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We often imagine the political spectrum as a straight line, stretching from left to right. But a better metaphor is a circle.

On the left side of the circle is liberalism: openness to new ideas, willingness to experiment. On the right is conservatism: commitment to traditions that have proven their worth. Both contain wisdom, and the tension between them is the engine of democracy.

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At the top of the circle sits the one percent: corporate America, Wall Street and the political establishment in both parties. Here, the wealthy may disagree on social issues but reliably agree on policies that funnel money upward. Occasionally, they toss breadcrumbs to the........

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