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I Believe
Philosophy from the American Experiment | A Spotify Rising Star Podcast joelkdouglas.substack.com
Episodes
I BelieveIf Justice Isn’t Real, What is Its Market Price?
We Don’t Build a Country on Things We Can TouchNot really.We build it on belief.We believe a piece of paper can be worth a dollar. We believe strangers can…
I BelievePhilosophy and the One Big Beautiful Bill: Debt vs Property, Promise, and the Dead’s Silent Claim
The One Big Beautiful Bill: A PoemOur lives pass like shadows, despair takes root within us. We convince ourselves property is our natural right; that we can…
I BelieveShould the American People Fund Cancer Research at Harvard?
When the Cure Doesn’t Serve the People, the System Fails the Constitutional TestPublic money, on its face, should yield public benefit. But every year, the…
I BelieveCan We Fight Iran Without Fighting Islam?
Misunderstanding Iran’s Ideological Nature Invites Endless ConflictAmerican B-2 bombers struck Iran’s uranium-enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan…
I BelieveWhile Los Angeles Burns - Who’s Writing Project 2029?
The SparkThis week, outrage erupted after law enforcement used force against protesters opposing ICE raids in Los Angeles and other cities. We shouldn’t be…
I BelieveIf Markets, Mandates, and Taxes All Fail..?
We Say We Believe in Justice. But We’ve Stopped Asking What That Actually Means.Some say it means equality. Others, freedom. Some try to manage it with policy…
I BelieveDid FDR’s D-Day Prayer Violate the First Amendment?
Americans Struggle Today with how Openly our Leaders Should Express Their FaithI had a buddy growing up. His name was Emmett.He wasn’t a classmate. He was much…
I BelieveCan We Ever Trust Elections Again?
June 21, 1788. New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, activating the new government and binding America to a single compact.Our…
I BelieveIs the Presidential Oath Broken?
We live in an age where the oath of office often feels like a formality. But President George Washington didn’t see it that way.Why not?He was an honorable…
I BelieveAre Tariffs a Government Theft of your Property?
Tariffs will certainly raise prices at home. That’s their purpose. Tariffs are taxes. When a product crosses the border, a tariff adds a fee. The item is the…
I BelieveRussia’s Ancient Strategy, and Why the West Keeps Falling for It
From the Kalka River to Lake Peipus: Russia Turns East(Begin with ambient medieval Eastern European music, fading under narration)After the Rus’ catastrophic…
I BelieveNegotiating with Russians
Before we get started, a personal note. Last week, “I Believe” broke into Apple Podcasts’ Top 10 in philosophy.The show would go on out of conviction alone…
I BelieveGuest Crom Carmichael and Social Security
☘️ Joel (00:00:00):Today, I'm pleased to host Crom Carmichael. Crom is an entrepreneur, investor, and business leader. He has served as the CEO and board…
I BelieveWhat Do We Owe Those Struck by Misfortune?
Jennifer worked for more than forty years. She spent just a few years at home when the baby was born, then went right back to it.She didn’t ask for…
I BelieveWhy Do We Tax Businesses at All?
We want real prosperity for working Americans without piling debt on future generations. So, we’ve got to be open to new ideas. Some of those ideas might sound…
I BelieveDying on the Hill of Democracy
Some say we fight for democracy. But what if that fight is misplaced?Some Hills are Worth Dying OnJuly 2, 1863, outside of Gettysburg. It’s the second day of…
I BelieveWhy Do We Spend So Much on Defense?
Why do we spend so much on defense?Opening Scene – Key West, 1948[Sound Design: Waves crashing, seagulls squawking.]Narrator: It’s March 1948, and the tropical…
I BelieveShould We Dramatically Cut the Size of Government?
Intro…sounds of echoing hooves on stone, a cart creaks, lanterns glow, a horse pulls steady and slow.1801. The Revolution’s Philosopher Takes PowerIt's March…
I BelieveRuthless Capitalists & Bleeding Heart Liberals - Unite for Ukraine!
Petro Kalnyshevsky: The Last CossackCurtain up. The stage is set. A warrior, a nation, and a betrayal that would echo for centuries.Imagine. A man who has…
I BelieveHow do we bring manufacturing back to America?
A quick note before we dive in. This week, “I Believe” officially hit the numbers to rank as a Top 10% global podcast for all of 2025. Of course, it’s still…
I BelieveShould America give our surplus grain away every year?
Should America Give Our Surplus Grain Away Every Year?This week, the nation’s Food for Peace Program—and all other United States Agency for International…
I BelieveWhy Is Remembering American History So Hard?
Why is remembering American history so hard? It’s a question that needs an answer because Black history is American history, and federal agencies decided to…
I BelieveWho is the Champion of 'We, the People?'
Before we discuss progressives today and ask, “Who is the Champion of ‘We, the People?’”, we need some context. We gauge progress by whether our decisive…
I BelieveInstead of Waiting for Washington to Work for Us...
I love hearing from listeners and readers. While I don’t always respond with a dedicated piece, I genuinely appreciate the feedback and seriously consider the…
I BelieveWhat Would Repealing Birthright Citizenship Mean?
We often hear that land doesn’t vote; people do. How about a different perspective? Land doesn’t have rights, but land endows rights.What would repealing…
I BelieveReward Work, Build Opportunity
Last week, David Leonhardt, writing for the New York Times, questioned whether any of President Biden’s legacy would endure. Most Americans view his term…
I BelieveShould China have Access to Rare Earth Elements in Greenland?
Should America take economic control of Greenland? Both the Prime Minister of Denmark—who oversees Greenland’s foreign affairs—and the Prime Minister of…
I BelieveWhy do we need more H-1B Visas?
H-1B visas have been an item of hot discussion lately. On New Year’s Day, Newsweek detailed, “At the end of December a bitter row broke out within Trump’s MAGA…
I BelieveTo Love Your Country, Love Your Countrymen
I Am and the Burning BushThis is not a religious piece. But stick with me for a minute.I grew up attending small country churches. As a young boy, I asked my…
I BelieveDOGE Alert! Let’s raise wages to fully fund social security!
Can we raise wages to fully fund Social Security?Social Security is societal insurance, not an individual retirement plan. Its purpose is to protect society by…
I BelieveDo women belong on ground combat teams?
Last week, I analyzed Air Force Captain Lacie Hester’s Silver Star to highlight a contradiction. We can’t claim to value the military’s ability to achieve…
I BelieveUnenforceable Ideals
This Week’s Theme: Unenforceable IdealsThis week, we explore three unenforceable ideals—situations where two conflicting truths can’t coexist.First, we draw…
I BelieveShould we deport illegal immigrants?
Should we deport illegal immigrants en masse? What options do we have?SituationOn November 21, 2024, Dara Lind, a Senior Fellow at the American Immigration…
I BelievePresidential Review of Admirals and General Officers
If we are going to have meaningful discussions, we need to realize that there are legitimate points on both sides of issues.I advocate for dissenting points of…
I BelieveIf we were angels, we would need no government
I believe in America— Conceived in liberty, Born at war, Founded on the promise that we are all created equal. Endowed by our Creator with the gifts of Life…
I BelieveDid the American Founding Fathers support the Electoral College?
Did the American Founding Fathers support the Electoral College?Days at elk camp are long. We rise in the wee hours of the morning and hike with headlamps…
I BelieveWhat does it mean to vote?
What does it mean to vote?You voted for me to go to war in IraqA little more than ten years ago, I had a conversation with a woman who strongly opposed the war…
I BelieveWhat can we do to make life better for Americans?
Here we are, celebrating our second anniversary. One hundred and four weeks in a row. Hooray for us!I believe in the institution of the American democratic…
I BelieveWhy do we treat small businesses like corporations?
A one-size-fits-all approach to both small businesses and large corporations isn’t appropriate.We need to legislate livable wage requirements for large…
I BelieveCan Plato and Keynes Teach Us How to Fix the Economy?
This didn’t push to the podcast hosts; reaccomplishing.—I am against socialism.If we oppose socialism, we must champion individualism.Supporting individualism…
I BelieveCan Plato and Keynes Teach Us How to Fix the Economy?
I am against socialism. If we oppose socialism, we must champion individualism. Supporting individualism means we have a duty to enable every individual to…
I BelieveA Conversation with Deceased Nobel Laureate Economist Dr. Milton Friedman
Supporting low wages inherently means relying on social programs.Milton Friedman, the famous Nobel laureate economist, presented a dichotomy. He argued that…
I BelieveDo Higher Wages Cause Inflation?
This week, we explore a pivotal economic question inspired by Milton Friedman. Do higher wages cause inflation, or are they a tool for economic stability?It's…
I BelieveCan Beer and the NFL Unite America?
Can beer and the NFL unite America?What a ridiculous question. Team Colors and Community TiesRecently, I was in my local grocery store early on a Saturday…
I BelieveCEO Pay and Equality
This week, we consider whether CEOs should take a big bonus even if they don’t intend to pay one to their employees. We’ll explore perspectives from two…
I BelieveIf Businesses Don't Increase Revenue, They Can't Raise Wages
There’s another side to the wages debate we didn’t examine last week. We outlined we can’t support policies that allow some businesses to pay unsustainable…
I BelieveAristotle, Abraham Lincoln, and Wages
Last week, we discussed the inherent limitations of social welfare programs and their effects on American families. But we overlooked some essential…
I BelieveWhy doesn't the dishwasher just get a better job and get off the government dole?
In principle, we should be against Social Welfare programs.And maybe ‘against’ isn’t the right word. It's not that we're ‘against’ social programs. We can’t…
I BelieveOn Liberty
We can debate whether we call ourselves a democracy, a republic, or a democratic republic. We can debate Social Security, wages, housing programs, small…
I BelieveThe Well-Being of the American Family
Last week, we introduced Project 2025's first stated goal: "Restore the family as the centerpiece of American life and protect our children." This week, we'll…
I BelieveOn the Republic and Project 2025
Do national leaders have a duty to enhance the welfare of citizens?Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) was a Roman statesman, orator, lawyer, and philosopher…
I BelievePresidential Immunity
Last week, the US Supreme Court addressed the issue of presidential immunity during official acts, and many people were very upset about it.Many hysterically…
I BelieveUniversal Basic Income
Universal Basic Income pilot studies prove the concept works, and advocates say we should support it. Is Universal Basic Income a silver bullet solution to…
I BelieveThe Presidential Oath and the Greater Good
Last week, I found myself in the middle of a discussion centered on Presidential obligation and authority. The subject was the Supreme Court’s decision to…
I BelieveShould We Repeal the 12th Amendment?
It’s not uncommon in my social circle to discuss Constitutional matters. Many of us swore oaths to the Constitution and remain committed to that ideal.I…
I BelieveCardano and the Plutus Playground
This is week 2 of considering…can I register an agricultural product on the blockchain without paying a dedicated blockchain team to help?We are now in the…
I BelieveAn Introduction to Registering Hops on the Blockchain and Listener Questions
Let’s begin the process of registering an agricultural product on a blockchain as a capability demonstration for agricultural cooperatives!Let’s pick up where…
I BelieveRedesigning Social Security
How might we change the premise of Social Security to make it fully funded, more equitable, and sustainable indefinitely?Social Security is societal insurance…
I BelieveDrain the Swamp
“Drain the swamp” is a metaphor likening the government to a swamp that needs to be drained to remove undesirable elements.But who’s the swamp? It’s not the…
I BelieveHow Blockchain-Enabled DAOs Can Transform Cattle Ranching
Last week, we examined the goal of traceability in beef markets. Traceability helps ensure a safe food supply and keeps markets open. Further expanding…