Atlas Society
Top 10 Articles
Government & Law

The Declaration of Independence as a Literary and Philosophical Work
Citing Jefferson's "Summary View of the Rights of British America," Dr. David N. Mayer shows how the American philosophy of government is one premised on individual rights. In the second half of his talk, Dr. Mayer elucidates the history and foundations of the famous "We hold these truths to be self-evident" paragraph, and concludes with a commentary on the main body of "counts" against King George III.
Mayer teaches courses in constitutional history and legal history at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He is the author of The Constutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson and Liberty of Contract: Rediscovering a Lost Constitutional Right.
Price: $8.99 (1 hour)

The Intellectual Foundations of American Constitutionalism
In this two-part lecture, Dr. David N. Mayer introduces us to the British thinkers who originated the concept of government that the Founding Fathers put into action. As Mayer explains, it was the radical Whig political tradition that developed and promoted the idea of a constitutional government strictly limited to the protection of individual liberty. Part 1 sketches the lives and thought of three generations of radical Whig thinkers, and Part 2 shows how the ideas of these Whig 'forefathers' influenced the leaders of the American Revolution and the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Dr. Mayer teaches courses in constitutional history and legal history at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He is the author of The Constutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson.
Price: $15.00 (2 hours)

Origins of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Dr. David N. Mayer discusses the origins of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights--placing the philosophical foundations of America's founding documents in historical context and showing how they are still important means for limiting the power of government and preserving individual liberty.
Price: $25.00 (162 minutes)

Eminent Domain Abuse: Its Philosophical Roots
Eminent domain is deeply rooted in political philosophy. This presentation explains the development of the concept, from seventeenth century lawyers who considered it part of royal sovereignty, to twentieth century Progressives who saw it as government’s power to manipulate individual rights for society’s purposes. Although discussing court decisions including Kelo v. New London, the presentation is not a legal, but a philosophical explanation of the cases. It concludes with a discussion of recent reform efforts.
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Rolling Back the Welfare State: A Success Story
This lecture by Stephen Moses, recorded in 1999, cites signs of the collapse of the welfare state, such as the dramatic changes in the former Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc, and the realization (also seen in today's Tea Party movement) that the money is simply not there for expanding government programs.
Moses finds cause for optimism about the direction of change in society in this classic audio program which has an even greater relevance today. The public is looking for alternatives, he says, and is receptive to ideas for radical change.
Stephen Moses, a former senior analyst in the Health Care Financing Administration and for the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shows how he capitalized on public pressures by promoting insurance alternatives to public assistance as a practical means of reducing the size of the welfare state in an area that would otherwise have grown explosively.
Stephen Moses is nationally recognized as a leading expert in the field of long-term health care. He is the president of the Center for Long-Term Care Financing, and writes and speaks extensively on the problems of aging, insurance, and the law.
Price: $8.99

