The Tom Woods Show, Ep. 2745: How to Build a Non-Leftist Future

Date: March 21, 2026
Host: Tom Woods
Guest: Mark Moniscalco

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tom Woods tackles the persistent challenge facing non-leftists and especially libertarians: How do you actually build a freer, more liberty-oriented future in a society where your views are deeply unfashionable and, in many places, actively opposed? The show is split into two parts. In the first, Tom lays out the difficulties of advancing non-leftist ideas and critiques various strategies that have failed to gain traction. In the second half (starting at 23:20), he's joined by author Mark Moniscalco to discuss Mark's new book, The Forbidden Idea, which distills the evolution and principles of individual liberty and proposes concrete steps for change.

Part 1: The Challenge of Building a Non-Leftist Future

Tom Woods opens with a strategic assessment of the state of liberty-oriented activism and why most conventional strategies have failed.

Key Discussion Points

• Unpopularity of Libertarian/Right-Wing Anti-State Views

  • Tom notes that the views shared by his audience are held by a tiny minority, citing social conditioning via public education and persistent state propaganda as root causes ([00:18]).
  • “Part of the reason that we have an unpopular position is that the state’s own schools are educating people...these schools depend on your believing state propaganda.” – Tom Woods ([00:34])

• State Propaganda and Social Conditioning

  • Public schools, patriotic imagery (like portraits of presidents), and government “success stories” (ex: memory foam from the space program) reinforce the idea that all progress comes from the state.
  • “I have a funny feeling we would have figured out how to conquer ice even if it weren’t for the space program.” – Tom Woods ([01:30])

• Structural Barriers to Reform

  • Once a government program exists, interest groups form around it, making reform or abolition difficult.
  • Human nature favors achieving goals with minimal effort—“achieve it through state power” ([02:30]).
  • The military is deeply embedded in American culture, complicating principled opposition to war: “It’s at the Super Bowl, it’s at your local restaurant... The military is just everywhere.” ([03:00])

• Difficulty in Countering Intuitive but False Economic Views

  • People’s intuition often supports central planning or government mandates, leading to resistance against free-market solutions.
  • Tom explains the evolution of workplace air conditioning as a market-driven phenomenon, not a product of government fiat ([05:30]).

• The Limits of Education and Political Strategy

  • “Education has to be part of it. We have to be able to defend ourselves. And when you’re educated into these ideas, you do find them compelling. But what do we do?” ([08:20])
  • Woods cites the Free State Project (concentrating activists in New Hampshire) as a more promising strategy than trying to win national majorities ([09:45]):
    “The reason I like that strategy is that that strategy does not require us to be the majority, because as I’ve said, that doesn’t look like it’s in the cards.”

• Role of Politics and Non-Political Strategies

  • Woods argues local and state politics can be worthwhile, pushing back against the idea that voting is immoral ([12:15]).
  • “If I were in a concentration camp and the concentration camp guard said to me, Woods, we’re all taking a vote of you concentration camp inmates and...if a majority of you votes to be freed, we’re going to let you go. Could you imagine saying, nope, sorry, I can’t ‘consent’ to the system by voting?” ([13:50])

• Historical Examples

  • Sometimes, political action achieves what mass education cannot (ex: the repeal of Britain’s Corn Laws, Andrew Jackson’s opposition to the national bank) ([14:30]).

• Importance of Community

  • Counter to the stereotype, libertarianism is not about atomized isolation: “We’re not meant... to be alone. They think that libertarians don’t want to cooperate with other people. Yes, we do. We just don’t want to do it with a gun to our heads.” ([16:30])

Part 2: Guest Segment with Mark Moniscalco

Discussion begins at [23:20]

Mark Moniscalco’s Credentials

• Libertarian activist based in Honolulu (“the Union of Soviet Socialist Islands”—Tom’s joke, [23:49]).
• Author of The Forbidden Idea: Hidden Truths About Individual Liberty, Economic Freedom, Political Philosophy and History (foreword by Ron Paul).
• Board member of the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii.

The Forbidden Idea: A New Approach to Liberty Advocacy

The Book’s Motivation and Structure ([25:10])

• Mark wrote the book to explain the true roots of liberty and to offer his friends “a little bit of hope.”
• Captures the evolution of the ideas of freedom and offers practical steps for the disillusioned:
  “I wanted to influence my friends that are so disappointed with the current political situation. They’re disgruntled, they’re angry. ...So this book is there to explain the fundamental philosophy, where it came from, the history that’s behind it, and give them a little bit of hope.” – Mark Moniscalco ([25:44])

The Core Philosophy and its Foundations ([30:16])

• The book condenses the fundamental philosophy of liberty into six short chapters (“only 40 pages and I think that covers the entire fundamental philosophy” – Mark, [30:45]).

• Mark’s definition of liberty: “the absence of coercion” ([31:36])

• Explains negative rights (do not require others to act) versus positive rights (require someone else to provide for you).
  “The natural rights that we have inherently are all negative rights. No one’s required to do anything for those. ...That means those natural rights are universal, everybody has that right, and it’s simultaneous.” ([34:36])

• On why you don’t have a “right” to things like a car ([32:54]):
  “You have a right to life, liberty and property...It doesn’t require imposing anything on anyone else. So, no, Tom, sorry, you do not have a right to a car.” – Mark Moniscalco

• On government and voluntary association ([36:34]):
  “I think it would be perfectly acceptable to allow a group that I voluntarily join...to provide defense for me or to provide any other service... That’s much different than government. Government is a monopoly on violence…” – Mark Moniscalco

The Problem of Perpetual Government Expansion ([39:16])

• Tom: “There’s no stable equilibrium where [government] will just stay at the ‘limited government’ stage. That’s a problem. There is no equilibrium that just keeps it there.”
• Mark is more optimistic about persuasion at the local level and the “little platoons” concept ([40:38]).

Practical Steps Toward Change

How can individuals make an impact, even if the broader situation seems grim?

Education and Culture ([43:40])

• Mark’s first step: “Continue your education in the philosophy and history of individual liberty.” ([43:58])
  • His book contains a curated reading list, and he encourages readers to “build your little platoons”—close circles of family, friends, local community.
• On spreading the message: “When politics comes up, don’t be quiet, express your opinion… The message has to be the only way out of the situation we’re in today is cut spending.” ([45:50])

Local Activism and Policy Participation ([47:55])

• Tom and Mark agree that federal-level reform is nearly impossible, but local change is achievable because so few people pay attention.
• Mark’s actionable advice: Attend your local school board, park district, or city government meetings; the only people active there now are “all the ones that want more spending and bigger government” ([48:50]).

State Policy Networks and Successes ([51:43])

• Mark recommends joining state-level policy think tanks, such as those affiliated with the State Policy Network (SPN). “You’ll be impressed and amazed at the amount of positive changes they’re making. ...That’s transformational for people.” ([53:10])

• Real-world example: The Janus Supreme Court decision (ending automatic union dues deductions) began at the Illinois Policy Institute.

• On housing costs: “Approximately 50% of the cost of housing is due to government regulation... $500,000 of that cost could be managed to be reduced if government regulation were trimmed back.” ([54:19])

Notable Quotes

• Tom Woods:

  “People absorb [state success stories] because that’s the way their brains have been trained... innovations like that must have had some kind of state involvement.” ([01:55])

• Mark Moniscalco:

  “My definition of individual liberty is the absence of coercion.” ([31:36])

• Tom Woods:

  “Counter to the caricature of libertarianism, we’re not meant to be alone. They think that libertarians don’t want to cooperate with other people. Yes, we do. We just don’t want to do it with a gun to our heads.” ([16:30])

• Mark Moniscalco:

  “Go to your local school board meetings...because when you go to those things, look around the room, the only people that are there are all the ones that want more spending and bigger government. It’s time for us, the forgotten man and woman, to show up.” ([48:50])

• Tom Woods:

  “You can make changes in your local level starting tomorrow because most people don’t even participate in that. ...That is all low-hanging fruit.” ([50:44])

Resources and How to Connect

• Mark Moniscalco’s book: theforbiddenidea.com
  Includes a short video introduction, curated reading list, and more. ([55:07])
• Free State Project: fsp.org | freestateproject.org
• State Policy Network: Umbrella for state-level think tanks ([51:43])

Key Takeaways

• National change is likely to remain out of reach for liberty-focused activists, but concentrated, local, and state-level efforts offer real opportunities for success.
• Education—of yourself and your “little platoons”—remains crucial. Learn the principles, share them, and don’t self-censor in your daily interactions.
• Local involvement—simply showing up at government meetings—can provide immediate and tangible wins for liberty.
• Connect with like-minded organizations and stay active in building resilient pro-liberty communities.

Notable Segment Timestamps:

• [00:18] – Tom’s strategic diagnosis of unpopular ideas and state indoctrination
• [08:20] – The limits of education as a strategy
• [09:45] – Introduction to the Free State Project
• [12:15] – On the morality of political participation
• [23:20] – Mark Moniscalco joins the conversation
• [30:16] – The “absence of coercion” as the definition of liberty
• [40:38] – The “little platoons” theory and local activism
• [51:43] – State Policy Network and local policy successes
• [54:19] – Housing costs and government regulation

For more forbidden information, visit: tomfreebooks.com and subscribe to the Tom Woods Show on your preferred podcast platform.