Free Thoughts

Chris Edwards joins us this week to discuss the politics that goes into attempting to minimize the federal deficit. The Federal Government determines the federal budget, however there is not a balanced-budget requirement, which leads to the growth of the federal deficit. The Federal Government does two main “things” according to Edwards; they produce stuff and they transfer income. Obviously, national defense is one of the main things that the Federal Government produces. If they were to cut that production- it would have an immediate effect on defense programs and initiatives. Whereas if you cut from other programs, like those regarding housing, you would cut direct benefits to people.

Over half of the federal budget goes to entitlement programs. Social Security alone has turned into a trillion dollar endeavor. Edwards suggests that if budget cuts were made across the board then it would be perceived as fair to all programs and it would be a step in the right direction.

Why is it difficult for the Federal Government to cut any kind of spending? Why do federal programs always cost more than they are projected to? What is a special interest? Is there ever a point where we should really care about the federal debt? Who is lending the U.S. money? Should we have a balanced-budget requirement, if so, how would we enforce it?

Downsizing the Federal Government website

Opportunity Zones Fuel Corruption, written by Chris Edwards

Tax reform 2.0 can alleviate Americans’ chronic saving problem, written by Ernest Christian and Chris Edwards

Building a Better Government, Free Thoughts Episode

Choose Your Own Government, Free Thoughts Episode

Taking Government Unseriously, Free Thoughts Episode

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Reverend Rob Schenck joins us this week to discuss not only his book Costly Grace: An Evangelical Minister’s Rediscovery of Faith, Hope, and Love, but also his career in the evangelical world and how it morphed into continued political engagement. Schenck, at the age of eighteen, decided that he would live his life in the service of God. He elaborates on how his religious life can be divided into three separate awakenings and how over the past few years he has come to see how politicized the evangelical community has become. 

After meeting President Ronald Reagan, Schenck became mesmerized by Reagan’s “presidential glow”, which inspired him to take his religious career into the political sphere. He notes how the Roe v. Wade decision invited the evangelical world into the sphere of politics. Up until Roe, many states had differing laws about abortion, but the Supreme Court decision allowed evangelicals to come together to form a stable pro-life movement.

When did evangelicals become present in the political discussion? Why were evangelicals so “gun-ho” to get rid of Roe v. Wade? Does Trump represent a cliff that evangelical America fell off of? Why did Trump choose to align with evangelicals?

‘My Third Conversion’: Rev. Rob Schenck On Why He Took On Gun Control, from NPR. 

Rev. Rob Schenck’s website

Costly Grace: An Evangelical Minister’s Rediscovery of Faith, Hope, and Love, written by Rob Schenck

The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute website

Libertarianism and Christianity, Free Thoughts Episode

Freethought and Freedom: Early Christianity and the Modern Libertarian Movement, Excursions Episode

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Matthew Larosiere joins us to discuss how his interest in the design and development of weapons is controversial. Larosiere argues that most people agree that everyone should be able to defend themselves. However, most people do not understand that “aimed fire” is actually more effective than peppering bullets hoping to hit your target. The “aimed fire” technique is actually the most utilized military tactic because it results in a higher level of precision and accuracy. 

Larosiere also touches on how 3D-printed guns have been in the spotlight in recent news. The outrage about 3D-printed guns arose because many people did not understand that, in the United States, there is no law against manufacturing your own gun, in your home, for personal use. There are, of course, laws that prevent the sale and exportation of homemade guns, but it is not illegal to have a hobby, need, or want to manufacture your own gun.

Why would anyone own a gun? What is the most effective mechanism to defend yourself? What is the difference between an automatic and semiautomatic weapon? What is a bump stock? Does magazine capacity matter at all? Is there something wrong with collecting things that inflict harm on others?

The fight over 3D-printed gun plans has nothing to do with the Second Amendment, written by Matthew Larosiere

Yes, Washington, The First Amendment Even Protects Firearm Blueprints, written by Ilya Shapiro and Matthew Larosiere

Losing Count: The Empty Case for “High-Capacity” Magazine Restrictions, written by Matthew Larosiere

Related Content:

Rigth to Print Arms, Building Tomorrow Episode

Guns and Mass Shootings, Free Thoughts Episode

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Adam Bates, from the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), joins us this week for our 250th episode to talk about how the Muslim ban, which President Trump initiated during his first week in office, inspired him to change his work focus from criminal justice reform to refugee relief.

Bates addresses how the Administration is “overtly hostile” towards refugees. In our current political climate, it is an extremely trying time for refugee law, but also to be a refugee. The Refugee Act of 1980 allows the President to decide each year what the refugee cap is for the following year. President Trump set the lowest cap in the last 38 years at 45,000 refugees for the 2018 fiscal year. We have only resettled 16,000 refugees so far this year. We are incredibly far away from our maximum capacity of refugees.

What is a refugee by definition? Are there exceptions to this definition? What is “temporary-protected status”? How is an asylum-seeker different than a refugee? How does the refugee process work? Which countries are accepting the most refugees? Is the United States really the “beacon on the hill” that we think we are?

IRAP response to the travel ban

UNHCR defines what types of refugess they classify

President Donald Trump advocated last year for dropping the refugee cap.

The Truth About Immigration, Free Thoughts Episode

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown, Free Thoughts Episode

Immigrants and Guns: Different Issues, The Same Bad Arguments, written by Trevor Burrus

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What tends to drive Congress’ institution overall? Where do organizations like Cato fit into the legislative process? What is the difference between the work that think tanks like Cato do, and that work of the Hill and lobbyists? Who is writing the actual legislation that might become law?

The Statrix: How Government Wraps Our Perception of the World - Free Thoughts Podcast

Washington’s Five Tricks - Free Thoughts Podcast

The Distinction Between Governance and Government - Free Thoughts Podcast

Building a Better Government - Free Thoughts Podcast

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Thomas Hazlett joins us for a discussion on the history of the U.S. government’s regulation of the airways. Efforts to liberate the radio spectrum have generated so much progress, ushering in smartphones, social media, podcasts and online media providers. But the battle for reform is not even half won.

Check out the book: The Political Spectrum: The Tumultuous Liberation of Wireless Technology, from Herbert Hoover to the Smartphone

Learn more about Thomas Hazlett

Check out our new podcast on emerging technology Building Tomorrow

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Sebastian Edwards joins us today to discuss why we abandoned the gold standard. Edwards recently published American Default: The Untold Story of FDR, the Supreme Court, and the Battle over Gold.

On April 5, 1933, FDR ordered Americans to sell all their gold holdings to the government. This was followed by the abandonment of the gold standard and the devaluation of the dollar. American Default is the story of this forgotten chapter in America’s history.

Learn More about Sebastian Edwards

Read the book American Default: The Untold Story of FDR, the Supreme Court, and the Battle over Gold

The Gold Standard Won’t Be Coming Back - Free Thoughts Podcast

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Alex Nowrasteh joins us today to discuss the state of immigration in President Trump’s America.

The Truth About Immigration (with Alex Nowrasteh) - Free Thoughts Podcast

You Are Now Free to Move About the Planet (with Alex Nowrasteh - Free Thoughts Podcast

Understanding Immigration - The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism

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Building Tomorrow Podcast explores the ways technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship enable private individuals to build a free, wealthy, and peaceful world.

Subscribe to Building Tomorrow here!

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