Jamie Mayerfeld is Professor of Political Science and Professor and Chair of Law, Societies & Justice at the University of Washington, specializing in political theory and human rights. His publications include two books, The Promise of Human Rights (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016) and Suffering and Moral Responsibility (Oxford University Press, 1999), and articles on various topics in political theory, moral philosophy, human rights, and international criminal law. He is currently writing a book entitled Shelters of Injustice, which examines influential theoretical excuses to violate justice. 

Johann Neem is an historian of early American history at Western Washington University in Bellingham. He is the author and editor of several books including Democracy’s Schools: The Rise of Public Education in America and, with Joanne B. Freeman, Jeffersonians in Power. His writing has appeared in such places as the Seattle Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, the Hedgehog Review, and The New Republic. He has been interviewed on issues relating to America’s 250th by the New York Times, the Guardian, the Atlantic, and Mother Jones, among other venues. His website is www.johannneem.com.

Dan Clark will be our moderator. Dan is a former board member of the Badger Club, is a retired high school English teacher who taught Advanced Placement Language, Creative Writing, and Debate.