Mark Mitchell on Plutocratic Socialism

Mark Mitchell, author of Plutocratic Socialism: The Future of Private Property and the Fate of the Middle Class and President of Front Porch Republic, joins the podcast. Mitchell and Murdock discuss the origins of FPR and the importance of widely-held productive private property in an era when the super rich and socialists have formed an odd partnership. Host: John Murdock Guest: Mark Mitchell Highlights 1:30 Mark Mitchell, happy at home chopping wood 5:00 FPR, the early days 9:00 How not to change the world 12:00 The messy remainder of reality 13:00 From Richard Weaver to “You’ll Own Nothing and You’ll be Happy” 19:30 Gnostic temptations v. the Incarnation 23:00 The odd couple: plutocracy and socialism 31:30 The not so odd couple: productive property and democratic citizenship 36:00 The myth of maximal emancipation 39:00 Tocqueville’s aristocratic fears 45:00 Prospects for property in a time of chronic crisis 52:45 Friendly pushback on COVID and climate (with a cameo by Roger Scruton) 60:00 If they are for it, we’re against it 64:00 Loving our neighbor to counter a nationalized focus Resources Buy the book Mitchell’s bio at FPR An excerpt from Plutocratic Socialism Wendell Kimbrough helps us find our way home