond — converged to engage in thoughtful debate and exchange of ideas. This diversity enriched the discussions and challenged participants to reexamine their beliefs and assumptions.

Of course, such conversations are not without their challenges. There were moments of heated debate and disagreement, as one would expect when passionate individuals come together to grapple with complex issues. Yet, what truly distinguished this event was the prevailing spirit of mutual respect and intellectual curiosity that infused every discussion.

In an age where cancel culture and intellectual intolerance threaten to stifle dissenting voices, the symposium served as a powerful reminder of the importance of robust debate and open inquiry in academia. It reaffirmed New College’s commitment to upholding the principles of free speech and academic freedom, even — and especially — when confronted with ideas that may challenge our beliefs.

One of the most pressing concerns facing liberal arts schools across America today is the alarming number of graduates who receive diplomas without ever having their beliefs challenged. This issue has been simmering for years, quietly eroding the foundation of rigorous education. If students are shielded from opposing viewpoints and never compelled to defend their beliefs in the crucible of debate, can they truly claim to have undergone a thorough intellectual journey?

The closing keynote address from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the symposium underscored the significance of civil discourse as a cornerstone of higher education. His remarks reaffirmed the state's commitment to fostering an environment where grappling with tough questions and respectfully contesting contrary viewpoints are integral to the educational experience.

At New College, we actively work to ensure the rigorous educational development of thoughts and beliefs paired with an ardent ability to defend them. Our students have unparalleled access to faculty, working in partnership on everything from class schedules to exemplary undergraduate research projects. The undergraduate theses of New College graduates are dissected by faculty committees and defended by the student with the vigor seen in many colleges’ graduate degree programs.

Outside of daily classes, we offer programming like our Socratic Stage Dialogue Series, which this weekend’s symposium was part of, putting experts in the spotlight to debate contemporary and historic matters of public interest. 

When I first came to New College in early 2023, holding events like Saturday’s symposium was one of my goals. Now I hope to see the demand for more of them outgrow the Sainer Auditorium and command a larger space on campus or perhaps even a shift to larger venues within the Sarasota community.

If you didn’t have the opportunity to join us last weekend, you can view each expert panel and the Governor’s remarks in our Socratic Stage Archives.

In closing, I urge my fellow academics and university leaders to join me in embracing civil discourse as a guiding principle of our institutions. Let us continue to champion the free exchange of ideas, even - and especially - when it challenges us to think differently. Only then can we hope to fulfill the true promise of higher education: to seek truth, foster understanding, and ultimately, to make the world a better place.

Richard Corcoran is President of New College of Florida. 

Screenshot courtesy New College of Florida

Socratic Stage Archives

June is my favorite month here in Sarasota County. It marks the return of the annual event that is very special to me – Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week.

Now in its 19^th year, Savor Sarasota runs from Saturday, June 1 to Friday, June 14,. It is a delightful celebration of our Visit Sarasota County partner restaurants, offering mouthwatering two-course lunches for $25 per person and three-course dinners for $40 per person, along with upgrades including wine flights and cocktail pairings. Savor Sarasota has become so much more than just about the food; it is about bringing our wonderful Sarasota community together to support local restaurants and hospitality workers. 

In 2005, I helped spearhead this program along with restaurateurs like Michael Klauber to shine a light on Sarasota’s vibrant and growing restaurant scene during what was typically a “slow season.” We saw an opportunity to showcase how our community is a paradise for food lovers, offering a rich, bountiful and eclectic mix of cuisines from cutting-edge to classic, local to global, all thanks to the creativity and spirit of our chefs and restaurateurs. This event has become a key ingredient in our local economy, boosting business for our local restaurants and making Sarasota County a better place to live and dine.

To get the word out about Savor Sarasota, we’ve engaged the full breadth of our VSC resources. We have implemented an advertising campaign focused on digital placements within the state, including paid social media ads. Our PR team has launched a campaign to secure earned media opportunities via broadcast and online stories. On our VSC social pages, we are utilizing video content, ad campaigns and digital amplification of custom content, featuring select Savor Sarasota restaurants and chefs on Facebook and Instagram.

We’re also engaging our audience through opportunities to win exciting prizes. Over at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, our visitor experience staff are handing out Savor Sarasota menus, along with treats being served during Savor Sarasota to arriving visitors to encourage them to come out for a meal during their visit.  As an example, Hamlet’s Eatery will be providing a watermelon drink one afternoon to arriving passengers near baggage claim.

These initiatives are all done as an effort to build upon the great success the program has experience over the years. Last year, 63 restaurants participated in the program. Combined, they served over 20,000 lunches and dinners generating nearly $700,000 in revenue. We expect to exceed those numbers this year. 

We invite everyone to visit SavorSarasota.com for all the latest information on the event. When you do visit one of our amazing restaurants during Savor Sarasota, please make sure to tag @VisitSarasota on Facebook and @VisitSarasotaCounty on Instagram and incorporate the hashtag #SavorSarasota! I expect after a meal or two at one of our amazing restaurants, June may become one of your favorite months as well.

Erin Duggan is President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County. 

Photo courtesy Visit Sarasota: Crab & Fin Restaurant.