We Are Libertarians: Liberty, Prosperity, And Justice
We Are Libertarians
Political viewpoints more often than not shape the way in which people view the world and news about it. Even news outlets themselves take editorial stances that draw in certain audiences. Liberals will probably read The New York Times, while conservatives find themselves drawn to watching Fox News. These political stances within news outlets further ingrain the political beliefs of their audiences. To create a truly balanced and relatively unbiased worldview, it is necessary to engage with media content across a broad spectrum of political beliefs.
For those of a Libertarian viewpoint, or those who desire to learn more about the way in which Libertarians view the world, We Are Libertarians is an excellent starting point. Founded in 2012, this podcast examines current events from an independent, libertarian point of view. Chris Spangle, who describes himself as “a fifteen year veteran of politics and media”, is the host and founder of the podcast. Spangle was raised in Plainfield, Indiana, and graduated from Plainfield High School in 2002. A lifelong Republican, his political outlook shifted and in 2008 he joined the Libertarian Party and went on to serve as the executive director for the Libertarian Party of Indiana.
We Are Libertarians uses a simple framework in the discussions of current affairs that they broadcast. Choosing a topic that has generated huge media attention, they ask who, what, why, when, and how. For the hosts, establishing basic facts before wading into opinions is essential. They examine the central arguments from all sides, including the left, the right, the government, the media, and from various libertarian corners while also looking at the historical arguments on the subject. They examine all of this information against their own biases before delving into their own opinions on the subject. Finally they then compare all of this information to traditional libertarian beliefs. The central question asked on this podcast is; “What will increase liberty, prosperity, and justice for our society?”.
That question is not just central to the podcast, but to the very core of Libertarian belief itself. Libertarianism is a political philosophy and movement that upholds liberty as a core principle. Libertarians seek to maximize political freedom and autonomy, emphasizing individualism, freedom of choice and voluntary association. For Spangle and his co-hosts, their own strain of Libertarianism can be summed up in David Boaz’s article titled Key Concepts of Libertarianism. There are several key concepts that inform this worldview, including: Individualism, Individual Rights, Spontaneous Order, Limited Government, Free Markets, The Virtue of Production, Natural Harmony of Interest, and Peace.
The topics covered on the show are not simply limited to news and current affairs. Several episodes are also devoted to the exploration of Libertarian thought. These include a series of “Path to Libertarianism” interviews, in which Spangle brings on guests who have begun to embrace Libertarianism over traditional liberal or conservative politics. In one episode with Fritz Stephy of the Fritzcast, the men discuss the political impact of the September 11th attacks, and how a Libertarian worldview led them to believe that the war on terror was wrong because of the horrific impact on the innocent people of the Middle East. In another episode with Brian Nichols of the Brian Nichols Show they discuss the power of Government, and how Libertarians view the Government as “a device put in place to curtail freedoms”, while most people see the Government as “the guys who are going to fix things”.
Various politicians come under fire during the discussions that take place on the podcast. President Donald Trump, given his stature as the man inside the Oval Office, is an obvious target for the Libertarians who take issue with some of his more authoritarian tendencies like the so-called “Muslim Ban”. While many of Trump’s campaign promises in 2016 resonated with Libertarians, the hosts discuss how Trump did not fulfil those promises. As Spangle states, “He[Trump] thinks he can win through brute force and his twitter account”.
The Democrats do not escape scrutiny on the podcast, however. Both Democratic Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, and his own Vice President pick Senator Kamala Harris, have episodes dedicated to examining their records in politics. Biden’s record on crimes and drugs, often criticized from the left, is clearly something Libertarians take issue with as well. Harris is examined from the perspective of her role as a public prosecutor, again leaning into her record on crime and how that contradicts Libertarian politics.
For Libertarians, the podcast is an educational tool that does not just expand the listeners’ knowledge of news and current affairs, but also helps them understand their own Libertarian ideology better. It teaches listeners how to apply their beliefs in their dealing with the world around them. For those of other political persuasions, We Are Libertarians is more than just an entertaining listen (although Spangle and his co-hosts engage with each episode’s material in a humorous and often lighthearted manner). The ideas and debates discussed on the show are presented so as to be easy to understand. Conservatives, Progressives, and Liberals may find that they share many beliefs with their Libertarian counterparts, and will come away more educated about the world of politics regardless of their political affiliation.
We Are Libertarians is a podcast that tries not to take itself too seriously even as it discusses extremely serious topics. That in itself is a huge part of the show’s appeal. Beyond that, the listener will never feel as though the Libertarian ideology is being forced on them by the hosts, rather that the show is another media source that they can use in their quest to create an unbiased worldview.