Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Snarkiness

In the first ever guest-episode, guest Austin Collins joins Aaron in exploring both the legal and psychological reasons why the Kavanaugh hearings have been an unmitigated disaster for both sides of the aisle - and why neither party has ended up looking good. Austin also discusses what majors make you more likely to end up in law school, while Aaron reveals a serial-killer's little-known last words, and Godwin's law is broken by both of them.

Thomas Kirby on Memory Science and the Kavanaugh Case: https://www.weeklystandard.com/thomas-w-kirby/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-what-memory-science-can-tell-us-about-christine-fords-allegations

Bret Stephens' discussion of the case in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/opinion/blasey-kavanaugh-assault-allegations-truth.html

A brief discussion of emotional decision making: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201602/4-ways-emotions-can-screw-your-decisions

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

As the East coast struggles in the wake of yet another hurricane, Aaron and Tyler discuss a notion often brought up in the wake of such tragedies: price gouging. Tyler argues that price-gouging is a more complex economic issue than most of our cultural dialogue would suggest, even responding to some specific “hot takes” on the subject. Aaron discusses how the emotions which we feel during such tragedies can lead to bad decision making based on the over-use of heuristics. Aaron then rants about academia a little bit, before Storytime with Uncle Tyler explores a video game from Tyler’s past.

Andrew Ross Sorkin’s article on price gouging: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/11/business/hurricane-price-gouging.html

Economist Victor Claar's defense of price gouging: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2017/09/07/price-gouging/105342792/


Acton's Joe Carter on price gouging ethics: http://blog.acton.org/archives/97702-thinking-about-the-ethics-and-economics-of-price-gouging.html

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

Tyler and Aaron discuss the boycott sensation that’s sweeping the nation! Tyler questions if how politicized they are will make them less effective, while Aaron discusses the phenomenon of reactance and how it works against these boycotts’ cause. Both Aaron and Tyler riff on boycotts' social media presence for a bit, before Tyler regales us all with a thrilling tale of wisdom teeth removal, Vicodin, and Parks and Rec.

If you like what you hear, please consider leaving us a comment or a review! You can also find us on social media, or send us a message via our website!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/libertysnark

Facebook: http://facebook.com/libertysnark

Website: http://libertysnarkpodcast.com/

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

Tyler and Aaron discuss the land seizures in South Africa, including the so-called “white genocide” supposedly occurring. Tyler discusses the difficulties in having the government try to right historic wrongs, while Aaron discusses how peacemaking should be applied in moving forward in intergroup relations.

The South African Institute of Race Relations’ report: https://irr.org.za/reports/occasional-reports/files/irr-in-britain-notes-tc-11-07-18.pdf

Al Jazeera’s report on the land debate: https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2018/08/unpacking-south-africa-fraught-complex-land-debate-180830141333926.html

The New York Times’ response to the president’s tweets: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/us/politics/trump-south-africa-land.html

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

Tyler and Aaron discuss Elizabeth Warren’s “Accountable Capitalism Act,” discussing the problems associated with central planning in the private sector. Tyler explains why he doesn’t think lack of government oversight will set us back to Feudalism, while Aaron connects certain economic policies to construal level theory, and Tyler’s cat Leland makes his first cameo appearance on the show!

“Middle of the Road Policy Leads to Socialism” - www.mises.org/library/middle-road-policy-leads-socialism

An article of Aaron’s discussing construal levels in a different context - fee.org/articles/social-psychology-suggests-march-for-our-lives-is-unlikely-to-change-anything-here-s-why/

Mises’ “Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth” - mises.org/library/economic-calculation-socialist-commonwealth

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

Tyler disapproves of Aaron’s drink of the week, before raising the topic of wealth inequality and whether or not our perception of “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” is accurate. Aaron discusses group dynamics and how they influence our economic perception of others. Aaron teaches Tyler about Beyoncé, someone takes a nap on Von Mises’ desk, and Storytime with Uncle Tyler takes us into Tyler’s highschool years.

Ludwig Von Moses’ “The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality,” referenced by Tyler in the show: https://mises.org/library/anti-capitalistic-mentality

Dr. John R. Chambers' research, including his research on perception of the economy and his research on social mobility, referenced by Aaron: https://johnchambersslu.weebly.com/publications.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/libertysnark

Facebook: http://facebook.com/libertysnark

Website: http://libertysnarkpodcast.com/

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

In Episode 3, Tyler and Aaron discuss the controversy of 3-D printed guns, authoritarianism, and moral panic, while a Storytime with Uncle Tyler takes an unexpected turn.

Note: Due to atmospheric oddities (a thunderstorm) our sound quality did suffer somewhat during this episode, but we promise to have it fixed by next week!

Inrange TV on 3-D Printed Guns: http://youtube.com/watch?v=StafRn4mjj0&

Mel Brooks’ 1968 Classic, “The Producers”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNUqpl5D96w

Twitter: https://twitter.com/libertysnark

Facebook: http://facebook.com/libertysnark

Website: http://libertysnarkpodcast.com/

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

Tyler and Aaron give their respective takes on the Trade War, Tyler giving a case against protectionism and tariffs, and Aaron linking the trade war with the social psychological concept of the Culture of Honor. We also learn about Aaron’s Vegemite obsession and that neither Tyler nor Aaron is entirely sure how Senator Ben Sasse’s name is pronounced!

The Elemental Case for Free Trade: https://fee.org/articles/the-elemental-case-for-free-trade/

Bastiat’s Three City Alderman: http://bastiat.org/en/protectionism.html

Tyler’s interview with Dr. Michael Clark: http://blog.acton.org/archives/102032-radio-free-acton-discussion-on-the-morality-of-free-trade-upstream-on-the-letters-of-russell-kirk.html

Book Recommendations:

Honor Bound: How a Cultural Ideal has shaped the American Psyche, by Dr. Ryan P. Brown

Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America, by David Hackett Fisher

Culture of Honor: The Psychology of Violence in the South by Drs. Nisbett and Cohen

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message

In the first episode, Aaron Pomerantz and Tyler Groenendal talk a little bit about their political views, how government regulations can have unforeseen consequences - even on your beer! - and discuss why socialism seems to be so popular among young people today.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/libertysnark

Facebook: http://facebook.com/libertysnark

Website: http://libertysnarkpodcast.com/

For more about Bastiat, who we talked about a little bit in this episode find his classic work "The Law" as a free .pdf here! : https://fee.org/media/14951/thelaw.pdf

---

Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/libertysnark/message