Libertarianism for Normal People

It’s been a little over one year since Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the United States. While this administration has been a little boring from a political standpoint, we decided to take a look back and analyze the accomplishments – what we like and don’t like. Is there anything in the Trump presidency that libertarians can appreciate? We discuss.

Let's find out, shall we?

When we’re bored, Pat and I talk about video games, the golden age of pro wrestling, and of course, the existence of a supernatural overlord that rules us all and if his edicts are compatible with libertarianism. But then, who doesn’t, right? If you’re looking for a little light listening, you’ll probably enjoy our latest discussion in which we settle the big questions of the universe once and for all!

As a Christian libertarian or conservative, how many times have you heard the argument, “Hey man! Jesus was a socialist! He said people should give their money to the poor! So if you follow the teachings of Jesus, you should be fine with universal health care, welfare, etc…. Man!”? Now, it’s certainly true that Jesus said people should help the poor, but does that mean he was advocating for socialism? We discuss.

We recorded this episode a few days after the tragic Las Vegas mass shooting. Of course, while there are some who fruitlessly call for such an unfortunate incident not to be politicized, inevitably, both sides of the debate have to weigh in. It’s sad, but this is a pattern that repeats itself every time there’s a mass shooting… and it’s a legit point on the part of gun control advocates: We all express shock and remorse, talk a good game, and nothing gets done. But is that a bad thing? We discuss this tragedy and guns from a libertarian perspective and why it’s good that action is never taken by our betters in Washington to curtail gun violence.

Today, we offer a bonus episode! As you might or might not know (probably not), co-host Pat Flynn has his own podcast – The Pat Flynn Show… clever name, right? The podcast is about expert generalism, which means learning multiple skills that will help you become a more complete and valuable person to others who need the services you can offer. Pat’s had a variety of guests from different backgrounds who have achieved success not by specializing in one particular skill, but in many. A recent guest was one with which many libertarians should be familiar – Michael Malice, author of “Dear Reader: An Unauthorized Autobiography of Kim Jong Il,” and ghostwriter for several celebrity books. Pat and Michael discussed a multitude of topics, including writing and of course, North Korea. We thought our Libertarianism For Normal People audience would get a kick out of Pat’s conversation with Michael, so please… enjoy!

God bless the Facebook trolls who comment on our LFNP page. They give us so much fodder for episode content. One particular commenter made the mistake of putting forth cliché, weak arguments in response to a meme we posted. Does the term “muh roads!” ring any bells? This got us thinking… a lot of the arguments the Left makes often collapse on themselves when you take them to their logical conclusions. We talk about some examples in this episode.

Libertarian nationalism… In a nutshell, it’s the idea that a libertarian society should be built with a nationalist focus. Seems contradictory with libertarian values, so we decided to discuss with Aaron Fountaine, who happens to be a high school friend of Pat and is a proponent of this idea. The discussion was originally meant to be a debate, but turned into more of a roundtable talk. Is libertarian nationalism a viable option for people of our way of thinking? Take a listen and decide for yourselves (we weren’t exactly convinced).

When it comes to law enforcement, libertarians favor, for the most part, private solutions. We would rather have a market-based security agency than a monopolized police force populated by self-serving, unaccountable individuals who think they’re above the laws they are supposed to enforce. This philosophy has caused many libertarians to ‘act out’ against police officers. You’ve probably seen the videos of anti-statists giving cops a hard time during traffic stops or on the street. But is this a good approach? If you’re getting a speeding ticket, is it worth refusing to answer questions and voicing your objection to state-oriented law enforcement to an officer who might not have a political agenda and just feels that they’re doing his/her job? We discuss in today’s episode.

We recorded this shortly after the incident in Charlottesville. Given the reaction from the media, the left wing, and even conservative and libertarian leaders, it’s clear that there’s a hysteria in America that I haven’t seen in my entire life. A few hundred white nationalists, alt-righters, and a few Nazis and KKK members were present, but if you were to perceive nothing about this event other than the views of politicians and the mainstream media, you would swear that America is on the verge of being overrun by these ideologically twisted people. Now, America has its problems, but white supremacy ain’t one. Yes. I know. There are racists, Nazis, and Klansmen in the America. But they are so marginalized – they have no political power, no influence in the media or Hollywood, and no presence whatsoever in academia – that to consider them a true threat is treading in hysterical waters. If you actually think we’re another tiki-torch demonstration away from the Nazi flag being raised at the Capitol Building, grab the reins and listen to this episode.

One of our value-add episodes to help our listeners find greater success in your professional lives so you can move closer to greater independence. Today we talk about expert generalism. All our lives we’ve been told that the key to success is focusing on one skill and becoming as proficient as possible. But is that still true? In today’s diverse economy, specialization can actually be a detriment to your professional life. Most entrepreneurs, and even 9-to-5 employees are looking to advance themselves by acquiring a set of different skills to make themselves more valuable to employers and clients. It’s called expert generalism, and we explain what it is in today’s episode.

It seems to be a universal truth among libertarians that marijuana should be legal or at least decriminalized. It’s the one thing we all seem to agree upon. We’ve always contended that it should be legal because it’s immoral to throw someone in a cage for possessing, using, buying, or selling a plant. In addition, it’s an obscene waste of tax dollars and resources to enforce the laws prohibiting it. However, some libertarians try to push for legalization by promoting marijuana as a cure-all for anything that ails. While we’re not denying that pot does have its medicinal benefits, we take issue with touting it as a miracle substance. We discuss the issues with this approach.

Two recent stories came out recently, neither of which we thought we could riff on for 30 minutes: Trump’s ban of transgender people in the military and the microchipping of employees by a Wisconsin company. So we combined the two topics in one episode. Enjoy!

There’s a lot of buzz in the news these days about jobs being eliminated through automation: machinery, computers, artificial intelligence, etc. But why so much concern today? From the early days of humanity, advancements in technology has made humans more productive and wealthier, not the opposite. Sure, there are people who lose jobs when a new innovation makes an occupation obsolete. But the human resources no longer used in that occupation can be used elsewhere where they’re more needed. Are we worse off now that farm equipment has taken over those jobs that humans and animals used to do in the agricultural economy? It’s a silly fear, but one that perpetuates because of political reasons. We discuss.

A few weeks ago, Sen. John McCain was diagnosed with a brain tumor. While I know libertarians have no love for McCain and his political legacy, I found it disturbing the joy that was taken when hearing the news of his disease. This is probably a personal thing for me, rather than an objective observation, but I’ve always felt that libertarians are more principled and morally superior to others who hold strong political beliefs. I still do, but this instance threw me for a loop. In the latest episode, we discuss why libertarians should think twice about openly celebrating the diagnosis of a horrible disease on anyone and the inherent danger of projecting that sentiment to others who already think we’re “heartless.”

When it comes to spreading the idea of a free-market education system on line, I’ve often tried to stress the horribly inefficient, bureaucratic system perpetuated by the government. When I’ve tried to engage people on Facebook, I’ve gotten the argument, “Well, you’re not an educator, so you don’t really know what you’re talking about!” Well, now we have a friggin’ educator on our show! Our guest for this episode, Alyssa Lauren, is a former public school teacher who became an educator in order to make a difference in the lives of children, but eventually grew to become frustrated with the system and the bureaucratic treatment of students. Alyssa is now the owner/operator of her own online fitness coaching business, Aly Di Fitness, but is still passionate about the lacking, one-size-fits-all, education monopoly that has turned out generations of people who are unable to appropriately face life’s challenges.

One of the cornerstones of a free society is freedom of the press. We at LFNP firmly believe that. A free press is one that can keep a check on the government’s overreaching powers and infringements on civil rights. The problem is, what we call “the press” or “journalism” today isn’t even close; it’s a mouthpiece for one particular side of the political spectrum with the goal of furthering its agenda and expanding its power. For those who are on the whole #journalismmatters kick in the era of Trump, we have some insights for you in this episode.

When we think of creativity, we often think in terms of art – a painting or sculpture, for instance. But creativity is a valuable trait that goes beyond just artistic expression. Professionals need to find creative solutions to increase productivity or reduce costs. Entrepreneurs use creativity to find solutions to problems customers are experiencing. Marketers need to think of ways their companies can stand out from the competition. Even libertarians need to be creative if they want to discover new ways to spread the message of liberty. So what is the essence of creativity, and how can it be nurtured even in someone who doesn’t think he/she is creative at all? We discuss in today’s episode!

A recent study by the University of Washington found negative effects of the minimum wage increase implemented by Seattle in the last few years. In a progressive city like Seattle, this wasn’t what they wanted to hear (which is probably why they commissioned UC Berkley to do another study, which, SURPRISE!... said that the minimum wage increase was just jim dandy!) But what’s the reality? What are the basic economics of increasing the mandatory minimum rate of pay? We hash it out in today’s episode.

In a nation that elected an African-American president to two terms, the state of race relations seems to be as low as it’s been in decades. So what’s at the root of the problem? Is it actual racism among the American population? Are we white people just so darned privileged and unaware of our inherent racism that it’s affecting minority citizens? Or is it something else? We discuss this hotly debated topic.

We haven’t done one of our value-add episodes in a while, so we thought it was about gosh darn time. For this one, we discuss the value of networking – an often underrated practice among professionals that can unlock countless opportunities to those who can do it well. Very few people achieve success and independence alone. It requires having a variety of mutually beneficial relationships that are maintained and nurtured over a long period of time. It’s not a passive activity; it takes work. But if you’re looking to move up the corporate ladder or put yourself in the best possible position as a business owner – or even trying to build your libertarian community – your network can be your most successful tool.

Ever since 9/11, there’s been a heightened reverence for the military and those who serve in it. We see soldiers getting discounts at all sorts of businesses, receiving rounds of applause when boarding airplanes, and tributes to them before NFL games. It’s all a show how we “support the troops.” Now please don’t mistake this for us bashing the troops. It’s not that at all. We want to support the troops in the best way possible – bringing them home and ending this insane foreign policy of the US government. If your instinct is to support our military no matter what, you might want to skip this episode. But if you’re open to hearing why continued elevation of our bloated military forces is hurting our liberties, please hit “Play.”

Another recent Facebook kerfuffle in which Pat and I were involved brought out a liberal cliché about healthcare – it’s a human right. You’ve probably heard this a lot lately, especially with the trouble Obamacare’s been having and the push for a single-payer system in the wake of the current efforts by Republicans to repeal and replace. Of course, the single-payer or government-run concept in healthcare is based on the principle that people have a basic human right to medical goods and services. That sounds good. We definitely believe that no one should be denied healthcare by force. But what’s wrong with the idea that it’s a “human right”? We discuss in today’s show.

When we recorded this episode, President Donald Trump announced the United States would pull out of the Paris climate change agreement. While this has received overwhelming criticism from those who believe our planet is on the brink of catastrophe, we applaud it. We explain why.

One of the first guests we had on Libertarianism for Normal People was Jaimine Vaishnav, a libertarian/anarcho-capitalist living in India – a part of the world not known for its affinity for personal liberty. So his story was particularly compelling as to how he became a libertarian and what he’s doing to help spread the liberty message in his country. It was a great conversation, so we wanted to check in with Jaimine to see how things are going in India, the state of politics in that country, and if any gains have been made toward freedom.

By now, it should be pretty obvious that the War on Drugs has been a complete disaster on so many levels. But amazingly, we still hear people make the arguments that we just haven’t done enough to fight drugs, and if we give in and legalize it, that will just signal that we, as a society, condone people getting high and becoming addicted to dangerous substances. In this episode, we discuss what’s wrong with the drug war, why it needs to end ASAP, and what are some alternative ways to think about and treat drug addiction

We missed the 100-day mark, but hey… we’re libertarians. We don’t conform to the rules, man! In this episode, we discuss the first five months of the Trump presidency and point out what we like and don’t like about the moves made by the Donald.

When you see videos from the UC Berkley Milo event, Ben Shapiro being shouted down in lecture halls, or professors being screamed at for defending the right to dress as an American Indian for Halloween, it’s not unreasonable to question whether the SJWs leading the fight to end racism, sexism, fascism, etc. can be made to understand that their tactics are fascist by their nature. Free speech is definitely under attack and the people opposing this basic civil right bafflingly claim that their fighting for equality and social justice. So are they beyond hope? Or is it possible that, as they mature and gain real-life experiences and interactions, they might start to see the world as complex and multi-faceted rather than the black and white caricature they’re provided by their high school teachers and college professors? A recent video by a prominent YouTube SJW gave me some glimmer of hope. In today’s episode we discuss whether this is proof that others can be reached, as well.

It’s one of our value-add episodes! At Libertarianism for Normal People, we are big believers in entrepreneurship as a way toward greater independence. But we know that most people are in the traditional 9-to-5 corporate job, which is great, as well (our co-host Jon is in that position)! Maybe you’re happiest in that environment, or maybe you’re doing it as a way to help you build toward a future entrepreneurial venture. Regardless, while you’re working for The Man, what are some ways you can improve your situation and put yourself in a better position to move up the company ladder? We offer some tips that hopefully will help you maximize your career.

There are few things that even the most principled libertarians won’t concede leaving to the private sector – in particular, the military and police. While minarchists will agree that even healthcare should be intervention-free, policing, in their minds, is too essential to leave to the profit incentive. How will security be provided? How will the poor be protected? We tackle these issues in today’s episode.

In a world in which social justice warriors (SJWs) are on the hunt, looking for every opportunity to pounce on their prey, knowing how to fight back against these predators is a vital skill to have. It can be a stressful situation. They’re looking for every micro-aggression, and you can commit one (in their eyes) without knowing it. So when they come at you, what’s the best strategy to repel their narcissistic and irrational attacks? We give a short but effective guide to thwarting an SJW assault.

Some decisions by the Libertarian Party over the past several years have given dedicated libertarians pause. First, the nomination of Bob Barr for president in 2008. Next, the nomination of Gary Johnson and Bill Weld for president and vice president in 2016. Finally, an incident more relevant to libertarians in the Mid-Atlantic area has cause many to identify questionable trends in the party and wonder whether it is still committed to the principles that attracted millions to it over the  years. For this episode we bring back one of our favorite guests – James Babb, who’s a libertarian/anarcho activist in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area. We talked to Jim about recent events surrounding the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Liberty Festival and his thoughts on the direction the Libertarian Party seems to be headed.

You’ve probably seen the memes all over social media spreading the message, “Taxation is theft.” The counter to that statement is usually, “No. Taxes are the price we pay for living in society.” But does that theory hold water? We unpack the concept of taxation and make the case that it is indeed a legalized form of robbery.

We recently “celebrated” Equal Pay Day – a day that is supposed to recognize how far into the year a woman must work in order to earn what a man earns. Every year, this day is provided a national spotlight in an effort to perpetuate the narrative that America is still a society based in misogyny. But as John Adams pointed out, facts are stubborn things, and the economics don’t support phantom gender wage gap. Sure, it’s a useful tool for politicians to convince women they’re getting a raw deal in society, thus providing more proof that the government is absolutely essential to level the playing field. The gender wage gap is bullshit, and we took this opportunity to explain why.

So we don’t really solve it, but we started talking about it one day and decided to turn on the recorder and hash it out. We don’t have a lot of answers – and after all, who the hell would listen to us? – but we take a look at the situation from a libertarian perspective and analyze what’s being done, what probably should be done, and what the consequences might be.

If you want a salient argument against capitalism, I guess the first person you’d turn to would be a Jesuit priest, right? Well, a few people I know on Facebook decided this was as expert a source on the topic as anything. So they posted an article by America: The Jesuit Review, in which the morally pure and intellectually honest (oh yeah, that’s sarcasm) James Martin, SJ, provides a condemnation of capitalism, and his example – the recent United Airlines debacle. Out of morbid curiosity, I read the article and, as anyone with a basic economic education would, deduced that it’s one of the most idiotic denunciations of capitalism I’ve seen in a long time. So why waste any time on it? Because, as I said, a few people I know posted it who seemed to think that this totally feelings-based argument was a slam dunk in proving what a horrible system capitalism is. Needless to say, it got under my skin… so we discussed.

For as far back as I can remember, Israel has always been a hot political issue in America. Other than considering an ally in the Middle East, not a lot of Americans know about what the country is really like. Luckily, Aleks “The Hebrew Hammer” Salkin – a successful online fitness coach and resident of Israel – was in America for a visit and stopped by to talk to us. We asked him about Israel’s government, culture, Jewish/Muslim relations, and a lot more. It was a great conversation that taught us a lot.

We’ve said it before – freedom means staying free in all aspects of life, including our health. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we subject ourselves to dependency on the healthcare system. And the more that system is regulated by government, the greater potential there is to be a victim of bureaucracy. The answer is to do what you can to keep yourself in the best health possible. Luckily, Pat is a fitness expert and is more than capable of helping people in that area. But for this episode, we bring in another fitness expert all the way from Israel! He loves the podcast that much that he actually came to Pennsylvania to be a guest!... Actually, he’s a friend of Pat’s and was visiting anyway. But we couldn’t miss the opportunity to speak with Aleks Salkin – a successful fitness coach – and get his insight on the easiest ways to stay fit and healthy so you’re not compromised by a bureaucratic health system.

Throughout the past few years, and especially the last election, the term “income inequality” has been tossed around with great regularity. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren say it so much it’s like a form of Tourette’s Syndrome. The basic idea is that some people earn less than others (some a lot less). There are all these millionaires and billionaires, and the fact that they hold a large portion of the world’s wealth, and that is supposed to mean that there is theft on a grand scale afoot. Now, we’re certainly not going to deny that there are corporations and individuals receiving tax dollars in the form of crony capitalism, but that says more about the political system than any sort of free market system. Regardless, the income inequality issue is seen in the sense of a zero-sum game – some are poor because others are rich. What’s the problem with this way of thinking, and why is this issue actually not something on which to burn a lot of calories? We talk about it in this episode

One of the characteristics that distinguishes libertarians is our affinity for free-market economics. We certainly depart from liberals and, for the most part, conservatives, who often favor some form or crony capitalism in the name of a free market. But being for laissez-faire economics isn’t just about being for the ability for two people to engage in a voluntary exchange; it’s about understanding the relationship between scarcity and the natural incentives behind human action. Once we comprehend how our choices are a decision between our wants/needs and the resources available to us at any given moment, we see the world in a way that differs greatly from most people. So why is it important to think of the world in terms of economics? We discuss in today’s episode.

If you’ve lived on this planet for more than a few days, you’ve undoubtedly heard about “the social contract,” which you’ve never seen, but apparently says you have an obligation to act a certain way for the good of society. You didn’t sign such a document, but you’ll certainly be shunned out of polite social circles for daring to suggest that no, you shouldn’t have to pay taxes or support the Make Everything Wonderful Bill that the president just signed. So what do people really mean by “the social contract”? We take a stab at interpreting what it really implies.

When you become a libertarian, and you begin to hang out within libertarian circles, it’s almost certain that you’ll meet a conspiracy theorist. Whether it’s 9/11, chemtrails, or the sketchy, sudden “accidental deaths” or “suicides” of people connected with certain political figures. Some of the theories they put forth seem compelling; others sound downright whacky… especially to your average soccer mom. So do these conspiracy theorists in the liberty movement help or harm the cause? We discuss.

In our last episode, we talked about the problems with college. Today we’re going to light a candle rather than curse your darkness. In this episode, we discuss some alternatives that people can consider rather than attend a 4-year university, acquire a 6-figure debt, and receive a diluted piece of paper that doesn’t guarantee an income that will provide the life they had in mind.

One of the hot topics in the political sphere over the last few decades is college tuition. Every year, the cost of acquiring a degree increases, leaving countless students with student-loan debts in the high five figures, and in many cases, six figures. This crippling debt follows them for much of their lives, even if they are lucky enough to find a job that pays well enough to manage their loan payments. How did we get here? Are universities just greedy or are there more fundamental economic forces at play? Many politicians think that the solution is to make college tuition free. But will that solve or exacerbate the problem? What are the real solutions? Do kids even need to go to college to be successful? We discuss.

When you’re a libertarian, it’s good to have libertarian role models whom to emulate. We think one of those individuals is James Babb – a Philadelphia-area activist who isn’t shy about expressing his love for liberty and his disdain for the state. But he isn’t a guy in a black hoodie and scarf covering his face, running around breaking in windows and lighting fires. He’s a well spoken, intellectually sound, strategically sound libertarian who knows how to deliver the message of liberty. We like James and we think you will too. This episode is a little longer than usual, but it’s well worth it.

Provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos has been a magnet for controversy over the past year as his popularity has grown – mostly because he’s drawn the ire of feminists, SJWs, and the Left in general. This has made him a folk hero among conservatives, as well as libertarians. But is Milo someone libertarians should support given our values? Are his stances on foreign intervention or immigration compatible with libertarianism, for example? Does he provide value by promoting conservative/libertiaran-leaning positions in an in-your-face manner? We discuss on today’s show.

A few weeks ago, we asked our Facebook followers to suggest questions they would like answered on the podcast. For this episode, we tackle a few questions about drugs, pollution, and freedom of speech and the press. Hopefully we did an adequate job. Listen. Enjoy. Share!

Those innovative Venezuelans have done it! They’ve discovered the secret to fast, PERMANENT weight loss! Their secret? No food! It’s helped the average citizen of the South American nation lose an average of 19 pounds. Actually, this really isn’t funny. Venezuelans are so desperate for food, they’re eating their pets, as well as hunting anteaters and rats… literally anything that has any kind of nutritional value. It’s not exactly the Utopian socialist paradise they were promised when Hugo Chavez took power, and now they’re enjoying the wonders of what’s being called “The Maduro Diet” (named after Chavez’s successor, Nicolas Maduro). But really, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s not as if this is the first example of citizens of a socialist country lacking in basic necessities. At least the Soviets had breadlines. Venezuelans are basically out of options. And none of the mainstream news outlets are covering this horrific humanitarian crisis. Why? Because Chavez and his socialist government were celebrated when they were ushered in by an enthusiastic progressive class that was just waiting to show the world how socialism should be properly done. Welp… Not so much. Today’s episode is two-fold: We discuss the tragedy going on currently in Venezuela, and why it’s not exactly an outlier when it comes to the great socialist experiment that’s been going on for the past 100 years. Then we talk about how you can experience similar weight loss without the government oppression.

“What kind of craziness is this? How dare you utter such evil rhetoric! If you weren’t so strikingly handsome, I would invite you to meet at dawn with pistols drawn!” That’s what you were probably thinking when you read this headline, right? But despite our PC world in which Christian bakers must bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, the freedom of association (and the right to not associate with another based on whatever criteria you wish - even race or religion) is a cornerstone of a free society. Does that mean we think a business owner who is racist should deny service to a black or Hispanic customer? We unpack this and similar questions in our latest episode.

I know you’re not supposed to, but in this episode, we’re gonna feed some trolls. During one recent week, we posted some content on our Facebook page on which we received some interesting comments. Now, we’ve received (as expected) some negative comments on our posts before, but these were particularly peculiar in the points made and in their tone. So we thought it’d make for a good episode to take these comments and unpack the points made by our trolls. If we continue to receive such colorful remarks, we’ll never want for episode content in the future. Listen. Enjoy. Share with anyone and everyone! People you love or people you hate… we’re not picky! Posts and comments are on our LFNP Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/libertarianismfnp/

The 2016 election was quite a memorable one. A major positive was that the Libertarian Party received more attention than ever before due to the polarizing candidates of both major parties. But how positive was it? Gary Johnson was the LP’s candidate, and it wasn’t exactly all wine and roses among libertarians. Some thought that it was necessary to support Johnson no matter what in an effort to show unity and promote the libertarian message. Others, like us, thought that Johnson’s message was the problem. Why? We discuss in today’s show.