• "Well written, well researched, and the thesis put forth is well argued.... Woods has opened up an area of historical analysis that should invite further study."
    -Journal of American History

  • "During these times that challenge our freedoms there is no one more qualified to make U.S. history relevant to the fight against big government than Thomas Woods."
    -Barry Goldwater Jr.
    Former Member of Congress

  • "I strongly recommend Woods's work."
    -The Honorable Ron Paul,
    U.S. House of Representatives

  • "Written with great clarity and fluency, making the complex philosophical and theological concepts approachable."
    -Journal of American Studies

  • "A must-read."
    -Barron's

  • "An excellent reading source for anyone interested in financial markets, and much more so for anyone interested in learning about capitalism without all the misinterpretations being thrown about in the financial media."
    -Asia Times

  • "Provocative, well-written, and deserves to be read."
    -Catholic Historical Review

  • "An engaging and important contribution to scholarship on the history of American Catholicism."
    -Journal of the Historical Society

  • "Woods and [co-author Kevin] Gutzman appeal to both left and right in this constitutionalist jeremiad…. The authors' exegeses of the Constitution and court decisions, heavy on original intent arguments, are lucid and telling."
    -Publishers Weekly

  • "A marvelous read. Every chapter taught me something new and unexpected."
    -Tom Bethell, senior editor,
    The American Spectator

  • "The hottest book today is Meltdown, by my friend Tom Woods."
    -Judge Andrew Napolitano, senior judicial analyst,
    FOX News Channel

  • "Should be required reading."
    -Economic Affairs (London)

  • "Woods, one of the best classical liberal [libertarian] scholars of his generation, has once more placed us in his debt with this lucid and tightly argued book."
    -David Gordon, The Mises Review

  • "Tom Woods is one of my dearest allies in the struggle against wrong-headed and dangerous economic policy."
    -Peter Schiff

Fun with Forbidden Opinions

In this interview I cover the nonaggression principle, nullification, secession, Ron Paul, the Wild West, and more.

Unlearn the Propaganda!

  • Anonymous

    I like the sarcastic comment about the 3×5 card of official opinion, however it gives the American people too much credit. Most of them don’t even know whats on the card and are not inclined to find out. For a scathing and wickedly funny characterization of most Americans I recommend H.L. Menckens classic essay entitled “On Being An American”. It is just as insightful and entertaining today as when he wrote it 90 some years ago.

  • Anonymous

    Regarding the comment “but then you go to the mall and realise that nobody in this building knows who Bernanke is”, the majority of citizens are followers rather than thinkers, therefore, the ignorant are the catalyst for the proliferation of lethal political ideas. I doubt it’s possible to transform the masses. Instead, representative democracy should be kept as far away from them as possible.
    The masses possess a proclivity to blind obedience and entitlement, they should not represent the entire population.

  • guest

    It’s LibertyClassroom.com, not “.org”, tell him.

  • http://tonyescobar.org/ Tony Escobar

    It’s a good thing .org forwards accordingly! :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/William-Schooler/100003032488972 William Schooler

    What about the deciding principals of Life, Liberty and the Pursuits of Happiness?

    Stop interpreting the Constitution and live it, share the results of it and show and verify what is written delivers what it says.

    When do actions supersede symbols?

    Would this be the corrupt states or the states run by the people? I want to be clear of what that state is.

    Secede, Independence?
    Isn’t independence a choice to be free of others imposing upon you?

    I agree Tom, I think a lot of these disputes are a result of intellectual authoritarianism, versus and understanding of basic principals, their use and the effects created by them.

    The people are not ready because most are not willing to look for themselves do to the educated training, thank you Government education.

    Thank you for sharing your honesty about your history with conservatism. Is it possible agreement is highly over rated when it comes to reading versus living?

  • Anonymous

    Either the color is a bit off, or you really need to get some sun. Seriously though, what kind of lighting are you using? You did’t listen to Gary North for lighting advice, did you?

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    The color is way off. This consistently happens with webcams, I find. My YouTube videos, done with a camcorder, have great color. My webcam has good color until I step into the frame, at which point its terrible white balance kicks in and gives me this.

  • Anonymous

    Tom’s depiction of a proper government (regrading nonagression) is missing the point. Scripture states that God intends a civil government for “the punishment of evil doers”, and the praise of them that do well. The fallen nature of man will always bring about the reality of ‘doing evil’ to ones neighbor. Granted, man’s natural conscience does not want a conflict or contention with his neighbor. Nevertheless, the nature of lawlessness must be defined, in order for a civil government to “punish the evil doer”. The only authorized standard that God approves of is the 10 commandments. God only, can punish the evil ‘thoughts’ of any person, but a civil authority should punish the ‘acts’ of lawlessness. We don’t do this at the present. We don’t use “just weights and measures” for money, and we don’t affirm the biblical standard of marriage. Sin is the underlying disease in this nation, and no political change alone will cure that disease. To echo a 7th century citizen of Rome; “sin is within the city, and that will throw down the wall”. The US will fall from within, in spite of their boasted outward strength

  • Barrett

    I agree that the biggest problem in the world is a sin problem. However, the Bible also teaches that we are all sinful and that none are righteous- not even one- and that evil is on our hearts continually. Would you say that it is then our job as Americans to roam the earth and enact biblical justice on every human?

  • Chris

    Excellent interview, Tom !!! (this guy Franchi is very good also: great questions he asked).

    In what concerns your answers to these quesions, I just want to point out that when discussing the secret to Ron Paul’s success in this campagn, nobody seems to credit the Bush-Obama-Greenspan-Bernake 4-wheel-drive troyka for the huge part it’s had in making people aware of the problems. (if at the beginning of 2008 you could have ignored the economy, you certainly couldn’t have done it in 2012 anymore)

  • null

    the ghost of Thomas WooOoOOOooOoOOooooooOoodsssssss

  • Chris

    definitely has to improve the lighting at home !

  • http://www.TomWoods.com Tom Woods

    Lighting is fine. As I noted in this thread it’s the webcam that stinks.

  • devoFromtheNORD

    great interview! good interviewer and very clear responses. maybe a dimmer in the room would help with the webcam and its white balance.

    as for people not being ready, i think that’s true, but not the main issue. if a lot of people arn’t ready right now, not a big deal, because i do think a lot of them, giving the correct opportunity to learn, can become ready. all it takes is a similar amount of libertarian “propaganda” to combat the statist propaganda. and then people who value truth will come to our side. thats why our numbers are growing, once you go lib its hard to go back. it just looks harder because for us cause its uphill vs the momentum the statist already has. good hing though that momentum in heading straight down hill.

  • Chris Barcelo

    The phantom of the opera…

  • Scott Lazarowitz

    Gary Franchi sounds exactly like Lawrence O’Donnell. (Scary.)

  • Jeremy

    “Scripture states that God intends a civil government for “the punishment of evil doers”, and the praise of them that do well.”

    Heh, yeah and how has that worked so far after hundreds of millions murdered at the hands of the state over the centuries? Government has been responsible for the deaths and torture of more human beings than all the other institutions put together. Maybe its time we think about trying something else?

  • Anonymous

    Scripure does teach that all of mankind is in the state that you describe as a result of mere natural generation. Scripture also reveals that the gospel plan has been offered to rescue a person from this condition, and enable them to bear the fruit of holiness “without which no man will see the Lord.” There is certainly no biblical support for any one nation going outside their boundries in order to destroy a lawless people as far as I can tell. Nevertheless, a civil govt is clearly necessary for protecting the person and property of it’s citizens, according to the standard of the 10 commandments. We have clearly abandoned this standard for the most part. I hear the libertarian philosophy seeming to allow ‘consent’ to be the rule for what is ‘acceptable’, or what should be ‘lawful’. I would only ask if a Mr Paul, or a Mr. Napolitano, would be willing to apply that theory in the case of a stranger convincing their wives to leave them for a ‘happier’ life?

  • Anonymous

    And many of those deaths were innocent saints, along with civilly lawful citizens, by lawless tyrants. This form of government would clearly violate God’s determination, since they have actually ‘punished’ them that did well. Some of them their best citizens. If my recollection is accurate, a personal aide to Emperor Trajan, after reviewing an order to slaughter christians, in essence said; ‘are you sure you want to carry this out? these people are are best and most productive in the city..’ Jesus commanded to “give to Ceasar that which is Ceasars”, without giving any credence to the idolatrous slaughter of human lives. God warns the ‘judges’ of the earth to take heed, since God himself walks among the judges, and every unjust man will pay eternally with his soul