I think it is fair to say that many people are fatigued with politics today. Americans are bitterly divided, and people have become entrenched, viewing politics as a death-match between left and right, liberal and conservative, Democrat and Republican. These traditional narratives provide no hope, no excitement, and no enthusiasm. They have become incredibly toxic and shown an increasing willingness to gamble our Republic away by playing dangerous power games against one another.   But there is a large majority of Americans that are put-off by this division and would welcome a new unifying message. Someone just has to go through the work of creating that message and starting new conversations. That is what the Galloway Institute exists to do.   We are determined to build a new and exciting political narrative that can restore our Unity and provide a new hope for the future of American politics.

With the recent uptick in Civil War rhetoric, Jeff and I thought it might be wise to reflect back on the brutal nature of civil wars and the moral imperative to avoid them at all costs. To assist in this effort, we will turn to an Ancient Greek historian named Thucydides and focus on several passages detailing the Corcyraean Revolution. In the opening years of the Peloponnesian war, the island of Corcyra was engaged in a horrific civil war between Democrats and Oligarchs.   Thucydides tells us how "Both sides were engaged in butchering those of their fellow citizens whom they regarded as their enemies…Death thus raged in every shape; and, there was no length to which violence did not go."   From our reflections on the Corcyraean Revolution, we hope to steer people away from escalating the political divide and encourage moderating any hostile, uncompromising opinions of their fellow citizens. Politics is the challenge of figuring out how 330 million different people can live together happily in the same society; civil wars represent a total failure in this challenge. Once we grasp the true nature and moral hazards of civil wars, it should be clear that unifying with your fellow citizens is a whole lot easier than trying to subvert and destroy them.

In Episode 15 of the Galloway Institute podcast Jeff and I discuss the Fall of Donald Trump.   The 45th President was the focal point of much controversy over the past four years. After a heated election, millions of Americans were left feeling that their concerns over election integrity were not taken seriously and left unresolved.   Things came to a head on January 6th in what will henceforth notoriously be referred to as the Capitol Siege. Since that day, a torrent of angry and malignant passions have convulsed the American people, putting tremendous strain on our national Unity and the integrity of our Constitutional Republic.   It is important to understand that politics isn't a battle against your fellow citizens but a battle against time. The goal is unity and figuring out how to live together peacefully despite our differences.   But as long as we believe victory requires defeating the rival party and imposing our will upon each other, our politics will continue to be pushed up against the Rubicon. Hopefully there is no Caesar lurking in our midst.

Today we wrap the year 2020. There's an old Chinese proverb that proclaims “I hope you live in interesting times” and whether that means good or ill, I think we can all agree that 2020 was interesting, to say the least. Keith and I realize this year have been trying for everyone on many different levels and while we talk about the craziness of COVID-19 and the chaos of the election, we also talk about how we believe that this year showed that a new political narrative is necessary to unify people across the political divide. Keith and I thank you for listening and we look forward to your support in 2021. So without further ado, let's talk politics, because ideas have consequences

Today Keith and I dive into the most pressing of current events, the ongoing struggle in the presidential election. We talk about the most recent news regarding the election, before diving into a couple of different scenarios around the election itself, including a lively discussion of what Trump would do if voter fraud was proven as fact. We will also discuss the possibility of a new political party rising with Trump at the lead, and how that would affect political power in America.   So let’s talk politics because ideas have consequences. 

In Episode 12 of the Galloway Institute Podcast, Jeff and I discuss the Cold Civil War currently consuming American politics. It is important to remember that politics is the challenge of how many different people can live peacefully together. Today, we are really struggling with this challenge because people are divided on fundamental issues.   As a result; politics has become an incredibly sensitive and emotional matter. People are losing respect for one another; resentment is today's prevailing feeling. Healthy political rivalry has devolved into ideological warfare and vicious contests for power are starting to tear society apart. This is the cold civil war. A struggle of some sort is inevitable, and the million-dollar question is what will be the consequences of this great political divide?   We conclude with our routine appeal, to anyone who is willing to listen, that our Unity is a moral imperative. We discount whoever may suggest even a suspicion that our Unity should be abandoned and frown indignantly upon any attempt to alienate any portion of the country from the rest.   I hope you find something meaningful listening to this show, please let us know what you think.

In Episode 11, Jeff and I explain how we hope the Galloway Institute can inspire people who feel politically homeless. Ultimately, we are the master's of our own fate. If we want healthier politics, if we want to bridge the political divide, and become a more unified people, then we need to be ambitious, step up, and lead.     All too often, liberty minded voices get stuck in the commentary trap. Rather than stepping up to lead, many get too comfortable taking their ques from their opponents and just complain on social media. Our hope is that the Galloway Institute can fill this strategic gap and one day provide real leadership to advance the ideas of individual liberty and constitutional government.   We conclude by going back to Ancient Athens to contrast the great statesman Pericles with the destructive Demagogue Cleon. In this discussion, we try to highlight how good leadership is tied to how well we understand the proper ends and means of politics.   So check out our show, let us know what you think, and as always, we appreciate your support. Chapters: [0:00] - We Are The Masters Of Our Fate [21:30] - The Political Commentary Trap [30:21] - Organize Your Political Views [40:31] - Pericles v. Cleon: Thoughts on Political Leadership [1:00:43] - Death by Demagogues: The Tragedy of Ancient Athens [1:06:26] - Is the Libertarian Party Legit?  

Episode line-up: [0:00] - Biden-Harris Paternalism We discuss how paternalism is fundamentally flawed and repugnant political philosophy, and why the Individual must always exist at the center of this relationship.  [7:34] - Democrats Demand Medicare For All When faced with the question, "how do we provide the highest quality healthcare to the greatest number of people?" many immediately point to the need for a single payer, medicare-for-all system. Can we help remedy the inequities and suffering of existence without creating massive government programs? [17:07] - Democrats Demand Student Loan Forgiveness Democrats sound off on an ambitious policy to forgive $1.6 trillion in student loan debt. In this renewed wave of enthusiasm, tribal partisans are displaying an eagerness to act but an unwillingness to try and understand why we got into this situation in the first place. [27.12] - The Great Compromise: Student Loan Crisis The student debt crisis presents an opportunity for statesmanship and great political compromise. Republicans should support the abolition of all federal student loans in exchange for completely ending the federal government's involvement in education. [33:58] - Educational Industrial Complex The Federal government's experiment in education has failed the American people. We explain how the Education Industrial Complex got us to this point. [43:22] - COVID-19: People Are Easy to Lead, but Hard to Drive Dr. Fauci comments on how the American people's independent spirit is getting in the way of medical efforts to combat COVID-19, and suggests that it is now time for you to "do what you're told." This independent spirit Dr. Fauci bemoans is at once the safeguard and glory of the American people. We are easy to lead, but hard to drive. We have submitted to the leadership of medical experts and made unprecedented scarifies to our way of life over the past nine months, but we will not be driven by medical experts to give up on living. It's one thing to tell people to wear masks and practice social distancing, it is a whole different thing to tell self-respecting people to cancel Thanksgiving. [49:34] - COVID-19: Maintaining Federalism When nations are struck by a crisis, fear often creates a desire to consolidate power and authority. Surprisingly, state governments have so far taken the lead in our response to the COVID-19 crisis, and the principle of federalism has held fast. Will we see more national decrees under a Joe Biden administration?  [54:47] - COVID-19: Separation of Powers on the State Level A free people cannot live under indefinite executive decrees. At some point, governors need to invite the legislative branch into the discussion, so the people can voice can be reflected in each state's COVID response strategy. [59:52] - COVID-19: Civil Disobedience Governors, after nine months into the pandemic, are still excluding the people's representatives from having a say in shaping the state's COVID response strategy. Furthermore, some governors are refusing to back down even after the judicial branch rebukes their authority as unconstitutional. Inevitably, as people continue to live under indefinite executive decrees, instances of civil disobedience and non-compliance will become more frequent. [1:04:12] - COVID-19: Hypocrisy Over the past nine months, executives across the nation have been issuing executive orders. From declaring some businesses non-essential v essential to curfews, to this and that. Executives don’t seem to be taking the pandemic seriously as they are constantly violating their own rules. If leaders want the people to take the pandemic seriously and are demanding the people to sacrifice so much, at the very least they should lead by example. 

Episode Line Up: [0:00] - Election Update The 2020 Presidential Election is still very much alive. Tensions are high, and each side is clinging to contradictory narratives. On the one hand, Biden is the undisputed victor, he is now the President-elect, voter fraud is either inconsequential or a conspiracy theory, and Trump refusal to concede is an existential threat to American democracy. On the other hand, people believe Trump had his reelection stolen from him by the same crowd that has opposed him at every step since ascending to the Presidency in 2016. We discuss and try to find the correct disposition to have as we continue through this turbulent election.  [17:12] - Political Metamorphosis Are you frustrated with the broken state of American politics today? Tired of the partisanship and power games? We are too, but in order to start a successful new narrative, we need to be open to accepting a new understanding of politics.  [26:45] - Rising to Political Maturity Many are entrenched in the belief that politics is nothing more than a power game between competing ideological tribes. Political maturity is attained when we start to view politics instead as a challenge to figure out how we can live happily in a society alongside other people. [41.49] - The Importance of Political Maturity The importance of political maturity is quite obvious. Will your country be successful if people are bitterly divide, ideologically possessed, and resent each other? Odds are your country will be more prosperous, free, and happy if people are united on fundamental issues, tolerant of opposition, and ultimately just respectful of each other. [46:49] - Thoughts on the Electoral College A viewer from our audience asks us to opine on the Electoral College. Specifically, the pros and cons of the current electoral system compared to a national popular vote. [58:18] - Biden's Unity Message A viewer from our audience asks us to compare our calls for Unity under a new political narrative with Joe Biden's call for Unity under his new presidential administration. While Joe Biden is calling for unity under his power and leadership, we are calling for unity to bridge the ideological divide that will continue to exist among the American people, despite whoever comes out on top of this election.  [1:03:31] - Thoughts on a Multi-Party System A viewer from our audience asks us to give our thoughts on the probability of a multi-party system in the future. Starting a new successful political party not only requires popular support, but strategic genius. It's not impossible, but we are a long way from displacing the Democrat and Republican parties from their chief role in our politics today.