The Tom Woods Show

In 1920 Ludwig von Mises published "Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth," an article that demolished the foundations of socialism in its original, no-private-property-in-the-means-of-production form. In this episode I explain Mises' thesis, and then show how the problems he identified in classical socialism persist to some extent under any state of any kind. Sponsor: Policy Genius Show notes for Ep. 1583

The demonization of people we disagree with has reached a level of us few of us could have conceived of a generation ago -- or indeed even five years ago. Thinking about this reminded me of several other things I think libertarians (and all people, including myself) could stand to do better. Sponsor: This election season, trust C-SPAN to give you an unfiltered look at politics and the candidates. Follow Campaign 2020 on the C-SPAN television networks, on the C-SPAN app, or online at c-span.org. Show notes for Ep. 1582

Phil Magness returns to discuss the sound and unsound aspects of the New York Times' 1619 Project. Topics include Lincoln and the colonization of the former slaves, the role of slavery in the American Revolution, and slavery's role in American prosperity. Sponsor: This election season, trust C-SPAN to give you an unfiltered look at politics and the candidates. Follow Campaign 2020 on the C-SPAN television networks, on the C-SPAN app, or online at c-span.org. Show notes for Ep. 1581

In this episode about episodes, I review nearly the past four years of the Tom Woods Show to find golden nuggets of awesomeness you may have missed. Show notes for Ep. 1580

Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center joins me to discuss what I consider the best short introduction to the real Constitution, as opposed to the one taught in law school and the New York Times. Show notes for Ep. 1579

David Ramsay Steele discusses the phenomenon of fascism, what it really was, and what's wrong with using it as a generic term of abuse. Plus: vegetarianism and animal welfare, and why economic growth doesn't have to mean the consumption of more and more resources. Sponsor: Harry's Show notes for Ep. 1578

At FreedomFest 2010, Gene Epstein and I debated Warren Coates and John Fund on whether the Federal Reserve should be abolished. Here is that debate! Show notes for Ep. 1577

Princeton University Press published my guest's book When All Else Fails, on the subject of whether and under what circumstances it is morally legitimate to resist the state with physical force. Not the kind of topic you might expect from an Ivy League university press, but Brennan makes his case persuasively and provocatively, as indeed he likewise does in today's episode. Show notes for Ep. 1576

Law professor F.H. Buckley joins me to discuss his new book American Secession, and why breaking up the United States -- or at least implementing one of his lesser proposals -- means a happier outcome for everyone. Sponsor: Blinkist Show notes for Ep. 1575

Antony Sammeroff joins me to discuss his recent Soho Forum debate, in which he argued in the negative, on the resolution: "Robotics will soon lead to widespread joblessness, underemployment, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few." Sponsor: Policy Genius Show notes for Ep. 1574

Legal scholar Mark Pulliam joins me to discuss the commonly believed myths that underlie U.S. labor law. Show notes for Ep. 1573

In this potpourri solo episode I hit on several issues. First, is it fair to draw conclusions about Bernie Sanders and his campaign on the basis of violent, pro-gulag remarks from one of his field coordinators (as recorded by Project Veritas)? Then I review a recent episode on Twitter in which libertarianism was attacked, and one libertarian group responded in the most self-defeating and grotesque way. Finally, I revisit the controversy over "deplatforming," and respond to libertarians who think they should cheer ("it's a great free-market outcome!") when dissident voices are silenced. Sponsor: Skillshare Show notes for Ep. 1572

Last week a discussion thread in my Supporting Listeners group discussed the pros and cons of traditional employment versus working for oneself, particularly online. Good points were raised all around, so I decided to continue the discussion on this episode, with my guest and me discussing the pros and cons of entrepreneurship, why the Uber version of the gig economy isn't all it's cracked up to be and what people would do much better with instead, and what the best practices are in 2020 for starting a basic but potentially lucrative eCommerce business. Live Presentation: Register at tomwoods.com/booth. Stay for the whole presentation, and (in addition to other goodies) I'll send you my Tom Woods Email Domination Program, which I normally sell for $97, for free. Show notes for Ep. 1571

Mark Skousen, an author and college professor whose investment newsletter Forecasts & Strategies is celebrating its 40th year, joins me to discuss what he saw at the recent American Economic Association meeting, including some 41 sessions on gender bias and sex discrimination, along with discussion (and criticism) of Modern Monetary Theory. Ben Bernanke told the audience the Fed needed to raise its inflation target. We discuss this and a whole lot more in today's episode. Show notes for Ep. 1570

The Betrayal of the American Right is a book that appeared more than a decade after the death of its author, Murray N. Rothbard, known in his lifetime as "Mr. Libertarian." I had the privilege of writing the introduction to the book when it was finally released, after having circulated throughout liberty circles for many years in unpublished form. Here is the closest thing we will ever get to a Rothbard memoir, and there's plenty of history of libertarianism and conservatism in here, too. Show notes for Ep. 1569

The strike that took out Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was cheered by a great many Americans, including some who ordinarily speak out against the U.S. government's foreign interventions. If this wasn't a righteous killing, what would be? Scott Horton joins me for perspective. Sponsor: Save yourself the time and hassle of going to the Post Office, and get discounts on postage, with Stamps.com. Get a four-week free trial plus free postage and a digital scale when you go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top right of the screen, and type code WOODS. Show notes for Ep. 1568

Jeff and I talk about a much-discussed recent article by George Mason University's Tyler Cowen, which finds merit in the market system but insists we recognize and appreciate the value of the state. Well, we ain't doing it. Show notes for Ep. 1567

Jeff Deist and I discuss the Trump phenomenon, the U.S. political establishment, and what a post-Trump Republican Party will look like. Sponsor: Blinkist Show notes for Ep. 1566

When people have radically incompatible worldviews, is it sensible or humane to try to govern them all according to the same set of rules? Yet neither progressives nor conservatives stop to consider decentralization, the only approach that can possibly work. They're too busy jamming round holes into square pegs. Jeff Deist and I discuss the decentralist alternative. Sponsor: Skillshare Show notes for Ep. 1565

Jeff Deist week continues with this discussion of the fundamentals of libertarianism, and how it's been transformed into a bizarre mutation of its former self. Sponsor: Policy Genius Show notes for Ep. 1564