The Loins of History

Does society owe billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk thanks ? Or do we owe them condemnation for stepping on the backs of the poor? Interestingly enough, these questions aren’t new in American history. That’s why Collin and J discuss John Rockefeller and his early American monopoly, Standard Oil, and examine how these titans of industry came to be so filthy rich. Is it morally...

Where did Labor Day come from and why do we get mandatory breaks at work? What was it like to be an average worker in a factory during America's Industrial Revolution? We've learned about the railroads, skyscrapers and steam engines but we probably don't realize the majority of our rights as workers in the United States have origins dating back to the late 1800s. Those rights were often championed...

Has America always been capitalist? Have we ever truly been capitalist? How did socialism gain traction and spread in the US?  Few things altered American society more than the Industrial Revolution. While largely still an agrarian nation, the early Republic experienced significant urbanization and technological transformation throughout the 1800s, and this in turn changed the lifestyles...

If you were to ask George Washington if he were a capitalist or socialist what would he say? Well he probably wouldn't know what you were talking about but he would have believed that maximizing an individual's economic freedom and allowing them to serve their best interests would likely have improved society, falling closely in line with what Adam Smith wrote in "The Wealth of Nations". So what d...

Money in politics can't be a good thing, can it? Have you ever wondered why elections cost so much and where that money comes from? Or who is influencing  politicians on their decisions? We try and answer those questions In this episode by taking a look at the formation of Political Action Committees and their impact on elections. We'll also take a look at who influences congress once they ar...

In this episode we pick up where we left off, just after the close of World War 2. Where we discuss how the Cold War, Economic Boom of post war America, Vietnam and the Civil Rights movement continue to shape our political parties. Have you ever wondered what caused southerners to leave the Democrat party in the 70s under Nixon's "Southern Strategy", or where the 90's really as great of a decade a...

Have we always had two parties? In this episode J and Collin trace the origins of our political parties, to answer the question “how did our political parties get here?”. We go all the way back to the Federalists vs Anti Federalists, and followed the political evolution through WW2.  Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theloinsofhistory or https://www.patreon.com/theloinsofhistory  I...

"The best way to be free is to stay strapped or get clapped." -James Madison, probably Ok, he may not have said that, but after listening to this episode you'll see why he could have... Continuing our series on American political foundations, this week we cover the 2nd Amendment, its historical underpinnings, and how these ideas apply to today. Looking at questions like, 'Why did the Founders writ...

What's the best way to counter false information? Teaser: it's not censorship.  This week, Collin and J discuss the First Amendment, freedom of speech, and how it relates to issues like COVID, social media, and hate speech. Bringing a balanced perspective to a hot-button topic, our dudes argue for a robust definition of freedom of speech, while at the same time recognizing our Founders unders...

Continuing our series on American Political Foundations, this week we discuss the US Constitution and property rights. As we watch what's going on with the Dutch Farmers, and how their movement is spreading to other European countries, we wanted to take a look at what the US Constitution says about property rights, specifically in the 5th and 14th Amendments. We discuss how the Founders were conce...

Would the Founders be more ideologically aligned to the modern political right or left? Should America get back to the original principles in the Constitution or replace it with something else?  What does a Libertarian and a 16 year old whose parents are gone for the weekend have in common? Listen in to find out as Collin and J discuss the historical and ideological context of the U.S Constit...

Have you worried about your rights lately? Are you concerned about abortion or gun control? Kicking off a new season on the history of American politics, Collin and J break down the political theory behind the American Revolution, covering topics like 'liberty vs. power', 'the principle of the lesser magistrate', 'consent of the governed', and more. WARNING: this episode might hurt your feelings,...

What is Information War? How is Russia and Ukraine using information and who are their targets? This week, Collin and J explore these questions and more, tracing the history of Information War all the way to the current Russia/Ukraine conflict. If you've ever wondered if the CIA or the Russians have tried to target you, listen in and find out... Please consider supporting us on our Patreon page at...

Have you ever thought to yourself, where do all the Nazis hang out these days? Well, look no further, cause Collin and J explore the question, are there Nazis in Ukraine? The answer may not be what you think...  And we finally get the podcast name right...

Continuing our Russia/Ukraine series, Collin and J discuss the broad and unique history of Russia, and explore how Russians tend to see their place in the geo-political world order.  Music: Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture 

In our first episode ever, Collin and J discuss why Russia has invaded Ukraine and Dr. John Mearsheimer's article "Why the Ukraine Crisis is the West's Fault". We also make some bold predictions on how the conflict will turn out... Please forgive us for calling it the "Origin Podcast"; that was an earlier name before we came up with the infinitely more creative "The Loins of History".