From the Hardwood and Hard Data to a Galaxy Far, Far Away

In Far Middle episode 196, Nick starts with a blend of basketball history and intrigue for the installment’s sports dedication—recounting how basketball giants Red Auerbach and Wilt Chamberlain met back in the summer of 1954.

Nick explains how Chamberlain and Auerbach’s paths crossed as player and coach at a country club in Monticello, NY. He reflects on the clash between the young, headstrong Chamberlain and the up-and-coming Coach Auerbach.

For more on Coach Auerbach, revisit Far Middle episode 119 for Nick’s tribute to the legendary coach and executive. And for more commentary on Chamberlain, see episode 152 and episode 69 which honors the 69-win NBA season by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

Transitioning from the hardwood to hard economic issues, Nick explores the possibility of the new administration getting serious about fiscal responsibility and the need to balance America’s budget. Nick explains, “The levers in the end are indeed simple. You can raise taxes to increase revenues. That's one option. You can cut spending by government. There's a second one. Or you can scale back entitlements. And each lever, although simple, brings to bear many complexities in endless policy debates.”

Inspired by Thomas Sowell, Nick discusses an additional lever, which is the potential of selling federally owned land. He notes the concept isn’t new, and the move could not only generate revenue but also reduce maintenance costs and stimulate economic growth.

The episode then shifts to a curious contradiction: the decline of religious practice in America despite centuries of religious freedom. Drawing from recent studies and exit polls from the 2024 election, Nick points out the growing number of religiously unaffiliated Americans and how faith seems to correlate with political preferences.

Next, Nick dives into the impact of inflation over the past four years, presenting a sobering list of rising prices across multiple sectors, from car insurance to airfare and from gas to groceries. This leads to a critique of price controls as a solution to inflation, with Nick citing the work of Henry Hazlitt and Brian Wesbury in, The Dangers of Price Controls.

“Movement toward a dictated and authoritarian economy is never a good thing,” says Nick. “It takes freedom away from the individual business entity and worker and places power in the hands of government. Bad move under any circumstance and price controls are never a cure for inflation, despite how they are marketed.”

Nick further underscores that the complexity of our economy makes price controls impossible. He also addresses the root cause of inflation, which is the growth of America’s money supply since 2008. 

In closing, Nick offers a tribute to “the greatest name in science fiction writing and film screenwriting that you never heard of.” That writer is the acclaimed Lee Brackett, a pioneering science fiction writer and screenwriter often overlooked despite her significant contributions. Nick describes Brackett as one of the most prominent female writers during the golden age of science fiction.

Nick touches on Brackett’s extensive resume and career highlights, which includes writing and co-writing many films (including The Big Sleep that starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall), working on Westerns alongside director Howard Hawks, and much more. One of her last works and her final screenplay credit would be for The Empire Strikes Back. Unfortunately, Brackett passed away in early 1978 and never saw her finished product.

“Rest in peace, Lee Brackett. And no matter what planet or galaxy you visit this week, May the Force be with you, and always stay connected to that Far Middle,” concludes Nick.