This episode builds on the discussion in episode 1584 about the primary, and devastating, argument against socialism, namely the one developed by Ludwig von Mises that involves the impossibility of economic calculation under socialism. Today I explain why this is the most fundamental argument against… Read More
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Ep. 1584 The Greta Thunberg Problem
We’ve heard Greta Thunberg’s angry, apocalyptic warnings about the problems arising from climate change. Now economist Paul Krugman says she’s closer to the economics than her critics are. What’s the right way to think about all this? Sponsor This election season, trust C-SPAN to give… Read More
Ep. 1583 Mises’ Smash of Socialism, 100 Years Later
In 1920 Ludwig von Mises published “Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth,” an article that demolished the foundations of socialism in its original, no-private-property-in-the-means-of-production form. In this episode I explain Mises’ thesis, and then show how the problems he identified in classical socialism persist to… Read More
Ep. 1582 How to Be a Human Being: A Four-Step Owner’s Manual
The demonization of people we disagree with has reached a level of us few of us could have conceived of a generation ago — or indeed even five years ago. Thinking about this reminded me of several other things I think libertarians (and all people,… Read More
Ep. 1581 The 1619 Project and Race in American History
Phil Magness returns to discuss the sound and unsound aspects of the New York Times’ 1619 Project. Topics include Lincoln and the colonization of the former slaves, the role of slavery in the American Revolution, and slavery’s role in American prosperity. Sponsor This election season,… Read More
Ep. 1580 Libertarian Awesomeness: Greatest Hits of the Tom Woods Show
Ep. 1579 The Constitution Nobody Knows
Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center joins me to discuss what I consider the best short introduction to the real Constitution, as opposed to the one taught in law school and the New York Times. Book Discussed Constitution Owner’s Manual: The Real Constitution Politicians Don’t Want You to Know About Listener Website Mentioned TheDietOracle.com Free Resources! 1) Free… Read More
Ep. 1578 The Mystery of Fascism
David Ramsay Steele discusses the phenomenon of fascism, what it really was, and what’s wrong with using it as a generic term of abuse. Plus: vegetarianism and animal welfare, and why economic growth doesn’t have to mean the consumption of more and more resources. Sponsor… Read More
Ep. 1577 Debate: Should the Fed Be Abolished?
At FreedomFest 2010, Gene Epstein and I debated Warren Coates and John Fund on whether the Federal Reserve should be abolished. Here is that debate! Related Book Our Enemy, the Fed (free eBook) Listener Website Mentioned APoliteSociety.org Free Resources! 1) Free guide on how to start your blog or website.… Read More
Ep. 1576 When All Else Fails: The Ethics of Resistance to State Injustice
Princeton University Press published my guest’s book When All Else Fails, on the subject of whether and under what circumstances it is morally legitimate to resist the state with physical force. Not the kind of topic you might expect from an Ivy League university press,… Read More