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Half-Hour Liberty Hour

Join Brett and Rob as they explore libertarian topics from behind the iron curtain of the People's Republic of Portland Oregon. Each half hour show covers a range of political thought, philosophy, history, current events and alcoholic beverages.
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Half-Hour Liberty Hour
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Now displaying: Category: Liberty
Sep 13, 2023

As firsts go, this is a new one for Half-Hour Liberty Hour, a solo episode from Brett. In this new mini-series, titled “Brett's Bemusings”, Brett will discuss various topics that are either in the news, concerning his beloved Portland, diving into the culture war, or just whatever is on his mind at the moment.

In this first part of a two part episode, Brett discusses culture and the culture war, laying out definitions and the importance of culture. Brett discussed how politics is downstream from culture, what culture is, and what shapes our culture.  Brett finishes this episode discussing our current cultural deterioration.

Nov 29, 2020

In this episode, Brett and Rob discuss the recent election in Oregon, including the mayoral race in Portland, a specific Metro Council commissioner race, and a bond issue. They also discuss the now world-famous ballot measures to legalize psilocybin mushrooms and decriminalize street drugs. There is also an Easter Egg in the episode, so please listen for it.

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Beer

New rants are to come, but recording has been delayed to issues outside Rob's control. He'll speak more of it when they are recorded and released.

Jul 31, 2020

WE'RE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! And snarkier than ever.

After a prolonged absence, the Dynamically Drunken Duo have returned. Were they hibernating? Did Brett run off to join the circus? Was Rob committed to an insane asylum?

In this episode, Brett and Rob discuss the following:

  • Where the heck they've been
  • The murder of George Floyd and the riotous response
  • The murder of Breonna Taylor
  • How the Corporate Media has been lying about the protest and riots
  • What is really happening in Portland

Sit back, relax, have a drink if you are able to, and listen to the guys for the first time in a while.

This episode's drink of choice: Water?!?

Yes, the episode was recorded in the late morning Pacific time, so there is unfortunately no drinking in this one.

Jun 7, 2019

Rob actually managed to get a day off from work, so he set about clearing out the archives. This episode was originally recorded in late November 2018.

In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, Brett and Rob discuss the results of the recent statewide election in Oregon and the local election in Portland (SPOILER ALERT: It went badly for liberty lovers). The guys discuss:

  • The reelection of "Corrupt Kate" Brown as governor
  • The Super-Majority now held by Democrats in the state government
  • OR Measure 102 Bonds for affordable housing
  • OR Measure 103: Ban on grocery and soda taxes
  • OR Measure 104: Change tax raising threshold from 3/5 to 2/3
  • OR Measure 105: Repeal of Oregon's Sanctuary State status
  • OR Measure 106: Banning public funds for abortion
  • Portland Measure 26-201: Gross revenues tax
  • The state of Oregon suing the President of the United States

It was almost as if the Dynamically Drunken Duo were looking into a crystal ball in this episode. Since the turn of 2019, the Oregon Democrat Super-Majority has completely gone off the rails. From new taxes, to massive unfunded mandates, to weak PERS reform, to the nation's first statewide rent control law, there is nothing to stop this out-of-control government. Oregon has set its path, possibly irreversibly, toward bankruptcy and economic collapse.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Nullification by Tom Woods

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

May 31, 2019

Recorded in February 2019 while Rob was home for jury duty (no worries...when he explained what an Anarcho-Capitalist is, he was removed from the jury pool).

In this episode of refuting stupidity, Brett and Rob lay into the stupidity of the Green New Deal, proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They originally recorded 90 minutes of material, and Rob had to chop it down into around 30 minutes. They guys point out the stupidity of the GND and the solutions to solving all of the issues that the GND attempts to solve. The guys hope you are sitting down and having a drink with us on this one.

Brett's microphone had trouble during this recording. Rob has done his best to make repairs, but Brett still sounds like he's speaking over a telephone. Our apologies.

Feb 1, 2019

This bonus episodelet was promised to you in the liner notes from Episode 029 - Why Capitalism? This is a segment that was cut for time. In this clip, the Dynamically Drunken Duo honestly assess the few weaknesses they find in capitalism:

  • There is no social safety net
  • You can lose everything
  • Derivatives exist
  • Government involvement

Brett and Rob concede that capitalism is not a perfect economic system, but it surely is the best one that has ever been discovered. Even though they identify four weaknesses, they will defend the true free market (one that has no outside interference from the State) until their last breaths.

Jan 25, 2019

In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, the Dynamically Drunken Duo change things a bit with a beer-focused episode. Using Charlie Papazian's Unspoken Passion recipe, Brett and Rob walk you through the basics of making a batch of homebrew. Although they forget to discuss some very important issues when making beer (such as proper cleaning and sanitation, the equipment necessary for brewing, etc.), hopefully you are pushed into experimenting with homebrewing yourself by this episode. And of course, they have to talk about politics. In this episode you will learn:

  • How beer saved the world
  • The (very) basics of homebrewing
  • What has been going on in the lives of Brett and Rob since last summer
  • How homebrewing can help lead you to living a more liberty lifestyle
  • A brief history of homebrewing

So sit back, relax, have a beer if you can, and maybe you'll be inspired to start homebrewing yourself.

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Beer and lots of it (Ninkasi Total Domination IPA)

Jan 18, 2019

This bonus episodelet was a segment cut for content from Episode 029 - Why Capitalism? In this very short segment, Brett and Rob discuss how the price of mass storage has greatly dropped since the mid-1990s (and Brett even makes an allusion to the 1980s) because the free market controlled the prices, not the State. Even though the Internet is never mentioned, the only way that your devices became ubiquitous is due to the cheap price of mass storage. You can thank capitalism for the device on which you are listening to this episodelet.

Jan 11, 2019

Can you believe it? A new episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour? Say it ain't so!

It is so. Rob has finally had a couple of days off from his new job and found an episode the Dynamically Drunken Duo recorded while he was on vacation in July 2018. It's the guys' first remote-recorded episode, and boy did it take some time to edit. They think you'll like it. There are two more episodes, both recorded when Rob was briefly in Portland in November 2018, that are due to be edited and released in the future. Keep an eye out for them.

In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, Brett and Rob discuss why any trade war, especially one with China, is a bad idea. They lay out the reasons from both economic and social perspectives, with a heavy emphasis on liberty (would you expect anything less?). So sit back, have a drink if you can, and listen to why America will never survive a trade war.

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Bacardi Silver Rum

Aug 1, 2018

July was vacation month. Brett was gone at the first part of the month, and Rob was gone in the middle of the month. Thus, Half-Hour Liberty Hour was on a brief hiatus. However, the guys are back with a new full-episode that is longer than usual.

In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, Brett and Rob discuss small ways in which you can start living a liberty lifestyle. The Dynamically Drunken Duo touch upon the following major ideas:

  1. Start Living Austrian Economics
  2. Create Your Own Goods In Order To Consume Less
  3. Learn To Say "No"
  4. Practice The Non-Aggression Principle In Real Life

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Jun 26, 2018

In this episode of refuting stupidity, Brett and Rob lay into the stupidity of Oregon Ballot Measure 43, which will be on the state's direct democracy ballot come November. It is a gun confiscation measure that has California's legislature looking with green-eyed envy across the border. In their usual bombastic way, the Dynamically Drunken Duo explain what the bill covers, they types of firearms that each section is seeking to ban (with actual examples), and why this is stupid. You're going to need a drink to listen to this one.

Jun 1, 2018

This is the promised Part 2 to Episode 030 - Is This The Worst Leader In American History? (Part 1). If you haven't listened to Part 1, don't spoil the surprise by listening to Part 2 first.

In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, the Dynamically Drunken Duo tackle who they believe is the worst leader in American history (and it may surprise you). Brett and Rob explain the egregious Constitutional violations committed by this president, citing article and section of the document, and give the reasons why he did what he did.

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

 

May 29, 2018

What? A release on a Monday? Memorial Day, even? Yes. In a first, the guys recorded so much material for this episode that it could be split into two full episodes. The second half is slated for release later this week. Hopefully it sounds OK as Rob has been rage-editing whilst crying in his beer over the Champions League Final (he doesn't want to talk about it...).

In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, the Dynamically Drunken Duo tackle who they believe is the worst leader in American history (and it may surprise you). Brett and Rob spend this episode busting a lot of myths concerning the man's actions leading up to his presidency and the time period just prior to and during his first year in office? Who is it? You'll have to listen to find out.

Shout-outs In This Episode:

  • Matt in Wisconsin
  • Levi in Kentucky

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

May 17, 2018

Two bonus episodelets on the same day? Say it ain't so...

This bonus episodelet was a segment cut for time from Episode 028 - Oregon, Have You Lost Your Mind? Brett and Rob discuss Oregon's Senate Joint Memorial 201, which is a resolution begging the General Government to ban firearms based upon scary-looking components, ban bump stocks, ban "ghost guns", expand the definition of firearms to include non-firearms, and ban our universal right to defend ourselves in the manner we choose.

Brett and Rob completely destroy the Memorial using logic, which is in short supply in the Oregon legislature. The really funny thing is, the state of Oregon could choose to ban all of these things within the state, but once again they pass the buck because they know that if they enacted these measures, it would cause 2/3 of the state to secede. Secession is a beautiful thing...

May 17, 2018

A twofer today. These segments were cut for time from Episode 027 - Common Objections From The Christian Right. Brett and Rob discuss how legislating morality can come back to bite you in the end, and how Rob taught his students how to think about making ethical decisions, as well as a discussion of Christians in the military.

It's a good thing The Sexton was flowing...

May 8, 2018

In this episode of refuting stupidity, Brett and Rob lay into the stupidity of the "young adult-led" gun control/confiscation movement since the Parkland shooting. The Dynamically Drunken Duo tear into the movement and the money behind it; Rob gets diarrhea of the mouth when comparing these children to the suffragette movement of the 1910s; Brett calls out David Hogg by name; Morpheus and Neo make an appearance; and the guys drink a lot while pointing out the stupidity of these children and the movement.

May 4, 2018

In this alcohol-fueled episode, the Dynamically Drunken duo step away from their beloved whisky and consume brandy, a high-fallutin' drink for this high-fallutin' topic. What is that topic? Capitalism. Brett and Rob explain true free market capitalism and defend it from common complaints. They admit that there are some downsides to it (those will be released in Bonus Episodelet 017), but defend it as the best economic system that we have yet discovered.

Sit back, relax, have a drink if you can, and listen to a very simple explanation and defense of capitalism.

Resource Mentioned In This Episode:
Tom Woods Show Episode 987 - "Price Gouging" Is Urgently Necessary

This Episode's Drink of Choice: St-Remy VSOP French Brandy

Apr 21, 2018

In this local episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, the Dynamically Drunken Duo tackle Governor Kate Brown's diminishing popularity, as well as some new laws proposed and passed by the Oregon legislature recently:

  • Senate Bill 1512 (Electoral Votes Go To Popular Vote Winner)
  • Senate Bill 1529 (Taxing Repatriated Money From Overseas)
  • Measure 101 (Taxes on Health Insurance Companies and Hospitals)

You may also notice that Brett mentions Senate Joint Memorial 201. That segment had to be cut for length and will be released in the future as Bonus Episodelet 015.

Sit back, relax, have a drink if you can, and listen as Brett and Rob rant about the continuing stupidity of the Oregon government.

This Episode's Drink of Choice: Maker's 46 Kentucky Bourbon Whisky

Apr 5, 2018

Although normally released on Mondays, this episode of Refuting Stupidity is coming out on a Thursday in order to shorten the backlogged queue of recorded material that Rob is trying to edit his way through.

In this episode of Refuting Stupidity, Brett and Rob discuss the stupidity involved in a letter to the editor of the Oregonian newspaper from 3/10/2018. The Dynamically Drunken Duo make fun of the author, who is complaining about changes to a tax he doesn't even pay, and then talk about how the government lied about the application of the tax, how the arts can be and always were privately funded, and what you get when the State funds the arts.

Letter to the Editor Source: Lifting the Arts Tax Cap

 

Apr 4, 2018

As promised last month, in this Bonus Episodelet, cut for time from Episode 027 - Common Objections From The Christian Right, Brett and Rob dig into the highly controversial subject of Israel. They deftly slay the myth that libertarians are anti-Israel by distinguishing biblical Israel from the modern nation-state, that libertarians aren't anti-zionist or anti-semitic because they have valid criticisms of Israel, and that libertarians are anti-aggression no matter which country is behind it. As a bonus, you also get to learn about theological terms like eschatology and dispensationalism. It's a good thing that the Sexton was flowing...

Rob would like to apologize for not publishing any material for the past three weeks. It was some of the most stressful time of his life (he had to move into a new place). He doesn't know how he survived last week without having a mental breakdown. Keep an eye out for some Refuting Stupidity episodes, and there are also two other full episodes waiting to be edited. As he is currently on a road trip to see friends and family (and apply for jobs, if the State of Oregon is reading this), he hopes to make some time to get more content released.

Mar 12, 2018

In this episode of Refuting Stupidity, which was recorded in September 2017, Brett and Rob discuss the stupidity involved in a letter to the editor of the Oregonian newspaper from 9/11/2017. The Dynamically Drunken Duo shred the letter writer's opinion that the First Amendment does not allow people to discriminate in their business dealings.

Letter to the Editor Source: Using First Amendment to Discriminate

Mar 9, 2018

The Dynamically Drunken Duo get all religious on ya.

In this alcohol-fueled episode, Brett and Rob, in the spirit of Episode 017 - Common Objections from the Right, are back and slaying common objections from the Christian Right. They tackle:

  1. Libertarians will let drugs flood our streets
  2. Libertarians are immoral hedonists
  3. A libertarian society would let sexual immorality run rampant
  4. Libertarianism is un-Christian
  5. Libertarians are all pro-choice
  6. Libertarians are anti-family
  7. Ron Paul and his supporters are like a cult
  8. Jesus was anti-individualist

Don't worry, the guys didn't ignore the big-I issue (Israel). That segment had to be cut for time from this episode, but it will be released in a few weeks as its own bonus episodelet.

Resources Mentioned (or alluded to) In This Episode:

This Episode's Drink of Choice: The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey

 

Mar 7, 2018

In this Bonus Episodelet, cut for time from Episode 024 - More Liberty Definitions, Brett and Rob dig deeply into the Anarcho-Communists. Rob details the dualism of Anarcho-Communism, how the twain should never meet, how it appears to be agitating for a GBIG, and how it does not believe that there can be an objective measurement of labor productivity. If Anarcho-Communists get their way, productivity drops to nil, and you cannot be downsized for lack of work. It's a good thing that the Bulleit is flowing...

Mar 5, 2018

In the inaugural episode of Refuting Stupidity, which was recorded in September 2017, Brett and Rob discuss the stupidity involved in the standing for the flag controversy, most commonly found in the NFL. They talk about why it is stupid, who is being stupid, and whether they choose to stand for the flag or not and why. This has turned out to be a rather controversial topic for discussion, and the Dynamically Drunken Duo know that they may wind up angering people with their opinions. Have a listen with an open mind and emotions in check, as the guys are going to get controversial.

Feb 28, 2018

In this Bonus Episodelet, cut for content from Episode 022 - Dammit, Oregon, Knock It Off!, Brett tells his inside story about former governor John Kitzhaber and $700,000,000. Rob gives his theory as to why he thinks that Oregon keeps electing people like Kitzhaber (and Kate Brown). It's a good thing that the Crater Lake Rye is flowing...

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