Podcasts about Lysander Spooner

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In Episode 14 of The No Treason Podcast, Jonathan Drake continues his deep examination of trial by jury through the lens of Lysander Spooner's writings, moving into the historical foundations of Magna Carta. Building on prior episodes, Jonathan explains why the Constitution and state constitutions acknowledge trial by jury without defining it, emphasizing that the right predates government itself and cannot be legitimately redefined. The episode traces the political and legal conditions surrounding King John, the Norman system of centralized power, and the barons' revolt that led to Magna Carta, focusing especially on Clause 39 and its role in limiting tyranny. Jonathan walks through Spooner's argument that trial by jury was intended to give jurors authority to judge not only facts, but the justice of the law itself, placing real power in the hands of the people. The discussion contrasts Anglo-Saxon legal traditions with Norman rule, addresses later historical revisionism, and sets the stage for a closer analysis of Magna Carta's language in the next episode.

In Episode 13 of The No Treason Podcast, Jonathan Drake continues his deep dive into Lysander Spooner's Trial by Jury, expanding the discussion into the historical and philosophical foundations of jury nullification and lawful resistance. Drake examines why trial by jury was understood by the Founders as a safeguard against tyranny rather than a procedural formality, connecting it directly to natural law, consent of the governed, and the right to bear arms. The episode explores how modern courts have hollowed out the jury's original role, replacing trial by country with trial by government, and why this shift leaves citizens without a peaceful means to check unjust laws. Drawing from Spooner's writings, early American legal tradition, and real-world examples, Drake argues that true liberty depends on restoring the jury's authority to judge both law and fact. This episode sets the stage for a deeper historical examination of trial by jury and why it remains essential to resisting centralized power.

In Episode 12 of The No Treason Podcast, Jonathan Drake continues a deep exploration of trial by jury through the lens of Lysander Spooner's Trial by Jury, arguing that modern courts have stripped juries of their historic power and turned justice into a government-controlled illusion. Building from last week's foundation, this episode confronts the claim that government already represents the people, examining why unchecked authority, judicial supremacy, and managed elections undermine genuine self-government. Drake walks through Spooner's rebuttals, connects theory to real-world cases like Tina Peters, and explains why unanimous juries once served as a true barrier against tyranny. This episode challenges listeners to reconsider liberty, consent, and the role of the people in determining justice, asking whether modern trials protect freedom or merely perform it.

This incredible work is crucial to digest in order to understand the importance of criticism of the state, individualism, and ultimately Anarchism in America in the 19th century. Lysander Spooner, Dissident Amongst DissidentsGet a PDF copy of this book:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Men-Against-the-State-The-Expositers-of-Individualist-Anarchism-in-America-1827-1908_3.pdfBecome a member of the Book Club:https://buymeacoffee.com/jamescordinerPlease support the show:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/james-cordiner/donate/Buy a Shirt:https://voluntaryistacademy.creator-spring.com/OGWN:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/Find the Voluntaryist Academy on the P.A.Z.NIA Radio Network! Learn more: https://paznia.com/radio/Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLdMusical Artist: Brendan Danielhttps://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/Gaming channel:https://www.twitch.tv/killahkahdooganAmerica was home to the first full-blown movement of individualist anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century. The author of this book on the topic adds the adjective “individualist” to distinguish them from socialists. They were champions of liberty, and, yes, they were as quirky as any movement of this sort might be. But they made mighty contributions to the history of ideas, and this book explains those contributions and the minds behind them.The names are tragically lost to history: Benjamin Tucker, Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, J.K. Ingalls, among many others. They were thinkers and activists, not mere protesters or political dissidents. They had a positive agenda centered on the confidence that whatever kind of world would emerge without a state, it would be a better world than the one the state made.The author explains that “the communist anarchists rejected private property, and taught the ideal of the collective autonomous commune. A portion of their number advocated the overthrow of the State by violence. The individualist anarchists held that the collective society in any form was an impossibility without the eventuality of authoritarianism, and ultimately, totalitarianism, and adhered resolutely to the concept of private property insofar as the term could be defined as the total product of a given individual's labor, but not more broadly than this.”“They abandoned the idea of an equalitarian utopia, and worked for a world free from arbitrary restrictions on opportunity and legal privilege, which breakdowns they claimed ‘laissez faire' really produced. No other radical group denounced the prevailing system more vigorously than the spokesmen for individualist anarchism.”James J. Martin wrote a book for the ages in 1952, a survey that is indispensable for anyone interested in the roots of modern libertarian thought. You will find these roots not in the postwar “conservatism” of the Buckley movement but much further back.(Description taken from mises.org)

Jonathan Drake begins a new series with the first episode of his deep dive into Lysander Spooner's An Essay on the Trial by Jury, framing it as the next critical pillar in understanding natural law after concluding No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority. He walks through Spooner's argument that true liberty depends on juries judging not just facts, but the justice of laws themselves, placing ultimate authority in the hands of the people rather than the state. Jonathan traces the ancient roots of trial by jury through English common law, the Magna Carta, and the American founding, contrasting “trial by country” with modern courtrooms that function as trials by government. Using the Tina Peters case as a modern example, he explains how judicial control of evidence and jury instruction has hollowed out the system while preserving its appearance. This episode lays the philosophical groundwork for why jury nullification, unanimity, and random selection are essential safeguards against despotism, and why reclaiming this knowledge may be one of the last peaceful checks on unchecked power.

This incredible work is crucial to digest in order to understand the importance of criticism of the state, individualism, and ultimately Anarchism in America in the 19th century. J.K. Ingalls, Land ReformerStephen Pearl Andrews, Social Philosopher Get a PDF copy of this book:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Men-Against-the-State-The-Expositers-of-Individualist-Anarchism-in-America-1827-1908_3.pdfBecome a member of the Book Club:https://buymeacoffee.com/jamescordinerPlease support the show:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/james-cordiner/donate/Buy a Shirt:https://voluntaryistacademy.creator-spring.com/OGWN:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/Find the Voluntaryist Academy on the P.A.Z.NIA Radio Network! Learn more: https://paznia.com/radio/Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLdMusical Artist: Brendan Danielhttps://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/America was home to the first full-blown movement of individualist anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century. The author of this book on the topic adds the adjective “individualist” to distinguish them from socialists. They were champions of liberty, and, yes, they were as quirky as any movement of this sort might be. But they made mighty contributions to the history of ideas, and this book explains those contributions and the minds behind them.The names are tragically lost to history: Benjamin Tucker, Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, J.K. Ingalls, among many others. They were thinkers and activists, not mere protesters or political dissidents. They had a positive agenda centered on the confidence that whatever kind of world would emerge without a state, it would be a better world than the one the state made.The author explains that “the communist anarchists rejected private property, and taught the ideal of the collective autonomous commune. A portion of their number advocated the overthrow of the State by violence. The individualist anarchists held that the collective society in any form was an impossibility without the eventuality of authoritarianism, and ultimately, totalitarianism, and adhered resolutely to the concept of private property insofar as the term could be defined as the total product of a given individual's labor, but not more broadly than this.”“They abandoned the idea of an equalitarian utopia, and worked for a world free from arbitrary restrictions on opportunity and legal privilege, which breakdowns they claimed ‘laissez faire' really produced. No other radical group denounced the prevailing system more vigorously than the spokesmen for individualist anarchism.”James J. Martin wrote a book for the ages in 1952, a survey that is indispensable for anyone interested in the roots of modern libertarian thought. You will find these roots not in the postwar “conservatism” of the Buckley movement but much further back.(Description taken from mises.org)

This incredible work is crucial to digest in order to understand the importance of criticism of the state, individualism, and ultimately Anarchism in America in the 19th century. Get a PDF copy of this book:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Men-Against-the-State-The-Expositers-of-Individualist-Anarchism-in-America-1827-1908_3.pdfBecome a member of the Book Club:https://buymeacoffee.com/jamescordinerPlease support the show:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/james-cordiner/donate/Buy a Shirt:https://voluntaryistacademy.creator-spring.com/OGWN:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/Find the Voluntaryist Academy on the P.A.Z.NIA Radio Network! Learn more: https://paznia.com/radio/Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLdMusical Artist: Brendan Danielhttps://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/TO SEE THE CAGE IS TO LEAVE IT: https://seethecage.com/America was home to the first full-blown movement of individualist anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century. The author of this book on the topic adds the adjective “individualist” to distinguish them from socialists. They were champions of liberty, and, yes, they were as quirky as any movement of this sort might be. But they made mighty contributions to the history of ideas, and this book explains those contributions and the minds behind them.The names are tragically lost to history: Benjamin Tucker, Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, J.K. Ingalls, among many others. They were thinkers and activists, not mere protesters or political dissidents. They had a positive agenda centered on the confidence that whatever kind of world would emerge without a state, it would be a better world than the one the state made.The author explains that “the communist anarchists rejected private property, and taught the ideal of the collective autonomous commune. A portion of their number advocated the overthrow of the State by violence. The individualist anarchists held that the collective society in any form was an impossibility without the eventuality of authoritarianism, and ultimately, totalitarianism, and adhered resolutely to the concept of private property insofar as the term could be defined as the total product of a given individual's labor, but not more broadly than this.”“They abandoned the idea of an equalitarian utopia, and worked for a world free from arbitrary restrictions on opportunity and legal privilege, which breakdowns they claimed ‘laissez faire' really produced. No other radical group denounced the prevailing system more vigorously than the spokesmen for individualist anarchism.”James J. Martin wrote a book for the ages in 1952, a survey that is indispensable for anyone interested in the roots of modern libertarian thought. You will find these roots not in the postwar “conservatism” of the Buckley movement but much further back.(Description taken from mises.org)

Jonathan Drake goes live for Episode 10 and delivers a sweeping, deeply researched conclusion to his study of Lysander Spooner's No Treason, tying together the Civil War, tariffs, banking panics, and the rise of centralized federal power. He revisits Spooner's argument that the Constitution has either authorized tyranny or failed to prevent it, then walks through the appendix, the moral implications of consent, and the legal fiction of national debt. Jonathan explores the Panic of 1837, British credit manipulation, the cotton economy, Northern financial dominance, and the cascading economic forces that set the stage for secession. He maps Spooner's claims onto real historical data, tariff battles, immigration-driven political shifts, banking collapses, railroad cartelization, and the post-war consolidation of authority, showing how a generations-long chain of financial engineering shaped the America we know today. With humor, live-chat banter, sponsor breaks, and a final tease of his upcoming Trial by Jury series, Jonathan closes the chapter on No Treason by returning to Spooner's core warning: all political power rests on the control of money, and liberty requires breaking that bond.

This incredible work is crucial to digest in order to understand the importance of criticism of the state, individualism, and ultimately Anarchism in America in the 19th century. Get a PDF copy of this book:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Men-Against-the-State-The-Expositers-of-Individualist-Anarchism-in-America-1827-1908_3.pdfBecome a sponsor:https://buymeacoffee.com/jamescordinerPlease support the show:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/james-cordiner/donate/Buy a Shirt:https://voluntaryistacademy.creator-spring.com/Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLdMusical Artist: Brendan Danielhttps://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/America was home to the first full-blown movement of individualist anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century. The author of this book on the topic adds the adjective “individualist” to distinguish them from socialists. They were champions of liberty, and, yes, they were as quirky as any movement of this sort might be. But they made mighty contributions to the history of ideas, and this book explains those contributions and the minds behind them.The names are tragically lost to history: Benjamin Tucker, Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, J.K. Ingalls, among many others. They were thinkers and activists, not mere protesters or political dissidents. They had a positive agenda centered on the confidence that whatever kind of world would emerge without a state, it would be a better world than the one the state made.The author explains that “the communist anarchists rejected private property, and taught the ideal of the collective autonomous commune. A portion of their number advocated the overthrow of the State by violence. The individualist anarchists held that the collective society in any form was an impossibility without the eventuality of authoritarianism, and ultimately, totalitarianism, and adhered resolutely to the concept of private property insofar as the term could be defined as the total product of a given individual's labor, but not more broadly than this.”“They abandoned the idea of an equalitarian utopia, and worked for a world free from arbitrary restrictions on opportunity and legal privilege, which breakdowns they claimed ‘laissez faire' really produced. No other radical group denounced the prevailing system more vigorously than the spokesmen for individualist anarchism.”James J. Martin wrote a book for the ages in 1952, a survey that is indispensable for anyone interested in the roots of modern libertarian thought. You will find these roots not in the postwar “conservatism” of the Buckley movement but much further back.(Description taken from mises.org)

GMoney welcomes Jonathan Drake for a deep, fast-moving conversation connecting Lysander Spooner's 19th-century natural-law philosophy to Bitcoin's modern proof-of-work revolution. Drake traces his path from homeschooling outsider to Spooner scholar, explaining how Spooner's ideas on property, consent, taxation, and absolute dominion became the missing framework that finally made Bitcoin “click.” Together they break down why the right to self-custody, non-confiscation, and immutable contracts fulfills the anarchist property model Spooner envisioned, and why today's government structures, monetary systems, and voting rituals violate natural law by definition. The discussion ranges from jury nullification, fractional-reserve fraud, and the Civil War's monetary triggers to Q-era decentralization, Trump-era regulatory shifts, and Bitcoin's emergence as the first tool capable of dismantling the proof-of-stake tyranny Spooner warned about. Blending philosophy, history, rebellion, and Bitcoin maximalism, this episode shows how a forgotten abolitionist gave language to the digital 1776 unfolding now.

In Episode 9, Jonathan Drake continues his deep dive into Section 19 of Lysander Spooner's No Treason, unpacking how the so-called “financiers of tyranny” shaped the events leading to and following the Civil War. Drake walks listeners through Spooner's argument that the real power in America was not the government, but the international loan mongers who funded both slavery and the war used to “abolish” it. Using Spooner's eight key evidentiary points, Drake explores how Northern lenders institutionalized slavery, how the South sought to escape its financial bondage, why the North fought to maintain economic dominance, not moral principle, and how the aftermath cemented centralized control over all Americans. Through this lens, the Civil War becomes not a noble crusade, but a calculated consolidation of power that still defines our political reality. Drake ties Spooner's analysis to modern patterns of manipulation, showing how the same playbook persists today.

Jonathan Drake delivers one of his most hard-hitting episodes yet as he continues dissecting Lysander Spooner's No Treason, shifting from moral critique to the deeper question Spooner demands we confront: Who actually rules us? Jonathan walks through Spooner's brutal distinction between the “boots on the ground” willing to enforce tyranny and the true ruling class, the financiers who bankroll governments, wars, and oppression for profit. Using Spooner's fiery language, Jonathan exposes how the power to borrow and tax created a system where governments exist not to serve the people, but to guarantee endless revenue to international moneylenders. Through vivid examples, biblical parallels, historical quotes, and blistering analysis, he maps out a centuries-long pattern of manufactured crises, perpetual debt, and engineered wars designed to consolidate control. Jonathan also shares personal updates, responds to live chat, and previews next week's dive into Spooner's devastating explanation for the real cause of the Civil War. A dense, riveting continuation of Spooner's demolition of constitutional mythology and the financial machinery behind global tyranny.

In this dense and thought-provoking episode of The No Treason Podcast, Jonathan Drake dives straight into Lysander Spooner's dismantling of government legitimacy. Jonathan walks listeners through Spooner's shift from exposing the Constitution's fatal contradictions to identifying the true structure of modern slavery—beginning with treaties and government debt. He breaks down why treaties fail every standard of natural law, why no agent of government can prove lawful consent to enter them, and how these agreements entangle millions of people in obligations they never accepted. Jonathan then tackles Spooner's devastating critique of national debt—showing how a “secret band” of unaccountable agents borrows in darkness, uses criminal purposes as justification, and binds future generations through coercion, taxation, and fraud. Alongside Spooner's logic, Jonathan explores apophatic reasoning, natural law, anarcho-capitalist debates, election secrecy, and the moral implications of political power itself. Sponsors, live-chat reflections, and Jonathan's signature philosophical clarity round out a rigorous exploration of consent, sovereignty, and the machinery that keeps citizens trapped in manufactured obligations.

This incredible work is crucial to digest in order to understand the importance of criticism of the state, individualism, and ultimately Anarchism in America in the 19th century. Get a PDF copy of this book:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Men-Against-the-State-The-Expositers-of-Individualist-Anarchism-in-America-1827-1908_3.pdfBecome a member:https://buymeacoffee.com/jamescordinerPlease support the show:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/james-cordiner/donate/Buy a Shirt:https://voluntaryistacademy.creator-spring.com/Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLdMusical Artist: Brendan Danielhttps://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/America was home to the first full-blown movement of individualist anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century. The author of this book on the topic adds the adjective “individualist” to distinguish them from socialists. They were champions of liberty, and, yes, they were as quirky as any movement of this sort might be. But they made mighty contributions to the history of ideas, and this book explains those contributions and the minds behind them.The names are tragically lost to history: Benjamin Tucker, Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, J.K. Ingalls, among many others. They were thinkers and activists, not mere protesters or political dissidents. They had a positive agenda centered on the confidence that whatever kind of world would emerge without a state, it would be a better world than the one the state made.The author explains that “the communist anarchists rejected private property, and taught the ideal of the collective autonomous commune. A portion of their number advocated the overthrow of the State by violence. The individualist anarchists held that the collective society in any form was an impossibility without the eventuality of authoritarianism, and ultimately, totalitarianism, and adhered resolutely to the concept of private property insofar as the term could be defined as the total product of a given individual's labor, but not more broadly than this.”“They abandoned the idea of an equalitarian utopia, and worked for a world free from arbitrary restrictions on opportunity and legal privilege, which breakdowns they claimed ‘laissez faire' really produced. No other radical group denounced the prevailing system more vigorously than the spokesmen for individualist anarchism.”James J. Martin wrote a book for the ages in 1952, a survey that is indispensable for anyone interested in the roots of modern libertarian thought. You will find these roots not in the postwar “conservatism” of the Buckley movement but much further back.(Description taken from mises.org)

ILS Educational Programs Manager Alex Eames speaks with Moin Yahya about whether the state should run the postal service. They explore the history of Canada Post's monopoly, competition and innovation in mail delivery, and why Lysander Spooner's 19th-century rebellion still matters for debates about government-run enterprises today. References: Moin A. Yahya — Faculty Profile (University of Alberta, Law) https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/myahya Canada Post Corporation Act (Justice Laws, Government of Canada) https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-10/ Lysander Spooner, The Unconstitutionality of the Laws of Congress Prohibiting Private Mails (1844) — full text  https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/spooner-the-unconstitutionality-of-the-laws-of-congress-prohibiting-private-mails-1844  American Letter Mail Company (Spooner's private competitor to the U.S. Post) — Overview (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Letter_Mail_Company Royal Mail — Background & 2013 Privatization (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mail  --- Thanks to our patrons—especially Kris Rondolo—for supporting The Curious Task. To join them: https://patreon.com/curioustask  

Jonathan Drake returns for The No Treason Podcast Ep. 6, continuing his deep dive into Lysander Spooner's No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority. Picking up with Sections 8 through 15, Jonathan exposes how the secret ballot, far from being a safeguard of liberty, is actually a tool of tyranny, shielding voters from accountability while empowering what Spooner calls “a secret band of robbers and murderers.” He unpacks Spooner's dismantling of the notion of consent in governance, explaining how elections, oaths of office, and the Constitution itself fail every test of natural law. With sharp humor and vivid analogies, from pork smoking and squirrels teaching natural law to the absurdity of “oaths given to the wind”, Jonathan ties Spooner's 19th-century insights to modern politics and moral philosophy. It's a masterclass in understanding why secret governance and blind patriotism lead not to freedom, but to voluntary servitude.

Jonathan Drake continues his deep exploration of Lysander Spooner's No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority by unpacking Sections 6 and 7, where Spooner exposes how the Constitution grants government agents “absolute and irresponsible power.” Jonathan examines the Speech and Debate Clause and its implications for unchecked authority, connecting it to modern examples like immunity for lawmakers and pharmaceutical companies. Through first principles and natural law, he explains how property rights, consent, and personal sovereignty intersect, and how the Constitution, as written, effectively transforms citizens into property of the state. With analogies ranging from tree service contracts to modern elections, Jonathan drives home how accountability was designed out of the system, leaving Americans with only the illusion of choice. The episode closes with Spooner's haunting observation that “a man is nonetheless a slave because he is allowed to choose a new master once in a term of years.” Insightful, challenging, and uncompromising, this installment lays bare the philosophical and moral contradictions at the heart of American governance.

Spooner understood something most Americans still refuse to believe today. Every check on federal power you were taught about? They don't work. Oaths? Meaningless. Elections? Theater. Separation of powers? Not in practice. As he put it, tyrants only care about one thing. The post Lysander Spooner: The Truth About “Checks and Balances” first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.

Jonathan Drake continues his deep dive into Lysander Spooner's No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority, dissecting sections four and five with philosophical precision and relatable humor. Building on Spooner's radical claim that the U.S. Constitution was never a binding contract, Drake explores what truly defines consent under natural law, examining why writing, signing, and delivery are essential for legitimacy. Using vivid examples and biblical parallels, he unpacks how even everyday receipts and legal signatures reflect the moral order embedded in human nature. Along the way, Jonathan weaves in live chat commentary, Nietzsche quotes, and a playful nod to comedian Mitch Hedberg to highlight the absurdity of modern governance. From Spooner's critique of government authority to Drake's reflections on morality, faith, and free will, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what it really means to “consent to be governed.”

Jonathan Drake continues his deep dive into Lysander Spooner's No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority, dissecting Section 3 and exposing the illusion of voluntary consent in taxation and governance. He unpacks Spooner's argument that taxes, enforced under threat, are no different than theft by a “highwayman”, except the robber is more honest about his intentions than the government. Through Spooner's lens, Jonathan explores how the secret ballot conceals true authority, why voters can't possibly consent to laws they never agreed to, and how the state's monopoly on force violates natural law. Drawing connections from the Civil War to modern examples like Waco, Ruby Ridge, and January 6th, he reveals how coercion remains the cornerstone of political power. With sharp wit and calm conviction, Jonathan ties Spooner's 19th-century logic to today's crises, arguing that property taxes, foreign wars, and global corruption all stem from the same fraudulent social contract. The episode closes with a hopeful challenge: reclaiming liberty through understanding, self-sovereignty, and the timeless truth that consent cannot be compelled.

Jonathan Drake returns for Episode 2 of The No Treason Podcast to dig deeper into Lysander Spooner's No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority. This week, Drake unpacks Section 2, Spooner's argument that voting does not equal consent, and why the U.S. Constitution fails as a legitimate social contract under natural law. He breaks down Spooner's ten points on how the act of voting, secret ballots, taxation, and involuntary participation expose the illusion of “consent of the governed.” With historical insight, humor, and a touch of philosophy, Jonathan guides listeners through the uncomfortable but liberating realization that true liberty can't be legislated. It's a masterclass in critical thinking for anyone ready to question the foundation of American governance.

Book:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Men-Against-the-State-The-Expositers-of-Individualist-Anarchism-in-America-1827-1908_3.pdfBecome a supporter or member:https://buymeacoffee.com/jamescordinerPlease support the show:https://onegreatworknetwork.com/james-cordiner/donate/Buy a Shirt:https://voluntaryistacademy.creator-spring.com/Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLdMusical Artist: Brendan Danielhttps://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/Chris Jantzen's Book:https://endevil.life/index.php?page=125America was home to the first full-blown movement of individualist anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century. The author of this book on the topic adds the adjective “individualist” to distinguish them from socialists. They were champions of liberty, and, yes, they were as quirky as any movement of this sort might be. But they made mighty contributions to the history of ideas, and this book explains those contributions and the minds behind them.The names are tragically lost to history: Benjamin Tucker, Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, J.K. Ingalls, among many others. They were thinkers and activists, not mere protesters or political dissidents. They had a positive agenda centered on the confidence that whatever kind of world would emerge without a state, it would be a better world than the one the state made.The author explains that “the communist anarchists rejected private property, and taught the ideal of the collective autonomous commune. A portion of their number advocated the overthrow of the State by violence. The individualist anarchists held that the collective society in any form was an impossibility without the eventuality of authoritarianism, and ultimately, totalitarianism, and adhered resolutely to the concept of private property insofar as the term could be defined as the total product of a given individual's labor, but not more broadly than this.”“They abandoned the idea of an equalitarian utopia, and worked for a world free from arbitrary restrictions on opportunity and legal privilege, which breakdowns they claimed ‘laissez faire' really produced. No other radical group denounced the prevailing system more vigorously than the spokesmen for individualist anarchism.”James J. Martin wrote a book for the ages in 1952, a survey that is indispensable for anyone interested in the roots of modern libertarian thought. You will find these roots not in the postwar “conservatism” of the Buckley movement but much further back.(Description taken from mises.org)

Folks are reaching out and asking me why I have a bone in my teeth (forever) about the Constitution and I just managed to dig up a 2010 debate I had with Professor Daniel Walker Howe at FreedomFest. I defended the Articles of Confederation against the Constitution. I was and remain a nobody but they could not find another AoC champion. Me: “Hamilton's machinations and influence probably single-handedly turned the product of this secret confab into one of the most successful instruments of political oppression before even the creation of the USSR. What makes it even more sublime as a tool of big government is the sophisticated propaganda and hagiographic enterprise which has both spontaneously and through careful planning suborned the public's skepticism of the nature of the machine erected to control their behavior, which has resulted in an almost religious observance of all things Constitutional. Carefully cultivated over two hundred years, this religious idolatry had certainly fogged the thinking of this writer for most of his adult life. This sleeper has awakened.” More details here. I recommend my friend's, Kenneth Royce, masterful critique of the Constitution: Hologram of Liberty: The Constitution's Shocking Alliance With Big Government The Anti-federalist Papers were an early warming system. Lysander Spooner warned us very early on. You have been lied to…

In Episode 1 Jonathan introduces Lysander Spooner and begins discussion on his essay “No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority,” covering a recap on Social Contract Theory, Natural Law requirements for a legally binding contract, and Section 1 of Spooner's essay.

America was home to the first full-blown movement of individualist anarchists in the 19th and early 20th century. The author of this book on the topic adds the adjective “individualist” to distinguish them from socialists. They were champions of liberty, and, yes, they were as quirky as any movement of this sort might be. But they made mighty contributions to the history of ideas, and this book explains those contributions and the minds behind them.The names are tragically lost to history: Benjamin Tucker, Josiah Warren, Lysander Spooner, J.K. Ingalls, among many others. They were thinkers and activists, not mere protesters or political dissidents. They had a positive agenda centered on the confidence that whatever kind of world would emerge without a state, it would be a better world than the one the state made.The author explains that “the communist anarchists rejected private property, and taught the ideal of the collective autonomous commune. A portion of their number advocated the overthrow of the State by violence. The individualist anarchists held that the collective society in any form was an impossibility without the eventuality of authoritarianism, and ultimately, totalitarianism, and adhered resolutely to the concept of private property insofar as the term could be defined as the total product of a given individual's labor, but not more broadly than this.”“They abandoned the idea of an equalitarian utopia, and worked for a world free from arbitrary restrictions on opportunity and legal privilege, which breakdowns they claimed ‘laissez faire' really produced. No other radical group denounced the prevailing system more vigorously than the spokesmen for individualist anarchism.”James J. Martin wrote a book for the ages in 1952, a survey that is indispensable for anyone interested in the roots of modern libertarian thought. You will find these roots not in the postwar “conservatism” of the Buckley movement but much further back.(Description taken from mises.org)Go to:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/Support the show:https://voluntaryistacademy.com/donate/Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLdMusical Artist: Brendan Danielhttps://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/

"Time Bombs in the Constitution, and other Back-Door Paths to Tyranny" Mark mentioned several books today, including: "Hologram of Liberty: " by Kenneth W. Royce "Constitution: Fact or Fiction" by Dr. Eugene Schroeder "The Creature From Jekyll Island," by G. Edward Griffin "No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority," by Lysander Spooner

“An unconstitutional judicial decision is no more binding than an unconstitutional legislative act.” With that one line, Lysander Spooner demolished the dangerous myth of judicial supremacy - the idea that a court's opinion becomes law simply because judges say so. In this episode, we break down Spooner's powerful insights and warnings, echoing the words of many Founders who've been long forgotten today. The truth is simple and radical: the Constitution is the supreme law of the land - not the opinions of unelected judges. Judicial supremacy isn't just unconstitutional. It's tyranny. The post Lysander Spooner vs the Supreme Court: The Judicial Supremacy Lie first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.

This episode began as a dedication to Lysander Spooner. The more I learned about him, the more relevant he appeared to the current constitutional crisis facing the nation which involves partisan, hack, Democrat, activist federal, circuit court judges who are violating President Trump's Article II powers by anointing themselves commander-in-chief, chief magistrate and chief executive by issuing nationwide restraining orders against numerous Trump executive actions. Using Spooner's writings as the foundation, we provide a quick refresher course on the Constitution and offer some constitutionally-sound methods that should be employed to end this constitutional crisis once and for all.  Show Notes Instagram | Truth Social | GETTR | Twitter | GAB | Apple | Rumble | BitChute -------------------------------- Spooner: We Didn't Consent to the Constitution Lysander Spooner's Strategy to Stop Unconstitutional Acts The Real Forgotten Enforcement Mechanism of the Constitution Truth Quest Podcast Episodes Anti-Federalist episode: Episode #75 - The Truth About the Anti-Federalists Federalist Papers episodes: Episode #43 - The Truth About the Federalist Papers - Part I Episode #44 - The Truth About the Federalist Papers - Part II Episode #45 - The Truth About the Federalist Papers - Part III Truth Quest Podcast secession episodes: EPIC RANT - How to Save America From Itself Episode #192 - A Practical Guide to State Secession Episode #128 - The Truth About Opposition to Secession Episode #88 - The Truth About Secession - Part II Episode #87 - The Truth About Secession - Part I -------------------------------- Support the podcast by shopping at the Truth Quest Shirt Factory. With each shirt design there will be an explanation of what to expect from those inquisitive or brave enough to ask you about it. In most cases there are links to podcast episodes that will deepen your understanding of the importance of each phrase. We hope you take the challenge of wearing these shirts in public. Rest assured that you will be well-equipped with the rhetorical tools to engage in conversation and/or debate.  Good luck! And thanks for supporting the Truth Quest Podcast!

In this episode I continue to take Trump 2.0 to task focusing this time on CONservative Inc. Media propagandists, Marco Rubio's membership in the USAID funded IRI and the US government's regime change network, continued censorship on Elon Musk's X, more arms for the Israeli government, bombing of the West Bank, the hypocrisy of the masses, missing Ukraine funding, and a whole lot more! After all, somebody's gotta do it because "The Left Is Wrong, But The Right Isn't Right!"  Cheers and Blessings   Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

In this episode I once again take Trump 2.0 to task focusing specifically on the clear and apparent Israel Firsters in the new regime. After all, somebody's gotta do it because "The Left Is Wrong, But The Right Isn't Right!" Remember, no man can serve two masters and that goes for representatives as well. Cheers and Blessings   Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

Deemed one of the most important documents concerning Liberty, "No Treason" has been lost to History..... as far as the mainstream is concerned. Together, let's explore this evergreen document to answer the questions: Is our Constitution really protecting us? Is it legitimate? What are we to do with our lives? Go to: https://voluntaryistacademy.com/ Support the show: https://voluntaryistacademy.com/donate/ Get AUTONOMY: https://getautonomy.info/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.universityofreason.com%2Fa%2F2147825829%2F8sRCwZLd Musical Artist: Brendan Daniel https://www.instagram.com/brendandanielmusic/

In this episode I once again take Trump 2.0 to task by focusing on their lies and hypocrisy. After all, somebody's gotta do it because "The Left Is Wrong, But The Right Is Not Right!" Cheers and Blessings   Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

In this episode I take up where we left off with Pt. 3 talking about the CONservative attempt at a North American Union, Trump's endorsement of Mike Johnson after MAGA rejected him, Censorship and Free Speech on X, the Visa and Immigration double cross and many more CONservative shenanigans in involved with Trump 2.0. Join me as we go once again, deep down the rabbit hole, far beyond the mainstream. Cheers and Blessings   Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

"Tyrants care nothing for discussions that are to end only in discussion." Lysander Spooner didn't pull any punches. He knew that words without action were meaningless in the fight against tyranny. In this episode, we'll dive into some of his most radical and powerful takes on the Constitution - his ideas matter now more than ever. The post Lysander Spooner: Radical Truths on Tyranny and the Constitution first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.

In this episode I take up where we left off with Pt. 2 talking about some of the new appointments and almost appointments that Foreign Agent Donald Trump has nominated to serve in 2.0.  Cheers and Blessings   Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

In this episode I take up where we left off with Pt.1 talking about some of the new appointments and almost appointments that Anti-Christ Superstar Donald Trump has nominated to serve in 2.0. I ain't messin' around. Cheers and Blessings   Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

In this episode I talk about some of the alleged nominees to the newly selected administration, some of their ties and beliefs.  Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

This principle - central to the American Revolution - has been almost totally forgotten and ignored. On this episode, we're uncovering powerful warnings from leading Founders and Old Revolutionaries about the dangers of compliance with usurpations of power. And a century later, the radical Lysander Spooner took up the same cause, fiercely defending these principles of resistance to defend liberty. These are lessons we can't afford to ignore any longer. The post You Can't COMPLY Your Way Out of TYRANNY: The Forgotten Foundation first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.

This week I talk a little bit about the past four years and the things we have all witnessed leading up to The Dumbest Election of Our Lifetimes. Support My Work https://www.patreon.com/theoddmanout   Buy Me A Coffee!

Thomas Jefferson called the trial by jury as the only anchor ever imagined by man that can hold a government to the constitution. And jury nullification is how to get that done. In this episode, learn what it is, the history behind it and how it works. Plenty from the founders and old revolutionaries all the way to Lysander Spooner. The post Jury Nullification: The People's Secret Weapon Against Tyranny first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.

Send us a text Do you ever take a moment to think about the fact that Americans, the people of the land of the free, spent 13 years under Prohibition? Did you know that Americans used to seriously “drink like a fish”? And no, I'm not talking about fraternity men in college. I'm talking about everyone, everywhere, from George Washington's parties to lunchtimes in the manufacturing factories (until Henry Ford put a stop to it, you know, for efficiency purposes). Then Prohibition happened. What were the forces that drove Prohibition into existence? Our first and only constitutional amendment to be repealed, what was so severe about America under prohibition that it only lasted 13 years? How did a guy smuggle whiskey into America in an egg carton? All that and more on this episode with Wabash College Professor Nicholas Snow. Tune in! Want to explore more?Read John Alcorn's 2019 series on prohibition of all kinds at EconLog.Daniel Okrent on Prohibition and his Book, Last Call, an EconTalk podcast.Lysander Spooner, Vices are Not Crimes. A Vindication of Moral Liberty, at the Online Library of Liberty.Randy Simmons on Public Choice, a Great Antidote podcast.Sandra Peart on Ethical Quandaries and Politics Without Romance, a Great Antidote podcast.Never miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In this special Constitution Day episode of Lady Justice: Women of the Court, hosts Justice Rhonda Wood of Arkansas and Justice Beth Walker of West Virginia sit down with Randy Barnett, the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University and Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution. Together, they dive into a thought-provoking conversation about Barnett's latest memoir, A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist, and explore his journey from a prosecutor in Chicago to becoming a leading voice in the originalism movement.  Barnett shares insights into the federal and state constitutions, the amendment processes, and his expertise on the Ninth Amendment. The discussion delves into the principles of originalism, the impact of abolitionist Lysander Spooner, and the significance of the “lost constitution.” The episode also offers a glimpse into Barnett's forthcoming work, Felony Review: Tales of True Stories of Crime and Corruption in Chicago, drawing on his experiences as a prosecutor.  Listeners will also gain valuable advice on the importance of mentorship and learn about the influential mentors who shaped Barnett's career. This episode provides a compelling look at the intersection of law, history, and personal conviction, offering inspiration for anyone passionate about justice and liberty.  Topics Discussed:  The differences between the federal Constitution and state constitutions, and their respective amendment processes  The origins and principles of originalism  Key insights into Barnett's memoir, A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist  The role of mentorship in Barnett's career and personal growth  Discussions on the Ninth Amendment and the concept of the “lost constitution”  Reflections on Lysander Spooner's The Unconstitutionality of Slavery and its influence on originalism  A preview of Barnett's upcoming book, Felony Review: Tales of True Stories of Crime and Corruption in Chicago  Don't miss this engaging conversation that blends constitutional law, history, and the personal stories of one of America's foremost legal scholars. Tune in now!  Resources:   -https://www.randybarnett.com/   -https://www.law.georgetown.edu/faculty/randy-e-barnett/  -https://www.amazon.com/Life-Liberty-Making-American-Originalist/dp/1641773774  -https://archive.org/details/unconstitutionalit00spoo   -https://www.ncsc.org/education-and-careers/civics/constitution-day  

Lysander Spooner was one of this country's most important libertarians. His views on economics, while flawed, are free market in principle and have some insights Austrians can appreciate.Original Article: Lysander Spooner's Flawed War on Poverty

Lysander Spooner was one of this country's most important libertarians. His views on economics, while flawed, are free market in principle and have some insights Austrians can appreciate.Original Article: Lysander Spooner's Flawed War on Poverty

Tracing its roots back to John Locke, the Mayflower Compact - and even earlier - the “consent of the governed” was one of the most important principles in the Declaration of Independence, and was the foundation for the formation of the Constitution as well. But, as Lysander Spooner argued - the notion that “all the people” consent exists only in theory. The post John Locke vs Lysander Spooner: Consent of the Governed first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.

From Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson to Lysander Spooner - the notion that the people should submit until they can replace enough politicians to stop the government from doing what the government was never authorized to do in the first place - is only a guarantee that they'll never stop, and it'll keep getting worse. The post The Failed Strategy of “Vote the Bums Out” is Making Things Even Worse first appeared on Tenth Amendment Center.

In today's episode:Biden "didn't do" the trans visibility thing, which makes sense because he doesn't really do anythingTrump suggests a Christian Visibility Day on Election Day, Philip Bump says "nuh uh"A Wisconsin ballot measure passes to bar private funding of elections, but what sort of "win" is it?A New Mexico judge allows access to voter registriesTarrant County moves to serialized ballotsLysander Spooner on the "secret ballot"Nebraska considers "winner take all"Beautiful Hillary promotes propaganda on Broadway.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Diversify your assets into Bitcoin: https://partner.river.com/reasonableDiversify your assets into precious metals: reasonablegold.comOther ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorDonate btc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableMerch site: https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/Follow the podcast info stream: t.me/imyourmoderatorOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/be-reasonable-with-your-moderator-chris-paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode:Biden "didn't do" the trans visibility thing, which makes sense because he doesn't really do anythingTrump suggests a Christian Visibility Day on Election Day, Philip Bump says "nuh uh"A Wisconsin ballot measure passes to bar private funding of elections, but what sort of "win" is it?A New Mexico judge allows access to voter registriesTarrant County moves to serialized ballotsLysander Spooner on the "secret ballot"Nebraska considers "winner take all"Beautiful Hillary promotes propaganda on Broadway.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Diversify your assets into Bitcoin: https://partner.river.com/reasonableDiversify your assets into precious metals: reasonablegold.comOther ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorDonate btc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableMerch site: https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/Follow the podcast info stream: t.me/imyourmoderatorOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/be-reasonable-with-your-moderator-chris-paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://youtu.be/VgWy_H6C7vU That two men have no more natural right to exercise any kind of authority over one, than one has to exercise the same authority over two. A man's natural rights are his own, against the whole world; and any infringement of them is equally a crime, whether committed by one man, or by millions; whether committed by one man, calling himself a robber (or by any other name indicating his true character), or by millions, calling themselves a government. - Lysander Spooner, No Treason (Part 1, Sec 2) Jack Lloyd is a multimedia content producer for liberty. His work spans both fiction and nonfiction with educational videos, music, music videos, skits, a comic book series, and his nonfiction books The Definitive Guide to Libertarian Voluntaryism, A Vision for a Libertarian Future, and Philosophical Voluntaryism. The Definitive Guide to Libertarian Voluntaryism: https://a.co/d/cIZKTpy Voluntaryist Comic: https://volcomic.com/ Jack V. Lloyd home page: https://jackvlloyd.com/