In this broadcast, R.J. Rushdoony, with Dan Harris and James Flanagan, explores the U.S. economy, financial markets, and speculation trends in 1986. They begin by discussing high-profile cases, such as the Hunt brothers’ legal battles with banks, highlighting what they describe as the “cannibalization” of strong companies by lenders and the broader economy. The conversation emphasizes the shift of capital from productive enterprises to government bonds, commodities, and speculative instruments, reflecting investor preferences for security or high returns over entrepreneurial risk. Harris and Flanagan stress that market prices and charts, not media reports or statistics, are the most reliable indicators of underlying economic trends, with historical cycles—such as the 50- and 60-year patterns in silver and bond markets—providing valuable predictive insights.

The discussion also delves into the evolution of trading, the psychology of investment, and the importance of discipline and strategy. They note the proliferation of options and financial instruments that allow speculation without ownership of the underlying asset, distinguishing between speculation and gambling while stressing the necessity of proper methods and long-term perspective. Flanagan and Harris explain the role of speculation in stabilizing commodity prices historically and caution that modern trading, though potentially highly profitable, carries extraordinary risk and volatility. They conclude by highlighting the profound effect of market movements on daily life and charitable giving, illustrating the interconnectedness of economic forces, market cycles, and societal well-being.

In this broadcast, R.J. Rushdoony and Otto Scott discuss the geopolitical and economic crisis in South Africa in the mid-1980s. They emphasize that external pressures, particularly Western sanctions and disinvestment campaigns, threaten to destabilize the country, creating suffering for both white and black South Africans. Scott highlights the strategic importance of South African minerals to Western defense and industry, warning that mismanagement or aggressive sanctions could strengthen the Soviet Union’s global position. The discussion also addresses the role of American “alienated intellectuals” and liberal activism, which, according to the speakers, impose ideological agendas without understanding local realities, undermining U.S. interests while exacerbating crises abroad.

Rushdoony and Scott further contrast South Africa’s deeply Christian societal foundations with the liberal and secular humanist outlooks prevalent in the West. They argue that the media selectively portrays violence to advance ideological narratives while ignoring context and broader atrocities, creating skewed public perception. Both stress that faith, courage, and a realistic understanding of foreign cultures are essential for responding to complex international issues. Despite the grim outlook, Scott maintains a cautious optimism, noting that unexpected change is always possible and encouraging the Christian community to act faithfully and courageously."

R.J. Rushdoony examines the impact of sin on political leadership through the life of Oliver Cromwell. Thrust into a crisis between King Charles I, Parliament, and the people, Cromwell discovered that human sin undermines all institutions: the king was untrustworthy, Parliament petty and factional, the people utopian and irrational, and even the army divided. Forced to rule alone, Cromwell’s experience illustrates that constitutions, laws, and political systems cannot overcome the moral failings of man. His efforts, however, dismantled autocracy and paved the way for constitutional change in England, indirectly influencing the American Revolution.

Rushdoony expands the discussion to modern society, emphasizing the moral and cultural decay caused by indulgent childrearing, the destruction of family and agriculture, and the influence of elite, anti-Christian intellectual networks. Education and socialization divorced from Biblical principles produce individuals incapable of coping with reality and frustration. Drawing on examples from the Amish and Hutterite communities, he contrasts a faith-centered worldview that sustains resilience and hope with the secular humanism that dominates education, law, and politics today. Ultimately, Rushdoony argues that society’s stability and progress depend on obedience to God’s law and the cultivation of moral and spiritual virtue.

Romantic Movement; Thomas Chatterton; Education; Bad Historiography; Mature Criticism; Supreme Court Cases; Cindy Rocker; St. Vincent de Paul Society; Salvation Army; Privatization; Effects of Homosexuality; English Countryside; Murderers; Anne Hutchinson; Sir John Bowring; Water Supply; Rutherford Institute

Financial Fiascoes; India; American Hostage; Prisons; Women; Margaret of Castello; J. Paul Getty; American Frontier; Soviet Union; Philosophy; Poetry Reading

Oil Industry

Economy; Church and State Issues

Home Schooling

Public Education and Its Four Risks

Education and Idolatry