t h e s c h o o l s u c k s p r o j e c t
EDUCATION EVOLUTION
American History..."F"ed (8-Part Series)
024: American History "F"ed - Introduction
Critical Thinking Question:
How does that which is completely illogical and completely immoral
transform...
into what is completely acceptable?
into what is even completely preferable?
and, believe it or not, into what is unquestionably sacred?
Topic:
The purpose of the American History curriculum in government school SEEMS to be two-fold:
1. Build up a mythology about America and government when we're most impressionable
(Grades 1-6)
2. Make history seem so boring and pointless that we never want to learn anything else about it again (Grades 7-12)
025: The Way
Critical Thinking Question:
In school we are led to believe that we are all living in someone's ideal vision of what society should be...
But who's vision is it?
And what were their ideals?
And all things considered, does this even matter?
Topic:
Truth, justice, and the American way...
What is this way? Where does it come from? And where does it lead?
026: American Idol Worship
Critical Thinking Question:
How does the supposed mistreatment of a piece of cloth by the owner of said piece of cloth become a more serious offense than the violation of the property rights of the owner of this cloth?
Topic:
The Pledge of allegiance. Enough said.
IDOL
1. An image used as an object of worship. A false god.
2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.
3. Something visible but without substance.
[Middle English, from Old French idole, from Late Latin dlum, from Greek eidlon, phantom, idol, from eidos, form; see weid- in Indo-European roots.]
027: Let's Make A Hero! (Abraham Lincoln)
Critical Thinking Question:
How compelling could a mythology be if it didn't have any gods?
Topic:
Honestly, Abe...aggression doesn't solve problems.
The truth about the greatest American (government school) hero.
Gardner Goldsmith of Liberty Conspiracy Podcast joins me for this discussion.
028: Let's Make A Hero! (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Critical Thinking Question:
You know that light at the end of the tunnel that political leaders are always pointing at...
Telling us to be hopeful about...
Directing us to follow them in that direction...
What if that distant illumination is actually the headlight on a big, dirty oncoming train with no brakes?
Topic:
A continuation of the previous topic. Gardner Goldsmith (Liberty Conspiracy) and I switch from the legend of Abraham Lincoln to the legend of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We talk mostly about WWII, but I've included some additional audio covering the New Deal and Social Security - the lasting effect and current implications of FDR's policies.
029: The War On Fire
Critical Thinking Question:
What would you think if you saw an arsonist running back to the scene of their crime moments later...with a fire hose?
Topic:
Ian Freeman of Free Talk Live joins me to address the myth that government solves problems. We explore the phenomenon of unintended consequences, using the so-called 'war on drugs' as a case study.
The Formula:
...the use of force
leads to
perverse unintended consequence
leads to
new problem
leads to
demand for government action
leads to
the use of force...(repeat)
035: Problem! Reaction!!! Solution?
Critical Thinking Question:
Statism appears to be only example of a system of ongoing attack and predation where the aggressors seem to be more fearful of victims than the victims are of the aggressors. How do the aggressors manage these fears?
Topic:
An email from a listener gets me thinking about conspiracy theories. We'll divert our attention from the roots of the tree I like to think we're chopping at, to jump down a nearby rabbit hole. Let's see where it takes us!
-Vietnam
-Iraq and 9/11
-Climate Change
-Health Care
-19th Century German "Philosophers"
041: The Natural State - Series Conclusion
Critical Thinking Question:
Imagine if we all woke up tomorrow and all government was just...gone. What's the worst thing that could happen? And how would statists feel about this most catastrophic outcome?
The answer might surprise you.
Topic:
The three most persistent myths throughout history:
1. The State is essential for the survival of the human race
2. Slavery is essential for the prosperity of all societies reliant upon agriculture
3. God and religion are essential for establishing morality
Two down, one to go.
