Stefan Molyneux, MA
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How Not to Achieve Freedom Freedomain Radio is the largest and most popular philos- ophy show on the Web, and was a “Top 10 Finalist” in the 2007 Podcast Awards. Please visit us at www.freedomainradio.com. The show survives entirely on voluntary donations – if you find this book helpful in any way, please donate at www.freedomainradio.com/donate.html For more free books, or to purchase a print version of this book, please visit www.freedomainradio.com/free Stefan Molyneux, MA By the same author: On Truth: The Tyranny of Illusion Universally Preferable Behaviour: A Rational Proof of Secular Ethics Real–Time Relationships: The Logic of Love The God of Atheists (A Novel) Revolutions (A Novel) Everyday Anarchy Practical Anarchy Available for free at http://www.freedomainradio.com/free Print versions available at: http://stores.lulu.com/freedomainradio For my beloved wife Christina, who teaches me all that is true, and shows me everything that is possible… I would like to thank the listeners of Freedomain Radio, whose passion, generosity and participation has made this book – and all the books to come – possible. Thank you for the gift of this time. Thanks also to my most excellent reviewers and proofreaders: the “Philosopher Kings” at Freedomain Radio. Any errors that remain are, of course, solely my responsibility. Freedomain Radio is one of the most popular philosophy podcasts on the Internet, and was a Top 10 Finalist in the 2007 Podcast Awards. Please visit Freedomain Radio at www.freedomainradio.com for more free podcasts, videos – as well as a thriving message board. The Freedomain Library, Volume 5 Version 1.0, September, 2008 Ac h i e v i n g F r e e d o m P a r t 1 2 | P a g e f r e e d o m a i n r a d i o . c o m CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 6 TRIPLE THREAT .................................................................................................................................................... 6 POLITICAL ACTION ............................................................................................................................................... 6 ACADEMIC EDUCATION ....................................................................................................................................... 7 RELIGIOUS PARTNERSHIP .................................................................................................................................... 7 FOLLOW THE… ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 THE TRACK RECORD… .......................................................................................................................................... 7 ACHIEVING GOALS ................................................................................................................................................... 8 SHOW ME THE MONEY…................................ .......................................................................................................... 8 REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................... 9 UNREASONABLE COMPROMISES ....................................................................................................................... 10 POLITICS ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 SUCCESS! ............................................................................................................................................................. 10 MARKET POSITIONING! ........................................................................................................................................... 10 NO TESTING! ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 ACADEMIA ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 ACTIONS VERSUS WORDS ....................................................................................................................................... 12 ACADEMIC VOLUNTARISM ....................................................................................................................................... 12 DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO…...................................................................................................................................... 13 THE PRICE OF ACADEMICS ....................................................................................................................................... 13 KISS THE RING…................................ .................................................................................................................... 14 FREEDOMAIN RADIO .............................................................................................................................................. 14 THE CONTRADICTION OF ACADEMIA .......................................................................................................................... 16 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS ................................................................................................................................... 17 FELLOW TRAVELERS ............................................................................................................................................... 17 PREMISES AND CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................................. 17 THE TRAGEDY OF COMPROMISE ................................................................................................................................ 18 Ac h i e v i n g F r e e d o m P a r t 1 3 | P a g e f r e e d o m a i n r a d i o . c o m THE GOAL – AND SOUL – OF AN ORGANIZATION ............................................................................................... 19 THE ADDICTION ................................................................................................................................................. 20 CLOSE COMPETITION ......................................................................................................................................... 21 METHODOLOGY VERSUS CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................... 21 ACADEMIA ..................................................................................................................................................................... 21 RELIGION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22 POLITICS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 22 VOTING AWAY THE POST OFFICE ....................................................................................................................................... 23 SUCCESSFUL PRIVATIZATIONS?........................................................................................................................................... 24 A LIBERTARIAN MAJORITY?................................ ............................................................................................................... 24 A MILLENNIAL CATASTROPHE ............................................................................................................................................ 25 REVERSING SELF-INTEREST ....................................................................................................................................... 25 A MODEST PROPOSAL…................................ ......................................................................................................... 26 FAILURE TO ACT .................................................................................................................................................... 29 LIBERTARIAN MYSTICISM ........................................................................................................................................ 29 SO – WHY DOES LIBERTARIANISM EXIST? .......................................................................................................... 31 LIBERTARIANISM AND EXPLOITATION? ....................................................................................................................... 31 PROGRESS AND ILLUSION .................................................................................................................................................. 31 ACADEMICS AND THEFT .......................................................................................................................................... 32 LIBERTARIANISM AND THEFT .................................................................................................................................... 33 THE PATH! ..........................................................................................................................................................