The Curious Task

Janet speaks with Alan Elrod to explore how classical liberalism understands the role of children in a free society. They discuss the liberal view of children as future autonomous individuals, the responsibilities of both parents and the state in their development, and how education sits at the center of ongoing ideological battles. Elrod unpacks the liberal commitment to individual flourishing and critiques contemporary efforts to politicize childhood through authoritarian or illiberal frameworks.  References “Children Are the Future: Authoritarianism, Culture War and Making Model Citizens” by Alan Elrod https://www.liberalcurrents.com/children-are-the-future-authoritarianism-culture-war-and-making-model-citizens/ “Parents, Government and Children: Authority over Education in the Liberal Pluralist State” by William A. Galston (Chapter in Liberal Pluralism) https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/liberal-pluralism/parents-government-and-children-authority-over-education-in-the-liberal-pluralist-state/4FEF2172B5BD8B088A4D0558C11E1A1B The Open Society and Its Enemies by Karl Popper https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/O/bo3619943.html Democratic Education by Amy Gutmann https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7sdfv On Liberty by John Stuart Mill https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34901 Taking Responsibility for Children edited by Samantha Brennan and Robert Noggle https://www.wlupress.wlu.ca/Books/T/Taking-Responsibility-for-Children Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask

In this conversation from 2020, Alex Aragona speaks with Christopher Freiman as he explores why you might be happier, and ultimately contribute more to society, if you choose to ignore politics. References from Episode 31 with Chris Freiman: You can purchase Chris Freiman’s book when it’s out  here You can check out the Bleeding Heart Libertarians blog here You can purchase Bryan Caplan’s book ‘The Myth of the Rational Voter’ on Amazon Canada here

Alex Aragona speaks with Graeme Thompson about Canada's evolving role on the global stage, from Confederation through to the post-Cold War era and into the geopolitical uncertainties of today. They explore Canada’s historical balancing act between major powers, its close alignment with the United Kingdom and later the United States, and its present-day challenges in maintaining global relevance amid military underinvestment and economic stagnation. Thompson argues that Canada must become more serious about geopolitics if it wants to protect its sovereignty and remain influential internationally. References “Canadians no longer take geopolitics seriously – and our neglect is going to cost us” by Graeme Thompson (The Hub) https://thehub.ca/2024-04-03/graeme-thompson-canadians-no-longer-take-geopolitics-seriously-and-our-neglect-is-going-to-cost-us/ Biography Collection: Ogdensburg Agreement and Canadian Wartime Diplomacy (Dictionary of Canadian Biography) https://www.biographi.ca/en/topics/topic-match-list.php?id=1504 Statute of Westminster (1931) – Recognized Canada’s legislative independence from Britain https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/statute-of-westminster NATO Archives: Canada's Role and Early Involvement https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_161511.htm Canada–U.S. Automotive Products Agreement (Auto Pact) https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-us-automotive-products-agreement Lament for a Nation by George Grant https://a.co/d/bnRI7Rb Canada’s Military Expenditure and NATO’s 2% Spending Target (Parliamentary Budget Officer) https://www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publications/RP-2223-010-S--canada-military-expenditure-nato-2-spending-target--depenses-militaires-canada-objectif-depenses-2-otan Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask

In this episode from 2023, Matt speaks with Iain Murray about the estrangement of conservative liberalism from identitarian forms of conservative nationalism and the intriguing alliances that may arise in the future between freedom-loving libertarians and some unlikely allies.  Episode Notes: Iain's book "The Socialist Temptation" https://a.co/d/5AUQHQp  One of Iain's articles on the subject https://cei.org/blog/european-populism-is-nationalist-conservatism/  "Do Libertarians Have a Political Home Anymore?" by Iain Murray https://www.acton.org/religion-liberty/volume-35-number-1-2/do-libertarians-have-political-home-anymore  Summary of Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillbilly_Elegy  Ezra Klein's comment on "Everything Bagel Liberalism" https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/02/opinion/democrats-liberalism.html 

Matt speaks with Franco Terrazzano about the carbon tax within the broader context of government spending, taxation, and fiscal responsibility in Canada. They discuss the impact of high government debt, the role of the federal budget, and the long-term consequences of deficit spending. Terrazzano critiques the federal carbon tax, arguing that it places an unnecessary burden on Canadians while failing to achieve its intended environmental goals, and points to some glaring instances of hypocrisy on the part of its supporters. References Axing the Tax: 100 Simple and Painless Ways to Save Money on Your Taxes by Franco Terrazzano https://a.co/d/azlHzK6  "Carbon tax costs average Ontario family $627 this year" by Franco Terrazzano (Canadian Taxpayers Federation) https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/carbon-tax-costs-average-ontario-family-627-this-year "PBO confirms carbon tax costs more than rebates" by Franco Terrazzano (Canadian Taxpayers Federation) https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/pbo-confirms-carbon-tax-costs-more-than-rebates "Carbon tax bureaucracy costs taxpayers $800 million" by Franco Terrazzano (Canadian Taxpayers Federation) https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/carbon-tax-bureaucracy-costs-taxpayers-800-million   "Cut taxes and government spending to combat inflation" by Franco Terrazzano (EnergyNow) https://energynow.ca/2022/02/news-release-cut-taxes-and-government-spending-to-combat-inflation Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask

In this episode from 2021, Alex Aragona speaks with Graeme Thompson about the classical liberal tradition in Canada, and what the evolution of that tradition has looked like. References from The Curious Task Episode 94 with Graeme Thompson A collection of the speeches of Wilfred Laurier can be found in an edited edition by Arthur Milnes, available from Amazon here. Macdonald Laurier and the Election of 1891 by Christopher Pennington can be found from Penguin House here. Graeme Thompson’s piece “Whatever Happened to Laurier” can be found in the National Post here. Graeme mentions positive and negative liberty by Isaiah Berlin, which is discussed on the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy here. The works of Adam Smith, Edmund Burke, and J.S. Mill can be read for free through the Online Library of Liberty.  

Matt Bufton speaks with Matt McManus about the philosophical foundations of liberalism and socialism, exploring how these two traditions intersect and diverge. They discuss McManus’ work on the political theory of liberal socialism, the historical tensions between the two ideologies, and the ways in which contemporary political movements reflect aspects of both. The conversation also touches on critiques of classical liberal thought, the role of the state in economic justice, and the potential for a synthesis between liberal and socialist principles. References The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism by Matt McManus https://www.routledge.com/The-Political-Theory-of-Liberal-Socialism/McManus/p/book/9781032647234?srsltid=AfmBOorDPxbjpTmpCJ2dgOznjWaxh8s53bHfYJ9odk360mjLFnf77MK_  A Critical Legal Examination of Liberalism and Liberal Rights by Matt McManus https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-61025-8  Liberalism and Socialism: Mortal Enemies or Embittered Kin? (Edited by Matt McManus) https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-79537-5 Why Socialists Shouldn’t Reject Liberalism An interview with Matt McManus (Jacobin Magazine) https://jacobin.com/2024/08/socialism-liberalism-mill-marx-moyn  Matt's portfolio on Academia.edu  https://umich.academia.edu/MatthewMcManus  Thanks to Our Patrons Including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit: https://patreon.com/curioustask

Alex Aragona speaks with James Harrigan about U.S.-Canada relations, with a focus on tariffs, trade policy, and economic misunderstandings that shape political discourse. James critiques the expansion of tariffs under Trump and challenges the idea that protectionism helps domestic industries. The conversation highlights the historical benefits of free trade, the consequences of government intervention in markets, and the flawed assumptions underlying modern trade restrictions. References James on X: https://x.com/jamesrharrigan  The Centre for American Culture and Ideas: https://thecaci.org/  The Words And Numbers Podcast: https://wordsandnumbers.libsyn.com/  "Fair Trade Encourages Free Trade" by James Harrigan and Antony Davies: https://archive.triblive.com/opinion/featured-commentary/antony-davies-james-r-harrigan-fair-trade-encourages-free-trade/  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Matt Bufton speaks with Don Boudreaux about tariffs, free trade, and the economic misunderstandings that drive protectionist policies. Don critiques the balance of trade doctrine, drawing from historical examples and economic theory to explain why tariffs harm both consumers and producers. The discussion covers the impact of tariffs on the U.S. and Canada, how politicians exploit economic misconceptions, and why a policy of unilateral free trade would be the best path forward. References Globalization by Don Boudreaux Paperback: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/globalization-9780313342134/   The Essential Hayek by Don Boudreaux Free PDF: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/essential-hayek_0.pdf   "The Case for Free Trade" by Don Boudreaux (Mercatus Center) https://www.mercatus.org/system/files/boudreaux-benefits-free-trade-ep-v2.pdf  "Don't Get Played By Protectionists" (Cafe Hayek) https://cafehayek.com/2025/03/dont-get-played-by-protectionists.html  "On America's Trade Deficit With China" by Don Boudreaux https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/on-americas-trade-deficit-with-china/  "Adam Smith Doesn't Like U.S. Trade Policy" by Stuart Anderson https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2018/07/18/adam-smith-doesnt-like-u-s-trade-policy/  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Matt Bufton speaks with Ryan Manucha about interprovincial trade in Canada, focusing on the legal and economic barriers that hinder free trade between provinces. They discuss Ryan’s book Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups, examining how constitutional law, historical disputes, and political inertia have shaped Canada’s fragmented trade landscape. The conversation explores key legal cases, the role of the Supreme Court, and potential reforms that could enhance economic cooperation across the country. References Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada's Quest for Interprovincial Free Trade by Ryan Manucha https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0228014417 Gold Seal Ltd. v. Alberta (Attorney-General) (1921) – Key legal case on interprovincial trade barriers https://www.canlii.org/t/2f2ng R. v. Comeau (2018) – Supreme Court decision on cross-border alcohol sales https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/17059/index.do Interprovincial Trade Barriers in Canada: Options for Moving Forward by Alvarez et al. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383376202_Interprovincial_Trade_Barriers_in_Canada_Options_for_Moving_Forward Provincial Red Tape Report Card by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/research-economic-analysis/provincial-red-tape-report-card Internal Trade in Canada: Case for Liberalization by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WP/2019/WPIEA2019158.ashx Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.