Classics of Liberty

This episode features Lysander Spooner’s infamous argument that the Constitution of the United States, and thus the “social contract,” has no legal authority and, properly construed, commands no allegiance from sovereign individuals.Lysander Spooner’s No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority (written 1867-1870) was in many ways the great man’s greatest contribution to liberal thought and without a doubt the best example of his originality as a thinker. With this inaugural item, we present our listeners one of the most radical, forceful, and influential statements of libertarian anarchism in American history. This episode was written by Anthony Comegna, narrated by Caleb Brown, and produced by Mark McDaniel.

In early 1838, John L. O’Sullivan’s United States Magazine & Democratic Review published a “Full Exposition and Exemplification of ‘The Credit System,’” in the form of a satirical autobiography. In this sly and amusing commentary on the emerging American monetary system, one Ferret Snapp Newcraft describes his upbringing as a young captain of finance.  Through his youth, he travels the countryside with his swindler father, learning the methods and ideology of graft. This episode was written and narrated by Anthony Comegna and produced by Mark McDaniel.

This episode features an excerpt from Subversion for Fun and Profit, with Karl Hess and Robert Anton Wilson. Hess and Wilson are icons of libertarianism and radical individualist thinking in the 1960s and 1970s. Karl Hess was an influential figure among high-level Republicans in the early 1960s. As a speechwriter for the GOP, Hess has been credited as the author of Barry Goldwater’s most iconic line, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Over time, Hess became more radical and his close associations with the both the GOP and broader white collar society strained and ultimately dissolved. Hess became an anarchist.Robert Anton Wilson, is best known for co-authoring the popular Illuminatus! Trilogy published in 1975. Wilson and his co-author, Robert Shea, had been editors at Playboy magazine and began cataloging the letters they’d receive describing various conspiracies of governments and secret societies. Wilson has been described as “maybe” a futurist, author, lecturer, stand-up comic, guerrilla ontologist, psychedelic magician, outer head of the Illuminati, quantum psychologist, Taoist sage and Discordian pope.The wide-ranging discussion presented here took place at the 1987 nominating convention of the Libertarian Party. Written by Caleb O. Brown and produced by Mark McDaniel.

The Conscience of a Conservative was first published under the name of Senator Barry Goldwater. The book was a smashing success beyond anyone’s expectations. Over 3.5 million copies sold, and its success garnered Goldwater enough national fame to secure his party’s nomination in 1964. For decades, it has been considered an unparalleled foundational text.In the final portions of Barry Goldwater’s movement-making 1960 book, he turns his pen from domestic affairs and the philosophy of limited government to the realm of foreign affairs and the supposed “Soviet Menace.”

The Conscience of a Conservative was first published under the name of Senator Barry Goldwater. The book was a smashing success beyond anyone’s expectations. Over 3.5 million copies sold, and its success garnered Goldwater enough national fame to secure his party’s nomination in 1964. For decades, it has been considered an unparalleled foundational text.

In this episode, Caleb O. Brown reads part one of a selection from Barry Goldwater’s 1960 book The Conscience of a Conservative.The Conscience of a Conservative was fist published under the name of Senator Barry Goldwater. The book was a smashing success beyond anyone’s expectations. Over 3.5 million copies sold, and its success garnered Goldwater enough national fame to secure his party’s nomination in 1964. For decades, it has been considered an unparalleled foundational text. It begins by identifying the most important distinctions between movement conservatives and their well-meaning but misguided fellows, left and right.