The Lessons So Far, Pt 2
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If you haven\\u2019t listened to the Liberty Relearned podcast in a while, I really hope you\\u2019ll listen to this one and the last. All of the major topics I\\u2019ve discussed since the inception of the podcast will be covered in a planned multi-part series. I\\u2019d like to think that the ideas I talk about are of value to the listener. I deeply value the opinions of my readers and listeners so I encourage you to share your thoughts on this episode. Your feedback is the primary way I know to make the necessary improvements and adjustments, plus I want people to feel free to add their own thoughts to what I say \\u2014 Thanks. J.P. Mac.
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- Fiscal responsibility as a conservative value. American conservatism may differ from that of other countries, but ideas of fiscal conservatism are the same everywhere.
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\\nAll federal spending in the U.S. currently is deficit spending. It is funded by either:
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\\nSelling debt, usually to foreign countries like China, giving them leverage over our economy.
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\\nPrinting money. This causes inflation.
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\\nA fiscally responsible nation gets to choose its destiny, fiscally irresponsible nations end up at the mercy of other nations, or simply disappear.
\\n \\n - American exceptionalism is real.
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\\nThe achievements of America are unparalleled in human history and are not to be dismissed
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\\nBuilding the Panama Canal, sending men to the moon, heck we even sent cars into space!
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\\nPax Americana. You would trust some other nation with superpower status? When America prospers the world is safer and also prospers.
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\\nAmerican ingenuity, sparked by capitalism and the free market is responsible for many of the modern conveniences we take for granted.
\\n \\n - Morality is necessary and matters.
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\\nIs very poorly taught, even by the religious experts whose job it is to teach morality.
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\\nIs dualistic in nature. Morality is supported by the twin pillars of life and liberty (free will)
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\\nFor believers, God\'s greatest gifts to mankind were life and free will.
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\\nEverything starts with life, and its edification
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\\nFree will is what sets humans apart not just from the animals, but the angels.
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\\nEven in a secular ethos, such as Ayn Rand\'s Objectivism, life and free will are keys to moral behavior, and neither should be sought without consideration for the other
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\\nExercising free will at the expense of life is unethical, but so so is pursuing life at the expense of free will.
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\\nPursuing rational self-interest does not mean never sacrificing for others, it means sacrificing for others must bring us happiness because of our love for those we sacrifice for.
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