Thank you, Rachel. This is Mike, love it.
And you are indeed listening to and if Love Remains I am your
host again once the as for or mentioned lettuce, and I am here
with a very special guest, a friend of the program, so glad
to have him on again, mr. Keith Knight, the managing
editor of the libertarian Institute, the host of the don't
tread on anyone podcast and the author of an editor of the new
book, the voluntarist handbook. So To have you on Keith.
Thank you for having me Mike. I appreciate it man.
I'm really excited to have this conversation and talk about all
the things that you're doing and working on especially this this
book the voluntary is handbook just want to get a few things
out of the way first of all because I know when people hear
you talk about this and as we discussed this are going to want
to get this book where kit where's the best way that you
want people to pick this book up and find it libertarian insert
Dot-org. You can look at the book
section, there's a button to work like on, right, that link,
rather to click on and you'll, you'll get an option to purchase
it through Barnes and Noble Amazon, or you could download a
free pdf from archive.org or Odyssey.com.
We really wanted to make this freely available this way,
anyone who is interested, will easily have an opportunity, and,
of course, I go. Was granted the copyright.
So anyone who wants to copy any part of the book?
Please do we see it as just playing a vital role in the, you
know what quest for Freedom? Absolutely.
It's this is a really important tool in the Liberty Movement and
I'm really, really happy to talk to you about it.
And, you know, there are a few guys having you on before and
hearing you, you know, speak to other people.
I heard you on the tongue would show not too long ago and, you
know, There are a few guys that has kind of the depth of
knowledge and knows their stuff like you do.
So yeah, this is going to be a lot of fun, man.
I appreciate it. Thank you.
Yeah. First because I'm interested in
this stuff, I'm a weirdo this way.
I'm really interested in into dedications and things like
that. Who is Edward, Stringham Edward
Stringham, I believe wrote chapter 15 of this.
Yes how private governance made the modern world possible.
So Ed storing them was one of the First videos I came across
on learn Liberty dot-org, when I was sort of just going around
researching what are, you know, some of the competing political
views of the world and he sort of has this specialty where he
will make a theoretical claim that kind of sounds bizarre Soul
start and say you know I think that instead of having a
monopoly State, I think if there were voluntary organizations
they would sort of come together Work together and provide goods
and services and have, you know, a system of governance where
there were rules and standards that could be voluntarily,
imposed or only your coercively imposed in defense against
aggressors and it gets you in a way of thinking.
Well, that sounds like a nice Theory but it's a little
pie-in-the-sky and then he goes, well, there's actually ancient
Merchants law which was, you know, all these countries in
Europe, France, Italy, Germany. Germany, Russia.
The reason people were able to travel and trade.
Without there being one, king of all of Europe is because they
had developed a patterns of exchange rules and standards of
their own. And if people didn't meet those
standards, then they would disassociate with them and this
was Merchants law. So then the viewer saying, okay,
that was then this is now the world is so much more complex
that could never happen. So it goes well.
Instead of, you know, us having voluntary security organizations
and these they're always going to war.
The reason that they would work together is because it's in
their financial interest to do so.
So, for example, if you have a website Zen caster.com and you
have a different company called Google, they might work together
so you could use Google Chrome and go to Zen caster, and then,
another company Apple would have a computer and you're able to
use that. And then another company would
have Microphone and they would work with them to make sure it's
all compatible and the same customer can use all these and
then a different company CenturyLink can provide
internet. So, this all works, this all
connects together. So notice that he takes you from
Theory to history to the present and says, not only is this
realistic. We see it in every single part
of our day. So because Ed stirring them was
so brilliant. In getting people both on
theoretical. Little moral historical and
practical grounds. I said, gosh, he really is the
guy to dedicate this to because it he was definitely the person
who made me go from anyone who believes in something like
volunteerism is a complete moron.
I don't even know how they put their shoes on the right foot in
the morning and then probably after like one hour of, you
know, listening to his videos and stuff.
I said this is an Namely reasonable position.
So that was one of the biggest moves.
It's not like, you know, I said, I'm fully convinced, but I said,
wow, I am very open to this. Whereas if you would have asked
me an hour ago, I would have said this is completely stupid,
because Edward stirring. Them is so good at that.
And getting at the heart of one of the biggest objections, law,
state, security and Society. Yeah, the I said, he is the one
person I would like to dedicate this book to, that's wonderful.
And It is, it's great. I loved those historic examples
are really really important because they do draw us back to
to thinking, like first of all, it reminds us that our ancestors
weren't as dumb as we always as many especially on the left
claim they are. And it also it, You know,
there's there's wisdom and things like.
Well, let me give you example, you know, Paul in the New
Testament, I mean, there's a reason we're, we're sometimes he
would invoke himself as a Roman other times as a Jew.
He was both, you know, and he was able to maneuver those
affiliations seamlessly and to his own advantage.
And you see that in the medieval world where where, you know,
people would have associations with the church and with King.
But also with their lord also with maybe their Guild and you
would you would have you instead of binding them down.
It actually gave them a modicum of freedom to allow them to
maneuver in society. Nice.
Yes, that ancient wisdom very often I appreciate it.
Absolutely. Now kind of more of a general
question and and you know the volunteers handbook Took a
voluntary acai like to use that word when I when people ask, you
know, what I believe is a political philosophy that that
kind of fits me best. But you know if I'm if I'm in a
stark snarky mood, I'll say an anarchist.
So I'm wondering if that's a distinction without a difference
or if there are a few do, see a difference between an anarchist
in the voluntarist. So on page 3 of this book, I
have a terms section because a Wise man talk about ancient
wisdom told me a so long ago that the vast majority of
disagreements come down two different definitions.
People are using for the same word and it took me 10 maybe 15
years to really, really appreciate that.
So on page 3, I have all the major terms that I use.
So when I'm referring to voluntourism, I'm using Auburn
Herbert's definition, one of the original Founders, which is the
moral position. In which maintains that no
peaceful person can justly be submitted to the control of
others in the absence of his or her own consent.
So we're not talking about volunteering.
What we're generally referring to as doing things voluntarily,
or of your own free will, and having the ability to opt out.
So, we see this constantly in the main immoral things we see
the difference between murdering someone and killing it.
Self-defense is whether or not a person is threatening you or
initiating violence the difference between trade and
theft is consent or whether someone's doing it, voluntarily
slavery and employment people will often say well slaves,
don't get paid, and that's what really makes it bad.
And so the draft isn't slavery because people get compensated.
Okay, first of all, if you read Frederick douglass's biography,
I gotcha The Narrative life, I believe it's called by Frederick
Douglass slaves got paid every week.
They go, they got their allowance.
That doesn't mean anything not to mention, they were
compensated with free food, Free Housing, clothing, and medical
care. That is completely irrelevant as
to whether or not it's slavery. It's whether someone's claiming
ownership over you and forcing you to perform action or work
against your will. So that's why the definitions
are so important because it gets To the root issue.
So all these people that think they're so uppity, oh I not.
I'm so against slavery. I believe in reparations today
and then they have a blue and yellow flag.
Supporting Vladimir zielinski, who was enslaved like a million
people into the Ukrainian military with the threat of
killing them. If they desert and, you know,
Putin does the the same thing us did until the 70s even South
Korea? So, or the, and trust me, the
u.s. holds holds the right to do that, you know?
Whether they do it now or not, they still will claim if they
need it. Exactly.
And one of the things that I'm sorry, let me also find the
anarchist definition and when referring to Anarchy, the
overall system from the Greek prefects an meaning without in
the absence of and the Greek. Now, närcon master, or ruler,
Anarchy does not mean without rules, it literally means
without rulers without Masters. So, the difference between a
master and just someone who is Up very influential in your life
is whether or not you voluntarily associate with them.
If you look at a lot of people who have drug or alcohol issues,
they voluntarily render themselves unto what?
I guess a progressive, would call a dictator, which is they
sometimes will go to a place and they say there's no drinking,
there's no drugs, there's bedtimes, there's check-ins, we
get to go through your stuff and all that's legitimate because
that's what that person feels is best for them.
At the time some places don't even allow cursing so you might
think oh, that's evil tyranny and that's the same thing as you
know, Joseph Stalin. They completely forget that the
inherent difference is whether or not people voluntarily
associate with that person or group.
So, right at the key is are you free to leave?
Exactly. Can you leave, you know, without
you know, are you able to leave and not be forced back at the
point of a gun? That's why it's just so
adorable. Noam Chomsky say corporations
are basically you know you have basically as much Freedom as you
do in a gulag basically as much for you to it's I mean it's the
fact that he says that with a straight face and he's a serious
intellectual type going over to someone's house that's basically
kidnapping but owing on Mike's podcast, it's basically slavery.
I mean it's work and then slaves work.
So it's really the same thing Chomsky has to be one of the
greats. Scammers of all time.
It's like he's really good at Linguistics and did said some
very heroic things like 50 years ago with regards to Vietnam Laos
and Cambodia and the indiscriminate bombing in this
horrible nonsense. So it's like he was good a long
time ago and therefore people assume he's good Forever on all
issues. You see this today with Neil
deGrasse Tyson and Sam Harris. They are sure rate in very
narrow fields and whenever they get out of those fields they are
they have to be Dumber than the average person because they're
so overly confident. Oh, in what they're saying,
there are so many people that and then those three that you've
mentioned in particular that I would consider as idiot savants
like and their narrow field. They're absolutely brilliant.
But holy cow you get them outside that field and they
sound like my my you know, my five-year-old.
If I had a five-year-old right now Five-year-olds are way more
humble than these pieces. What I mean, literally what I
don't know, what's so freaking terrible?
And this is one of God, I gotta find this quote chapter. 50 of
the volunteers handbook is just like 200 quotes.
Yeah, that I've come across and that I just love.
I don't know why some people can't just say, oh, you know
what, that is not something I have looked into, I'd have to
give it some thought, whereas like if I think of All the
things that I don't know much about it all, they would be
growing food. Cooking food, how water comes to
be clean and drinkable air conditioning housing, how things
are built. So in other words, like all the
things necessary for life, I don't know anything about but
these people can't just admit that they haven't done research
on antitrust laws. It's what why is that so
desperately difficult and then of course, they they're always
saying, oh, well, the It's says, or something like that.
And I go, would you really buy it?
If I just said, well the economic says, yada yada yada
and the conclusion as I get a ton of power over, you would you
just blindly ever believe that trash?
But the problem is, is there's too many people who still
believe the media. And because the, you know,
what's the definition of an expert?
The expert is somebody lives 100 miles away with the briefcase
and and the media treats these people as if they're experts on
everything and so they prop them up.
And people say, well fauci said this or or Harris said this or
so, and so said this and and it's like wait a sec.
We've got to be able to think for ourselves and figure this
stuff out and and that's what I really appreciate about the
political philosophy of volunteerism is it does put, you
know, the buck stops here like if I make a decision that's poor
you know that's going to that that's that's going to have
consequences towards me and mine.
And so it's an important me for me to have a Serve itive
lowercase, C outlook on the risks that I take and you know,
how I govern my life. And so because because if
there's no, you know, and then of course, there comes, okay.
So what are the affiliations that we that we associate with
and most people would think of well, you know, stay our County
Federal and know the if you really think when the buck is
gets down to it, it's going to be Family Church.
You know, friends neighbors. Those are the people that will
stand by you. When I guarantee you the person
that will not stand by, you is the guy in the blue suit.
Who's pulling you over for not wearing a mask?
Yeah, I'm really you could just ask them to fulfill the protect
and serve obligation and you just start giving them orders.
I mean, you're here to serve me. I pay your salary, I'm sort of,
like, a customer, not exactly how I get treated.
Treated when I'm a customer to the restaurant or a customer at
a supermarket. So, okay, so one of the big
things is, you know, all these are criticisms about government.
Yeah, they apply, but the there's a solution and what you
do is you get people informed, okay.
We don't agree with what people are informed about with regard
to a virus that started in 2019 or God knows when it started or
where. But right we can't get people to
agree on that or what? It means to even be informed on
this one. Narrow specific, not even all a
virologist, one virus and these people are like, yeah, we're
just going to get everyone to agree.
So, on, you know, economics and history and morality, and logic,
and it's just so ridiculous. So, whenever they say that we're
pie-in-the-sky utopians for having no double standard for
government. Well, you are the biggest Pine
Sky people. It's like the ultimate Fool's.
Errand, we're going to get everyone.
Informed, so Bryan Caplan. PhD Economist wrote a book
called The Myth of the rational voter.
I took a quote from him and here's page 283 of the
volunteers handbook. He says, what?
Voters don't know. Could fill a University Library
in the last few decades economists, who study politics
have thrown fuel on the fire by pointing out that selfishly
speaking voters are not making a mistake.
One has so small, a probability of affecting electoral outcomes
that are realistic egoist pays no attention to Tex he chooses
to be an economic jargon rationally, ignorance.
So you could spend 1000 hours of your scarce time on the planet
researching, whatever climate change the minimum wage
antitrust laws, agriculture subsidies.
And if you take all that time, you still get like a 1 and 5
million vote. God knows if it's even counted.
And right? Usually these things are called
that's like well, there's a their report Ting 50% already
and there's a gap. So we're actually going to call
it for this guy. So before, even like the votes
are counted, they decide who is going to win.
And the most ignorant, person completely cancels out your
vote. So even in like the most moral
Society, it doesn't make sense to have a state where there's
voting. So the idea that democracy is
something that we should be bragging about or trying to
preserve know. There's a, there's no reason to
what to do so because you can still benefit Even if you're not
voting, in fact, you benefit more for example.
There's this brother computer printer sitting next to me and I
was never consulted on how any of this thing gets made.
I didn't vote on how it's made, or what the price is going to
be. But I benefit extremely from it
because they face competition, and they're trying to please
consumers to make money. So, the idea that, well, we need
a government democracy because we need our preferences
represented preference. Has are far more represented in
the free market than they are anywhere else.
Yeah, one of the things I really appreciate about what, you know,
I going through your introduction.
You you talk about the double standard that we have when it
comes to US versus the state. And the example is is, for
example, you know, we we all tend to agree, that thou shalt
not kill, Thou shalt not steal, those type of things.
Things and I'm paraphrasing you here.
You know, are bad, and we shouldn't do them, and we should
not allow, you know, our neighbors to do them to us.
However, we seem to give a pass on those things to government
and its really, and on its face it.
I mean, it just said that starkly people might go think
we'll what do you mean? And you know everything that the
government does is either incarceration theft or murder.
And so, you know, just take those three broad moral issues
and say, okay, what can you know what is good for me is not as
not good for the type of thing. Like I love that that you point
that out that there is a huge double standard and hypocrisy
with how we think about ourselves and the morality that
we have and and the the government and its, you know,
quote unquote morality exactly. And it's so important because
it's one the things you cannot know if prove is necessarily the
right word, but you can really show people the importance of
it, especially if you just take whatever standard they have for
the government and apply it to you or them or any other group,
they're like, well you know, Taxation and these things are
legitimate because you know, there's costs and but there's
also benefits and you get things in return and they really help
out, you know, any group That taxed trillions of dollars every
single year would benefit by definition even if they let all
the money on fire that would help with inflation.
It would lower the money supply. So each of a dollar would be
more valuable for Savers. So the idea that you can't just
apply anything, there's not a single thing.
You can apply that makes government's unique to any other
organization where people are like, oh yeah, that's that's
totally legitimate or else I Issue taxes for a living against
all the people who downvote my videos or have said something.
To me that I didn't like on social media, I'd say, all
right, well, I'm taxing, 10% of your income.
You don't even need to like strawman them or do a reductio
ad. Absurdum I'm just going to take
10% of your income every year. You don't give it to me in a
Medicaid you and in exchange, I'm going to create or fund
libertarian, institute.org, which is a free educational
library of History. Economics philosophy logic
propaganda analysis, videos, podcasts, blogs articles.
So I'm creating something in exchange.
So you now don't get to complain when I issue taxes or the
Catholic Church issues taxes. Have you seen some of the
cathedral's the church is built? They're absolutely beautiful.
And they benefit all the people who live near them because they
attract tourists and everything. So Catholic Church gets to issue
taxes, Goodwill provides entry level jobs and products.
Services. For a lot of poor people so they
benefit Society. So they get to issue taxes.
Amazon, certainly helps the poor by increasing their access to
goods and services and giving small business a place to
increase their sales. So everyone gets to issue taxes
and the second you hold the same standard for anyone else that
people hold the state to every day.
That's when you see the push back.
Even though two seconds ago, it wasn't a big deal and actually
you're kind of like cheap for opposing - like just pay,
everyone else is doing it. Just just get over it.
But then the second you try to do what the state does.
Every day, all of a sudden it becomes a moral, it's like, hey,
you know, violence is a part of life war is hell.
So, you know, you can't get too mad at the military for
murdering people, all right? Then stop getting mad when they
are so called shootings that take place violence as a part of
life, life is Hell, things happen, nothing you can do about
it but they're still innocent people dying, regardless of
whether it's a private Private citizen a group of people a
group called government, or a group called Mexican, drug
cartel, same principle applies. Yep.
Absolutely. And and, and the truth is, there
is there is no difference between the mob ran in a
protection Racket. And the police Yeah, yeah,
exactly intellectually. You can't you can't.
There is no difference, you know you you know you really hey you
know really nice. Car you got here.
Do you have the right paperwork on it?
Hmm, let me see what hate does something were to go wrong with
that. So one of the questions that
comes up as well, you know what, why don't people get informed,
it's in their interest. They want a good government
which we answered earlier because the cost of getting
informed It is very high and the positive effect you'll have is
almost non-existent. So what is it?
That's really driving this political thing.
Why is it that these people are getting mad and screaming by the
thousands about something that they don't have like the basics
on. So, on page 277, I quote, Robin
Hanson. He says, political Behavior.
It's Robin Hanson and Kevin similar.
Excuse me. Political behavior is largely
driven by Coalition, loyalty wanting to appear loyal.
The groups around us. It's also in many ways, a
performance politics, like religion is a team sport, some
treat expressive voting, as an act of consumption, something we
do in order to feel good without concern for external benefits.
In this view, voting is seen as providing a psychological reward
like getting to affirm one's identity or feel a sense of
belonging benefits, come not from voting per se.
But rather from all the activities surrounding the
election like attending rallies posting to social media and
watching election coverage with friends and family.
So really so right on that is so right on what is important.
There is that we have to realize that while you know I my show
was very dedicated to trying to be in educational aspect of
life. We have to realize it's also a
psychological war that when people are involved are very
passionate and sports. Or their church.
I don't see the solution as saying you guys need to find out
about libertarianism and then have them replace their
identity. It's about them embracing that
and easily saying just don't have double standards for the
state. If I can't do it, then I sure as
heck can't vote for a government to do it on my behalf.
So there's a very low by in, which is why a spreading these
ideas is not only right? But it's also realistic, you
know? People think that oh it's so
unrealistic. Everyone abides by By this
principle of voluntary exchange and original appropriation and
it's just not going to happen. Also by the way, everyone is
going to follow thousands of laws that are thousands of pages
long that even though the courts don't even agree on how to
implement the laws or what they actually say.
But yeah, everyone's going to agree to that and then
everyone's going to get informed and we're all going to read the
laws of we're all going to vote. They have the most unrealistic
ideology maybe ever and and they call us.
Realistic for just saying that don't have double standards.
We Keith, I think you and I think you nailed it.
The the if Realizing that your strongest bonds are not with a
flag are not with a federal government, that's, you know,
thousands of miles away, not even with the state government
government. That's hundreds of miles away,
not even with the city government, that's tens of miles
away, but your strongest bonds with your family, your
neighbors, your associations, the pre, the people that you
work with your religion and that those bonds are Far, far more
important than the than your party, then your political
affiliation. Like those are the important
things that, that, that, you know, when you're on your
deathbed, are you going? Oh man.
You know, I guess unless you're Andrew Jackson.
I killed the bank. No, but I need thinking, I you
thinking, oh man, if only if only Trump would have wanted
2020, I mean, who does that, you know.
But we but when we compare that with how we treat our
day-to-day, where we're listening to Glenn Beck where
we're talking about, you know what, what who's who's The
Speaker of the House? I don't even know because
somehow that drama that, that that political theater like just
just is like a virus in our mind and we forget the things that
are truly important and and And I the I think as Libertarians is
people involved in the libertarian, the Liberty.
Mutual, it's really important that we help remind people, that
know, your neighbor who is sick. Is the person that's really more
important. You know, the, you know, being
able for you to grow a garden in your front, yard is really way
more important than the state get it, you know, having their
little bit little law about that.
You see what I mean? Like it's that's Ask that's is a
one. Not, you know, there's a lot of
keys but that's one of the keys. I think to helping people
realize or open their eyes to the idea that, you know, we
can't be under this rule anymore.
Yeah. Well and the reason that it's so
important for us to appreciate is when we say, you know, that
basically everyone regardless of race nationality, geographical
area should In Praise should embrace at least this principle
of volunteerism. That's not being in a Realist or
saying we therefore need to control the entire culture.
It's having basic freaking standards for everyone, not
having double standards and the great news is you don't have to
lose your identity. That's what I'm trying to do in
the introduction. When I say.
So you care about say Christianity.
I'm not saying you're totally wrong ditch, everything, admit
you've been wrong about everything.
Just take these standards that you already have according to
you and apply them consistently. If A progressive who was against
exploitation, who believes in Justice?
Anything that makes the state? A unique institution is far from
equal since you're against inequality, some people have the
right to rule others and there's no contract.
And if the other people try to rule them like, Take January 6,
for example, government gets to, you know, invade people's houses
and murder them all the time. No naka raids and based on
victimless crimes, but some people going into the capital
without It a written permission slip for a couple hours, was
like the greatest tragedy CNN has a documentary on the
two-year anniversary. I keep forgetting to watch that.
By the way, Adam kinzinger said this was just unreal.
It was Spellbound and I go, it's going to be the greatest piece
of propaganda. Maybe since gosh, what was the
last greatest? Real piece of propaganda in
something. That looked a, nobody, something
2001 related or something, you know?
Oh yeah. Yeah.
That that would probably top it. I guess it was just because I
was first like getting interested in the politics when
Obama was going. So that's like oh yeah yeah.
So that's my sort of reference point but just watching and SNL
skit last night of Joe Biden, debating, you know, Tina Fey as
the Sarah Palin character. It was just like, so even as
they're trying to make jokes about it, it's like look Biden
and Obama the professionals Palin and McCain are so
Obviously ridiculous. It's not even close.
We got to get the adults in the room and then Obama wins the
Democrats, get the house, the Democrats, get the Senate and
they're just more miserable than ever.
The one thing that they pass Obamacare, they never brag
about, but I mean, they never work it in any conversations
because it increases the cost of health care because it outlawed
competitors and tons of people lost their insurance even though
we promised they wouldn't. So that's another one of the
amazing things, you know, that you can do something in my all
the winds, they I want, and they're still miserable.
Absolutely. If that Obamacare thing is so
funny. I remember I wore a costume for
Halloween that year was the error. 404, no costume found are
because of all the other problems that with the with the
Obamacare website often, you know, and, you know, Zach Zach
Galifianakis had Obama on his show Between Two Ferns and
Obama. Uh Works in a plug for Obamacare
and he's like, well there I will admit and I'm like stopped time
and I'm like, oh my gosh, is he actually going to say what I
think he's going to say there are people between seven and
nine million who lost health insurance, and that was this big
Scandal than Jonathan Gruber. Came out and said past because
of the ignorance of the American people, whatever and I will
admit, there were some problems with The website at first, it
was just so classic. It's the abusive husband.
Who says, honey? I gotta come clean.
I'll admit it. I didn't put oil in it and the
car before, 3,000 miles. I waited too long.
It's like really, that's your admission.
Oh, that's beautiful. That's, that's exactly right.
You know, I think The the oh I wanted to ask you, sorry, I
wanted to ask you. So the purpose, what prompted
you to write the book? Like, why did you think?
Hey, this is a missing and I do think it's really important.
I hope people will go to libertarian Institute, I'll have
the link in the description, go to the link, check it out, he's
offering a really generously offering it in PDF form for
free. And I would also recommend to
donate to the libertarian Institute and You know, if you
find that the information valuable educational helpful,
man, please make a donation because it's this, it's that
kind of this kind of work. That's really important right
now. But what prompted you to write
the book in the first place? Well thank you for saying that
and if people it's a 318 pages, I think if you want to get a
summary the first two pages, the introduction.
And the last two pages that afterward Army trying to
summarize all the 50 essays that are In the book.
So I know people have jobs. People got other obligations or
they might be bored of it. You can get a free summary of
the book, go to the PDF and read the to introduction pages and
the to afterward pages. That is the best way to get the
gist of what of my general thesis here.
Now my thesis is simply through other people's works, so I try
making the case by saying, look, I originally was a progressive
and now I'm a Libertarian. Here are the 50 essays which
Changed my mind. And the problem is some essays
or books are like a really long. So I go well should I put all of
Boston W you know 1850s a the law.
Now, I go that sort of goes on. So what I did instead is I took
books like the most dangerous Superstition, the law by
Basquiat, no treason by Lysander Spooner.
No, right and wrong compulsion of the state by Albarn Herbert
and I just have two or three pages of my favorite quotes from
those books. So it's extremely efficient in
how you can. Remember the most important
aspects of these huge books that take a long time to read you get
10 or 20 quotes and you get the gist of what these people are
talking about. So because it was, I wanted
something that I could proudly say look, I know you guys had me
go to 12 years of your schools, and I never got to thank you,
whatever. I'm not going to ask you for 12
years of your time and then four more years of University.
What I'm going to do is ask that.
You read one book and I'm going to make it super easy to read.
I'm going to take, you know, out all the things that I don't
think are valuable. And I'm saying, this is, if I
could pick one book for everyone in the world to read, That's the
book I want to make and that's what the this book is.
So Michael malice really motivated me cuz he wrote he
organized the anarchist handbook and I go gosh there's a lot that
I really like in here but I wish you would do this.
I wish he wouldn't have done that.
This should have been shorter and this shouldn't have been
inserted and I go, how about I shut up and be the change?
I want to see in the world instead of complaining about a
guy who has done more for anarchism probably yesterday
then I ever will. So that's why I made this, that
was my general reasoning one of the questions.
I asked a lot of the people I interview on my show is, if you
could recommend one book for everyone to read, what would
that book be? And it's an attempt to everyone
hates the question, which is As a bonus because that's fun.
Everyone's oh, that's too constraining.
The problem is that when you're talking to an audience, that's
constantly getting recommended podcast to listen to videos to
watch books, to read articles to check out that they don't have
the time, but if if I recommend five or six books, they don't
know which one to start with. But if I say look there was one
book if I'd love you to read like 50 or 60 that I really
enjoy but if I just had one, here's what it is.
And for me it's That's why I created it the voluntarist and
know I love it and I love books like this because it does, it
gives you like the Reader's Digest version.
It gives you like just some really great insights.
I have my friend on Joey Wolverton and he wrote the
founders recipe, which is kind of the same idea where he's
taken the, the, the real significant influencers on the
founding fathers and, and, you know, kind of compiled them.
And Into that book. And it's a really, really
important book to see how Liberty minded they were up to a
point. Yeah.
But anyway, it just goes to show you.
I mean, any one given that amount of power, this is gonna
totally get corrupted. And I absolutely include myself
in that, I mean, just a wild, you know, caveats would be
someone like Ron Paul but even Ron Paul voted for Paul's a
hero, I love him. He's been on my show.
I'm so thankful for everything but the lesson is that even he
voted for intervening in Afghanistan a 20-year War
trillions of dollars and tens of thousands of Civilian lives.
Tons of PTSD got young kids getting their limbs blown off
and the reality is that the Taliban didn't want Osama Bin
Laden there. He was a big stinking liability.
They were ready to hand him over to any Third Country but George
Bush. Shhhh admits in his book
decision points that he only asked that to show their
Defiance to Rally the world around the invasion of
Afghanistan in hopes. It would be a quick Victory and
then they could go on to Iraq right after.
So, even like the best guy Ron Paul in the most justified War.
Since the beginning of all wars Afghanistan, we got to go in
because of 9/11, the war was unjust and whether you look at
it from the Economic standpoint or the moral standpoint, the
Afghan war. The best Wars are still unjust
and the best people still are going to make the wrong
decision. So it is why we which is why any
kind of power like that is unauthorized power.
Yeah it just is you. We have we can't think of it as
like we can't allow people to have that kind of that kind of
power over us and over, you know what we're doing.
They're there because you're right, like people get put in,
in possible positions and another lesser if there's no,
if, you know, if there's no money to steal in the on the
Shelf, you know, that money isn't going to get stolen, you
know what I mean? Like, we giving them even even
through the Constitution, giving them that power, just messed
things up and corrupted and put us into a funny.
Into a funny house that we've been fighting for, you know,
over 200 years and really I mean, that's, that's the history
of Western cultures. How do we, how do we get
ourselves out of the funny box called tyranny?
One of the most important, I should stop saying that because
I realized I say it so often it's just fake.
If it's in here I went out of my way because it's important.
But right there is an essay short article in here, Gotham
blanking on the name. I think it's called the power
vacuum argument by Larkin rose page 170.
He talks about the concept of warlord.
So it's like the idea of well, you know people can't be trusted
with that power but the reality is, is that that powers there
always has been and always will be what Larkin Rose does.
Such a good job of doing is saying thing in one way.
People are actually quite right about that, but in another way,
they are dead wrong. The only The power vacuums
exists, is because most people think there should be and has to
be a ruling class, a supreme set of lawmakers a government.
If, for example, Washington, d.c. just fell into the Atlantic
today, a new government would grow, but not because of magic
or human nature or because the universe makes them appear.
But because people who believe in Authority will keep creating
new classes, so they would literally be the equivalent of
me walking around in like a Burger, King Crown, declaring
myself king. That's right.
I've declared myself King and Biden, has declared himself,
president and King you'd think is higher than that.
So, since I've declared it, I must be calling all the shots.
The problem is, is that I wouldn't have the power simply
because I don't have general public opinion behind me.
So we just are trying to switch people's general public opinion
that democracy in the state of legitimate to the
non-aggression. Principle is the standard
default. The least you can do to have A
society, talk to me about the libertarian Institute.
What is it? And how, what's your affiliation
with the? I know you're the managing
editor, but how did, how did that come about the story
originated with Scott Horton and Sheldon Richmond.
And a guy named William Greg, they got together and just
wanted a place where they could archive all of their research
where they could send people to really get the idea of What true
libertarianism actually is. Now what it is today is a free
educational, archive is the best way to think about it.
You not only get the news or a the other side of things like
the war in Ukraine or provoking China in a war over Taiwan.
I mean, it's just unbelievable after they lose a 20-year war in
Afghanistan. They're like, yeah, we might
have to go to war with China over Taiwan.
We might have to go to Go to war with Iran, if they start
developing nukes and we might have to go to war with Russia
over dontist in luhansk. I mean, it's just unbelievable
how crazy these people are. So the libertarian Institute has
a news feed where we try to combat some of the propaganda
going on in the press and with politicians, we also have
articles that get into philosophy which give people an
important, fundamental Outlook. So, When you hear something
like, there's a new plan called the green new deal.
If you have a philosophical understanding, or a historical
understanding, which we also try to provide, you are not going to
fall for such a scam, the analogy.
I recently used was, you know, maybe there is a guy in Nigeria
who just needs a thousand dollars now.
And he'll give me at five thousand dollars once he gets
back to America. But it's such a common scam.
That is so Frequent that there's no need to even look into it,
just delete the email, it's a scam and move on.
That is the exact Outlook you will have, if you properly
understand history, you're never going to fall for these
government scams if they were so good.
And so valuable people would have funded them voluntarily,
but we'll just have a thing that you could chip into the church
is a great example of how people can voluntarily chip in, and the
poor can still get access to this thing.
That's voluntarily funded. So we're trying.
Change. General public opinion by
creating a free educational archive at libertarian.
Institute.org you got podcast, you have videos, some are five
hours long summer, 30 seconds long, we have articles, we have
blogs, we have a collection of documents relating to the
Oklahoma City incident. A lot of important research
going on lot to do with foreign policy changing public opinion
on on the big Wars 2. It's not just Iraq was a
blunder. Under that.
Just like the, the, the throwaway line that, I mean, if
someone invaded America, and was like murdering civilians and,
you know, killed the president invaded, the capital and then
killed the president and had regime change.
Would we be like us that blunder?
No Lucy. This is completely evil
psychopathy based on lies and it's theft funded and we should
be totally resisting this. So so we try not to mince words.
We try not to waste anyone's time.
Some Of articles are very short because we just want to get to
the point where as I mean if you read some of these other
websites like it's so clearly was like it has to be a minimum
of 1,000 words and they just go on about something completely,
not respecting the readers time. So libertarian Institute is a
free educational research, archive that also provides
things like what's going on around the world.
And we do our very, very, very best to respect the readers
time. That's why it's important.
Fantastic. We'll definitely check that out.
And and also check out your podcast to the do not tread on
anyone podcast and and and Keith.
This is your we're talking to Keith Knight managing editor at
the libertarian is to author of the voluntarist handbook.
I am grateful for this book. Is this such a wonderful book
in. This is definitely be in my top
books for people to get an idea. In of what the Liberty Movement
is. Oh I wanted to ask you up.
One thing you mentioned as you're describing the
libertarian Institute is is the the main objective was to try to
find out what true libertarianism is.
You know, how would you define that other than just people just
read the book. But if you were to sum that up
in a sentence or two, you know, how would you define it as a
mean or would you define it as a political philosophy or how
Define, what is libertarianism? I would say it's the moral
position which maintains that it's illegitimate to initiate
aggression against, not aggressors.
That gets to the heart of it and that I think that speaks for
itself. But the problem is that people
hear that and say, oh yeah, I'm that's something I'm totally for
and they won't appreciate that. The implication there is that
the existence of a state is What makes the state a unique
institution is that it claims the right to do that?
There's a lot of things it does. Has people in suits has
buildings funds, roads, funds, educational or schooling
facilities but that's not what makes it a unique institution.
So the libertarian simply doesn't have a double standard
for states or groups or other individuals.
And the reason that their primary motivation is because
what makes a state unique, is it claims the Right to initiate
violence against peaceful people.
A principle we clearly see is unjustified in cases of
kidnapping rape slavery theft. All of those are illegitimate
because they violate consent and that is what also makes the
state illegitimate. So that's what being a
Libertarian really is about. Its the hatred of aggressors and
the empathy. And sympathy for the victims of
aggression Always hate the bully.
That's what is your I was, oh my gosh, I had anyway.
I am grateful to have to have you on and, and again, you know,
check out the link, check out the book, The Volunteers to
handbook. What was one thing that you
maybe? As you're putting this book
together, specific to your book. That either, surprise, you or
that you learned or what was what was one thing that that
that you gained out of putting this book together and
appreciation for authors because Cuz oh my gosh I thought this
book would take two weeks to make I'm like well I already got
the stuff. I'll just go through my old
books and you know find the things I want to put in an in a
week or two I'll get it done. Maybe three weeks in case you
know something pops up. This thing took me like one year
from the day that I decided to start doing it.
Of course it's 15 years of reading and research so it
really made me appreciate the amount of effort that goes into
making a book and all the more reason to make sure that you
don't waste your time. You know, Screw everything up
with the. Well, I've put so much time, I'm
just going to publish it as it is because then people are not
going to appreciate it and then that'll ruin your reputation and
then you've wasted all your time.
So it really made me appreciate that if you put a lot of energy
and effort into something, make sure it's something that you're
really willing to stand behind because then it'll actually be
worth it. You can promote it without, you
know, the caveat of some people like it.
Some people don't, I'm just like, look, here's the reality.
You want to see through the entire mainstream media?
I got a chapter in there by dr. Michael humor, and he walks you
through 14 of the most important logical fallacies, you'll ever
come across. So even even if you say, you
come out and say, you know what, I'm not convinced of
volunteerism for whatever nonsense, excuse, people, have,
you can at least say, you know what, but those were some
interesting arguments that that was something that I didn't
consider. And how was it that the fair and
balanced media? And this unbiased media always
bragging about how other people have biases and and as opposed
to us, why isn't that? I've at least heard some of
these arguments. Why is it that, you know, they
always say monopolies are so bad and the free markets bad, it
creates monopolies and then they Advocate the state to monopolize
the money supply. So I go.
How come it's like there has to be a good answer because I mean
there's a government in every country, so surely someone's
thought of this and then you can dig for years and realize, oh my
God, there is not a good answer. One of Thomas Souls takeaways in
a book titled, black rednecks and white liberals.
He says here is the two Lessons From Slavery.
One is that people with great amounts of unchecked power will
always abuse it. So, even on a very small scale,
this is why Democrats are wrong to say what we just need the
Verde masses to have the power. Nope, it's going to be equally
as abused as if it were just, you know, fauci and Biden and
Klaus Schwab. So, the average person's going
to justify killing and enslaving, look how the average
person, justifies, Wars, or drone strikes, and then salutes
the military. It's like, yes.
When people are given that amount of power, it's it's going
to go wrong and they're going to abuse it and then justify it to
themselves. And listen, he says is how bad
things can last for so long. How really, really bad things
can apply to a lot of lot of millions of people throughout
all of history simply because people didn't care to think or
reconsider it. He said most people believed in
the legitimacy of slavery because they never really
contemplated it since the beginning of time.
But once people really started to question it, then it stays
were were numbered and people had You know, firing power to
resist, slave, kidnappers, and everything.
So that's all to say that there are examples of things that
everyone has been wrong about for a really long time.
And the answer is right in front of them.
And I think the next thing that people are going to admit that
everyone's been wrong about is the legitimacy of the state.
And I think that this book does the best job.
I did the very best job I could to, to really makeup that case.
So even if you're not convinced by it, I still try not to well
waste the readers time. Yeah, no, I agree.
The next moral Paradigm is for people to realize the
illegitimate, see of the state and that, and that, you know, I
pray that will happen sooner than later, but that I'm totally
and your and your book is a fabulous tool.
I think another important aspect of your book is it gives people
who think like us, Comfort. And here's what I mean, like
when you when you start reading the essays that you put together
and the names that, you know, from Walter Williams that Jeff
dies, rothbart, of course, you know, all these guys, you start
to put together these Powerhouse names and and realize.
And as you do your, as I've done, let me speak for myself,
as I've done my own research and realized that the really,
really, really great. Hers.
The, I mean, the great ones, the furrows, the tolkien's, the
tolstoi's, the Emerson, all these guys have at some point,
come to the realization. That some form of anarchism that
some form of volunteerism is the only moral political Theory
available preach. Yeah, good call, man.
Thanks for having me on. Do I appreciate it.
Thank you so much, Keith and I hope and man, this has been a
blast again. Check out the link.
Check out his book, The Volunteers handbook, checkouts
podcast, and the libertarian Institute, much blessings, man,
take care. Take care.
You are listening. First of twenty.
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