The Freedom Report

Is It Time For Libertarian Christians And Atheists To Forge A New Alliance?

The first annual meeting of Christians for Liberty took place last week in Austin, Texas. The gathering was put together by Norman Horn, who argues that government has replaced God in modern society. With the rise of the new atheist movement, and it's influence within modern libertarianism, is it time for libertarian Christians and atheists to forge a new alliance? 

One of the speakers at the conference, Jason Rink, said: “One of the issues that we have when trying to enter this discussion is understanding that many people are unaware of the kind of allegiance and the way that they look to the state as a replacement for God … [Government] seeks to embody and replace some of the characteristics of God and take them on for themselves."

The Freedom Report podcast today takes on the issue of how the expansion of government welfare has come at the expense of private religious charities. Should welfare really be considered "charity" if it's taken from taxpayers by force? Also, with atheism on the rise, will secularist libertarians need to soften their approach to Christian libertarians if they want to expand the big tent and attract more people to the philosophy of freedom? 

All that and more on the Freedom Report podcast!

This Former Green Beret Has Some Incredible Stories About Politics And Growing Up In The 50's

Today’s episode of the Freedom Report podcast features a very, EXTRA special guest: Former Green Beret and father of TLR’s editor, John D. Petersen. Petersen was a Green Beret back when it meant something, during the war years of Vietnam 1966-68. And although he never had to go to that hellhole, Petersen has many a childhood friend whose name adorns The Wall.

Today’s show takes on the current issue of whether chivalry still exists, and whether it is ever OK for a man to hit a woman. Whoopi Goldberg’s recent comments on The View about the subject sparked a firestorm debate over whether women should expect that if they hit a man that they might get hit back. Petersen relates his experience growing up in the 1950′s, and whether things have changed that much in relationships between men and women.

Petersen recounts the story of the night he and his buddies went to go see a Barry Goldwater speech when he was running for president. And even though he’s a strict conservative, did he vote for old Barry? Or did he vote for LBJ?

Also, what does Petersen think of the conflict between Israel and Palestine? Does he think Israel should use any means necessary to defend himself?

And what does Mr. Petersen think of the police and authority in general? The story this old guy has to tell about this night at the drive-thru in the 60′s where a bunch of drunk cops started calling his girlfriend’s ‘whores’ will knock your socks off.

All that and more on this very special and very fun episode of the Freedom Report podcast!

There's A Good Chance This Neocon On Our Podcast Has Called You Libertarians A Really Mean Name

Lord of the Internet Trolls, Dominic Vietti appears on the Freedom Report podcast today to defend his title as the king troll of the liberty movement. As a professional roofer, Dominic doesn't do politics for his day job, but by night he emerges... to strike fear and terror into the heart of the movement. If you've participated in any libertarian thread on Facebook, you've mostly likely seen this guy there making fun, teasing, cracking jokes and calling people loons. But, to be honest, there are a lot of loonies in the liberty movement.

Maybe he's got a few good points to make after all? 

Can libertarians and neocons ever get along? And what does an outsider, who agrees with limited government in principle, think of the strengths and weaknesses of the movement as it stands? What's his take on Ron Paul (nutty) over Rand Paul (not)? How does he jive an interventionist foreign policy with a belief in limited government? Does the illuminati still stand a chance for a NWO if young people like Tiffany Madison, Marianne Copenhaver and TLR editor Austin Petersen have anything to say about it? 

Find out on this thoughtful and hilarious episode of the Freedom Report podcast! 

You're Now Free To Carry Handguns In Washington D.C.

The Freedom Report podcast today examines the issues surrounding the recent court ruling which struck down Washington D.C.'s onerous gun laws. People who have a registered firearm are now allowed to open carry in public in the capital city. The ruling also allows for those who are not citizens of the district with registered firearms to carry theirs as well, granting full reciprocity under the law. But will the District of Columbia appeal the ruling? 

Listen and find out more on the Freedom Report podcast! 

Is Rand Paul Trying To Fool Blacks Into Prosperity? (PODCAST)

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is speaking at the National Urban League Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio today on the subject of civil rights. The Mayor of Baltimore (and secretary of the Democratic National Committee), Stephanie Rawlings-Blake published an op-ed today to counter his speech with the title: "Blacks shouldn't be fooled by Rand Paul." She criticizes his position on civil rights and economic issues, claiming that his policies would harm the African-American community. Is Senator Paul trying to fool blacks with his message of personal liberty and economic freedom? 

Rawlings-Blake's key points in her column were aimed at the following issues: The 1964 Civil Rights Act, the minimum wage, Obamacare, voter ID laws, Paul's proposed economic freedom zones, and equal pay for women. In this episode of the Freedom Report podcast, we break down each issue and see if the Baltimore mayor's accusations stand up to scrutiny.

Listen to the show and see if you agree! 

Does Ron Paul Hate America?

"Ron Paul Defends Russia,” the Associated Press headline reads. Neocons are fond of painting Ron Paul and libertarians as people who hate America. If that’s not the case, then why do they sound like they do?

After a civilian airliner was shot down over Ukraine, Paul rushed to defend Putin from allegations that he was involved in supplying the missile launcher to separatist forces who may have shot down the plane. And how did this former congressman defend Russia? He did it by pointing out how America is supplying arms to the ISIS rebels who are currently destabilizing Iraq. He also directly blamed the destabilization in the region on the West, saying:

“They will not report that the crisis in Ukraine started late last year, when EU and US-supported protesters plotted the overthrow of the elected Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych. Without US-sponsored ‘regime change,’ it is unlikely that hundreds would have been killed in the unrest that followed. Nor would the Malaysian Airlines crash have happened,” Paul wrote.

Whoa, whoa, whoa there Dr. Paul. Now you’re just assuming and speculating. Not everything evil that happens around the world is because the United States intervened. I’m a non-interventionist libertarian, but I think it’s possible that foreign countries will do evil things, even if we don’t have anything to do with it. And that’s just it, logically Dr. Paul might be correct, but tactically (if the goal is to get Americans to embrace libertarianism) he’s totally wrong.

During the Cold War, The Economist magazine coined a term called “Whataboutism,” where every time something bad happened in Russia, the Soviets would say: “Well what about,” and then insert some vaguely related negative event in the West. If libertarians don’t want to sound like America-hating Russian apologists, maybe it’s time to put down the old Soviet rhetoric and adopt something a bit more palatable to the American people, at least if we care about actually having our ideas implemented.

All that and more on this incendiary episode of The Freedom Report podcast!

Bob Barr Says He'd Choose Rand Paul over Rick Perry in 2016

Former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr says that if it came down to Rick Perry or Rand Paul for President in 2016 that he's more of a Rand Paul kind of guy. The former federal prosecutor who led the impeachment of Bill Clinton appears on the Freedom Report podcast to discuss a host of issues that reflect his independent minded view of politics.

Barr takes on Georgia's recent loosening of restrictions to gun ownership, arguing that the rise of a culture of self defense will mean that less crime is more likely. Still, Barr doesn't believe that we should need such laws, arguing that the 2nd amendment is the only permit we should need to exercise our right to bear arms.

On the developing immigration crisis on the southern border, Barr backs a more thorough approach to vetting immigrants into the U.S. Host of the Freedom Report Austin Petersen poses the problem of potential security threats, while wondering if a policy that took lessons from the Ellis Island years wouldn't be a more humane approach. Barr agrees, but states that the problems of modern terror threats create a need for more secure border solutions.

Barr is running against former state congressman Barry Loudermilk, a faith-based conservative whose views on politics stem from his deeply held religious beliefs. An internal poll released by the Loudermilk campaign shows a wide lead between the two candidates who are vying for Georgia's 11th congressional seat. Can Barr pull through?

Listen to the Freedom Report below!

Concealed Carry Is Way Up, Violent Crime Is Way Down

A study done by the Crime Prevention Research Center shows that concealed carry permits are up from 4.5 million in 2007 to 11.1 million today. That 146% increase has come as violent crimes dropped by 22%. So do more guns equal less crime?

Today's episode of the Freedom Report takes a look at the fundamental right to bear arms and asks the question: Do our rights depend on the outcomes of those rights? Meaning, even if more gun ownership caused more crime, would that be an excuse to restrict those rights? Or, should our rights be fixed on principle rather than the consequences of those rights?

All that and more on the Freedom Report podcast.

Liberty & The Art Of War: Do Libertarians Need To Learn How To Fight?

WARNING: THIS PODCAST IS NOT FOR WEENIES! 

Seriously, if you don't have the guts to learn how to fight, and win, do not listen to this show. 

What did Bruce Lee, George Washington, Stonewall Jackson, Saul Alinsky and Sun Tsu all have in common? How did the Vietnamese army manage to defeat the far superior American forces in the war in Vietnam? 

Bruce Lee once said that, "Knowing is not enough. We must apply. Willing is not enough. We must do." Knowing this, is it about time that libertarians "man up" and learn how to kick some ass? 

Progressive socialists have been using the art of war for hundreds of years to bring their progressive policies into governance. Using strategies pioneered by Roman dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus, the left has managed to win great victories for big government. But can libertarians learn the "Fabian Strategy" in order to beat back the forces of economic centralization? 

This Freedom Report podcast takes a look at some of the basic strategies in the art of war, pulling from military and martial arts strategy and applying them to politics. We analyze the tactics that can help you win any battle you may be engaged in, whether it's a simple schoolyard bully or beating people like Lindsey Graham. 

Is The Texas Teen Wild Animal Huntress A-mazing Or A Maniac?

Texas teenager Kendall Jones is being attacked by animal rights activists for posing with photos of her hunting exotic wild animals. The 19-year-old has photos of her with spotted leopards, elephants, lions and hippos. Claiming that she is a conservationist, Jones defends her hunting of big game by arguing that she goes through the proper permitting process to hunt them and that sometimes these animals pose a danger to local human and livestock populations. 

So, is she a-mazing or a maniac? Listen and leave your comments below.