Words & Numbers Episode 470: Partisan Death Spiral
In this episode, we discuss false scarcity and how fear drives bad economic decisions, comparing self-sufficiency with the global benefits of free trade and the trust that arises from voluntary exchange. We examine the economics of water management, from property rights and groundwater to desalination and market incentives for conservation. We also cover corruption in sports betting, political hypocrisy in market regulation, and the populist rise of figures like Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes. We explore the decline of moderation in American politics, the failures of the two-party system, and what genuine self-government could look like in a more responsible democracy.
00:00 Introduction and Listener Mail
02:56 The Illusion of Scarcity and Economic Fear
04:14 Self-Sufficiency vs. the Benefits of Global Trade
05:11 Trust, Trade, and Peace Between Nations
08:24 Water Rights and the Economics of Groundwater
10:18 Innovation, Desalination, and Market Incentives
13:17 Sports Betting, Corruption, and the UFC Scandal
16:50 The Economics of Insider Trading
19:26 Foolishness of the Week: YouTube TV and Disney
24:05 Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Political Extremes
28:21 The Rise of Populism and the Fall of Moderation
34:03 How Social Media Empowers Extremists
45:29 The Need for Statesmanship Over Leadership
51:51 Breaking the Two-Party Grip on Power
54:08 How to Restore Self-Government and Public Trust
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