A capacity crowd packed Ridgefield Library’s fully-extended Dayton Program Room on Thursday evening, April 7, to hear a spirited, substance-filled, and frequently humorous debate between nationally acclaimed economists Jared Bernstein and Larry Kudlow. Contrary to the subject’s reputation as “the dismal science”, the economics-focused discussion was informative, lively, and kept the audience of approximately 200 in rapt attention from beginning to end, with frequent clapping. The panel quickly elicited laughter from the audience when, in response to enthusiastic applause to the initial introductions, Mr. Bernstein quipped that he hoped audience members understood the debate would focus on economics and not the NCAA basketball playoffs.
The free-to-the-public event, sponsored by the Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee (DTC) as a non-partisan service to the community for purposes of elevating the public discourse, was by all accounts a huge success. Large numbers of audience members lined up to pepper Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Kudlow with additional questions long after the formal program had ended. DTC member Tom McManus, a Managing Director and Investment Strategist for Lazard Freres & Co, and a frequent guest on Mr. Kudlow’s television show on CNBC, conceived the event, arranged for participation by Mssrs Bernstein and Kudlow, and also served as debate moderator, framing questions for the other panelists. To ensure a broad perspective in the discussions, Mr. McManus also arranged for Jason Deena Trennert to share moderating duties. Mr. Trennart is Managing Partner, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Strategas Research Partners, a leading institutional brokerage focused on providing macro research, advisory, and capital market services, and a widely quoted expert in his field.
Because the Dayton Room is capacity limited to 200 seats, the DTC was forced to close its online registration system on Wednesday night when the 200th reservation was received. Nonetheless, an additional 20 hopefuls waited in the Library’s stairwell lobby for up to half an hour in hopes of being seated; happily, all those waiting were admitted just before start time, as the DTC confirmed reservation cancellations due to weather or illness.
Photo credit: J.C. Martin Photo. All photographs accompanying article are by independent photographer J.C. Martin, and are used here with his express permission.
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