My dad keeps calling me a “quack” and says I’m out in space when I bring up the works of the Austrian School. I was talking to him about “Of a New Liberty” and saying how it was a great book, that he should eventually read. Then I began talking to him about how misleading Levin, Limbuagh, and Hannity are. He then proceeded to flip out and told me “I’m more than twice your age, I understand how this works, you don’t!”. He kept saying America was his team and that those conservatives commentators were far from wrong…Then, he told me go back to “reading your Area 51 shit, I don’t want to talk to you about politics”.
try to get out of the habit of talking with politics with him. He agrees with that as you quoted, “I don’t want to talk to you about politics.” Why not honor that, why threaten him? You both are only cornered, like a raccoon with no way out - that can only hurt in the end. Don’t take on what will only become more vicious, but you love him and want him to understand. Maybe it hurts your heart to see your father get stuck in what you’ve become to identify as ‘the enemy’. I’ve been in situations like this before and my one higher calling has been peace. Obviously you’re not going to convince him. And it only turns into an argument. I wouldn’t want to feel that. Been there, done that, and it hurts.
Rile against Obama to get on his good side? Tell him Beck recommended For A New Liberty ? So he reads it? You’re going to have to avoid stating it’s anarchist. That’s the beauty of that book, people don’t know that’s where it’s leading them… Haha.
Otherwise:
www.freedomainradio.com, alternatively: itunes + freedomainradio → podcasts → subscribe and scan away, downloading the ones necessary. The focus is on personal liberty, relationships, logic etc.
Honestly, let it go. I think you might have approached him about it the wrong way. Instead of talking about Rothbard and the Austrian School, you should have gently introduced him to "this really interesting conservative, Ron Paul." Or, “hey dad, you know Judge Napolitano from Fox News? He’s got a new book out.” Also, “This book I read, Economics in One Lesson, totally shreds all of Obama’s policies. You should read it.” etc. You can’t expect other people to take interest in the things that intrigue you, so you must understand your audience and shift accordingly. But really, if someone is stuck in a certain mindset and is getting that defensive about it, you should really let it go and concentrate your energies somewhere more productive.
Yes, it’s pretty hurtful. Honestly, this is why I really don’t care for the Conservative echo chamber anymore. This is exactly why I can’t stand FOX news. They have their chances to promulgate sound economics and ideas, yet they choose to vitiate minds instead. Now, we have legions of counterituitive Neo-Cons. Thanks so much.
It’s a waste of time trying to convince older people. Their mind is like cement which has been dried long ago. Not to mention that people have a strong urge to not change their views because (1) that involves a lot of thinking and (2) they would have to admit that they’ve been wrong almost their entire life.
He was actually originally very open to the Austrian School, he bought me several of Rothbard’s books for Christmas.
He respects Ron Paul but dislikes him at the same time. He thinks he’s a “one trick pony” who really has nothing more to do other than complain about the FED (which is obviously not true).
But, then as of November, I’ve really started to come out swinging with a bit of the more radical stuff.
Ending the FED, drastically reducing the Armed Forces, getting out of the world affiars, signficatly lowering all taxes if not scrapping the income tax altogether, free banking, drug laws, gun control.
(Again, this is all very approachable and it’s not like I go around parading that I’m an AnCap in my house, it wouldn’t get me very far)
Interesting. I had my conservative dad read that book and he really liked it–even agreed with much of it. He thought Rothbard’s views on abortion and roads (probably most of the anarchy stuff as well) were a little extreme, but found it interesting nonetheless.
You may achieve a small measure of success by mentioning how certain aspects of the state hurt Team America. Talk like you are more of a Team America person than Limbaugh and point out to aspects where the state the most blatantly works to its de facto detriment. For example just how little regard is paid to the national interest in its foreign policy and how the military-industrial complex actually works against the effectiveness of the armed forces, definitely mention the USS Liberty. He should be more receptive of your opinions if he feels you share his values. He will never be a Rothbardian, but maybe he can be a Buchananite.
My dad is completely opposed to my ideologies, but it doesn’t really bother me. He tends to agree with me when we talk about politics, less when we talk about economics. He refuses to read any of the books I offer him (to be fair, he has a lot on his plate, and he reads a lot of Spanish and Russian books to keep up with the languages, as he teaches them).