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<v Speaker 1>Again this morning, we have the pleasure of talking for

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<v Speaker 1>a few minutes with doctor Mark Skousen. You may have

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<v Speaker 1>seen him on TV other places before. An incredible author, historian,

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<v Speaker 1>and the prestigious Dottie Spoke, lead chair of Free Enterprise

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<v Speaker 1>at Chapman University. If that doesn't mean anything to you,

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<v Speaker 1>we're gonna we're gonna make it meet something to you

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<v Speaker 1>by the time we get through this conversation. He is

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<v Speaker 1>the author of the Greatest American and he is an

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<v Speaker 1>eighth generation descendant of one of the founders of our country.

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<v Speaker 1>Some people can argue maybe the most important innovator at

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<v Speaker 1>the beginning of America, Benjamin Franklin. Doctor Scousin, welcome to

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<v Speaker 1>the show. How are you.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm doing well and I'm looking forward to making this

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<v Speaker 2>a bestseller. I think it's possible. People. We need to

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<v Speaker 2>bring pride back to America. And you know, when you

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<v Speaker 2>go raw these days, there's a lot of people who

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<v Speaker 2>are really angry at America. That's the ugly American view

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<v Speaker 2>that a lot of people have that's going on these days.

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<v Speaker 2>And it's nice to be able to talk about somebody

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<v Speaker 2>that everybody loves. At least today. They did not back

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<v Speaker 2>in Franklin's day, but he is definitely Ben Franklin is

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<v Speaker 2>one of those. I mean, I've spoken at many conferences,

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<v Speaker 2>and whether you're Republicans are Democrats, there's a lot you

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<v Speaker 2>can like about Ben Franklin.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, when we have people who are American citizens like

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<v Speaker 1>Bruce Springsteen going overseas and preaching basically their detestament of

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<v Speaker 1>our president, our elected president, or the America he says

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<v Speaker 1>he loves it's kind of easy to understand what you're

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<v Speaker 1>talking about where some of this misguided mistrust and hate

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<v Speaker 1>comes from when you go overseas.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I would take issue with you a little bit

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<v Speaker 2>on that, because Trump he's a disruptor and he does

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<v Speaker 2>try to insult people. I mean, I like Bruce Springsteen.

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<v Speaker 2>I think some of his music is fantastic, and I

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<v Speaker 2>think it's unfortunate that we're seeing this kind of divisiveness

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<v Speaker 2>in this country. And I think if you said, well,

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<v Speaker 2>Bruce Springsteen, what do you think of Ben Franklin, he

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<v Speaker 2>would probably say great things about him. One of the

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<v Speaker 2>things that Franklin really emphasizes is the need to be

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<v Speaker 2>humble and admit your mistakes. And so I think there's

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<v Speaker 2>a lot to be said for Franklin as somebody that

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<v Speaker 2>everyone could say, wow, you know, he really symbolizes the

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<v Speaker 2>greatness of America.

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<v Speaker 1>As far as what's going on right now in the news,

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<v Speaker 1>Doctor Skousen, Let's compare Benjamin Franklin and what he would

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<v Speaker 1>say or think about, for example, economic nationalism.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, he's very much a global thinker, and he loved foreigners.

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<v Speaker 2>He spent nine years as the colonial agent in London.

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<v Speaker 2>He loved London. He loved the life there, the intellectual atmosphere,

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<v Speaker 2>the political atmosphere, until he was finally kicked out because

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<v Speaker 2>of the American Revolution, and then he was beloved by

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<v Speaker 2>the French people. So Frankly at one point said listen,

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<v Speaker 2>I believe that the rights of man are universal, and

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<v Speaker 2>I hope there's a day where I could stand on

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<v Speaker 2>any country and say this is my country. So I think, well,

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<v Speaker 2>he was a very proud American. I loved what we

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<v Speaker 2>stood for in creating a new nation that was based

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<v Speaker 2>on the rights of man. He would also want to

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<v Speaker 2>extend that around the world. Don't think he would be

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<v Speaker 2>critical of other nations and other countries. He would try

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<v Speaker 2>to try to work together.

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<v Speaker 1>So he wasn't necessarily an America first kind of guy.

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<v Speaker 2>Then I think he was America free and all other

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<v Speaker 2>countries free. But yes, he loved America and he was

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<v Speaker 2>a devoted follower of American exceptionalism because look at the

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<v Speaker 2>difference between the American Revolution the French Revolution. Franklin died

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<v Speaker 2>before he could see the full effects of the French Revolution,

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<v Speaker 2>but he would not be happy with the outcome of

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<v Speaker 2>the French Revolution. What was very happy with the outcome

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<v Speaker 2>of the American Revolution. So I think he liked the

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<v Speaker 2>idea of America as a great country and spreading its

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<v Speaker 2>message all around the world. But you you don't want

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<v Speaker 2>an idea that we have have to we win only

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<v Speaker 2>if you lose in other countries. And I don't think

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<v Speaker 2>that's Franklin's view. I think he would like to see

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<v Speaker 2>free trade. He was an advocate of Adam Smiths, and

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<v Speaker 2>he would be a big believer in globalization today and

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<v Speaker 2>new technology which is being developed because we have entrepreneurs

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<v Speaker 2>from all over the world.

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<v Speaker 1>What about America's sovereignty? Did he not believe in that?

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<v Speaker 2>Oh? Yes, I'm sure he did, but he was he

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<v Speaker 2>was very liberal when it came to immigration. He invited

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<v Speaker 2>foreigners to come to this country. I think it's a

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<v Speaker 2>little different today because of the terrorist problems and the

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<v Speaker 2>gang problems and stuff like that. So I don't think

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<v Speaker 2>he would be an open border guy today like he

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<v Speaker 2>was back then, because back then, I mean, we really

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<v Speaker 2>wanted people from all over the world to come, and

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<v Speaker 2>they did come. But today I think his view would

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<v Speaker 2>be more, we want the best in the brightest to

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<v Speaker 2>come to America to do jobs that we're not willing

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<v Speaker 2>to do or we're not qualified to do. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>there's just like one hundred thousand openings right now for

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<v Speaker 2>engineers that we can't fill because we don't have enough

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<v Speaker 2>engineers in our own country.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, I've heard President Trump speak to that exactly, that

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<v Speaker 1>exact thing. We want the best in the brightest. We

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<v Speaker 1>want people here to add to our country, and what

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<v Speaker 1>has been going on in the previous administration, I think

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<v Speaker 1>illustrates how we weren't getting the best in the brightest

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<v Speaker 1>here and that therein lies some of the issues we have,

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<v Speaker 1>or many Americans, in fact, the majority of Americans have

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<v Speaker 1>with illegal immigration. I tell you what, We'll take a

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<v Speaker 1>quick break and we'll talk more about the greatest American

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<v Speaker 1>that's the book Benjamin Franklin, eight Generations on. We're talking

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<v Speaker 1>to doctor Mark Skousen. Good stuff. Conversation with doctor Mark Skousen,

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<v Speaker 1>author of the Greatest American. The book does not come

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<v Speaker 1>out until a week from today next Tuesday. That will

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<v Speaker 1>be Amazon and the usual places, but you can pre

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<v Speaker 1>order the book and what he illustrates here and what

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<v Speaker 1>he parallels. Benjamin Franklin is great, great, great great great

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<v Speaker 1>great great great great great. I ran out of greats.

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<v Speaker 1>Dear doctor Skeleson descendant, and how he would view a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of arguments and debates we have now in the country,

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<v Speaker 1>including government spending, and that has been a huge thing.

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<v Speaker 1>And Benjamin Franklin a penny saved, a penny earned, believe

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<v Speaker 1>that government should be as as costless as possible, that

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<v Speaker 1>we could be governed cheaply. Correct.

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<v Speaker 2>I think that's a good way to look at it.

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<v Speaker 2>He was definitely in Thomas Jefferson's camp of government. Government's

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<v Speaker 2>best at governs least in many ways, and in fact,

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<v Speaker 2>at one point he said, a virtuous and industrious people

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<v Speaker 2>may be cheaply governed. So I ask people when I

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<v Speaker 2>give talks about Ben Franklin, do we have cheaf government today,

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<v Speaker 2>and whether you're Republicans or Democrats, you say, no, government's

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<v Speaker 2>pretty expensive. We pay a lot of taxes in order

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<v Speaker 2>to get these services, and they're not as productive as

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<v Speaker 2>we would like. So Franklin would be really amazed and

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<v Speaker 2>very upbeat about our higher standard of living today. Actually,

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<v Speaker 2>one point said, I'd like to live to be two

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<v Speaker 2>or three hundred years from now, which would be now,

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<v Speaker 2>and he would love the new technology gadgets and the

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<v Speaker 2>cell phones and the internet and the television and dry

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<v Speaker 2>and the flying and he would love that. But he

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<v Speaker 2>would also be appalled at the size of government and

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<v Speaker 2>the national debt. He was very much anti debt in

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<v Speaker 2>many ways, and he believed in kind of classical economics

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<v Speaker 2>of a balanced budget and low taxes and free trade

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<v Speaker 2>and open markets and that sort of thing. The regulatory environment.

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<v Speaker 2>I think he would find that way overboard, So he

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<v Speaker 2>would be very much in Elon Musk camp of doge

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<v Speaker 2>and trying to bring government back to a you know,

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<v Speaker 2>better and cheaper is the American way, right?

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<v Speaker 1>Sure? Well, we talked about today's current foreign policy challenges

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<v Speaker 1>and and Donald Trump kind of illustrated this on his

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<v Speaker 1>trip to the Mid East. This commerce with all and

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<v Speaker 1>war with none? Did he not?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's Franklin's another very simple formula. It's kind of

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<v Speaker 2>similar to what George Washington said in his farewell addressed

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<v Speaker 2>the system of America's commerce with all and war with none.

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<v Speaker 2>So if we can expand commerce and private relations with

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<v Speaker 2>individual countries, that's all the better. And I do put

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<v Speaker 2>high marks in Trump's efforts to reduce international tensions and

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<v Speaker 2>to work work with other countries to eliminate these wars

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<v Speaker 2>that are going on. Of course, it's easier said than done.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, Trump said he would do it in a day,

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<v Speaker 2>but obviously the Ukraine war is much more complex, and

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<v Speaker 2>he's having a hard time dealing with Putin and there's

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of evil out there and how do you

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<v Speaker 2>how do you deal with that? You have to show strength,

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<v Speaker 2>and I don't think Biden did that. That is a problem.

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<v Speaker 2>But Franklin, you know wars. He said there's never a

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<v Speaker 2>good war of bad peace. Uh. I think it's I

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<v Speaker 2>think there can be a bad peace, but there's never

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<v Speaker 2>really a good war. And as Trump points out over

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<v Speaker 2>and over again, hundreds of thousands of people are being

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<v Speaker 2>killed in these wars that hopefully they can end that soon.

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<v Speaker 2>So I'm I'm optimistic. I'm idealistic, as as Ben Franklin

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<v Speaker 2>is about trying to develop a peaceful international community.

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<v Speaker 1>Benjamin Franklin, you say in the book The Greatest American

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<v Speaker 1>by doctor Mark Skousen out next Tuesday, we're looking at

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<v Speaker 1>what the Fed is doing. Would Ben Franklin have even

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<v Speaker 1>been a fan of the Federal Reserve? It wasn't part

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<v Speaker 1>of the original plan, was it.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, in a sense it was because he Franklin was

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<v Speaker 2>around when the Alexander Hamilton created the first.

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<v Speaker 1>Bank.

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<v Speaker 2>He was actually a shareholder of the Philadelphia.

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<v Speaker 1>Bank that.

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<v Speaker 2>Started the central banking method. Franklin had a rather modern

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<v Speaker 2>view that would fit rather well with J. Powell and

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<v Speaker 2>the Federal Reserve and having a policy of a two

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<v Speaker 2>percent annual inflation. He actually wrote a pamphlet when the

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<v Speaker 2>British restricted the use of gold and silver coins in

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<v Speaker 2>the colonies, and so there was always this talk of

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<v Speaker 2>shortage of money, Franklin wrote a pamphlet in favor of

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<v Speaker 2>printing paper money that was not backed by gold or silver,

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<v Speaker 2>and he said this would be very helpful for expanding

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<v Speaker 2>business and get the economy going and so forth, and

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<v Speaker 2>he wrote this pamphlet, and then interestingly enough, he became

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<v Speaker 2>the printer of the currency that the Pennsylvania Colony had

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<v Speaker 2>printed up, so in a sense, he became the first

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<v Speaker 2>crony capitalist profiting from that, I will say, if I

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<v Speaker 2>don't mind saying, when he saw that we inflated too

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<v Speaker 2>much and the continent it wasn't worth a continental because

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<v Speaker 2>of the runaway inflation. As a result, in Congress he

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<v Speaker 2>did write critically and criticize excessive inflation. So he's in

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<v Speaker 2>favor of a little inflation, but not a lot of inflation.

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<v Speaker 1>There is so much to unpack here, I tell you what.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's take another quick break and we'll come back more

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<v Speaker 1>with doctor Mark Scousen this morning, author of the Greatest American.

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<v Speaker 1>He is an eighth generation descendant of Yes D. Benjamin Franklin,

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<v Speaker 1>and I think there are so many parallels to what's

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<v Speaker 1>going on today and how Franklin would view them. And

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<v Speaker 1>the Doctor's got a pretty good hand on it from

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<v Speaker 1>what I've heard so far. We'll be back in just

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<v Speaker 1>a moment. You're on fifty five KRC, the talk station.

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<v Speaker 1>As we continue with doctor Mark Scowsen this morning, we

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<v Speaker 1>want to talk about political polarization, which is just everywhere today.

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<v Speaker 1>And Benjamin Franklin, just like George Washington, not a fan

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<v Speaker 1>of party politics whatsoever, believed it was counterproductive to what

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<v Speaker 1>they were trying to do in the country they were

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<v Speaker 1>trying to build. I concur with this. How do we

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<v Speaker 1>How would he suggest we get out of the situation

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<v Speaker 1>we're in with the polarization of politics in this country.

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<v Speaker 2>Doctor Well, Franklin had to deal with enemies all the time,

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<v Speaker 2>and he had a formula. He would, for example, somebody

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<v Speaker 2>didn't really like him for whatever reason, he would go

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<v Speaker 2>to that person and say, listen, I hear you have

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<v Speaker 2>a book on your bookshelves that perhaps I could borrow

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<v Speaker 2>that would be helpful for me, and he would develop

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<v Speaker 2>a personal relationship. And I think that is really the key,

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<v Speaker 2>if you can develop that with an avoid the labeling

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<v Speaker 2>and the name calling that we so often engage in.

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<v Speaker 2>Franklin was very good at that. He really worked hard

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<v Speaker 2>at it, and that becomes evident in his autobiography. And

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<v Speaker 2>so he worked really over time to help and become

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<v Speaker 2>friends with people that were not necessarily in agreement on

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<v Speaker 2>a particular issue. There's a lot to be said for

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<v Speaker 2>that approach and to avoid the labels as much as possible.

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<v Speaker 2>Ronald Reagan I think was very good. He worked with

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<v Speaker 2>Tip O'Neil and so forth on these kinds of issues,

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<v Speaker 2>and we're able to accomplish a lot of good things.

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<v Speaker 2>So that's the I think that's the Franklin approach. He

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<v Speaker 2>certainly did a very good job of fundraising in in

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<v Speaker 2>France to win the American Revolution, so he was beloved

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<v Speaker 2>by the French people, even though John Adams and others

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<v Speaker 2>were very critical. They didn't like the French people and

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<v Speaker 2>as a result, they were not able to raise any money.

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<v Speaker 2>Franklin raised all the money, and a lot of people

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<v Speaker 2>say without the French help, we would not have won

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<v Speaker 2>the American Revolution.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, doctor, you've seen them. I'm sure the bumper

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<v Speaker 1>stickers on the backs of some people's cars that say coexist,

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<v Speaker 1>and it's got all the different religious or faith symbols

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<v Speaker 1>as spelling out the word coexist. It's hard to coexist

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<v Speaker 1>with people who want to kill you or put you

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<v Speaker 1>in jail or bankrupt you. And I think that's some

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<v Speaker 1>of the issues that President Trump has with the other

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<v Speaker 1>side of the political realm. Just my own personal comment.

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<v Speaker 2>Franklin had the same problem. He had His own son,

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<v Speaker 2>William was a loyalist, and even though Franklin arranged for

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<v Speaker 2>him to be become the governor of New Jersey during

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<v Speaker 2>the American Revolution, his own beloved son, William was a

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<v Speaker 2>loyalist and put his life, his own father's life at

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<v Speaker 2>risk because of it, and they never reconciled. So Franklin,

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<v Speaker 2>there are some lines that Franklin would not cross, and

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<v Speaker 2>I'm sure that applies very much today.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, okay, And finally the juicy part. Been waiting to

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<v Speaker 1>get to this. In the Greatest American there is a

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<v Speaker 1>chapter on Benjamin Franklin's towards sex life. And you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm not surprised that you're an eighth generation descendant. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>sure Benjamin has plenty of descendants. As far as the

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<v Speaker 1>stories I've heard, I don't know. But this was the

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<v Speaker 1>only content that was ever censored from Newsmack's column.

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<v Speaker 2>I wrote some of these columns for Newsmatches Franklin Prosperity Report,

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<v Speaker 2>and I sent him this issue about Franklin's sex life,

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<v Speaker 2>and that was the only the only column that they rejected.

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<v Speaker 2>I had to replace it with another one. But that

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<v Speaker 2>chapter is that to call him is in the book.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it's chapter seventy seven about his hard to

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<v Speaker 2>govern passions and William, his son was an illegitimate child.

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<v Speaker 2>But there's really evidence that he only had one illegitimate child,

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<v Speaker 2>but he did have aliances with a number of other

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<v Speaker 2>women that he was definitely he was definitely the ladies man.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, his critics call him a womanizer. He was married,

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<v Speaker 2>he was devoted to his wife, Debbie, but when she

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<v Speaker 2>passed away, then he went to France and he was

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<v Speaker 2>the ladies man there with Madame Brione and Madame elve Seuss.

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<v Speaker 2>And one thing that was really great, he was a

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<v Speaker 2>defenseunder of women's rights and treated them as equals in

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<v Speaker 2>intellectual interests and so forth. So there's a lot to

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<v Speaker 2>be said for again Benjamin Franklin as the most modern

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<v Speaker 2>of the founders. Even in the case of slavery, he

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<v Speaker 2>was the he changed his mind on slavery and at

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<v Speaker 2>the end became the president of the Institution to abolish

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<v Speaker 2>slavery and stuff. So there's a lot of things that

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<v Speaker 2>you can say about Franklin that are really quite positive

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<v Speaker 2>and why we can be proud to call him the

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<v Speaker 2>Greatest American.

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<v Speaker 1>He was a civil rights pioneer and a randy feminist.

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<v Speaker 2>Well that's true, and and and he was active sexually

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<v Speaker 2>into his eighties.

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<v Speaker 1>So how about that without viagra? Mind you? Thank you,

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<v Speaker 1>and you you mentioned that he'd be a fan of

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<v Speaker 1>doze and trying to cut government waste and spinning. He'd

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<v Speaker 1>also be a fan of Elon Musk and people like him,

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<v Speaker 1>as far as entrepreneurs and inventors and innovation without government.

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<v Speaker 1>It's all covered in the book The Greatest American. Again,

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<v Speaker 1>that is not out till next Tuesday. Correct, that's correct.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, but it'll be in Barnes and Noble bookstores next

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<v Speaker 2>Tuesday as well as Amazon, and you can pre order

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<v Speaker 2>it on Amazon.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, doctor Mark Skows, and thank you so much

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<v Speaker 1>for the time. I love the conversation, and it paints

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<v Speaker 1>a whole new or a broadened picture of one of

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<v Speaker 1>our founding fathers that many people have not really thought

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<v Speaker 1>about very much. I think, and I know it kind

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<v Speaker 1>of cause.

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<v Speaker 2>See him on one hundred dollars bill every time. He's

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<v Speaker 2>quite I'm sure that would please his vanity.

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<v Speaker 1>All Right, very well, I wish you great success with

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<v Speaker 1>the book, and thank you for your time this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, thank you, you bet.

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<v Speaker 1>We continue five krc V Talk Station stay on top

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<v Speaker 1>of the day's biggest stories at the top of the

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