Right, but he also said that he didn’t think an army or a navy was necessary. The voluntary minarchist (as they call themselves) even believe in an army and a navy.
Penn & Teller: Bullshit! is on Showtime. The hold libertarian views. And they mix everything with comedy, so it’s a good and fun show to watch. Check it out!
in some ways, Glen Beck’s show could be considered more libertarian than P&T.
P&T’s show doesn’t really even take on the government that often.
The most libertarian Glen Beck shows are going to be more libertarian than any Bullshit episode. Beck had Tom Woods on. And he will mention people like Hayek and Rand
This sounds way to in favor of Beck, and it should be noted that Beck can also sound way less libertarian than Bullshit, and that Penn is WAY more of an actual libertarian. I believe a little while ago someone said he is an anarcho-capitalist, and Beck certainly isn’t. Plus Penn gets personal bonus points from me for being an atheist and taking on organized religion.
I think in terms of libertarian TV, the order goes (at the moment):
Stossel
Freedom Watch (although this could easily move into #1)
Bullshit (too many episodes on things like lie detectors, laws, astrology, dolphins, etc. to really be labeled a libertarian show. Its really a show that exposes things that is run by two libertarians)
Brian have you seen this Bullshit episode? : [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npB4XfBTICA](http://Bullshit (too many episodes on things like lie detectors, laws, astrology, dolphins, etc. to really be labeled a libertarian show. Its really a show that exposes things that is run by two libertarians) Brian have you seen this Bullshit episode? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npB4XfBTICA)
Beck (especially while a Dem has the reigns, and he is also moving more in this direction; but then again its hard for me to judge because I don’t watch him everyday, but I will catch clips of him at his most libertarian)
I’m in agreement that it would be nice to have “Austro”-libertarian views on TV, particularly a channel devoted to it.
I hate to burst people’s bubble here, but as soon as a Republican gets in the White House you can forget about Foxnews and its supposed libertarianism. Stossel will be gone, Beck will morph back into a neocon, and Napolitano will be pushed to the margin.
In the long run, a channel dedicated to libertarian economics and news analysis would draw viewers. But it can’t be someone ranting and raving, calling every president a socialist or fascist. It should be calm, level-headed, and intellectual without being pedantic. If I were a producer, I would try to call for historical documentaries crafted from a libertarian perspective, have interview/debate programs with real discussion rather than rapid-fire Hardball or O"Reilly type sound byting, and news programs with some colorful personalities.
Honestly, I think it would work, provided it doesn’t get smashed by the FCC somehow. People I talk to are fed up with the current choices.
This sounds way to in favor of Beck, and it should be noted that Beck can also sound way less libertarian than Bullshit, and that Penn is WAY more of an actual libertarian. I believe a little while ago someone said he is an anarcho-capitalist, and Beck certainly isn’t. Plus Penn gets personal bonus points from me for being an atheist and taking on organized religion.
Penn is an an-cap. I heard the word “anarcho-capitalist” out of someone’s mouth when Penn was on Beck’s show maybe early 2009.
You can also calmly drop the words ‘Austrian economists’ while being on CNBC, just like rick Santelli.
Wouldn’t an established podcast or something be easier to do than an all out network or show?
LvMI has its own podcast, and there is also the Lew Rockwell Show. But I don’t see either of these having much mainstream appeal. I mean I freakin’ love them, but I don’t see either of them hooking in many neutrals. And Lew’s podcast seems to update very inconsistently. Maybe I am missing something but there doesn’t seem to be a schedule to it. Also, they tend to be him and one other economist, and the whole show is Lew throwing out softballs.
Also, I just don’t think the podcast format, is what we should be shooting for. Sounds like a great breeding ground, like the farm system in baseball. Maybe a whole bunch of Austrians should start podcasts, and then we could take the best of the best, and start an actual satellite/internet/FM radio station. But I think the ultimate goal has to be tv. And the intermediate step in that direction is getting LvMI fellows on as guests. Its also important for there to be more and more non economists (as in professors), versed in Austrian economics. That would be the ideal, for someone who is actually a good tv host/personality to also be well versed in AE. People would listen for the entertainment and the news or whatever, but then would get a serving of principled libertarianism to go along with it.
Joe is on the same page as I am.
You need entertaining personalities, and a variety of angles to take…not just show after show with the same format.
I could see someone like Tom Woods being a great host. He is funny, and intelligent, and is a superb story teller.
I like Stossel, but he is not the most naturally entertaining guy…you feel like you are sitting in a 5th grade classroom the way he addresses an audience, like a children’s show.
Beck is very dramatic…but hey…you can’t argue success.
“LiberTV”…how about that for a channel?
News and commentary, economic analysis, history documentaries with a Libertarian view, current events analysis from a Libertarian perspective…there is a lot you could throw into the soup.
You just need the right personalities.
Imagine a 3-way talking heads show, with a conservative, a liberal, and a libertarian! There would be some interesting dynamics there.
BUT…you have to get on TV…you have to reach the apathetic or the right wing disenchanted…they won’t seek out the Libertarian view because they are barely aware it exists…but show it to them, and you can create something powerful.
I sort of touched on this earlier with my idea of what an Austro libertarian radio station would look like :
I think a tv version would work like: a wake show recapping what happened yesterday, entertaining guest hosts that can talk about any topic, maybe one being more of average intelligence, the other being more well versed, but both libertarian. Cover news, sports, weather, pop culture, politics, like everybody else but with a libertarian slant. Less of the bringing in animals to do tricks and little kids that know a bunch of presidential trivia, and more sound economics, but not hitting you over the head.
Also, I think it would be important to point out as much as possible any little success of the liberty movement. Its soooo easy to just get people angry and depressed at how much the government is ruining people’s lives, that I think even if we converted some people, they would just feel too hopeless from watching, that they wouldn’t want to tune in.
During the day, I think reruns of liberty minded tv shows/movies would work, and then have a sort of closing bell type financial show from 4-6 with financial news and what Austrian informed investors think about the goings on of the market
7 o’clock do the nightly news. Basically what happened in the world today, cover the some of the same mainstream stuff with the liberty slant, cover things that they are totally missing, and then in depth reports on either how the government is ruining somebody’s life or how people are out there fighting the good fight.
Then an 8 o’clock show every night that would be the Austrian answer to the Maddow, Hardball, Countdown, crap.
then to really throw people off, have from 9:00 to 11:00 be a big 2 hour block:
Mondays: Economics 101 (really basic micro economic concepts, clearing up myths that most economists would agree with)
Tuesdays: History (cover a period in american history and ‘tell it like it really happened’)
Wednesdays: Debate (bring on a couple folks from another side, cover one topic, and do your best to go as in depth as possible)
Thursdays: a live studio show with mostly Q & A and a panel of Austrians. (have each of the panel bring up something in a small 5 minute presentation, to sort of guide questions, but allow questions on anything)
Fridays: Libertarian movie of the week (with possibly some ‘LiberTV originals’ later)
Have a late night show with mostly activists and LvMI fellows as guests. work in some comedy. Hosted by somebody like a Penn Jillette, Joe Rogan, or Drew Carey.
weekends: go more in depth on things like ABCT, coverage of libertarian events. Then there would have to be a sort of libertarian answer to Meet the Press and those Sunday morning ‘lets tell you how the country is thinking/ criticisms of politicians political tactics’ shows. I think it would work like
This is what the mainstream media thinks is important to talk about
Here is why its not important
This is what is important
and here is why
having our own tv channel may sound pie in the sky, but look at some of the channels out there:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veria_Natural_Wellness
how many people could be watching that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Green
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_TV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIY_Network
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FitTV
“On September 1, 2001, Discovery Communications bought “The Health Network” for $255 million in cash and equity.[2]Shortly afterward, Discovery reinstated the “FitTV” name.” 255 million! holy crap. Who watches fit tv?’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soundtrack_Channel
really? the soundtrack channel?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Fishing_Network
who watches fishing on tv? there was already too much when it was on sunday mornings on ESPN2
Channel 319 on FiOS is something called “Blackbelt TV”
how much further behind could libertarianism be from these niche markets?
Joe, I like your format, but would add one more show for late night. How about something like Mystery Science Theater 3000 only showing replays of Harball or O’Reilly? LOL
Honestly, I could’ve written an entire script based off of three minutes I just watched on MSNBC.
Love this idea!
In the long run, a channel dedicated to libertarian economics and news analysis would draw viewers. But it can’t be someone ranting and raving, calling every president a socialist or fascist. It should be calm, level-headed, and intellectual without being pedantic. If I were a producer, I would try to call for historical documentaries crafted from a libertarian perspective, have interview/debate programs with real discussion rather than rapid-fire Hardball or O"Reilly type sound byting, and news programs with some colorful personalities.
You could also do shows dedicated to explaining Austrian/Libertarian economic theory, similar to popular shows on physics. Each episode could give a general overview of one particular aspect of economic theory, you could do one on the business cycle, one on money theory, on explaining exactly how the FED works, or even go into more ‘out there’ topics like how a free market would handle things like defense or law-and-order.
I’ve been on TV but it isn’t easy to say the right things because they always ask the wrong questions.