American democracy is informed by the 18th century’s most cutting-edge thinking on society, economics, and government—but we’ve learned some things in the intervening 230 years. Now, Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer, the Seattle creators of the True Patriot Network and co-authors of The Gardens of Democracy, argue that some of those fundamental assumptions need updating. Instead of using a machine as the metaphor for understanding markets and government, they suggest viewing democracy as a garden: functioning best according to the tendencies of nature, but also requiring vision, tending, and an understanding of connected ecosystems. Presented by the Town Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay Book Company. Series media sponsorship provided by PubliCola. Series supported by The Boeing Company Charitable Trust and the RealNetworks Foundation.