In a republic form of government, lawmaking is generally handled by representatives of the people. But is there also a place for direct democracy, where the people can exercise their franchise on specific issues via ballot initiative? In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of the initiative process as well as when and where it may be necessary to limit the power we’ve delegated to government.

113: Are Ballot Initiatives a Bad Idea?

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Anyone who has found himself or herself prepared for an unexpected situation knows how comforting it is to realize that you have the ability handle unforeseen challenges that arise. Sometimes, however, the desire to become self-reliant can morph into the caricature of “the prepper” with an almost pathological focus on what can go wrong. Where is the golden mean of being prepared but not over-prepared? For that matter, what exactly are we preparing for?

163: Being Prepared Without Becoming a Prepper

For every person who is making sound investments that will bring them future happiness and security, not very many are neglecting their most important asset of all—themselves! Connor has the opportunity to pick the brain of Paradigm Life CEO Pat Donohoe on the importance of investing in yourself. No matter what your plans are for the future, this kind of self improvement can pay off richly on many different levels.

162: Pat Donohoe on Investing In Yourself

Everyone encounters things they find disagreeable, from time to time. But is there a point where each of us must draw a figurative line in the sand rather than simply go along to get along? It’s a decision that will come to each of us, at some point. This is when most of us learn whether or not we’d be willing to suffer for our principles. In this episode, we discuss how to best decide what’s worth taking a stand for and how to do so effectively.

161: Drawing Your Own Line in the Sand

What kind of reaction does the term “dark money” elicit when you first hear it? If it’s a mixture of fear and suspicion, you may be playing right into the hands of the political operatives who coined the phrase. Zac Morgan from the Institute for Free Speech joins Connor to discuss how campaign donations have never been more public and the chances of the Koch brothers or George Soros taking over the world may have been exaggerated.

160: Zac Morgan on Is Dark Money a Good Thing?

If there is such a thing as a civic religion, then voting might well be considered its high sacrament. We’ve all heard people say, “If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.” But what should we make of those who say, “Not voting means you’ve consented to the status quo”? With another highly polarizing election cycle dead ahead, now is a good time to sort out what our vote represents and how consent plays into the way we choose to vote—or not vote.

113: Are Ballot Initiatives a Bad Idea?

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