Stefan Molyneux interviews Jan Helfeld, Libertarian Interviewer of the Political Elite

[mithars]

good post

[Aryaba]

The problem with these arguments we present is most people don't understand that government and force are intertwined. We should perhaps find a method which is more forgiving. Or is the "shock" of the position part of coming to a persuasuve solution? (in the persuasion vs coercion debate)

[outsourcerer]

Stefan, use a glass. Saves on advertising.

[necronomify]

Stef,I really enjoyed listening to this conversation & hope you can persuade or cajole other interesting,articulate people into debating.

[libertarianjury]

"Prepare to be socratized on your previously idyllic little sunday discussion, Stef!" LOL

[libertarianjury]

Examining the postmodernist anus.

Tom Oliphant = Bertram Scudder or Dr. Simon Pritchett.

[ronpaulspanish]

I don´t know who Oliphant is, but if he´s somewhat similar to these characters he might be a doing very well nowadays...

[libertarianjury]

"Socratic gadfly of the powers that be."

LOL

...Funny.

I was aggravated and bored with my TV...

[silverhandorder]

Great interview.

[Individualism101]

Jan Helfeld always makes me so depressed, just the way he speaks, its like he's completely apathetic to everything.

[carolynjane4]

Helfeld sounds like he's drunk and about to pass out. Perhaps it's just the way he speaks (I've seen interviews he has given), but it's really painful to listen to, like fingernails on a chalkboard. I put up with it to avoid missing any Stef. (Just discovered Stef a couple weeks ago, and I'm trying to catch up on everything!)

[lastbedouin]

what's that in the lower right hand corner?

[stefbot]

a box of trail mix

[lastbedouin]

it kind of looked like a naughty mag.

i'm enjoying listening to the discussion at drexel. do you have any more speaking engagements lined up?

[atrickpay11]

I'd like to see Jan defend (minimal) statism.

[conquesimo]

Forget Badnarik and his "oh well I'll just pay your taxes for you if you don't want to". We should arrange for a hardcore, professional debate between Stef and Jan. Jan's point about each speaker being able to ask a series of questions directly towards their opponent is crucial, and I think it would make for a very interesting event.

[Meanie83]

Just to make this spammed out bit look more interesting:

Nice interview!

[jadam914]

Thank you for sharing philosophy with all of us. I have grown personally because of it. It is helping to make the world a better place : )

[RogueSwordThesco]

Cyanide is still my favorite

[marjan15]

Smart man, Helfeld.

[newgtguy]

Thanks Stefan.

Suggestion: Stop drinking aspartame!

[simonodell]

mmm aspartame ... one of my favourites, along with benezine, nitrosamines and formaldehyde!

[bluecactii]

I appreciate Stef not debating minarchism in the interview. It's a debate I would love to see and think Jan's feet should be held to the fire, but it would have taken over an insightful interview.

Way to go and keep it on point Stef!

[NoCryingNowYes]

You didn't ask him what was going on. He sounded bored or joyless or tired or something.

That wasn't enjoyable at least for you Stef, I can tell.

Something has to have been going on, you were very engaging and positive, but it seems as if he didn't want things to get too interesting, though you agree on so much...

[JayQuebec116]

I really like your vids Stef, but there's no need for such a good video quality though.

[FreeSelfProject]

LOLOL! you win a "FIRST!" for complaining that the quality is too good!

[TheStig000]

Why not? The better quality is good imo.

[JayQuebec116]

Well, more quality means heavier videos, hence more data to transfer and more time to download.

Brandwidth isn't a universal free service yet!!!

[TheStig000]

That is true but even my 768kb/s connection can watch high quality videos. No HD for me though :(.

[Meanie83]

There are programs to extract youtube video's in mp3 format too ;)

[NerdHerdStudios]

Steph is a great speaker. Very charismatic, very well-spoken, very coherent. The more I listen to him talk, the more I appriciate his above-average speaking ability.

Oh, and good video.

[stefbot]

Thanks!

[lukeev]

Fantastic! I thought Jan was charming, and he seemed to enjoy having the questioning directed his way for once! Great job.

[clemonsx90]

Helfeld talks really fast, he should slow down so more people can understand what he is saying.

[motokeiru]

I've seen some of Jan Helfeld's interviews a while a go, they are really good, the guy is awsome.

[PanzerDivisionBOM]

This video presents some interesting ideas and concepts, but it makes Mr. Helfeld come across as sort of slow and abrasive. He speaks as though he's half-asleep, and keeps interrupting Stef.

[Nielsio]

Look for 'Jan Helfeld - Professional Congressional Debunker' on Youtube. You'll find he's the opposite of how you've just described him.

So yes, it's much more likely that he was a bit tired or something like that. The point is to look beyond that and listen to what he says.

[PanzerDivisionBOM]

Plus one. This interview just doesn't do him justice.

[chimichangadeadpool]

Jan Helfeld sounds like a Dutch name

[Nielsio]

His last name isn't anything like Dutch.

[chimichangadeadpool]

Yes, it does.

[jacobvision]

No, if Dutch is would be VELD and feld is typical German - but on the other hand, maybe the Dutch are German ?

If we were (really) free, there would not be a difference in nation, a world without borders. No longer a reason to invade another country because there are no divisions based on - yeah based on what ?

One universe without violence without manmade frontiers.

[utubehayter]

a tad bit of a problem - there always will be violence. Even in a stateless society there would still be violence. Just that it will not be funded by good peaceful people. On the other hand, a society based on anti-violence is doomed to fail, just as a society that is based on collectivised violence.

[Ralajer]

@utubehayter

I think that the best we can hope and work towards is a society that will respond to violence but not initiate it. The elimination of violence is likely impossible but lessening it will require that we see it in all its forms.

I know you were responding to jacobvison. I just wanted to posit another way of looking at the problem of violence. I'm sure that your comment does not represent your entire view but it comes off as if we should resign ourselves to violence.

[utubehayter]

"just as a society that is based on collectivised violence. "

Maybe you failed to read that part. Of course anyone who watches Stefbot's videos has to go through a lot of moral contortions and distortions to justify violence.

For the record I am not pro-violence, just anti-"anti-violence" & non-violent. Either way, the best humans can do is not fund the killing match (like a boxing match) called wars.

[Ralajer]

@utubehayter

I read your entire comment several times so as not to make any unreasonable statements.

The statement "...we should resign ourselves to violence" I think could be considered unreasonable and I made it because you presented no positive prescription to elevate violence. I apologize that may have been unfair of me even given my caveat of the comment not reflecting all your views.

Where do I make justification for violence in my comment? As I do not think that I made any.

[Ralajer]

utibehayter

Sorry, I meant alleviate instead of elevate. Changes the meaning quite a lot.

[gosmokesome]

People that fund violence knowingly, and willingly are not morraly good or peaceful.

[DCLugi]

Unless they are under the threat of violence to do so:)

[gosmokesome]

Yeah hence i said willingly cuz duress obvisly isnt fair

[frostyuk2007]

John Lennon, Imagine. (apart from the no possessions part.... I like my HDTV haha.)