Politics & Culture (Show 079)

First, a few updates on talkObjectivism: After being a regular guest on the talkObjectivism podcast for so long, Arthur is now going to be the co-host. His contributions are greatly appreciated.

Also, Mosley recently updated the website to the latest version of WordPress, which should help with some of the previous issues we were having, and Brandon will now be writing the show notes regularly, in a different format.

For those wondering what happened to last week’s show, Show 078, there was no show because the TalkShoe service was unavailable at the time.

Now for the show notes: The topic of Show 079 stems from the recent “bail-out bill” that passed in Congress, leading Mosley and Arthur to discuss today’s politics and culture, and its outlook for the future.

Topics include: Democrats blame today’s economic problems on the free-market, calling for more regulation; Republicans fail to defend the free-market and conceed that “greed” is evil; “capitalism” and “the free-market” as just buzz-words to Republicans; what Republicans stand for: religiosity; Republicans offer the wrong values, whereas the Democrats offer none; is it best to vote for the Democrats? Republicans? anyone at all?; the real battleground: the dominant cultural ideas, not immediate political gains; Obama as anti-American and his potential effect on the culture; the process and progress of cultural change.

Labor Unions & Free Markets (Show 075)

These notes were written by a listener, Steve, who is a member of the talkObjectivism Facebook group.

Is there something wrong with labor unions? Mosley questions the source of his dislike for unions: Maybe people have a right to collaborate in order to fight for their needs, higher wages, etc.

When unions are in private companies, there is a ceiling to claims that unions can make. When the company can no longer make a profit, the union can’t keep demanding raises and benefits. (The current GM troubles are a good example of this). When unions are in government industries, there is no ceiling to the costs of demands, because the government (therefore the taxpayer) has an essentially bottomless pocket.

One example of unions and related government/labor issues is the minimum wage. We discussed the alleged benefits of government mandated wages. While some claim these mandates benefit “the poor,” in fact they only benefit those who are already employed at some level above the minimum wage. When minimum wage levels are increased, the pool of capital available for labor has to be distributed among fewer people. This means people get laid-off, or at least not hired. Historically, every time the minimum wage has been increased, unemployment has gone up. Since the minimum wage keeps the unemployed from entering at the bottom of the economic ladder, it keeps unskilled laborers (who are willing to work for less) from competing with the more experienced, higher paid workers.

A coalition of “bootleggers and Baptists” is formed. Those who honestly believe (however misguided) that wage increases benefit people are joined by the labor union elders who have a stake in protecting themselves from competition.

Mosley goes on to explain the background of the Pittsburgh public port authority system, and rumors of a private system coming along. Steve calls in with the story of the Trans-Santiago bus system as told by Professor Mike Munger of Duke University, on the EconTalk podcast put out weekly by the Library of Economics and Liberty. The Chilean government municipalized what was once an open market of over 300 private bus companies. The bus market used to run in the black, about a $60 million dollar per year industry. After outlawing private buses and municipalizing the service, the government bus system is now about $600 million in the red.

Arthur calls in to remind that in weighing any two “imperfect systems” there is a difference between a government system and a private system. Government systems tend to be stagnant, and can only be as good as the committee that engineers it. In a public system, the goods and services offered improve through a constant process of trying to satisfy the consumer. Arthur also points out that all goods have to be produced by someone, even when they are paid for by the government (the taxpayer). The government doesn’t produce – it can only redistribute the funds of those who do.

Shows 069 & 070

OCON ‘08 & Trip to Israel (Show 069)
This week Arthur returns and relays his experiences from the 2008 Objectivist Conference (OCON), as well as from his recent trip to Israel. He tells us that OCON’s theme this year was cultural change and included various lectures on this as well as other topics. After reviewing some of these lectures, Arthur explains the basic structure of OCON: there is a general session and a number of optional courses that can also be taken. This year there were various special events such as the opening and closing banquet, the State of ARI presentation, Independence Day celebration, and dance workshop. The largest donation to ARI made in history was also made at the Conference! It’s a great time and you get to meet other people who share some similar values. Next year it will be in Boston, MA. Be sure to try and make it!

Arthur then discusses some interesting things about his trip to Israel: the flight security, a bomb scare, his visit to the city of Petra, and someone who he met that shared some of his views on foreign policy. Check it out!

Ideas Behind the Dark Knight & Other Movies (Show 070)
This show consisted of a philosophic look at the ideas behind the Dark Knight and other movies. Warning: there are potential spoilers.

Mosley and Arthur discuss how the Dark Knight was an enjoyable movie, but like most, if not all movies today, it has philosophical flaws. I won’t try to rehash the arguments here, but there are various points made regarding what the good ideas and bad ideas are in the movie. It’s definitely worth checking out.

There is also a discussion on an Atlas Shrugged movie, as well as other topics, such as how our enjoyment from movies is not a meaningless and mindless self-indulgence that has no relation to life, but rather a reflection our values.

Iran & Foreign Policy (Show 068)

For this show, Mosley reads and discusses an ARI op-ed, With or Without Nukes, Iran Is a Moral Threat by Elan Journo. It argues that “if the mullahs got a nuke, Iran would not suddenly undergo a Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation from a friendly neighbor into a rabid enemy. Iran long ago proved itself a threat that must be stopped; a nuclear arsenal would only make it a far worse threat.” Mosley then expresses his views, how he doesn’t necessarily agree, and has a conversation with the members of the chat room on their views as well.

Arthur should be returning next week. The show will either consist of a discussion with Arthur on the recent OCON (and maybe his trip to Israel) and/or a discussion on the anti-smoking political movement.

Independence Day (Show 067)

This show focuses on the significance of Independence Day, July 4th, which was just a few days ago. Mosley reads an excellent op-ed by ARI’s Dr. Michael S. Berliner, Put the “Independence” Back in Independence Day (which can also be viewed as a video narrated by Dr. Berliner himself). Afterward, he discusses the op-ed and gives his own observations and views on the topic of Independence Day. He explains how the Day has lost its much of its meaning to many of us today. Instead of “Independence Day” it is often just called “the Fourth of July,” while forgetting what it stands for — which is not fireworks and cookouts — but of “the moral right of an individual to live his own life as he sees fit.”