HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Robert Higgs on The Decline of American Liberalism

Views:954
@ReasonVids

Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie recently sat down with the Independent Institute's Robert Higgs, the author of such classics as Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government and Depression, War, and Cold War: Challenging the Myths of Conflict and Prosperity.

The topic at hand was the Independent Institute 's reissuing of Arthur A. Ekirch's The Decline of American Liberalism, a brilliant reading of American history from a libertarian perspective that was originally written in 1955. Ekirch, writes Higgs in his foreword to the new edition, argued that liberalism (in its original 18th and 19th century meaning) "had reached its apogee...at the time of the War of Independence and that despite a certain amount of ebb and flow thereafter, the tendency was toward its decline." The result was an ongoing battle between forces of centralization and decentralization in all aspects of American political, social, and economic life. Despite writing during the 1950s, a time of wide-ranging repression of speech and the individual, Higgs says that Ekirch was far from a pessimist. In fact, his revelation of how the government routinely used crises to amplify its power is the starting point of challenging that very dynamic.

Higgs also talks about the new paperback edition of his own invaluable Depression, War, and Cold War and gives his take on the government reaction to the current financial crisis.

Approximately 10 minutes. Shot by Dan Hayes and edited by Roger M. Richards.

For audio podcast, iPod, and HD versions, go to http://reason.tv/video/show/758.html

reason
,
drew carey
,
libertarian
,
nick gillespie
,
cold war
,
ww ii
,
arthur ekirch
    Thumbnail for Tea Party Confidential5:34
    Tea Party Confidential
    ReasonVids
    923 views
    Thumbnail for Who Is a White Supremacist?7:32
    Who Is a White Supremacist?
    AmericanRenaissance
    1570 views
    Thumbnail for She wanted it to be deleted but it evolved.0:15
    She wanted it to be deleted but it evolved.
    AOU
    1528 views
    Thumbnail for WKUK Baby Traits | The Whitest Kids U'Know4:03
    WKUK Baby Traits | The Whitest Kids U'Know
    Invidious2
    12 views
    Thumbnail for Flutter Basic Training - 12 Minute Bootcamp | Fireship12:09
    Flutter Basic Training - 12 Minute Bootcamp | Fireship
    invidious
    445 views
    Thumbnail for QWERTY [Official Visualizer]  - Linkin Park3:22
    QWERTY [Official Visualizer] - Linkin Park
    invidious
    332 views
    Thumbnail for Crypto Slang You Need to Know #5: Shilling, Normies, NGMI & WAGMI Explained | Blum Academy2:16
    Crypto Slang You Need to Know #5: Shilling, Normies, NGMI & WAGMI Explained | Blum Academy
    invidious
    142 views
    Thumbnail for SOON: Officials provide update on Philly crash | FOX 29 News Philadelphia | FOX 29 Philadelphia1:00
    SOON: Officials provide update on Philly crash | FOX 29 News Philadelphia | FOX 29 Philadelphia
    invidious
    143 views
    Thumbnail for my 1st IRONMAN 70.3!! 🥈🌳 story time :) | toomuchzozo26:31
    my 1st IRONMAN 70.3!! 🥈🌳 story time :) | toomuchzozo
    invidious
    71 views
    Thumbnail for Men's Super G | European Cup Orcières Merlette 1850 (FRA) | FIS Alpine1:52:45
    Men's Super G | European Cup Orcières Merlette 1850 (FRA) | FIS Alpine
    invidious
    104 views
    Thumbnail for Having fun at the beach0:11
    Having fun at the beach
    bestofupgoat
    469 views
    Thumbnail for Billie Eilish, Carla Morrison, Cigarettes After Sex, Emma Peters, Edmofo, OMER BALIK, YA NINA, Zubi | Walker Channel1:00
    Billie Eilish, Carla Morrison, Cigarettes After Sex, Emma Peters, Edmofo, OMER BALIK, YA NINA, Zubi | Walker Channel
    invidious
    404 views
    Thumbnail for [뉴스바사삭][FULL](김종혁X서용주) 김영선, 명태균에게 세비 절반 ‘상납’? MBC 240924 방송 | MBC 라디오 시사52:49
    [뉴스바사삭][FULL](김종혁X서용주) 김영선, 명태균에게 세비 절반 ‘상납’? MBC 240924 방송 | MBC 라디오 시사
    invidious
    196 views
    Thumbnail for URGENT: These 6 Meme Coins Will Be Listed On Binance Very Soon! | Crypto Banter39:18
    URGENT: These 6 Meme Coins Will Be Listed On Binance Very Soon! | Crypto Banter
    invidious
    165 views
    Thumbnail for Timmy is based 0:58
    Timmy is based
    bestofupgoat
    599 views
    Thumbnail for Phillip Island'da Pazar Günü Her Şey Ters Gitti.. Canlı Sohbet Yayını.. | MotoEtkinlik1:45:31
    Phillip Island'da Pazar Günü Her Şey Ters Gitti.. Canlı Sohbet Yayını.. | MotoEtkinlik
    invidious
    121 views
    Thumbnail for Moon Anomaly0:26
    Moon Anomaly
    bestofvoatxyz
    659 views
    Thumbnail for Film Theory: 3 Minecraft Movie Theories! | The Film Theorists17:14
    Film Theory: 3 Minecraft Movie Theories! | The Film Theorists
    invidious
    142 views
    Thumbnail for 2005 Video Game Predictive Programming21:44
    2005 Video Game Predictive Programming
    bestofvoatxyz
    1084 views
    Thumbnail for CNC Mill for under $100 | Hyperspace Pirate18:05
    CNC Mill for under $100 | Hyperspace Pirate
    invidious
    398 views
    Thumbnail for Greg Gutfeld on Trump's Genius, Fox News After Sex Scandals, and the Power of Punk36:18
    Greg Gutfeld on Trump's Genius, Fox News After Sex Scandals, and the Power of Punk
    ReasonVids
    1006 views
    Thumbnail for How Many POIs Can You Wear, In Fortnite? | Aid0:36
    How Many POIs Can You Wear, In Fortnite? | Aid
    invidious
    87 views
    Thumbnail for Diversity hire refuses to do their job1:01
    Diversity hire refuses to do their job
    bestofupgoat
    288 views
    Thumbnail for Prepare For The Worst: Part 2 | Live From The Lair21:13
    Prepare For The Worst: Part 2 | Live From The Lair
    Terrence Popp
    1409 views
    Thumbnail for How Donald Shoup Will Find You a Parking Spot6:50
    How Donald Shoup Will Find You a Parking Spot
    ReasonVids
    900 views

points

Permalink
Reply
reason
,
drew carey
,
libertarian
,
nick gillespie
,
cold war
,
ww ii
,
arthur ekirch
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle