I've seen too many "libertarians" lately against price gouging, so let's talk about the economics and ethics of price gouging. This is episode forty-nine of The LAVA Spurt, The Economics of Price Gouging.

The Economics of Price Gouging - TLS049

Channeling the flow of information to the LAVA (Libertarian, Anarcho-capitalist, Voluntaryist, Agorist) Community. If you want more meat and less fluff in your libertarian podcast, this is the show for you. We talk libertarian philosophy, news from a libertarian perspective, and other topics is a short, punchy way to ensure your time is not wasted on hearing what my dogs are up to this week. I get in, give you the information you want and need, then I get out and leave you alone!

News & Politics

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

I give you the final 10 of the 20 reasons not to vote. Do you agree with all of these?  What's in the News with stories on cop stuns grandmother three times, cop sexually assaults two children, Assange blocked from seeing evidence, Manning being tortured, Illinois pardons 11,000 people for cannabis, private police service mounts private prosecutions department in the UK. And, an Ask Me Anything where I answer your questions on what is most likely in a list of improbable items, private DNA databases, and what did I accomplish in 2019 and what do I hope to accomplish in 2020.  This episode is brought to you by Health Excellence Plus, a health share that has saved my family thousands of dollars, and can save you money too. Also, brought to you by ForkFest, the annual decentralized libertarian camping event that happens around PorcFest, with no tickets and no one in charge. Also, brought to you by all of my dozens of supporters.  WHAT’S RUSTLING MY JIMMIES One question I get asked a lot in relation to this show is why I don't vote. I have answered it in many ways at various times over the last couple of years of this show, and I took a deep dive into voting on the Essential Libertarianism podcast as well. But, a great article came across my monitors recently from the website "The Art of Not Being Governed." The article is titled "20 Reasons Not to Vote" and I agree with most of these reasons, so I wanted to share this with you. I will, of course, add my commentary, because you know I can't keep my mouth shut. This is the last 10 of the 20 reasons not to vote. I did the first 10 a couple of weeks ago in episode 149. You can listen to that at thelavaflow.com/149. So, let's jump into the rest of this list. WHAT'S IN THE NEWS In bad boys news. in Florida, cops used a stun gun on a 70-year-old grandmother three times on her 70th birthday. In more bad boys news, the assistant police chief in Porum, Arizona has been charged with two counts of child sex abuse.  In not all heroes wear capes news, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been blocked from seeing key evidence from US authorities who want to extradite him for leaking sensitive military data.  In more not all heroes wear capes news, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer shared on social media Tuesday a letter he sent to the United States government last month expressing concerns that the continued detention of whistleblower Chelsea Manning amounts to torture.  In some good news, Illinois' governor granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions, describing the step as the first wave of thousands of such expungements anticipated under the state's new marijuana legalization law. In it can be done news, a private police service is mounting the UK’s first private prosecutions for theft and other “minor” crimes because it claims the police have “given up” taking them to court. ASK ME ANYTHING I answer your questions on what is most likely in a list of improbable items, private DNA databases, and what did I accomplish in 2019 and what do I hope to accomplish in 2020.  

Reasons Not to Vote Part 2 - TLF150

 The government is coming for your encryption. I say come and take it! They can't stop us all. What's in the News with stories on New Hampshire trying to stop asset forfeiture, beer banned in 15 states, cop arrested for rape and assault, cop arresting people for no crime, VA staff stealing millions, and Second Amendment sanctuary in Virginia. Also, an Ask Me Anything where I answer your questions on free cities, defensive voting, omelets, Star Wars characters, and LP Presidential nominations.   This episode is brought to you by Health Excellence Plus, a health share that has saved my family thousands of dollars, and can save you money too. Also, brought to you by ForkFest, the annual decentralized libertarian camping event that happens around PorcFest, with no tickets and no one in charge. Also, brought to you by all of my dozens of supporters.  WHAT’S RUSTLING MY JIMMIES   To hell with freedom of speech, your rulers are telling you. They are saying it so vociferously that they are still coming after one way that you can 100% ensure your freedom of speech. They are still after your encryption, and it is heating up.   WHAT'S IN THE NEWS    In New Hampshire, it's like this too news, a bill prefiled in the New Hampshire House would close a loophole allowing state and local police to circumvent more stringent state asset forfeiture laws by passing cases off to the feds.  In nanny state news, Sam Adams released a new beer this past Halloween called Utopias, but it was banned in 15 states due to the drink's high level of alcohol. In bad boys news, Baltimore County Police have arrested and charged one of their own officers with multiple counts of rape and assault. In more bad boys news, one Phoenix, Arizona police officer, a certified expert in detecting impaired driving, has arrested nine people for DUI who were under the legal limit or had no detectable alcohol or drugs in their systems. In government healthcare news, at least 15 Department of Veterans Affairs employees and vendors in Florida were engaged in an "elaborate" fraud scheme that cost the government "millions" since 2009, two government agencies announced in a joint press conference Wednesday. In some good cops under fire news, Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill say local police who do not enforce gun control measures likely to pass in Virginia should face prosecution and even threats of the National Guard. ASK ME ANYTHING I answer your questions on free cities, defensive voting, omelets, Star Wars characters, and LP Presidential nominations. 

Right to Encryption - TLF148

 Two stories of people fighting back against taxes came across my monitors. What happened to them? What's in the News with stories on being nice to cops, cops murder man in Dallas, cops targeting Black and Hispanic people in Brooklyn, 8-year-old girl strip-searched, photos at customs, and CDC sparking a false panic. And, an Ask Me Anything on Chinese food, designing a cryptocurrency, what would I tell myself 20 years ago, occupational licensing, and wildlife conservation.   This episode is brought to you by Health Excellence Plus, a health share that has saved my family thousands of dollars, and can save you money too. Also, brought to you by ForkFest, the annual decentralized libertarian camping event that happens around PorcFest, with no tickets and no one in charge. Also, brought to you by all of my dozens of supporters.  WHAT’S RUSTLING MY JIMMIES   Taxes. We all hate them. Those of us who pay them only do so under threat of kidnapping or death. Oh, and taxation is theft.   Well, not only libertarians hate taxes apparently. Many of your average citizens are sick and fucking tired of being robbed at gunpoint by perceived authorities. Two stories came across my monitors this week that point to that exact thing. Average folks telling the government to GTFO. A Gilmanton, New Hampshire man has filed suit against the town claiming he should not be forced to pay the school portion of his municipal tax bill because he has no children enrolled. New Hampshire. It's Like This Too! On Nov. 5, the people of Amelia did the unimaginable to make that happen -- voting 843-479 to entirely dissolve the 117-year-old village and its government.  WHAT'S IN THE NEWS    In bad boys news, Attorney General William Barr says police might stop protecting us if we aren't nicer to them.  In more bad boys news, Dallas police officer killed a man by pinning his shoulders, knees, and neck to the ground while he yelled, “You’re gonna kill me! You’re gonna kill me! You’re gonna kill me!” In even more bad boys news, multiple police officers in Brooklyn say they were told by a commander that white and Asian people should be left alone and that they should target black and Hispanic people. In do it for the children news, an 8-year-old girl was stripped naked and searched by Virginia Department of Corrections staff after she was led to believe refusal would result in not being allowed to see her father. In homeland insecurity news, the Trump administration intends to propose a regulation next year that would require all travelers - including U.S. citizens - to be photographed when entering or leaving the United States, according to the administration's regulatory agenda. In never trust the government news, the CDC botched its vaping investigation and helped spark a national panic. Instead of conducting a reasonable investigation and giving consumers useful advice, the CDC has been deliberately ambiguous. ASK ME ANYTHING I answer your questions on Chinese food, designing a cryptocurrency, what would I tell myself 20 years ago, occupational licensing, and wildlife conservation.  

Taxation IS Theft - TLF147

We know the government wastes money, but what was some of the most ridiculous wasted spending this year? Whaat's in the News with stories on murder by cop, cops brag about legal hemp bust, three death row men exonerated, state won't test DNA for dead death row inmate, proposed law will stop kids from defending themselves with guns, and a man charged with theft for taking cops GPS tracker off his car. And, an Ask Me Anything where I answer your questions on the worst book, F Marry Kill Marc Clair, Johnny Rocket, Chris Spangle, favorite Thanksgiving dishes, impeachment, documentaries, public school, and homesteading.  WHAT’S RUSTLING MY JIMMIES   Love him or hate him, and frankly, depending on the day, I can do both, but Rand Paul always kills it with his yearly "Waste Report." This year is no different. He brought to light a ton of new wasteful spending, and it is too rich and juicy to pass up. As always, Paul goes into detail on all of these topics in his Waste Report. It is good reading.  WHAT'S IN THE NEWS    In bad boys news, a federal indictment says the deadly Houston drug raid was based on lies from start to finish. In more bad boys news, the NYPD bragged about a big pot bust on social media. Turns our it seized 106 pounds of legal hemp. In innocence news, after 36 years in prison for the Georgetown Jacket murders, three men are exonerated at last.  In related news, a Tennessee court is refusing to test DNA evidence that could exonerate a man the state already executed.  In do it for the children news, a Virginia bill proposes a law that outlaws minors using guns to fend off home invaders. In what the actual f*** news, cops put a GPS tracker on a man's car, then charge him with theft after he found it and removed it. ASK ME ANYTHING I answer your questions on the worst book, F Marry Kill Marc Clair, Johnny Rocket, Chris Spangle, favorite Thanksgiving dishes, impeachment, documentaries, public school, and homesteading.   

Wasteful Spending 2019 - TLF146

 How can you remove government influence from your life? Find out in this episode. What's in the News with stories on a politician in the trash, police accessing DNA databases, cop attacks a quadruple amputee, Georgia executes a man without looking at all the evidence, Trump vape ban on hold, Massachusetts vape ban forfeiture, and annoying a cop now illegal. Finally, an Ask Me Anything segment where I answer your questions on the difference in state and government, doing anarchist things, was Marvin Heemeyer justified in his actions, would I vote for secession, and how to build up agorist communities.   This episode is brought to you by Health Excellence Plus, a health share that has saved my family thousands of dollars, and can save you money too. Also, brought to you by ForkFest, the annual decentralized libertarian camping event that happens around PorcFest, with no tickets and no one in charge. Also, brought to you by all of my dozens of supporters.  WHAT’S RUSTLING MY JIMMIES   I get asked all the time how to remove as much government from your lives as possible. As a matter of fact, in the Ask Me Anything segment this week, there is just such a question. Make sure to hand around towards the end of this episode to hear that one.  One thing I always say when asked that question is to reduce your need to use government products and services. The biggest one that fits this category is to reduce your use of Federal Reserve Notes and other government fiat money. This brings me to an article I've hung on to for a couple of months. It's not dated information and it's something I knew I would want to talk about. What better time to do it than now!    The article comes from Roger Ver's news.bitcoin.com site and is titled "Bitcoin Is a Viable Way to Remove the State From Your Life." Hell yeah! That's a title I can get behind! And, I agree with the sentiment 100%. WHAT'S IN THE NEWS    In how to treat politicians news, Vitaly Zhuravsky, a member of the Economic Development Party, in Kiev, Ukraine, is full of rubbish today, as an angry mob tossed the neatly dresses lawmaker into a trash can, dousing him with water and throwing more trash on top of him. In judicial misconduct news, with just a single warrant, a Florida detective obtained access to the DNA profiles of more than a million people — and experts say the case sets a dangerous precedent. In bad boys news, an Arizona Deputy pinned a quadruple amputee to the ground and then arrested the teen who filmed it. In legal murder news, a man has been executed in the US state of Georgia despite a request from his lawyers for DNA evidence which they claimed would clear him of murder. In some good news, under pressure from his political advisers and lobbyists to factor in the potential pushback from his supporters, Trump has resisted moving forward with any action on vaping, while saying he still wants to study the issue. In related news, The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a bill that would ban flavored e-cigarettes, impose a 75 percent excise tax on "electronic nicotine delivery systems" (including e-liquids as well as devices), and authorize forfeiture of cars driven by vapers caught with "untaxed" products. In immoral laws news, the act of annoying a police officer could become a crime in a New York county. ASK ME ANYTHING I answer your questions on the difference in state and government, doing anarchist things, was Marvin Heemeyer justified in his actions, would I vote for secession, and how to build up agorist communities. 

The Economics of Price Gouging - TLS049

Download our free app to listen on your phone