While most of us know George Orwell as an authoritative critic of totalitarianism, few people know he was a committed socialist and a lifelong defender of communist Leon Trotsky. While he understood totalitarianism, he never understood socialism.

If you thought federal deficits and spending would go back to normal after the covid panic, you were wrong. If anything, deficits are now on track to be bigger than the covid years.

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The US went from tariffs being the major source of federal government revenue to what we have today under the income tax and payroll taxes. The time scope is from 1789 to the Great Depression. In 1790, 99.9% of federal government revenue is generated by tariffs—the first year we operate under the Constitution. In 1860, still 94% of total fed government revenue is generated by tariffs. Only the War Between the States changes this and we get our first federal income tax.

Presented as part of the Mises Institute’s Brown Bag Seminar series on May 19, 2005 in Auburn, Alabama.

Using the heavily marketed movie "Wicked" as his news hook, Bob explains that the beloved Wizard of Oz movie involved an allegory of the bimetallism debates of the late 1800s, including William Jennings Bryan's famous "Cross of Gold" speech. Bob fills in the details about the Wizard of Oz lore, and then explains the economics of bimetallism in the United States.

Bob's Book, Understanding Money Mechanics: https://Mises.org/HAP478a

The Wikipedia Article on the Political Interpretations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: https://Mises.org/HAP478b

The Wikipedia Article on the Wicked Novel: https://Mises.org/HAP478c

Mises Institute President Tom DiLorenzo joins Ryan McMaken to look at the many ways that the taxes, known as “tariffs,” destroy wealth and empower the state.

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Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard: https://mises.org/Anatomy

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Progressives are openly cheering the murder of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. However, it was progressive legislation that created this healthcare crisis in the first place.

Read the article here: https://mises.org/mises-wire/progressivism-and-murder-health-insurance-ceo

Be sure to follow the Guns and Butter podcast at https://Mises.org/GB

Not all news from the gold and monetary fronts is bad. In fact, gold made a number of advancements in seven states, including exemptions from taxes and attempts by states to restrict Federal Reserve behavior. Gold is alive and well.

Narrated by Millian Quinteros.

Employing the Labor Theory of Value, Marx claimed that entrepreneurial profits arise from exploitation of workers. In reality, entrepreneurs earn profits when they correctly gauge markets. Exploitation has nothing to do with it.

Narrated by Millian Quinteros.

Progressives blame the free market for insulin prices and want to impose price controls. But, government regulation is to blame.

Narrated by Millian Quinteros.

The watchword among progressives this election season is: “Nothing less than our democracy is at stake.” In truth, democracy itself is not in danger, but one can accurately say that “democracy,” as practiced in the US, endangers our lives.

Narrated by Millian Quinteros.