Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Snarkiness

Aaron is joined by two guests this week, first his wife Katherine, a financial professional, and second, returning guest Michael Dilaura, to discuss the new tax code. Katherine starts by discussing some of the positives and negatives of the tax code as well as the importance, rather than thinking of “rich vs. poor,” that we instead consider the importance of individual financial literacy and fiscal responsibility, and how no (despite what some claim) this is not something restricted by social or economic class, but rather something that everyone can learn and embrace. 

Michael Dilaura then discusses his experiences working in politics when the tax code was passed, and how that relates to the current cultural zeitgeist of identity politics. Michael brings up how the reaction to the new tax code plays right into the current political culture of soundbites, and how we only talk in terms of team red or team blue rather than discussing the actual positives and negatives of policy. Aaron then brings up how much our cultural discussion of wealth plays into the relative deprivation hypothesis of prejudice. 

The New York Times article that inspired this episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/14/business/economy/income-tax-cut.html?fbclid=IwAR2qqDJX9eoYwDBubJpNwjscFvKD4-qdjTDj8CuKchgRYrs-NFDM6Yp66P4

A Marketwatch article claiming that the tax code unfairly favors Republican-dominated states: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trumps-tax-reform-appears-to-be-giving-more-money-back-to-republican-states-2019-04-23

An article on the intense reaction to the SALT caps: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/17/blue-states-file-suit-against-federal-government-over-new-tax-law.html

Liz Warren and AOC’s response to Chase Bank that Katherine and Aaron discussed: https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/may/1/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-elizabeth-warren-slam-cha/

Bernie’s attempts to clarify the difference between democratic and authoritarian socialism: https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-democratic-socialism-soviet-union-authoritarian-communism-2019-4

A link to Katherine’s website, “The Bookkeeping Artist”: http://bookkeepingartist.com/

Aaron and Austin discuss Kamala Harris’s recent statements about gun control, as well as the Left’s reaction to her owning a gun, which some believe disqualifies her from running as a Democratic Candidate (after all, come on guys, it’ll be 2020!). Austin discusses the problems with executive attempts to change gun laws, as well as the issues with trusting that the Supreme Court will take care of it. Aaron discusses the psychological theories of authoritarianism, social dominance, and the ideological conflict hypothesis, all of which help to explain both Harris’s attempts to use her gun ownership to establish credence with the gun-owning community, as well as the backlash she’s experienced from that effort. 

A Buzzfeed article (yes, we know, don’t hate us) on Kamala Harris’s plan for executive action: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mollyhensleyclancy/kamala-harris-guns-executive-action?fbclid=IwAR3TQ_YIITcssz-BdCcpy8wuWWXzPxptHsfvCVwSNBlWq1c8j1VPaL-9JO0

The opinion piece saying why Harris’s gun ownership disqualifies her from running as a democrat: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/26/kamala-harris-owns-handgun-unacceptable-2020-democratic-race-column/3567371002/

Robert Altemeyer’s “The Authoritarians” PDF: https://theauthoritarians.org/Downloads/TheAuthoritarians.pdf

An Amazon link to Massad Ayoob’s “Deadly Force,” mentioned by Austin in the show: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Force-Understanding-Right-Defense/dp/1440240612

A Breitbart article (again, yes, we know, PLEASE don’t hate us) on Eric Swalwell’s proposed gun ban and buyback: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/04/23/eric-swalwell-digs-in-assault-weapons-ban-buyback-plan-non-negotiable/?fbclid=IwAR1o_i0ttq6Z4JBUiKK4QlmFy27P90KIy6NXguoNojivrnEi1KDz4kXS30k

Unrelated, but because we mentioned it, the National Review’s piece on how Franklin Graham and the Evangelical Movement have sold out for the sake of Trump: https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/04/franklin-graham-and-the-high-cost-of-the-lost-evangelical-witness/?fbclid=IwAR2N82tgY3vsIB_-4TH6M1RBBHkXTUf3PGYq1RaYX5PG9aKW7WV9rVR49sA

Aaron is joined by Tyler Brandt, associate and editor at the Foundation for Economic Education, who recently wrote a great article about the dangerous connections between protectionism, socialism, and even communism. Aaron and Tyler discuss Frederic Bastiat as an unfortunately-neglected figure in political thought and theory, as well as discussing libertarian maxims like “taxation is theft,” as well as the difficulties which underlie protectionism, and why a free society cannot function when the free market is stifled by tariffs, no matter how strong the supposed “moral” claim to protectionism. 

Aaron explains why he thinks the psychological literature of racism and prejudice also apply to economic policies like protectionism, Tyler explains why he doesn’t trust the supposed “evidence” of people who approve protectionism, and Aaron and Tyler both discuss the underlying moral assumptions of protectionism which are often brought up by its defenders and adherents. 

Tyler’s article that inspired this episode: https://fee.org/articles/frédéric-bastiat-on-the-connection-between-socialism-communism-and-protectionism/

FEE’s link to purchase Bastiat’s “The Law,” complete with his “The Candlemaker’s Petition,” where he takes down the idea of protectionism: https://store.fee.org/products/the-law 

FEE’s free online link the Bastiat’s “The Law”: https://fee.org/resources/the-law/

Aaron and Austin are joined by Buck Johnson, host of the Death to Tyrants Podcast, for our first crossover episode with another podcast! In the first half, the trio discuss the similarities and differences between different schools of libertarian thought. Aaron takes the Minarchist perspective, the idea that the government should be as small as possible, while Buck takes the perspective of anarcho-capitalism, the idea that society should be free to exist without rulers. Meanwhile, Austin tries to figure out just who he is, libertarianly speaking. We discuss our common ground as well as the deep divides that exist within libertarianism, with Buck bringing up the unifying force that was the “Ron Paul Revolution,” Aaron bringing up the phenomenon of group polarization and ideological purity, and Austin reminding us that there are fundamental philosophical differences that one must consider when “choosing” a libertarian school of thought. 

In the second half, Buck, Aaron, and Austin discuss the recent arrest of Julian Assange, discussing the reactions of the D.C. establishment, the importance of government transparency, and the importance of placing principle over power. Austin brings up the absurdity of allowing the government to determine what counts as transparency, Buck brings up the use of Assange as a distraction from what Wikileaks has revealed about our government, and why it’s important that we do know and discuss those revelations, and Aaron talks about the psychological dangers of blind patriotism and authoritarianism. 

A link to Buck’s Podcast, “Death to Tyrants”: https://www.facebook.com/deathtotyrantspodcast/

Death to Tyrants’ latest episode with Scott Horton discussing the Assange affair: h

Thoughtco’s guide to the different types of libertarianism: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-kind-of-libertarian-are-you-721655

A listicle from The Libertarian Republic also discussing different kinds of Libertarianism: https://thelibertarianrepublic.com/five-types-of-libertarianism-why-theyre-all-important-to-liberty/

Reason Magazine’s discussion of Washington’s reaction to Assange’s arrest: https://reason.com/2019/04/11/the-washington-political-establishment-s

The American Conservative’s piece telling us why we should fear the arrest of Assange: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/yes-you-should-fear-the-arrest-of-julian-assange/?fbclid=IwAR1Oo9A8wQgpgiFQd3qSz8EXW2cea0W5cH5ZKrFPBm-EYGgNswnoxzaC9jA

A discussion from The Bulwark, discussing why they don’t care much about Assange’s arrest: https://thebulwark.com/the-overdue-downfall-of-julian-assange/?fbclid=IwAR1AXr8YhOqTHOph1LQ7hB6e7Dn5LVXvxkZ3Ce2Xp0ab098w0SKaBUk4cs8

Aaron and Austin discuss the idea of hate speech, as well as the other factors surrounding it, in response to a recent incident involving Nazi graffiti in Oklahoma. Austin discusses the importance of maintaining the right for people to be hateful in a free society, as uncomfortable as it is, as well as drawing up the legal distinctions between what is and is not constitutionally protected under the definition of free speech. Aaron discusses how psychological phenomena like stereotypes and heuristics mean that we should be careful in our use of speech, and why we need to openly engage and refute hateful rhetoric, even if we don’t want the government to do so. Also discussed are such controversial topics as the Confederate Battle and Gadsden flags, and how more controversial and less clear cut symbols than swastikas and racial slurs play into the conversation about the right use of speech.

The incident that inspired this episode: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6892009/Okla-Republican-arrested-spraying-racist-graffiti-elementary-school-Democratic-office.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Bastiat’s “The Law,” perhaps one of the most important political works ever written, which Aaron paraphrased this episode: http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html

NPR on the Supreme Court case which allowed Asian-American Rock Band “The Slants” to trademark their name: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/19/533514196/the-slants-win-supreme-court-battle-over-bands-name-in-trademark-dispute

Timothy Sandefur’s piece for The Reason Papers making the case against the Confederacy: https://reasonpapers.com/pdf/28/rp_28_6.pdf

Randal Meyer, of the CATO institute, as to why Libertarians need not be pro-confederacy: https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/libertarians-need-not-support-confederacy

Jonathan Blanks, also of CATO, with another case against the Confederacy: https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/libertarians-should-celebrate-emancipation-much-they-do-end-prohibition

“Ethics’ Alarms” on the Gadsden Flag and problems of free speech and symbols: https://ethicsalarms.com/2016/08/05/observations-on-the-gadsden-flag-controversy/

Jenn and Aaron knock back some Jameson while discussing the ever-popular topic of outrage culture in both the pop-culture and social spheres. In the first half, Jean and Aaron discuss two popular topics of outrage, the new music video put out by German band Rammstein and the so-called “controversial” opinion of Jordan Peele that he doesn’t want to cast caucasians as the leads in his stories about the African American experience. After being interrupted by our lovely commercial break (now in the middle!), they also talk about the recent hubbub surrounding Chick Fil A, as well as the appropriation of Holocaust imagery by members of the Anti-Vaccine movement to protest their “persecution” by having their kids excluded from attending school due to the risk of a measles outbreak. Jenn talks about how art and expression can’t flourish if we’re going to constantly be offended by everything, but how important it is to also remember the lines of common decency, and how intent matters. Aaron talks about why, psychologically, we should call “virtue signaling” “value signaling” instead, as well as how outrage culture plays right into what is known as the peripheral route of persuasion, and how it’ll change nobody’s mind in the end. 

Christopher Dwyer on Value Signaling: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thoughts-thinking/201710/virtues-values-and-moral-bullying

Pete Buttigieg’s response to the Chick Fil A fiasco: https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/26/politics/buttigieg-chick-fil-a/index.html

An article on the Anti-Vaccine Movement’s use of Holocaust Stars: https://www.rt.com/news/455243-auschwitz-museum-slams-antivax-stars/

Rammstein’s “Deutschland” music video that caused all the controversy (content warning: violent imagery): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeQM1c-XCDc

Some reactions to Rammstein’s video: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47745071

The Daily Wire on Jordan Peele (read the comments if you want to see “not racism”): https://www.dailywire.com/news/45141/jordan-peele-i-dont-see-myself-casting-white-dude-paul-bois

Proof that Aaron is pronouncing Pete Buttigieg’s name correctly: https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/23/politics/how-to-pronounce-pete-buttigieg/index.html

Aaron, Austin, and Jason all come together to discuss two classically progressive ideas which are manifesting themselves again in the race to the 2020 election; establishing a national popular vote and packing the Supreme Court. Jason goes over the history of why these are terrible ideas, as well as making certain remarks about potatoes. Austin talks about how both reforms would utterly undermine any legitimate authority of the Court or the electoral process, let alone the implications that each would have for the legal system. Aaron discusses why basic social psychological principles about perceived legitimacy and decision-making make it plain that yes, these are bad ideas with potentially disastrous unforeseen consequences. 

Walter Williams on why the U.S. is a republic, not a democracy: https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/01/17/republic-not-democracy/

Economist Gary M. Galles on the why the popular vote is not election reform: https://fee.org/articles/national-popular-vote-is-not-electoral-reform/?fbclid=IwAR1usFJC6SyuZQRoltkQLpp8mY7DBKRxreTUNnViTJUwsUCSUIfhifvvv2c

Politico’s summary of the arguments made for expanding the Supreme Court: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/18/2020-democrats-supreme-court-1223625

Gary M. Galles on why packing the Supreme Court is also a bad idea: https://fee.org/articles/why-packing-the-supreme-court-is-a-bad-idea/?fbclid=IwAR3LOgmJroYHJhzgEs_thCPE3uq-u_YlVhRTIDfDQWUaZTKkmKCZU7BD-S0

George Mason Law professor, Ilya Somin, on the dangers of supreme court expansion: https://reason.com/volokh/2019/03/20/dangers-of-growing-support-for-court-pac?fbclid=IwAR3F59VMW4rHC2o6G0OTb4vpaGDqkLjMfoPQH9QXDhOFOoiirQPt2wWdDrc

What do “fun mom energy,” drinking expensive bourbon, wanting chihuahuas over golden retrievers, sheer abject terror of robots, and Starbucks have in common? The Democratic Presidential candidates, of course! From Tulsi Gabbard to Andrew Yang to Bernie (among others), Aaron and Austin are joined by their wives (and briefly, Aaron’s dog) to discuss the top 11 (in their view) Left-wing challenges to Donald Trump in the upcoming election. 

Note: Due to the challenges of recording with four people, our ambient mic was struggling a little bit, so we apologize for the sound issues. 

The FEE article on Andrew Yang and the problems of universal basic income.

"The Economics of a Toddler Combined with the Ethics of a Thug" - a critique of Bernie Sanders from George Mason economics professor Donald Boudreaux

Amy Klobuchar's response to the controversies surrounding her alleged temperament issues. 

Aaron talks with guest star Greg Rehmke, Program Director for Economic Thinking, an organization that specifically works with public speaking and debate groups from a liberty-minded perspective. Greg talks about the importance of thinking in debate terms; of figuring out and understanding the opposing presuppositions and worldviews as well as of discussing concrete policy problems rather than philosophy alone. Greg also discusses the importance of not taking a “Pollyanna” approach to our own philosophies when it comes to persuading others; if you don’t know the potential criticisms of your own position, how can you defend it? Aaron and Greg talk about the importance of being winsome in our communications; not just beating people over the head with ideology, but “presenting society with one improved person,” as the great Leonard Read, of “I, Pencil” fame, once said. 

A link to Economic Thinking’s Website.

Humanprogress.org, the website which Greg mentioned that can help us stay positive, rather than just focusing on the negatives. 

A livescience page that contains some of the sources that Aaron made reference to in this week’s episode.

A transcript of Leonard Read’s “How to advance liberty: A learning, not a selling problem,” where he elaborates on some of the ideas we discussed this week. 

In our 30th episode, Austin and Aaron tackle a double-header of topics! First, they discuss the highlights of the Cohen testimony, and why neither Austin from a legal perspective nor Aaron from a psychological one found Cohen even the slightest bit convincing. They then move on to a newly proposed law in California, drafted in response to the recent sex scandals in the Catholic Church, where Austin and Aaron amicably disagree on how and to what extent the government should be involved in trying to protect and obtain reparations for victims of sexual abuse in religious organizations. Also touched on are Austin and Aaron’s thoughts on Russian Collusion and real-life Bond villain Putin, why affairs like the Cohen testimony actually make life easier on Trump and harm those of us who’d like a chance to rationally point out and critique the insane things he does, and the problem of trying to balance keeping the government out of everyone’s business while still having it able to do the (precious few) things it is actually supposed to do in a capable manner. 

NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, there are some audio problems with this episode. Blame Aaron. 

An article from Real Clear Politics on the Cohen hearing and Republicans’ attempts to discredit him.

Some interesting quotes from the Cohen hearing that seem to make it pretty clear he’s just trying to save his own skin.

An article on our favorite person, AOC, and her attempt to “own” Trump.

Justin Amash’s takedown of Cohen.

The Federalist piece we referenced for the second topic of this episode.