The Citizen Reagan Podcast: Recent Episodes
Roy Pitchford
Between 1975 and 1979, citizen Ronald Reagan hosted a 3-5 minute daily radio broadcast. This will be an examination of those broadcasts: the history, the "current" events and the political policies.
The choice between the Free Market and Centralized Planning was a major topic throughout Reagan's broadcasts, with Reagan obviously supporting the Free Market. We look at several attempts by individuals or groups, both inside and outside of the United States, to put into place schemes for central planning (taking your freedom of choice).
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In the 1970s, it was (or it seemed) popular to be fearful of the future. The Cold War, the environment (and its related population bomb concerns), crime, drugs, the poor, stagflation, and more. One such group helping to sow that fear was the Club of Rome through their book The Limits to Growth. Futurist and physicist Herman Kahn believes they are wrong. Now, almost 50 years later, who was right?
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When Reagan was composing his episodes, he was constrained by a 3-5 minute time window. Podcasts have no such limitation. Today, we're going to take an expanded look at an 18-page pamphlet Reagan talked about in August 1979 about electrical power generation.
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When disaster strikes a community or area of the country, to whom should we turn? If you've been listening for awhile, you know my answer would not be the Federal government.
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Do we need a reminder, perhaps, of how great it is here in the United States of America? Might I suggest speaking to someone who was not born here. Reagan reads from a letter from a Polish immigrant (which I found in its entirety) and from a July 5, 1976 London Daily Mail editorial from Ferdinand Mount (which I have not found).
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The issue of gun control goes in and out of the news. The latest hot button event is President Biden's statement that at the time of the writing of the Constitution, there were already arms control laws in place. He also seemed to suggest that nukes were necessary to fight the government.
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When a government creates a "program" and creates a budget for it, how much of that money actually goes to the program and how much ends up in administrative costs or on completely unnecessary spending?
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In 1975, Reagan shared the story of the Modern Little Red Hen, but 8 years earlier, another fowl made a first appearance in theaters with a 20-minute lesson on money and economics.
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What is the history of Taiwan after the Chinese war between the Communists and Nationalists? Are there two countries (People's Republic of China and Republic of China on Taiwan) or one? Depends on who's talking. Reagan talked about Taiwan several times, mostly because Jimmy Carter is the president who ultimately severed ties with Taiwan in favor of the PRC.
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Reagan may have written the majority of his scripts, but did her perform every script? No, actually he didn't. Two scripts included in the book Reagan's Path to Victory never made it to the air, until now. I record one of these scripts and, as always, add some context and history.
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It seems to be viewed as a savior of the Earth, the electric car is going to reduce the pollution in our world and halt global warming/cooling/change (depending on when it was being written about). But, how good for the environment are they, really? Meanwhile, Reagan talks about the threat to the automobile (generally speaking) back in the 1970s.
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We've heard about the free market capitalism we never had, what makes it special, what happens when government fails to protect it and what society could look like if we embraced it. If you like what you see in it, the fundamental final question is, "What Now?" How do we go about making the change?
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So, if government isn't following the Principles of Capitalism, what would have to happen for the United States (or any country) to get back to them? What are some of the solutions? It is in this section that I feel the greatest turn towards anarcho-capitalism, suggesting alternatives to local government and the military.
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Half way though our series on The Incredible Bread Machine, with our third episode on the book. Last time, we outlined the principles of capitalism, but what happens when those principles are not followed, particularly at the government level? We're going to examine hyperregulation, taxes, rent control, big labor, the war on drugs, environmentalism and more.
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Second in the series. After part 1's history lesson, we are getting a look at what makes capitalism what it is... Three principles: Individualism, the Institution of Private Property and the Market Economy.
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You may have heard the poem The Incredible Bread Machine, but have you read any of the books (1966, 1974 or 1999 editions)? If you've enjoyed the podcast, they might be worth your time. First episode of a series.
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Reagan goes in to his broadcast to share with us the news of a movie release, but for those of us that were born after the broadcast was made, we may have never heard of not just the movie, but the real life NBA player who inspired it.
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There was a kerfuffle recently over Earth Day, Presidential Climate Policy and American consumption of red meat brought on by a graphic appearing on Fox News Channel. This isn't the first time the cattle industry has been under scrutiny. Reagan had a few words during one such time in the 1970s.
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Reagan didn't oppose the minimum wage, but he had his concerns about its unintended consequences. Let's take a look at what he said, history of the minimum wage and my own thoughts on a minimum/living wage.
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"Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico??"
I can go no further with this podcast without subscribing. I'd like your feedback to help me decide whether to continue or not. Oh, there is a Reagan broadcast and history in here too.
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Could a Soviet-style censorship come to the United States, in spite of First Amendment protections? Probably not. If censorship should ever happen, it will more likely comes from the people, not the government.
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The Kemp-Roth bill was a 1977 attempt by two Republican Congressman to lower the tax rate (and index tax brackets). While it may have failed under President Carter, it was given new life under President Ronald Reagan.
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Eminent domain has a place in our Constitution. It is a necessary power for the Federal government, but when they go too far, we have to ask where is the line between what they can and cannot do?
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Are we a country with a government which confers rights upon its citizens?
Or,
Citizens with rights which we lend to the government of our country?
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The National Dividend Plan. What was it? Would it work? Would it be supported today? Would it be supported by the same people?
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Reagan sets out to make us feel better about bureaucratic red tape... by pointing out that its much worse in the rest of the world.
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There are so many laws and regulations on the books, would it surprise us at all that sometimes they contradict each other, putting each of us between a rock and a hard place.
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The temperature of the Cold War fluxuated between 1945 and 1991. During the late-1960s and 1970s, the concept of detente was the most prevalent idea in preventing World War III.
What did Reagan think of it?
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GREEN is the new take on an 170-year-old, German cure-all remedy. Formulated for a wide variety of ailments, including, but not limited to, wealth inequality, inadequate housing, smog, fake news and the heartbreak of psoriasis.
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Supply and Demand, its a fundamental piece of economics. It is also the name given to this early broadcast by citizen Reagan. Government doesn't need to regulate the market, it is self-regulating.
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You'll understand the title once you listen.
Reagan was not fond of regulation for a number of reasons, but when Congress tried to create a "Consumer Protection Agency," he saw an unchecked encroachment on your freedoms.
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Reagan talks about (then) recently passed California Prop 13 and the opposition to it by the California AFl-CIO. Is a tax break for businesses a good or a bad thing for the populace? Reagan thinks its a good thing and I expand a little on why I agree.
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Reagan took a broadcast to talk about a couple books, one being Musings on Money by Eliot Janeway. I, having purchased the book a few months ago, offer my own review.
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Government's ability to overcomplicate life is only surpassed by its ability to waste. In 1961, $2.10 in tax revenue turned into $1 of "good works." How bad is the waste now?
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The ability to have an idea and benefit from it is rather unique in human history and it is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. That doesn't stop people from trying to end (or bypass) it.
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Reagan talks about George Meany, long-time head of the AFL-CIO and his seemingly 1-dimension thinking on solving unemployment. I talk a little about Meany and learn what a 'Phi-Beta-Kappa key' is.
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The current slogan of the Washington Post is “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” Perhaps we should be asking, who’s turned out the lights? James Burnham has some thoughts.
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Tiffany and Co has a long standing advertising block on page 3 of the New York Times, but every once in a while, they use it for something other than selling fine jewelry.
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An analysis of two commentaries that, when taken together, paint the frightening picture of the major political struggle we find America in today. The American Ideal vs Collectivism.
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It's an origin story! Learn one of the stories that sent me down this road of researching Reagan.
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There have been some long elections in United State history, but none took longer to decide than the 1974 Senate election for New Hampshire. Reagan's broadcast took place before it was finished. What happened?
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Reagan told the story of Captain Duncan Ingraham and Martin Koszta during a broadcast in 1975. Have you ever heard the story? It was important enough to be taught in school, at one point.
Is Reagan telling the story correctly? Is there more to it than he talks about? Take a listen.
Video Edition
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