This episode features a lecture by philosopher and political scientist Jason Brennan from 2017. Brennan looks at justice and democratic government.
Category: Voluntaryist Voices
Michael Malice: North Korea 101 (48m)
This episode features an interview of author, podcaster, and celebrity ghostwriter Michael Malice from 2017 by Trevor Burrus and Aaron Powell, hosts of the Free Thoughts podcast. What’s North Korea like? Do the people there really believe the popular legends we’ve heard about the Kim family? Which is Kim Jong-un: a spoiled heir to a political dynasty, a paranoid lunatic with a big gun and 25 million hostages, or a coldly rational devious mastermind?
Anthony Gregory: The Total State (1h4m)
This episode features a lecture by historian and author Anthony Gregory from 2013. He discusses the modern evils of fascism and communism, their commonalities and differences, and their continuing significance today.
Thomas DiLorenzo: Ten Things You Should Know about Socialism (50m)
This episode features a lecture by economics professor and Austro-libertarian Thomas DiLorenzo from 2016. He looks at the many aspects of socialism and why its a disastrous economic system for liberty and prosperity.
Carl Watner: For Conscience’s Sake (31m)
This episode features an audio essay written by historian and voluntaryist Carl Watner in 1992, which comprises Chapter 9 of Everything Voluntary: From Politics to Parenting, edited by Skyler J. Collins and published in 2012. He explores the voluntaryist roots of religious freedom.
Mike Munger: Fair Trade and Free Trade (58m)
This episode features an interview of economist Mike Munger from 2007 by Russ Roberts, host of EconTalk. Does the premium for fair trade coffee end up in the hands of the grower? What economic forces might stop that from happening? They discuss the business strategy of using higher wages as a marketing strategy to attract concerned consumers. They turn to the issue of free trade agreements. If the ideal situation is open borders to foreign products, is it still worthwhile to negotiate bilateral and multilateral agreements that requires delays, exemptions and a bureaucracy to enforce? What is the cost of including environmental and various labor market regulations in these agreements?
Jeff Brown: Nonviolent Communication (1h9m)
This episode features an interactive lecture by certified trainer Jeff Brown from 2015. Nonviolent communication facilitates harmonious interpersonal relationships in families and communities by allowing people to hear their own deeper needs, and those of others.
Donald Boudreaux: Resisting the Growth of Governments (57m)
This episode features a presentation by economics professor Donald Boudreaux from 2001about the nature of government. He says that even in the face of public choice-type of environment that is constantly pushing the state to grow, ideas do matter and can constrain what the state can do.
Alfie Kohn: Unconditional Parenting (37m)
This episode features an interview of education and parenting researcher, writer, and lecturer Alfie Kohn from 2009 by Laura Markham of Aha! Parenting. They consider and critique the misguided use of both punishments and rewards in the rearing of children.
Christopher Preble: War Is the Health of the State (54m)
This episode features an interview of U.S. foreign policy academic Christopher Preble from 2015 by Trevor Burrus and Aaron Powell, hosts of the Free Thoughts podcast. They ask whether there exists a single libertarian foreign policy that all libertarians would agree with; talk about the idea that war powers, resolutions, and laws passed during wartime don’t recede in times of peace; give a quick rundown of American military history; and discuss the rise of a permanent private industry supplying the military. When should the United States go to war? When did the American military really start to get massive? How much do we spend on the military today? Relative to recent history? Is the military open to the same kinds of critiques that libertarians make about other government programs?