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Laughter, Liberty, and M*A*S*H
by Thomas Firey
Television’s finest half-hour reminded America of the values of classical liberalism.
This fall, LIFE magazine has published a special issue commemorating the 50th anniversary of the movie M*A*S*H. Despite the hook, the issue focuses on the ensuing TV series, which ran from 1972 to 1983. Though the show has often been characterized as being politically left-wing, it actually is heavily classically liberal, celebrating the individual, civil liberties, and the market, and harshly criticizing anti-individualism, government compulsion, and government decision-making. In a series of essays, I examine the classical liberalism of M*A*S*H. This is Part 1. Read More.
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Featured EconTalk Podcast
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Dwayne Betts on Reading, Prison, and
the Million Books Project
Author, lawyer, and poet Dwayne Betts talks about his time in prison and the power of reading with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Betts is the founder of the Million Book Project, which aims to put a small library of great books in 1,000 U.S. prisons. Betts discusses his plans for the project and how reading helped him transform himself. Listen Here.
And don't miss Poetry, and Percy Jackson, our podcast episode Extra to complement and continue the conversation.
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November Virtual Reading Group
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Equality, Economics, and Individualism in
Dystopian Fiction
with Professor Caroline Breashears
In this virtual reading group (VRG), we consider the answers offered by several classic and recent dystopian tales. Propaganda, (in)equality, central planning, the criminal justice system, censorship, poisoned language, mob violence: all these and more are explored in examples of the genre, though often from different perspectives. For instance, is the critical problem in society a movement to achieve equality, as Ayn Rand warned? Or is the problem an insistence on inequality so that a select few consolidate power, as George Orwell suggests?
VRG Readings
To register, click here. Space is strictly limited, and pre-registration is required. We ask that you not register unless you can commit to all four 60 minute sessions. Participants will need to acquire their own readings; those who complete all four sessions will receive an Amazon e-gift certificate as reimbursement.
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