Recent Podcast Episodes

State and local levels of government were more burdensome to people in the early stages of our country than federal levels. The national government mainly received revenue through tariffs and land sales.

The role of ideology in the growth of government is required as intellectual cover for what is done regardless of the government form (e.g. monarchy or socialism). For example, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. played such an intellectual role.

The growth of government power in American history has been by creating emergencies that then necessitate a ratcheting up of centralized power and war. Crisis & Leviathan by Higgs is a prime resource for this topic.

Something happened in Buffalo, New York, that contradicts the propaganda of those who support "gun control."

Had the United States pursued a policy of economic freedom with respect to energy production over the last thirty years, the conditions for OPEC’s success as a cartel would never have been present in the first place.

Recorded at Mises University 2001.

Recorded at Mises University 2001.

Recorded at Mises University 2001.

Recorded at Mises University 2001.

Recorded at Mises University 2001.

Recorded at Mises University 2001.

A satirical one-act play by Murray N. Rothbard about Ayn Rand's Objectivist "inner circle."

Special thanks to Bettina Bien Greaves for making this important recording available.

Friedrich A. Hayek interviewed by John O’Sullivan.

British lower classes had a rough time until the Industrial Revolution (1760) made both production and freedom possible. Two political revolutions were also begun then: the American Revolution and the French Revolution. For the American Revolution, Life, Liberty, and Property became the three dominant foundations of the Declaration of Independence. For the French Revolution, Rousseau tried to create a brotherhood subservient to the general will with the word Equality. The French Revolution was to favor not freedom, but to change those who receive benefits – legalized plunder. The French Revolution was against the Industrial Revolution.

LeFevre then goes through the Declaration of Independence in careful detail.

Bob LeFevre presented this lecture to the Free Marin Supper Club on 4 July 1984.

Mises explains why socialism always fails due to the absence of a free market pricing structure for capital goods.

Two important questions to be answered: (1) What is inflation? What causes it? What are the effects? Inflation is an increase in the quantity of money available caused by an increased in the production of gold and silver, or an over-issuance of paper money. Prices rise. Purchasing power falls.

The monetary problem – the market problem – is the medium of exchange. The illusion is that one would be better off if only one had more money. Everybody should have more money. Therefore, make more money. This creates the system of inflation.

Human beings are collaborators with each other. Socialism is one kind of cooperation of people. One thing determines the socialist organization. It is the lack of freedom and the complete obedience to a Fuehrer (leader). Not surprisingly, everyone considers themselves to be part of the ruling group, forcing others to submit.

Division of labor and an exchange economy are the basis of society. Various commodities competed for being money, but gold prevailed as the medium of exchange, without any interference by governmental authorities. We should have again a gold standard all over the world.