Property Rights as the Foundation of Freedom and the College Cost Crisis

On January 25, 2024, Bob Zimmer, Mike Triem, Rick Rome, Marshall Dawson, Dave Walden, Greg Morrissey, Terri Goon, Carol Baker, Bill Federer, and Becky Hawkins joined the show. Facilitated Liberty Toastmasters Day from the studio, connecting property rights to the founding principles and the Leadership Program of the Rockies Examined the college cost crisis from the perspective of a middle-class parent, questioning whether higher education delivers value and highlighting alternatives like trade schools and high school college credit. Property Rights and the American Founding Start listening at 21:37 – Hour 1 Bob Zimmer, president of Liberty Toastmasters North, anchors the first hour from the studio as nine Toastmasters members call in to share their perspectives on property rights. The discussion draws heavily from the Declaration of Independence, with Kim highlighting King George’s “swarms of officers” sent to “harass our people and eat out their substance,” a phrase she connects to the Biden administration’s expansion of IRS agents. Zimmer frames the importance of property rights by noting that those who wish to erode freedom understand that attacking property rights is the most effective strategy. “If they want to take away our freedom, that’s the best way to do it,” he observes. The Liberty Toastmasters organization, founded on principles emerging from the Leadership Program of the Rockies, trains members not just to speak effectively but to persuade others on matters of liberty. The callers bring diverse perspectives to the property rights theme. Rick Rome distinguishes between intellectual property, corporal property, and physical property, tracing threats to each from federal overreach. Marshall Dawson argues that property exists on a spectrum from “unencumbered agency of oneself” to slavery, and that taxation represents a claim on that spectrum. Dave Walden connects property to time, arguing that possessions represent portions of one’s life spent creating or trading for them. “The Liberty Toastmasters is founded on the principles of liberty, of our founding. And it’s based on some of the themes that come out of Leadership Program of the Rockies.” Bob Zimmer, President, Liberty Toastmasters North The Question of Whether College Is Still Worth It Start listening at 72:08 – Hour 2 Mike Triem, Western Regional Manager for Crawford Broadcasting, brings firsthand experience navigating the college system with his own children. Triem argues that for middle-class families, the current higher education model has become something of a racket, with costs that far outpace the value delivered. Triem points to emerging alternatives that could reduce the burden: high school programs allowing students to earn up to two years of college credit before graduation, and the growing recognition that trade schools offer better returns for many students. He notes that Colorado Christian University works diligently to connect students with employment, often before graduation. The key, he emphasizes, is doing due diligence rather than blindly trusting the system. Kim adds historical context, revealing that Al Yates, president of Colorado State University from 1990 to 2003, helped connect the “Gang of Four” donors who funded the Colorado Democracy Alliance and flipped the state’s politics. She argues that the indoctrination embedded in higher education represents another threat to the values families work to instill in their children. “Well, I think they should know that it is in some ways a racket. that they’re, especially if you’re in the middle class, it’s y...