Eric Daniels on Why Small Government Isn't the Answer
Radio Interview: Wednesday, 31 July 2013
I interviewed Eric Daniels on "Why Small Government Isn't the Answer" on Philosophy in Action Radio on Wednesday, 31 July 2013. You can listen to or download the podcast below.
Is "big government" the fundamental problem of American politics? Historian Eric Daniels will explain why this common formulation is misleading, wrong, and even dangerous to liberty.
Dr. Eric Daniels teaches history and works on curriculum development at the LePort Schools in Irvine, California. He has previously taught at Clemson, Georgetown, and Duke Universities. He has a Ph.D. in American History from the University of Wisconsin.
Tags: Activism, America, Anarchism, Crime, Culture, Epistemology, Government, History, Law, Libertarianism, Politics, Racism, Rights, Self-Defense, Sexism
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- Duration: 1:15:05
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Subjects Discussed
- The problem with "big government" versus "small government"
- The proper debate: individual rights
- The two axes of size versus rights
- Big government like judicial activism
- Three categories of government action
- Violating rights versus failing to protect rights
- The Founders' view: not size but the proper ends of government
- The failure of the Articles of Confederation
- 19th century rights violations
- The rights of women
- Violations of rights by local governments, particularly based on race
- The real-life effects of failing to protect rights
- Judges riding the circuit, too small criminal justice system
- Measuring the size of government
- Measuring the growth of government
- The problem of the inessential
- Skewing the political debate toward anarchism
- The appeal to Somalia
- The terms "limited government" and "minarchism"
- Advice for activists
- Eric's new job at LePort Schools
Links
- The Objective Standard: Why "Big Government" is Not the Problem by Eric Daniels
- Vices of the Political System of the United States by James Madison
- lePort Schools
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About Philosophy in Action Radio
I'm Dr. Diana Hsieh. I'm a philosopher specializing the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. I received my Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009. My dissertation defended moral responsibility and moral judgment against the doubts raised by Thomas Nagel's "problem of moral luck."
My radio show, Philosophy in Action Radio, broadcasts live over the internet on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. On Sunday mornings, I answer four meaty questions applying rational principles to the challenges of real life in a live hour-long show. Greg Perkins of Objectivist Answers co-hosts the show. On Wednesday evenings, I interview an expert guest about a topic of practical importance.
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