The source of rights; God; Objectivism & Buddhism; public education; Israel/US/Iran & more! (4 calls)

The Dan Norton Show, 7 May 2026, Livestream #98 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0:00 Intro Updates to my thumbnail/background 7:11 Reading update: First Book of Samuel Am I pro-US/Israel/West? More about my thumbnail/background 13:37 My recent social media posts on taxation and abortion I was re-posted by the Libertarian Party 21:13 Where do rights come from? Screening a caller 31:54 Call with John about where rights come from and God (A minute or so of caller's audio is missing) Libertarians The meaning of being a rational animal Describing the nature of the subjective, intrinsic, and objective Applying this to rights The meanings of "objective" God Checking in with chat 1:27:20 Motivating the discussion of God My upbringing and views on God John's upbringing and views on God Why I don't believe in God Could God make 1+1=10? The realm of unreason Arguments for God Time, space, and the universe 1:59:52 End of call Andrew Wilson vs. Liam Stayton debate 2:10:41 Call with Mellow Mau, who wants to reconcile Buddhism with Objectivism A five-part framework Refuting idealism (the idea that everything is mental or part of a dream) Perception Does everything have a cause? Volition, conditioning, and preconditions Victim mentality, learned helplessness Model of enlightenment in Buddhism. Are there parallels in Objectivism? Hierarchy of knowledge Induction and reduction 3:56:08 End of call Engaging with chat 3:57:54 "Does the state need taxes to uphold individual rights? Should all receive equal state services regardless of how much taxes he/she paid?" (Super Chat from romanviking) 4:09:40 "Should there be any regulation of private military/security, so the state retains the practical monopoly on the legal initiation of force?" (Super Chat from romanviking) Revolution and anarchy Understanding other species modes of perception The war on drugs 4:32:23 "How would you change the judiciary system ideally?" (Super Chat from romanviking) "could we make the prison system more affordable/profitable for example? Should many sentences look different?" 4:45:40 "What percentage of societal issues could be shown to be systemic from governmental educational system versus placing the education system into into the private enterprise side of things?" 4:51:33 "Should the government finance the education needed to understand and uphold the law? Is that a legitimate function of government?" Taxes and education 5:00:37 Call with Alex from Germany on taxes and education (About seven minutes of Alex's audio was lost.) Inequality Benefits of government education, affordability of private education Effect of cutting funding for government schools overnight Costs of public/private education 5:34:50 End of call Engaging with chat History of public education Are you aware of large "philosophy" forums or discords that ban Ayn Rand? Grade inflation 5:50:04 Call with Lucas on Israel and the U.S. Why do I think Israel is good? Are all countries murderous regimes? Is the U.S.? Japanese internment Philippines colonization Native Americans Nuclear scientists in Iran, Iran history Native Americans (again) Philosophers I've read Israel -- why support or ally with it? An ethnostate? Allying with Muslim states Lucas' closing statement 6:55:58 End of call Engaging with chat My closing thoughts on the last call Zionism "What made you choose philosophy as a major and proceed to go to a phd with it?" Abortion Regime change should be the objective in Iran 7:10:35 Outro