They changed George Washington’s birthday to “Presidents’ Day” to honor all the presidents, no matter how terrible they were, especially Abe Lincoln, who was one of the worst. The holiday is usually accompanied by many best/worst president’s lists as seen by progressive historians. Not surprisingly, you can read these backwards and they make much more sense.

I shared my thoughts on a few of the best and the worst in today's episode of Tom Mullen Talks Freedom. I like to keep episode length as close to 30 minutes as possible, so my comments on each president had to be brief and general in nature. I spent a little more time on Awful Abe Lincoln since he is considered the best by academia (they're the perfect contraindicator).

The rest of the worst include those academia also perennial declare among the best: Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and my pick for all-time worst, FDR.

Of course, it's not all bad news. Almost, but not 100%. Among the bright spots are, predictably, those presidents academia generally doesn't like: Warren Harding, John Tyler, and my pick for best all-time: Grover Cleveland.

The progressives haven't had the nerve to cancel George Washington yet. I have him up there among the best. 

It occurs to me as I write this that I didn't mention Woodrow Wilson being the president in office when the 16th Amendment was ratified and also the president who signed the Federal Reserve Act into law, although this was a longstanding Republican project that he just happened to be around to sign. 

He managed to make it a little more socialist than the Republican version, but in principle even the GOP version was socialist. 

As I argue in my new book, It’s the Fed, Stupid, once the New Deal regulatory system was in place and Nixon severed the last connection to the gold standard in 1971, the Federal Reserve has pretty much run the economy for all intents and purposes.

You can vote who you like into office; their policies don't affect macro economic outcomes significiantly. Only the Fed's inflation and occasional, miniscule deflation can be seen in macroeconomic metrics. And the Fed's effect on the economy is 100% negative.

You can download a free copy of my book here.

It’s also available in paperback here. It’s priced at a pre-hyperinflation level so grab a few copies for friends if you can.

It makes a great introduction to the government’s most economically damaging institution for liberals, conservatives, libertarians, socialists, and independents alike.

It also helps me keep the lights on here so I can continue to bring you great content.