The Rational Egoist

Examining the flaws of government intervention - The Rational Egoist


Listen Later

Examining the flaws of government intervention - The Rational Egoist

In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz engages in a discussion with special guest Michael Mechanic, senior editor of Mother Jones, and author of "Jackpot: How the Super Rich Really Live, and How Their Wealth Harms Us All". The episode some common views on inequality and the merits of this perspective.
The conversation begins with a discussion on inequality, with Mechanic questioning how much money a CEO of a company can take out of their own business compared to other workers and speculating on when should the government step in and limit what they can take. However, Liebowitz challenges the notion that inequality is the primary issue and instead argues that the real problem lies in any hindrance or interference in the creation of wealth by those who produce it.
Mechanic criticizes the government for providing tax breaks to the rich, which he argues allows them to use philanthropy to pay very little tax. However, he also advocates for giving more power to the government in socialism, which Liebowitz counters as a flawed solution that will only lead to more corruption.
The conversation becomes more philosophical as Liebowitz questions Mechanic's moral standard for judging the accumulation of wealth as wrong. Mechanic argues that the government should intervene and stop people from accumulating wealth, but this idea is met with criticism by Liebowitz, who asserts that an individual has no right to initiate force against another person and therefore cannot delegate a right they do not have, to the government.
Overall, The Rational Egoist provides a stimulating discussion that challenges traditional views on inequality and highlights the importance of individual rights and free market capitalism. The rational egoist suggests that society should value the freedom to create wealth without hinderance, rather than focusing on the distribution of wealth based on arbitrary factors such as social status and needs.
Michael Liebowitz is a philosopher, political activist, and host of the Rational Egoist podcast. He is a passionate advocate of reason and his views have been heavily influenced by the philosopher Ayn Rand. Liebowitz has dedicated his life to promoting its principles of rational self-interest, individualism, and reason.
In addition to his work as a podcast host, Liebowitz is also a prominent spokesperson for the Libertarian Party for Connecticut - USA and has been involved in a number of political debates advocating for individual rights and freedoms through his YouTube videos and interviews.
Liebowitz's life story is a testament to the transformative power of the writings of Ayn Rand. After spending 25 years in prison, he was able to turn his life around by embracing the principles of rational self-interest and morality espoused by Ayn Rand. He has since become an influential voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities, using his own experience to inspire others to live their lives in accordance with reason, individualism, and self-interest.
Liebowitz is also the co-author of "Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Correction Encourages Crime," a book that explores the ways in which misguided societal attitudes towards punishment and rehabilitation have led to a rise in crime and recidivism.
In addition to his work in politics and philosophy, Liebowitz is a regular guest on the Todd Feinburg show at WTIC, where he provides expert commentary on a range of political and social issues.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Rational EgoistBy The Rational Egoist with Michael Liebowitz

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

6 ratings


More shows like The Rational Egoist

View all
EconTalk by Russ Roberts

EconTalk

4,272 Listeners

Conversations with Tyler by Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Conversations with Tyler

2,428 Listeners

Yaron Brook Show by Yaron Brook

Yaron Brook Show

397 Listeners

The Michael Shermer Show by Michael Shermer

The Michael Shermer Show

927 Listeners

Uncommon Knowledge by Hoover Institution

Uncommon Knowledge

2,031 Listeners

The Peter Attia Drive by Peter Attia, MD

The Peter Attia Drive

8,957 Listeners

Conversations With Coleman by The Free Press

Conversations With Coleman

546 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

9,911 Listeners

GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution by Hoover Institution

GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution

689 Listeners

The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast by Ayn Rand Institute

The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast

75 Listeners

The Daily Objective by Ayn Rand Centre UK

The Daily Objective

31 Listeners

Five Minutes With Robert Nasir by Robert Nasir

Five Minutes With Robert Nasir

6 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

29,210 Listeners

Honestly with Bari Weiss by The Free Press

Honestly with Bari Weiss

8,803 Listeners

Geopolitics Decanted with Dmitri Alperovitch by Silverado Policy Accelerator

Geopolitics Decanted with Dmitri Alperovitch

157 Listeners