The Lessons So Far, Pt 2

If you haven’t listened to the Liberty Relearned podcast in a while, I really hope you’ll listen to this one and the last. All of the major topics I’ve discussed since the inception of the podcast will be covered in a planned multi-part series. I’d like to think that the ideas I talk about are of value to the listener. I deeply value the opinions of my readers and listeners so I encourage you to share your thoughts on this episode. Your feedback is the primary way I know to make the necessary improvements and adjustments, plus I want people to feel free to add their own thoughts to what I say — Thanks. J.P. Mac. Fiscal responsibility as a conservative value. American conservatism may differ from that of other countries, but ideas of fiscal conservatism are the same everywhere. All federal spending in the U.S. currently is deficit spending. It is funded by either: Selling debt, usually to foreign countries like China, giving them leverage over our economy. Printing money. This causes inflation. A fiscally responsible nation gets to choose its destiny, fiscally irresponsible nations end up at the mercy of other nations, or simply disappear. American exceptionalism is real. The achievements of America are unparalleled in human history and are not to be dismissed lightly Building the Panama Canal, sending men to the moon, heck we even sent cars into space! Pax Americana. You would trust some other nation with superpower status? When America prospers the world is safer and also prospers. American ingenuity, sparked by capitalism and the free market is responsible for many of the modern conveniences we take for granted. Morality is necessary and matters. Is very poorly taught, even by the religious experts whose job it is to teach morality. Is dualistic in nature. Morality is supported by the twin pillars of life and liberty (free will) For believers, God's greatest gifts to mankind were life and free will. Everything starts with life, and its edification Free will is what sets humans apart not just from the animals, but the angels. Even in a secular ethos, such as Ayn Rand's Objectivism, life and free will are keys to moral behavior, and neither should be sought without consideration for the other Exercising free will at the expense of life is unethical, but so so is pursuing life at the expense of free will. Pursuing rational self-interest does not mean never sacrificing for others, it means sacrificing for others must bring us happiness because of our love for those we sacrifice for.