Libservative hosts Dan Griffin and Corey Walsh talk to Joshua Ferguson of The Hourly Struggle about his viral Fullerton, CA city council speech popularizing “enshittification,” which he applies to local government: voters rejected a 2020 sales tax, yet the city spent anyway, then pushed a new “infrastructure” half‑cent sales tax he argues would be reshuffled to salaries and pensions with little accountability. Ferguson details alleged mismanagement (late budget, lawsuits, missing $2.9M, costly contracts) and fear-based tactics (threats to cut arrests or close the jail). The conversation expands to Flock/ALPR surveillance adopted without public agenda, FOIA/records battles (including him being sued after accessing a city Dropbox file), and broader distrust of bipartisan power grabs, with side rants on libertarian infighting, politicians breaking promises, and why socialist candidates are gaining traction when Republicans offer little beyond “we’re not the other guy.”
Enshittification at City Hall: Taxes, Surveillance, and the Freedom to Get Screwed
Dan Griffin and Corey Walsh host Joshua Ferguson of The Hourly Struggle to discuss his viral Fullerton, CA city council speech introducing “enshittification” as a way to describe government deterioration that benefits public-sector unions and officials while residents pay more and get less. Ferguson explains Fullerton’s proposed half-cent special sales tax pitched as infrastructure funding, arguing money is fungible and would backfill salaries and pensions amid budget failures, missing funds, and lawsuits, while fear-mongering tactics were used to justify it. The conversation expands to local surveillance (Flock/ALPR/Axon), lack of transparency, and Ferguson’s lawsuit after accessing public records via an unsecured Dropbox link exposing misconduct. They connect these dynamics to partisan hypocrisy, expanding federal power, libertarian party dysfunction, and the appeal of DSA-style candidates amid economic stagnation and corporate-government predation.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:15 Enshittification Explained
05:07 City Council Clip Breakdown
09:17 Tax Measure Backstory
15:45 Fear Tactics and Flock Cameras
19:46 Surveillance and FOIA Hypocrisy
28:18 Power Ratchet and Partisanship
33:49 Taleb Quote Debate
37:41 Libertarians and Real Politics
41:33 Libertarian Movement Problem
42:48 Two Parties Myth Explained
45:59 Convention Chaos and Infighting
48:23 Mises Caucus Rise and Sellout
52:24 Debate Stage Barriers
53:18 Tulsi Gabbard Disillusionment
58:28 Trump Relevancy and COVID Parallels
01:02:15 Tim Pool Rant
01:04:42 DSA Surge and Economic Anger
01:15:36 Monopolies Walmart and Amazon
01:21:51 Why Young Voters Turn Left
01:23:41 Foreign Policy Capture
01:24:53 Why DSA Sells
01:26:00 Defense vs Healthcare Choice
01:27:53 California One Party Reality
01:37:50 Prop 13 and Pensions
01:41:34 Social Security Ponzi Fight
01:44:32 Local Recalls and Zombies
01:47:23 Newsom and GOP Weak Bench
01:54:23 No Values No Principles
01:59:56 Wrap Up and Plugs