What really controls American politics?

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Fordham University will host a debate that focuses not on the presidency, but on three other factors critical to America’s governance—deep pockets, underlying moral principles, and the nation’s favorite myths.

The event, “What Rules America: Money, Morals or Myth?” will feature a debate between three public intellectuals, each representing one position:

For money: Robert Kuttner, longtime columnist for Business Week, author of The Squandering of America and Everything for Sale, and co-founder of The American Prospect magazine;

For morals: Robert A. George, editorial writer for the New York Post, frequent commentator on public affairs program, and one-time staffer for Congressman Newt Gingrich ; and

For myth: Susan Jacoby, author of The Age of American Unreason, Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, and Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age.

DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 1
TIME: 6 to 8 p.m.
PLACE: Pope Auditorium, Lowenstein Center, Lincoln Center Campus, 113 W. 60th St., NY NY

It is free and open to the public. Registration information is available here.

E. J. Dionne, Jr., nationally syndicated Washington Post columnist, Georgetown professor, and author ofWhy Americans Hate Politics and Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right, will moderate the debate.

The event is sponsored by the Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture.