The Curious Task

Matt speaks with Colin Craig about the Canadian healthcare system, discussing its inefficiencies, long wait times, and potential reforms, while comparing it to healthcare models in other countries and offering practical suggestions for improvement. References Health Reform Now - the documentary that informs much of this conversation: Link: https://secondstreet.org/new-documentary-health-reform-now/  "Universal Health Care: What the United States Can Learn from the Experience of Other Developed Nations" Panel featuring Karen Davis Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2838163/ "The Healthcare Fix: Universal Insurance for All Americans" by Laurence J. Kotlikoff Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Healthcare-Fix-Universal-Insurance-Americans/dp/0262113147 "Cross-Border Healthcare" Link: https://www.pgeu.eu/cross-border-health-care/#:~:text=The%20Cross%2DBorder%20Healthcare%20Directive,provided%20certain%20conditions%20are%20fulfilled. "Analytical methods to assess the impacts of activity-based funding (ABF): a scoping review" Link: https://healtheconomicsreview.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13561-021-00315-1 "Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2022 Report" by Bacchus Barua and Mackenzie Moyer Link: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/waiting-your-turn-wait-times-for-health-care-in-canada-2022 "The Overton Window" Link: https://www.mackinac.org/OvertonWindow Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

To celebrate Sabine’s time at the ILS and her work with the Curious Task, we’re revisiting Sabine’s first appearance as a guest on the podcast. — Alex Aragona speaks with Sabine El-Chidiac as she explores the different ways civil society solutions help refugees succeed when they move to their new home. References from The Curious Task Episode 68 with Sabine El-Chidiac You can find Sabine's work on this topic mentioned in the podcast at Police Options here The Government of Canada’s website contains a list of all the programs under which economic immigrants are admitted into Canada. Here is some more information about the express entry pathway. As Sabine noted in the podcast, admission under the Provincial Nominee Program is dependent upon what the destination province deems to be their biggest occupational and employment goals and needs. This link provides a brief overview of the program and hyperlinks to province-specific guidelines. You can read more about the UNHCR’s Refugee Status Designation process on their website here, as well as their procedural standards here. This is the link to the Government of Canada’s guide to the private refugee sponsorship process. Sabine mentioned the work of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto to accommodate and build a community for refugees by performing fundraisers and food drives amongst the parishioners. You can read their mission statement on their website. Sabine’s article, The success of the privately sponsored refugee system, discusses some of the themes from this podcast, such as the principle of civil society, and is available for reading on Policy Options. Here is a link to the Rapid Impact Evaluation of the Syrian Refugee Initiative developed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (2016. It compares the outcomes, living standards, and satisfaction of government and privately sponsored Syrian refugees between 2015-2016. This is a link to the joint statement to the UN General Assembly by the Ministers of Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Argentina, Spain, and New Zealand speaking in favour of community-led sponsorship approaches that Alex briefly mentions on the podcast. Here is a link to the official PSR cap published by the Government of Canada. Some examples of the lobbying against PSR caps include the Canadian Council for Refugees and the Canadian Refugee Sponsorship Agreement Holders Association. Alex and Sabine discuss Danby Appliances’ CEO Jim Estill’s sponsorship and hiring of over fifty refugee families in Guelph, Ontario. You can read more about this in the article linked here. On the podcast, Sabine shares the inspiring story coming out of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia with regards to how the refugees who were once sponsored to the area eventually became systems of support for new incoming refugees. You can follow the community work for refugees in Haida Gwaii through one of their local newspaper’s website.

Alex speaks with Mark Koyama about the historical context and economic implications of the Manila Galleon trade, focusing on how monopolistic practices increased the risk of shipwrecks and the broader lessons for contemporary economics about the unintended consequences of monopoly power. References "Shipwrecked by Rents" by Mark Koyama, Desiderio Desideri, and Fernando Arteaga Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304387823001967  "The Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1505577128 "Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance" by Douglass C. North Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Institutions-Institutional-Change-Economic-Performance/dp/0521397340 "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" by Adam Smith Link: https://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN.html "The East India Company: A History" by Philip Lawson Link: https://www.amazon.ca/East-India-Company-Philip-Lawson/dp/0582073855 "Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World" by Niall Ferguson Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Empire-How-Britain-Made-Modern/dp/0141007540 "The Rise and Fall of the Spanish Empire" by William Maltby Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rise-Fall-Spanish-Empire/dp/1403917922

Summary Alex speaks with Jacob Levy about the concept of a liberal party, exploring its philosophical foundations, historical context, and touch on all of these points within the context of Jacob's article "The Liberal Party Idea" (2024). References The Liberal Party Idea by Jacob Levy: Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381323406_The_liberal_party_idea_and_American_ideology "On Liberty" by John Stuart Mill Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/34901/34901-h/34901-h.htm "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847 "The Federalist Papers" by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay Link: https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/full-text "Reflections on the Revolution in France" by Edmund Burke Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Reflections-Revolution-France-Edmund-Burke/dp/0199539022 "Democracy in America and Two Essays on America" by Alexis de Tocqueville Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Democracy-America-Alexis-Tocqueville/dp/0140447601 "Two Treatises of Government" by John Locke Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Two-Treatises-Government-John-Locke/dp/1616190345 "Political Liberalism" by John Rawls Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Political-Liberalism-John-Rawls/dp/0231130899 Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

Sabine speaks with Nathan Goodman about the complexities of border control and domestic policy, focusing on how these issues intersect with libertarian philosophy, the economic implications of immigration, and the ethical considerations of state power in regulating borders. References "The Law of Peoples" by John Rawls Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Law-Peoples-John-Rawls/dp/0674005422 "The Machinery of Freedom: A Guide to Radical Capitalism" by David D. Friedman Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Machinery-Freedom-Guide-Radical-Capitalism/dp/1507785607 "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" by Robert Nozick Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Anarchy-State-Utopia-Robert-Nozick/dp/0465097200 "The Ethics of Liberty" by Murray Rothbard Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Ethics-Liberty-Murray-N-Rothbard/dp/0814775594 "Borders of Justice" edited by Etienne Balibar, Sandro Mezzadra, and Ranabir Samaddar Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Borders-Justice-Etienne-Balibar/dp/1439906858 "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom" by Ilya Somin Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Free-Move-Migration-Political-Freedom/dp/0190054581 "Politics in Plural Societies: A Theory of Democratic Instability" by Alvin Rabushka and Kenneth A. Shepsle Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Politics-Plural-Societies-Democratic-Instability/dp/0205617611 Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

Alex speaks with Ignacio Cofone about the intricacies of privacy in the digital era, examining how personal data is collected, inferred upon, and the legal frameworks that govern these practices, as elucidated in Ignacio Cofone's book, "The Privacy Fallacy." Episode Notes: "The Privacy Fallacy: Harm and Power in the Information Economy" by Ignacio Cofone Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Privacy-Fallacy-Power-Information-Economy/dp/1316518116 "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power" by Shoshana Zuboff Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1541758005 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Link: https://gdpr.eu/ "Privacy and Freedom" by Alan F. Westin Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Privacy-Freedom-Alan-F-Westin/dp/1935439979 "Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace, Version 2.0" by Lawrence Lessig Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Code-Laws-Cyberspace-Lawrence-Lessig/dp/0465039146 "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X "The Right to Privacy" by Samuel D. Warren and Louis D. Brandeis Link: https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~shmat/courses/cs5436/warren-brandeis.pdf Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

Matt speaks with Bruce Pardy about the rule of law in Canada, implications of the notwithstanding clause, the evolving interpretation of the Charter, and the balance between individual rights and state power.  References Friedrich Hayek - "The Road to Serfdom" - https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Fiftieth-Anniversary/dp/0226320553 Discussed in relation to emergent order and skepticism of imposed rules. Magna Carta - "The Magna Carta" - https://www.archives.gov/files/press/press-kits/magna-carta/magna-carta-translation.pdf Mentioned as a historical document marking the beginning of limiting the king's power. U.S. Bill of Rights - "The Bill of Rights" - https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights Cited as a document that transferred power from the legislature to the courts in the American context. Section 33 - The Notwithstanding Clause - "Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms" - https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/check/art33.html Discussed as a controversial clause allowing legislatures to override certain rights. Adam Smith - "The Wealth of Nations" - https://www.amazon.ca/Wealth-Nations-Adam-Smith/dp/1505577128 Referenced in discussions on free markets and the role of government. John Locke - "Two Treatises of Government" - https://www.amazon.ca/Two-Treatises-Government-John-Locke/dp/1616190345 His ideas on government and individual rights were mentioned. Milton Friedman - "Capitalism and Freedom" - https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Freedom-Anniversary-Milton-Friedman/dp/0226264211 Cited in discussions about the role of government in economic affairs. Thanks Thanks to our patrons including: Amy Willis, Kris Rondolo, and Christopher McDonald. To become a patron, go to patreon.com/curioustask

Alex speaks with Rosolino Candela about the morality and dynamics of illicit markets, focusing on the transition from central planning to privatization in post-Soviet Russia and the role of property rights in shaping economic behaviors and attitudes. References: Rosolino's Website - https://www.rcandela.com/  Timothy Fry - Property Rights and Property Wrongs - https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316661727  Peter Boettke - Soviet Studies - https://www.peter-boettke.com/soviet-studies  Classical Economics - https://www.britannica.com/money/classical-economics  Constantine Menges - https://www.hudson.org/domestic-policy/an-appreciation-of-constantine-menges  Ayn Rand - Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand - https://aynrand.org/novels/objectivism-the-philosophy-of-ayn-rand/  Ludwig von Mises - Human Action - https://mises.org/library/book/human-action  Milton Friedman - Capitalism and Freedom - https://ctheory.sitehost.iu.edu/resources/fall2020/Friedman_Capitalism_and_Freedom.pdf 

Matt speaks with Matt Zwolinski about Bleeding Heart Libertarianism and the diverse perspectives within libertarian thought, discussing its history, philosophical foundations, and contemporary issues, including debates on social justice, individual rights, and the role of government. References: The BHL blog: https://bleedingheartlibertarians.com/  Hayek on SEP including his thoughts on social justice and libertarianism:  https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/friedrich-hayek/  John Tomasi and Matt Zwolinski's book "The Individualists" - https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691155548/the-individualists  Roderick Long on natural rights and libertarianism - http://freenation.org/a/f42l1.html  Eric Mack's page on Tulane U website, including works - https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/philosophy/people/eric-mack-phd  Ralph Nader on a libertarian alliance with "liberals"/progressives - https://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2014/05/21/ralph-nader  Billy Christmas on PhilPeople - https://philpeople.org/profiles/billy-christmas  A summary of American Libertarianism and consequentialism including a reference to Richard Epstein -  https://usapoliticaldatabase.weebly.com/consequentialist-libertarianism.html 

Alex speaks with Chris Coyne about the complexities and ramifications of war, focusing on the interplay between media narratives, propaganda, and the impact on civil liberties, drawing insights from Coyne's book co-authored with Abigail Hall, which is a satirical guide on war strategies and their broader societal implications. Episode Notes: Chris and Abigail's book "How to Run Wars": https://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=145    1. Bruce Winton Knight's "How To Run A War": https://www.amazon.com/How-Run-War-Bruce-Knight/dp/B000OMR1KG    2. Herman and Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent": https://www.amazon.ca/Manufacturing-Consent-Political-Economy-Media/dp/0375714499  3. Noam Chomsky's website: https://chomsky.info/  4. Alexis de Tocqueville's biography, including reference to his distinction between hard and soft despotism: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexis-de-Tocqueville    5. Otto Neurath's "Through War Economy to Economy in Kind" https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-010-2525-6_5  6. Abigail Hall and Christopher Coyne "Manufacturing Militarism: U.S. Government Propaganda in the War on Terror": https://www.amazon.ca/Manufacturing-Militarism-Government-Propaganda-Terror/dp/1503628361