Liberty Report Classic: Against The Left Authoritarians -- With Lew Rockwell

Summary

In the Liberty Report, Lou Rockwell discusses his new book 'Against the Left,' which critiques leftist ideologies and their historical violence, contrasting them with the non-violent principles of liberty. Rockwell emphasizes the importance of traditional families, individualism, and the dangers of egalitarianism. He also touches on the influence of the left in education and politics, including figures like Bernie Sanders, and the potential for increased violence from leftist groups like Antifa. The conversation highlights the role of the Mises Institute in spreading libertarian ideas and the significance of voluntary cooperation in society.

Takeaways

• 📚 Lou Rockwell's new book, 'Against the Left', is available on L rockwell.com and discusses the cultural ideas of Mises and Rothbard, emphasizing the importance of traditional families and opposition to egalitarianism.
• 🏛️ Both Mises and Rothbard were proponents of traditional families, contrasting with the left's historical animosity towards them, as exemplified by Marx's desire to abolish the family unit.
• 🌎 The left's pursuit of egalitarianism is critiqued as not only impossible but also as a pretext for justifying their actions, which have historically been more violent and oppressive than those of the right.
• 🔥 The conversation highlights the left's role in promoting violence, referencing the 20th-century atrocities committed by communist and national socialist regimes, which were far more deadly than those of Genghis Khan.
• 🇫🇷 The French Revolution is pointed out as a significant event in spreading leftist ideas and is characterized as extremely violent, setting a precedent for the left's propensity for bloodshed.
• 🤝 The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding the left as an enemy of liberty and the need to counter their promotion of the state, which is seen as the ultimate enemy.
• 🎓 The role of the Mises Institute in educating people on liberty and free-market principles is acknowledged, with a recognition of its global reach and influence in shaping minds against state control.
• 🏫 The presence of libertarians in state universities is seen as a positive development, as it allows them to influence others and counter the dominance of leftist ideologies in academic institutions.
• 🔍 The conversation touches on the potential for violence in the current political climate, with a concern that the left's endorsement of authoritarian principles could lead to civil unrest or even a coup.
• 🔒 The discussion concludes with a call for individuals to take responsibility for their own defense and well-being, emphasizing the importance of property rights and the potential of voluntary cooperation in fostering peace and prosperity.

Q & A

What is the title of Lou Rockwell's latest book mentioned in the transcript?

The title of Lou Rockwell's latest book is 'Against the Left'.

Who wrote the introduction for Lou Rockwell's book 'Against the Left'?

Hans Hermann Hoppe wrote the introduction for 'Against the Left'.

What cultural ideas of Mises and Rothbard does Lou Rockwell discuss in his book?

Lou Rockwell discusses the ideas of traditional families, egalitarianism, and the left's historical violence in his book.

How does Lou Rockwell view the left's approach to equality?

Lou Rockwell views the left's approach to equality as impossible to achieve, which gives them a blank check to do whatever they want.

What historical events does Lou Rockwell mention as examples of the left's violence?

Lou Rockwell mentions the French Revolution, communism, and national socialism as examples of the left's violence.

What is the name of Lou Rockwell's previous book discussed in the transcript?

Lou Rockwell's previous book is called 'Against the State'.

How does Lou Rockwell perceive the role of the Mises Institute in spreading libertarian ideas?

Lou Rockwell believes the Mises Institute plays a significant role in educating people about liberty and free market ideas.

What is the significance of the 20th anniversary of Rockwell.com mentioned in the transcript?

The 20th anniversary of Rockwell.com signifies the longevity and impact of the platform in directing political discussions and current events.

What does Lou Rockwell think about the potential for violence from the left in the current political climate?

Lou Rockwell expresses concern that the left is capable of committing more violence and that conditions could lead to a civil war.

How does Lou Rockwell view the role of government agencies in terms of armament?

Lou Rockwell questions the need for government agencies like the Social Security Administration to be heavily armed, suggesting it could be used against the people.

What is Lou Rockwell's stance on the importance of property rights in defending liberties?

Lou Rockwell emphasizes the importance of property rights as a fundamental aspect of liberty and a means to defend against authoritarianism.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to 'Against the Left'

The conversation begins with a warm welcome to Lou Rockwell, a guest on the Liberty Report, who has recently published a book titled 'Against the Left'. The book, introduced by Hans Hermann Hoppe, delves into the cultural ideas of Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard, emphasizing the importance of traditional families, which are opposed by the left. The discussion touches on the left's pursuit of egalitarianism, which is deemed impossible and thus provides a pretext for the left to exercise power. The historical violence associated with leftist movements, such as communism and national socialism, is highlighted, with a comparison to the relative peacefulness of right-wing ideologies. The conversation also addresses the current political climate, with specific mention of antifa and Democratic political candidates, including Bernie Sanders, who are criticized for their perceived violence and support for state power. The importance of educating people about liberty and free-market principles is underscored as a means to counteract the influence of the state and the left.

05:02

🏛️ The Role of Libertarians in State Universities

The discussion shifts to the role of libertarians within state universities, which are often seen as bastions of left-wing ideology. Despite the challenges, the participants agree that libertarians should be involved in these institutions to influence and educate others. The conversation also touches on the potential for violence in the current political climate, particularly if there is a perceived coup or impeachment against a sitting president. The historical context of the Great Depression and the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt is used to illustrate how policy can be influenced by silent ideological battles within universities. The嘉宾 emphasizes the importance of the internet as a tool for reaching people who might not otherwise be exposed to libertarian ideas. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the potential for civil unrest and the need for individuals to be prepared to defend their liberties.

10:05

💼 Economic Survival and the Importance of Property Rights

The conversation explores the concept of economic survival in the face of potential societal collapse. The嘉宾 discusses the importance of gold as a haven asset and the potential of cryptocurrency to help people preserve their wealth. The discussion also touches on the idea of leaving the country as a survival strategy, but the嘉宾 emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and the defense of property rights. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by those who advocate for liberty, including the need to educate the public about the importance of voluntary cooperation and the dangers of demagoguery and the Deep State. The嘉宾 also discusses the role of the military and police in potential conflicts, and the potential for a civil war, emphasizing the need for non-violent, idea-based resistance.

15:07

🌐 The Power of Ideas and the Future of Liberty

The final paragraph summarizes the key points of the discussion, emphasizing the power of ideas in shaping the future of liberty. The嘉宾 reiterates the importance of education, particularly in Austrian economics and the principles of the Mises Institute, in fostering social cooperation and voluntary exchange. The conversation concludes with a call for a peaceful world based on voluntarism and the rejection of entitlement and force. The嘉宾 encourages the audience to purchase his new book, 'Against the Left', available on his website, and expresses his hope for a future where liberty and peace prevail.

Keywords

💡Liberty

Liberty refers to the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. In the context of the video, liberty is a core value that the guests and the host advocate for, emphasizing the importance of individual freedom and autonomy. The conversation revolves around the threats to liberty posed by certain political ideologies and the importance of preserving it.

💡Left

In the script, 'the left' refers to political ideologies that are typically associated with socialism, communism, and progressivism. The discussion points out that these ideologies are historically linked with the forced equality and the abolition of traditional institutions like the family. The term is used to contrast with the values of liberty and individualism that the guests and the host support.

💡Egalitarianism

Egalitarianism is the view that all people are equal and should be treated as equals in terms of rights and opportunities. In the video, it is criticized as an impossible ideal that, when pursued forcibly, can lead to authoritarian measures. The conversation suggests that the pursuit of egalitarianism by the left can result in the violation of individual liberties.

💡Violence

Violence, as discussed in the video, refers to the use of physical force to cause harm or damage. The script argues that historically, the left has been associated with violent means to achieve its political goals, citing examples from the 20th century such as communism and national socialism. The conversation implies a concern that current political trends may lead to increased violence.

💡Antifa

Antifa, short for 'anti-fascist,' is a term used in the video to describe a movement that opposes fascist, racist, and authoritarian ideologies. The script suggests that Antifa and some Democratic political candidates are associated with promoting violence, which is seen as a threat to the values of liberty and peaceful discourse.

💡Mises Institute

The Mises Institute is mentioned as an organization that promotes Austrian economics and libertarian ideas. In the video, it is praised for its role in educating people about the principles of liberty and free markets, which are seen as essential for a prosperous and peaceful society. The Institute's work is contrasted with the state's promotion of policies that the guests believe are detrimental to individual freedom.

💡Austrian Economics

Austrian Economics is a school of economic thought that emphasizes the importance of individual choice, free markets, and the spontaneous order that arises from human action. In the video, Austrian Economics is presented as a counterpoint to Keynesian economics and the interventionist policies associated with the left. The script suggests that Austrian Economics provides a sound understanding of economic processes and the role of government.

💡Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by strong central control and limited political freedoms. The term is used in the video to criticize the left's endorsement of state power and control over individual lives. The conversation suggests that authoritarian measures are antithetical to the principles of liberty and self-governance.

💡Property Rights

Property rights refer to the rights of individuals to own, use, and control property. In the video, property rights are discussed as a fundamental aspect of liberty and a bulwark against state overreach. The script implies that protecting property rights is essential for maintaining individual freedom and economic prosperity.

💡Volunteerism

Volunteerism is the act of willingly giving one's time and effort to help others without financial gain. In the video, volunteerism is presented as an ideal where all actions are voluntary and no one is forced to do anything against their will. The conversation suggests that a society based on volunteerism would be more peaceful and harmonious.

Highlights

Lou Rockwell discusses his new book 'Against the Left' which critiques leftist ideologies and their impact on society.

The book emphasizes the importance of traditional families, contrasting with leftist views that aim to abolish them.

Egalitarianism is critiqued as an impossible goal that justifies leftist actions.

The historical violence of the left is highlighted, with references to communism and national socialism.

The French Revolution is cited as a violent event that spread leftist ideas.

Lou Rockwell argues that the left is the most violent and destructive force in human society.

The discussion touches on the current political climate, with mentions of antifa and Democratic candidates.

Bernie Sanders is compared to Ron Paul, with the former being criticized for not being peaceful.

The importance of understanding the left as an enemy to liberty is emphasized.

The Mises Institute's role in educating people on liberty and free market principles is discussed.

The potential for a rebuilding of society with more people understanding liberty is mentioned.

The historical context of the Great Depression and its impact on understanding economic crises is explored.

The role of the internet in spreading libertarian ideas and countering leftist narratives is highlighted.

Lou Rockwell discusses the presence of libertarians in government schools and their potential influence.

The potential for violence from the left is discussed, with comparisons to historical figures and events.

The conversation turns to the possibility of a civil war and the importance of being prepared for such scenarios.

The importance of property rights and personal responsibility in maintaining liberty is emphasized.

The show concludes with a call to action for people to educate themselves and others on the principles of liberty.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello everybody and thank you for tuning

in to the Liberty report we have a

special guest today in Studio A good

friend of ours and a good friend of

Liberty visiting here in Lake Jackson

Lou Rockwell Lou good to have you with

great to be with you sir it's an honor

very good uh you know I I hear that you

have another book out and it'll just

short time ago right and it's uh you

know it's available on L rockwell.com

tell us about that book it's called

against the left and it's got an

introduction by Hans Herman HOA and uh

in there I talk about the ideas of misus

and rothbard uh their cultural ideas I

mean for example both of them were very

much in favor of traditional families

whereas the left of course hates the

traditional family markx wanted to

abolish it and um he's certainly not the

only one I talk about

egalitarianism the left of course wants

everybody made forcibly made equal

that's actually impossible but because

it is impossible it gives them sort of a

card blanch for to do whatever they want

to do and uh uh you know I talk about

the fact that in human history the left

has been the most violent the most evil

far more so than the right uh just take

the 20th century communism national

socialism uh these these these

organizations and these ideas were

responsible for uh the most deaths ever

like maybe you know genas Khan or

whatever I guess was pretty bad too but

he wasn't either a rtist or a leftist in

our terms but the left beginning to say

in the French Revolution uh which was

extremely violent very bloodthirsty and

uh had a lot to do with spreading

leftist ideas and I think it's important

to realize they are our enemy they're

the most violent uh the most nasty uh

Bunch that we have to face and we see it

right now with antifa and uh I think

these a lot of these Democratic

political candidates are very

pro-violence uh they would of course

claim they're not but as you pointed out

a guy like Bernie Sanders is a very

violent guy I mean he's not he's not a

peaceful guy he's no Ron Paul or

something people try to compare the two

of you but he's uh he's no Ron Paul so I

think it's important to uh understand

why the left is our enemy my last book

was called against the state and of

course the state is the Ultimate Enemy

but the left are the people who promote

the state the most and it's it's it's

the most destructive uh force in in

human society now I understand the uh

rockwell.com has been around a while 20

years now anniversary and that's when I

see is being more directed to political

things and current events where the mes

Institute which is 37 years old in the

early 80s you started that you have with

your help well a little bit but but it

it was something I believed in and still

do because I believe that changing

people's minds are important as you

agree and you have done it you've

reached a lot of people but uh you know

if I ask you how many people you have

reached and talked to I know you can't

give the answer because you know have no

idea you could pick and choose and well

this many people went through but we

don't really know how many people get

influenc so I think that the misus

Institute has played a significant role

and will continue because uh although we

know the country's in dire trouble uh

and could get much worse there's going

to be a rebuilding and that's why people

the more people we can find that has has

an understanding an agreement with some

of these ideas of Liberty the better

chance we and our families will have in

in surviving it in a meaningful way now

you pointed out in in when the Great

Depression happened there were

relatively few people who understood

what the heck was going on relatively

few people who knew what to oppose uh

the evil of Roosevelt and so forth uh

but today they're you know thanks to you

thanks to the misus Institute um there

are many many more people I I think that

if we if we count everybody on our uh

web page we've reached millions millions

of people not only in this country but

all around the world Latin America

Europe Eastern Europe um Asia so I think

we'll have we have a much better chance

many more people understand the free

market they understand that the uh evil

of the government so uh when this crash

happens and I'm

afraid think as you do that it's going

to happen we have a better chance and it

it was said back during the Depression

and as the stock market crashed and all

um Roosevelt ran on a very conservative

platform balance the budget the gold

standard and and uh all these things

yeah to cut the number of bureaucrats

and he knew what he was doing because

the people superficially still

identified with that and had to do it

but others and I think you have pointed

out the universities were full of

lefties already so the ideological fight

was being fought in a silent way and

revelt was influenced and others uh were

and and actually that's where policy

came from but uh hopefully uh we're

seeing the reverse of that but it has to

be modified a little bit because we

can't sit back and say oh yes the

universities are producing sound

economic thinkers but fortunately we

have access to people through the

internet right and uh so therefore a lot

of people can be exposed and they're

sort of anonymous you know we don't know

where they are but one question I want

to ask you about this you might have a

feel for it is uh you you know basically

Libertarians don't like the state and

the state universities and they have all

these problems and going on but we have

some who are good Libertarians that have

actually you know gotten involved in a

government school is that just a couple

people or are there more people uh

involved there than we we realize and uh

would that necessarily be anything bad

it seems to me like uh if they're able

to survive it maybe they can influence

somebody even in a government school I

think that's right and I think there are

many of them in uh public schools and uh

in in junior colleges and fouryear

colleges universities uh there are a lot

so that's you know that's that's a good

thing and why leave that to just to the

Communists why why shouldn't our people

be involved yeah so that they there but

you know on the other hand there are a

lot of colleges and universities that

are just entirely leftwing and they will

punish anybody with our ideas they don't

they're not just satisfied to to shut

you up and give you a bad grade but they

would do uh do other things to to

students you you already mentioned the

subject of how antifa and the left are

very violent and uh right now there's a

big contest uh some people are still

trying to decide who won the last

election you know did did Trump really

win well for some people like Hillary no

he didn't win and we have to you know

put the rightful you know president in

place again but uh if uh if if

conditions get worse and they say things

really go bad for for Trump and it's

equivalent to an impeachment or a coup

and this type of thing which nobody

knows exactly what would happen but it

that is a little bit frightening because

I think the left are capable of uh

committing a lot more violence and most

people say well it's always those right

Wingers that cause the vi but

statistically it's not there you know

the left is quite capable because they

endorse the principle of

authoritarianism you know in all

functions that they do whether it's

redistribution of wealth everything they

do is with guns see those take our guns

too of course that's those are the guns

we need to regulate the bureaucrat

shouldn't exist and they shouldn't exist

with the guns but we have we have

hundreds of thousands of bureaucrats and

of course uh if if you add up of the

guns in the military and uh some of the

uh police departments that get a little

bit more violent than they should be

you're talking about a lot of gunpow

against them and and uh and that the

left sees th those as individuals I mean

allies and uh and and they use them of

course you know here let's take Hillary

for example I mean uh think of what she

did in Libya and Syria and and the

consequence still going on and it uh

it's it's she was laughing about it too

that was that's criminal she's like a

you know a witch or a devil or something

yeah but

um do you think there's much chance this

is what I worry about and I want you to

say not possible of the whole thing

really get getting violent on the

streets because I think I think if it

looks like they really really uh did

something equivalent to a coup uh

Trump's supporters aren't going to go

away softly well you know you you

pointed out when you were still in

Congress that a lot of government

agencies that might surprise people were

being armed to the teeth with weapons

the Social Security Administration for

example and millions of bullets and tens

of thousands of of rifles so why why is

that I mean that there nobody's going to

attack the Social Security

Administration but of course they could

very well attack us so I think um this

is you know it's something to be very

concerned about there could actually be

a civil war we we hope not but um you

know I still go to conferences and talk

about gold as uh as a Haven when things

come apart I I look carefully at uh the

whole concept of uh of uh currencies the

crypto technology as a possibility of

helping people survive and I A lot of

people are in the survival mode a lot of

people leave the country I was never

tempted to do that but uh they um uh

there are attempts to provide but when I

talk to them I usually conclude by

saying you know I think you should do it

and think about it what's best for you

and some people leave the country

whatever whatever you think is is best

for you but the the the big question is

uh why um why would

you or how are you going to be able to

defend oneself if if that happens

because uh I you get down the bottom

line for me gets back to what we do what

you do and more and more people are

doing that ultimately you know you can

have a gun you can have your gold you

can have a piece of land you can have a

thing but what did that mean to the

thugs that take over I mean what if

Warren takes over I mean property uh the

only property is be important for some

of those people the property they have

and and how how they're going to control

but it seems to me

like I believe in human nature well

enough that if they have the have

Liberty and they put responsibility on

themselves that we'll do quite well

that's right you know but without it

it's just going to get worse and the

antagonisms will will get worse but uh I

think that uh there's been so many

examples and you know in our early

history was basic like this it was

opportunity and a work ethic and and a

lot of other things but unfortunately

that's where the real challenge is and

that's where you have spent a lot of

time trying to educate people to

understanding you know and I think

Murray was good at it narrowing things

down to property you know even whether

it's the first amendment or not you can

defend the First Amendment with property

you know because uh people get very

confused about that so I think that type

of education is important because the

demagogues are out there 99% of the

ordinary media support all that mess and

they're part of it and the Deep state is

although they say the Deep state is is

is uh becoming more apparent and we're

understanding it no they just deep they

just have a deeper State the buried

state but there's always there people

they at least trying to pull strings but

I believe ideas are very very powerful

and they can be counteracted and if

they're based in

challenges uh in a non-violent manner uh

I think it's a powerful weapon and I

still am convinced that most people

don't like War H you know and I think

peace candidates generally do pretty

well and uh that uh my analogy is is how

how many times did it happen where the

young people of the United States the 18

to 24 year olds got together and they

have their organization they say you

know things have been pretty quiet here

for a couple decades we've never had a

chance to go to war and they call up

some people in Iran they say how often

you guys had a fight oh well we have an

we have a club here they're 18 to 24 and

they'd like to have a war too so so the

young people communicate and they say

well let's fight over religion or

something we we'll fight over something

never obviously it's a ridiculous thing

to say it always comes from top down and

the victims and the ones who now the one

of the worst group of people are the

chickenhawks and I ran into a lot of

those in Washington you know who got

five deferments and did they become

peaceloving people which we would be

very happy to join us no what they do is

uh is they um they send somebody else's

kids off to war that's that's the kind

of thing that people should respond to

the immorality of a system like that

well it's true and it's um uh it's why

of course youve spent so much time

teaching Austrian economics M The mises

Institute has two and it's that's one of

the aspects of Austrian economics uh

teaches you that social cooperation is

the greatest thing that comes out of the

free market that people Coop or able to

help each other to profit by helping

each other and it's a it's a tremendous

it's tremendous thing whereas you know

Franklin Roosevelt we were talking about

a little bit before brought a horrible

socialist fascist system in and I think

it was no coincidence that when uh uh

canes published his general theory in

German uh that he praised Hitler uh for

putting his own theor for putting

keynes's theories into practice so that

uh those are the kinds of people that we

Face they're the enemies that we face

but we've got the truth on our side so

that's uh in in the in the end the far

more valuable thing I think your point

of cooperation that's what solves so

many problems and and and to me uh the

problems aren't that difficult if you're

uh responsible for figuring out an

answer rather than saying I'm entitled

to somebody taking care of me but that

also brings up the term that a lot of

people use and I like and that's

volunteerism everything should be

voluntary I mean what a peaceful world

it would be if if nobody can do anything

to anybody else they can't take their

property hang it has to be uh voluntary

and uh a lot of problems would be solved

we will need to close now L but just

while tell tell the audience one more

time about your book and where to go to

buy your new book it's called against

the left and you can go to I hope not

before too much longer it'll be on

Amazon but right now you can go to L

rockwell.com and look at the store and

uh it's available right there very good

Lou it's been great having you on this

program it's great having our audience

with us and please come back to the

Liberty report soon