Essential Liberty
The Bob Zadek Show
F.H. Buckley on *The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America*
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F.H. Buckley on *The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America*

Sensing a wave of populist frustration, the Democratic Party has embraced the narrative of the 99% versus the 1%, and called for a new round of socialist policies. Conservatives, seeing the failures of socialism, have downplayed the severity of inequality, and all but ignored the even greater problem of economic immobility. Mitt Romney, for his part, spoke of the “47%” who would always vote for bigger government to receive the benefits, and he was roundly rejected by voters. Yet both sides may have a point – America does increasingly resemble an aristocracy with a dependent class, stuck in poverty. In his new book, *The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America,* Francis H. Buckley puts a face to the modern inherited aristocracy, which Founders like Thomas Jefferson had hoped to do away with for good. A Professor at George Mason University School of Law, Buckley honestly admits that he is one the “New Class” – those whose education and birthright advantages have enabled them to ride the wave of globalization and technological progress that has gutted the middle class. This gives him a unique vantage point to describe what he sees standing in the way of opportunity and justice for all. Buckley joins Bob to discuss how America lost the promise of economic mobility for the hardworking poor, and how he thinks we can find our way back. While Buckley sees a revolution brewing in the form of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, Bob says, "Not so fast."

Discussion about this podcast

Essential Liberty
The Bob Zadek Show
Bob talks about the issues that affect our lives on a daily basis from a purely libertarian standpoint. He believes in small government, fewer taxes, and greater personal freedom.<br /><br />America has lost its way, but it cannot and does not need to be reinvented. Our founders were correct about their approach to government, as were John Locke, Adam Smith and the other great political philosophers who influenced them. The country’s first principles are economic and social freedom, republicanism, the rule of law, and liberty. Bob believes we must take the best of our founding principles and work from them because a country without principles is just a landmass.