Wealth, Poverty, and Politics
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2024
- Recorded on September 18, 2015
Hoover Institution fellow Thomas Sowell discusses poverty around the world and in the United States. Poverty in America, he says, compared to the rest of the world, is not severe. Many poor people in poverty in the United States have one or two cars, central heating, and cell phones. The real problem for the poor is the destruction of the family, which Sowell argues dramatically increased once welfare policies were introduced in the 1960s.
Thomas Sowell should have been the first black president.
Yes. I couldn't agree more. He would have been a good one because he is actually a deeper thinking man than most.
Poverty doesn't cause broken homes, rather broken homes cause poverty.
"If the government took over the Sahara there'd be a shortage of sand."
😆
I don't know why I lol'd at that.
Because you know it's true haha, yet we still pass laws that give more authority to government.
It is brilliant, I think the original is 'If the Federal Government took control of the Sahara desert, in five years there would be a shortage of sand'
Hans Dowmerpantz wasn't that said by Milton Friedman?
_yjm_14 Yep
"Don't let schooling interfere with your education." ~ Mark Twain
So True. Coz schools have rheir own agendas and propagandas and it varies from school to school, private or public or a mix of both.
Its for the schools to provide education but we as an individual are free choose our knowledge and how we apply in the world.
"This shit is wack" ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
I'm glad Dr. Sowell is looking healthy and animated despite being 85 years old. Hopefully his brilliance won't be hindered by age anytime soon.
+CottonCube Agreed!
+CottonCube Friedman lasted well into his 90's, and was sharp as a tack until the end. I hope we are blessed with Sowell for as long.
+CottonCube I know! He is such a gem. It would be a shame to lose him.
+CottonCube Ron Paul and Noam Chomsky are still trucking too. Let's hope that age doesn't slow any of them down.
+Joshua S. Grant you should see his earlier videos in the 1980s. He was in his fifties but he looked like he was in his 30s!
If I were President, I would beg this man to be my chief economist.
:D
If I were President, I would make him my vice president and resign.
And he would say thanks but no thanks---as he did to Reagan when chosen to be Secretary of Education.
LOL
One of the greatest of men that has ever walked on this earth.
+feroxlara21 Amen, brother
+Joshua John Igoe
Boss Level over 9000!
Thomas Sowell converted me from Liberal to Free market libertarian
jason quinn The correct term is "Marxist." That it what he admitted to be and there is notable differences.
And one must also understand the difference between a Classical Liberal and a Modern Liberal.
Additionally, it should be a even greater sign that he converted from such an avid stance to the opposite side of the spectrum.
+jason quinn me too :)
Reminds me of the saying "America is the only country in the world where the poor can be fat"
Australia has plenty of fat poor people.Our welfare state is far more generous than the US especially to illiterate muslims with four wives in contravention of Australian law who have been here on occasion for 18 years, can't speak English despite 500 hours of free government lessons, receive over $200,00o per year in cash, free medical and prescription for $5.20 free after $1000. Add a free people mover every 3 years.
The interviewer is calm, polite and noncombative, and allows him to speak.
It should be a law, that for every minute of air time Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson gets on the national news, Thomas Sowell should get two.
So sad that I'm 35 yo and only now finding out about this guy. So many principles that I should have known about.
"I'm in poverty because that guy has a Porsche!"
I swear you can sit and watch these videos for a couple of weeks and learn a lot more than what children are being taught at liberal arts universities these days.
RustyHeels06 You should listen to Claude Anderson and Nelly Fuller as well.
RustyHeels06 I can almost vouch for this. I am extremely happy with my degree in criminal justice but almost every other class outside of my major was worthless and taught me close to nothing helpful, relevant, or factual.
I feel like my intelligence level just went up. Thanks!
+Jason Bush I can only hope that mind did!
+J Danner mine?
+Jason Bush, Sowell has that effect on people.
+lahey ACutally.. it's the other way around.. of COURSE he wouldn't be seen more on such big. Oh does that sound conspiritorial? did you just get that feeling to reject/skeptic what i just said? Explore that 'feeling'? ask urself Why.
its too easy to pick holes in his narrow thinking thats why.
And today, you have to learn English to listen and read the great Thomas Sowell. I'm glad I did!!!!!!
Robinson is such an excellent interviewer. I love his format. He's extremely well structured, but what really makes him stand out is that it's evident that he's read the books, and has taken the time to think about them to formulate excellent questions.
Robinson's best questions are always, "Explain that"!
Thomas Sowell is a damn national treasure that will be forgotten as fast as he's been dismissed. Watching a man like this proliferate the most common of all senses in an easy to understand form, and be unheard by the people who need to hear it most, is symbolic of the fall of America.
"You cannot measure opportunity by outcomes" quote of the century right there, this guy is awesome
Wise man, that Thomas Sowell! ❤️. Common sense is the remedy to most of America’s problems!
Thomas is a genius! My city cousins were quick to remind me I was poor when they came to visit our little dairy farm. But the only thing they knew anything about was playing with a ball. I had almost unlimited resources to learn new things. All I needed was curiosity. Our little city dump was a treasure of possibilities. We learned the basics of human out of necessity. One of our major advantages was that no one wanted outside our community wanted anything to do with us. Then the government tried to save us-it was down hill from there on. They built a straighter, wider highway through our little town, scraped away our city dump, tore down our line fences, regulated our little dairy farms, etc., etc. The town shut down so we had to drive to the ‘big’ towns for everything. Without line fences, the small farms merged into huge farms where huge machinery was required so kids no longer could participate safely and were replaced by transients so they no longer learned to drive as soon as they were strong enough to reach and push the clutch or learn about the soil or care of livestock. The government defined the poverty level and is now trying to define ‘happiness’. No thanks-how can miserable people who have never known real happiness define happiness when real people don’t all want to ‘play ball’?
I love your story, it's true and authentic! Thank you
Can't stop watching these interviews with Sowell, just phenomenal conversation. Thank you for sharing this knowledge
I'm half german/ half turkish and I love thomas sowell! just imagine him being your uncle or grandfather... I could listen to him for hours
greetings from mainz, germany
This is why I love Thomas Sowell and why he's one of my favorite non-fiction authors. He writes for the common-sense layperson, and his combination of facts, logic and common sense just blows the liberal worldview out of the water. Reading one book by Thomas Sowell makes you at least 3 times smarter than the average liberal. I've read dozens of his books over the years.
Dutch Martin knowledgeable
Dutch Martin dozens, as in 24+ books? wow you are indeed amazing. I have only read 7 of his books. Please list them for us.
duke of york There are just so many. Go to Amazon and type in Thomas Sowell.
I find Dr Sowells take on the take on America very refreshing. he shines a spot light on the stupidity of our institutions and the pest there in.
Sowell is a genius.
I really want to thank these two men. Before discovering Uncommon Knowledge I was just your run-of-the-mill, anti-American liberal Brit (we aren't exposed to many conservative voices over here across the pond). Uncommon Knowledge and Thomas Sowell introduced me to the civil, thoughtful, intellectual side of conservatism (which I now realize is at its heart) and introduced me to other thinkers and writers on the right which I would otherwise never have heard about. It completely changed my worldview. Thank you, keep up the good work, and God bless America.
I think you need to calm down a bit
85 years young when this was recorded and his works and writing of past AND present continue to blow us away
Fascinating to listen to this 6 years later. Dr Sowell always has amazing insight.
his excitement to discuss the different groups across the world is contagious.
Thomas Sowell's books should be required reading for all home-educated children. The man is a peripatetic education and a great teacher for our youth.
This guy is amazing.
Thomas Sowell . . . a genuine treasure
I consider myself blessed to have been exposed to this mans wisdom in my college years. salute!
Thomas Sowell hit the nail on the head when he said how fast the economy could recover just from lowering taxes and easing regulations
Perhaps the smartest man in the world.
I love this guy. How is it that I'm just learning about him?
He IS a treasure. A newly college-educated acquaintance of mine completely changed his politics after being exposed to Sowell, Steyn and Friedman. How is it that you "are just learning about him?" I suspect you just left the US Public School System, yes? Welcome aboard and enjoy the cruise!
BarbaraJoanneBJ I graduated many years ago. I didn't learn much from public school, they definitely didm't teach this stuff. I'm not sure why I haven't come across Thomas before...I guess I've spent too much of my life hanging with Lefty's. As I've gotten older and watched the "victim card" that's being preached to minorities in this country, I've started looking into facts and statistics to see what's really happening out there. Thomas should be required reading in all schools. especially inner city poorer schools where the students are constantly told the playing field in America isn't level for them because they're black or latino. That's the wrong message to pound into their heads.
I siad the same thing when I first heard him.
good question mate. I have just read 5 of his books. He is a hero of mine now.,
Probably because you grew up with extremely Left-wing biased education, like most people in the west did.
The mind of thomas Sowell remains powerful and accurate into old age
29:12
"How do you know all this?!"
"Because of my research assistant."
Truth be told; I could listen to Dr. Thomas Sowell all day and never tire of listening to the wisdom he exposes thru his historically factual common sense thinking. You are an American treasure Dr. Thomas Sowell!!
Dr. Sowell and Dr. Friedman forever changed the world. Listening to their comparative analysis is something every young scholar should do.
I wish I would have known about Thomas Sowell at 18. I'm 33 now. Truly a man of true wisdom.
Chicago school economists are so phenomenal.
Each of them.
I always love listening to this man!!!! Such a nice soul....
+Seyi 116 Because he "echoes" your core sentiments. I'm happy for the conservative academic. However, I've been in environments in the northwest where his conservatism wouldn't protect him for the slings and arrows suffered by his fellow men of color. Hayden Lake, for example. Then, too, a Lake Oswego stockbroker who befriended me, although I was just a parking lot attendant, told me that on vacation in the Coeur d'Alene area, he and his wife noticed "that old feelin'" coming from some of his associates there. So as long as the good professor is careful of his venue, those oohs and aahs will keep coming. his way. But away from that cocoon, I'm afraid reality sets in. I, too, happen to remember that once upon a time even the brightest of African American students weren't really quite in the door socially speaking. For instance, the Panhellenic Clinics were veritable battlefields and to rush a black or Jewish student, once upon a time, was to invite the wrath of the business communities who would fly in with threats of ex communication and eternal damnation. The only social option was International House for the "non white" student. I think Congressman Pete McCloskey, a Stanford man, addressed this lamentable issue. Then, too, I do remember that the entire Bay Area was none to hospitable to persons of color, even those as accomplished as Dr. Sowell. I do not lean towards radical social though. However, I do wonder from time to time whether the so-called and self anointed black conservative isn't really living an imitation of life in pretty the same manner a closeted gay person living as straight. Apologies, please. I am not a strident, left wing radical, merely someone who has paid attention to life's vagaries.
+Jay Young
I don't know if you should congratulate your stockbroker friend on his empath abilities or not considering he has to "feel" racism emanating from his associates but you are completely misunderstanding Thomas Sowell.
He has never said racism hasn't held black people back. He pointed out in this very video that despite facing overt discrimination, blacks had their largest period of economic growth from 1940 to 1960. The point was also made that the number of single parent households were significantly fewer during those times. Racism simply cannot account for all of the failing happening in the black community today.
OnlyTheSunCanFly I think I'll hold to my position. And may I ask you to do this. The next time you visit South Africa, you'll notice these same patterns resulting from conquest and loss of tradition. Listen, pre European, the family in African tradition was the centerpiece of life. You see, the family had meaning other than mere procreation. It was in other ways a form of "life insurance," if you will, for those reaching senior years and unable to care for themselves. I am disappointed in the good professor's quality of thinking in that rather than merely criticizing a situation we can all stipulate is a bad situation, he could've used that brain to explain this unfortunate syndrome away through cause and effect. There's almost nothing that cannot be examined and explained away through that very device, cause and effect. Yes, I stipulate that the broken family syndrome is a train wreck. But then the question becomes, why? Take this example, if you will. Compare life of black immigrants to the country to that of the lower rung of African American life. I said lower rung deliberately because that's where that unfortunate syndrome the good professor describes takes place. You do not find unwed mothers among black America's uppercrust. And, believe me, there's an uppercrust. For example, for uppercrust black Americans there are character building social organizations such as the Jack n Jill,plus the many professional organizations for character building, which apparently the good professor and white America are totally ignorant of. So, yes, we can stipulate this unfortunate and visible lower run social order in black America. But there's more to than broken families, unwanted pregnancies, and crime. Trust me!
Jay Young
Did you even watch the video? Sowell makes the claim in this video that the welfare state manged to do what years of slavery and generations of Jim Crow laws couldn't: Destroy the black family.
Also, no one is suggesting that there aren't black people who go out and do great things. I'd say Sowell is one of them. I fail to see what point it is you're trying to make. I suggest that you re-watch the video but this time pay a little more attention to what is being said.
OnlyTheSunCanFly I'll do you one better. I suggest you 1) get a better understanding of African American history from a much better source than your beloved Sowell. Professor Ira Berlin, University of Maryland, can help you immensely get a better grip on African American history. For your information, many African Americans were born in states where there was no such thing as welfare. You seem tethered to stereotypic thinking. Unfortunately, the good professor did nothing more than reinforce your stereotypes. There's more to black America than your beloved Sowell. Then after speaking with Dr. Berlin, you might try visiting Howard University there at Washington, D.C., to get more depth to your thinking. As it stands, you're quite entrenched in your "welfare" argument. I don't think I will be interested in hearing more from you since I think I have a much stronger grasp of African American history anyway.
"Isolation almost invariably leads to poverty and backwardness." Tell that to John Galt why don't you. Just kidding everyone! Love this gentleman! Really happy he is still alive. R.I.P Friedman.
Dr Sowell. Slavery vs Welfare . I had a suspicion but now have reason for thesis.
I could listen to this guy all day. Wisdom is so delicious.
Dr. Sowell is not only one of the smartest men on the topics of race, economics, the family, but one of the wisest public intellectuals as well. Is he politically incorrect? Absolutely. Is he tough on the President? Most definitely. In the eyes of many on the Left, that precludes them from covering his very intelligent musings in anything other than a very biased manner.
This man is one of the greatest intellectual assets this great nation is blessed to have. Many young individuals could learn a whole lot from this man. I know I have and have become the better for it.
Bill Richardson white people love blacks who never criticize them, the same way they loved Muhammad Ali when he could no longer speak. Yet they hated him and threatened him when he was critical. What a bizarre people.
duke of york If anyone sounds hateful it is you.
duke of york
You couldn’t be more wrong, believe it or not most human beings want to see their fellow human beings succeed. Not only for virtuous reasons, but because of the social and economic strain they place on society when they don’t succeed. We see a man who has thrown off the shackles of victimhood, refused to cower in the face of adversity and has succeeded. Why do you not see hope in him? You’re so desperate to find monsters that don’t exist to validate your inability to move forward in life. Do you really believe blacks are the only group of people that have suffered injustice? Do you believe blacks haven’t oppressed people?
You cherry pick history to confirm your narrative, every group has suffered injustices, so what!
Why do you only blame whites, why do you not hold arabs accountable, who quite literally still enslave blacks today.
I’m European, I feel no guilt. My ancestors held no slaves and each generations fought and many died for the freedoms you enjoy today. Just remember the best way to control a group of people is to convince them of their shared victimhood and then toss a few crumbs their way. Are you so attached to your victimhood, does it really mean that much to you that you’re willing to take the crumbs. Maybe you are? Because letting go of it would mean taking responsibility for yourself, admitting you are where you are due to your own actions.
Poverty and trauma can be passed generations to generations, but it doesn’t have to be and people of every race have suffered intragenerational trauma, I’m sorry but you don’t have a monopoly on suffering. Can I recommend you read Dr. Bruce Liptons book on epigenetics, the science is in its infancy but it’s very interesting. Also may I recommend Eckhart Tolle, and his speech on Ego.
I watched this and I can not come to terms with or understand how anyone in America today thinks this is not just common sense...Thomas Sowell is a great man!
Robinson: "How do you know all this?"
Sowell: "Because of my research assistants."
MORE SOWELL!!!
We need every drop of wisdom from this man.
Thank you for this show!!! However, Dr. Thomas - I'm a BIG fan btw, I must inform you about our experience shopping for a car, for our son, about a month ago. Hubby and I were excited to find a brand new car at a local dealership, for a $10,000 discount. We weren't going to buy a new car for a novice driver of course, but hey, we couldn't pass up this wonderful deal! We met with the sales person, and were going to pay cash. When the financial person met with us, he asked if we had good credit, and wer told him wer both have EXCELLENT credit. He proceeded to tell us that wer couldn't get the large discount, because we have too good of a credit score... WHAT?!!! We were blown away by this, we were NEVER denied a good deal because of our credit - It's like being punished for being good, in fact the man treated us with disinterest, if we were black leftist, we would have thought we were being discriminated against...
My Hubby being business minded told me, more likely it's because they want low credit score people who would not pay off the loan prematurely, and they could make money off of them. We definitely didn't read the small print...
Cheers!!! 😊🌷
I'm always disappointed that these interviews with Dr Sowell have an end. Looking forward to the next one! Can't wait to read the book.
What an intellectual discourse. Spent over 2 hours watching Dr Sowell's interviews upon finding out about him today. Need to read his books.
I am working on purchasing every single one of Thomas Sowell books!
I enjoy binge-watching his interviews. No matter how many times you watch him, it's always refreshing and quenches my thirst for knowledge and truth.
One of the TOP 5 intellectuals of our time. Just WoW!
Do you know something? I could sit and listen to Peter Robinson and Thomas Sowell, discussing Tom's research, for hours.
Hmmm ... Come to think of it, I have .. Haha.
Aah, the feeling of excitement, upon finding an up to date, hot off the press interview, from The Hoover Institution, with these two. Priceless.
Gentlemen. I raise my glass to the both of you. Cheers.
Thomas Sowell is an American treasure!
"You're seldom hiring a whole group" made me laugh so much.
The greatest gift that Thomas Sowell gives is teaching those who will listen not what to think, but how to think.
I can listen to thomas sowell for hours on end. Hes a master at simplifying complicated topics.
I could listen to him talk all day. One of his books narrated by Tom would be awesome.
Thomas Sowell must be one of the most fascinating people to have a conversation with.
If the govt. took charge of the Sahara dessert, there would be a shortage of sand.d
Great to see Dr. Sowell is still in top form!
Peter Robinson is really underappreciated as a host. He does such an amazing job of giving his guests the floor, while still bringing out the heart of their ideas and opinions with his questions.
Ive always said if government would get out of the way our economy would be fine
I have never heard so many shocking facts in one interview, I am sitting here with my jaw dropped to the floor. Why aren´t these facts for example about Afro-American community mentioned in any newspaper or political debate? Why nobody can state facts in these days? What sort of democracy do we have? And most important question - who will replace these old guys and keep proliferating truth in their stead? The outlook is worse than bleak.
god we need more of people like thomas!!!
safe spaces=more isolation from ideas
great point
not always. You only think about survival then
actually in the past only rich people who had much time did science
Inner G *
Most concise definition,speaks volumes in six words and an equals sign.
"[...]the idea was wonderful, it's only the reality that did not cooperate[...]"
Hahhahaha love this man.
I feel lucky for being able to learn from a gentleman like Mr. Sowell!
Ah Dr. Sowell. Thank you both. Its been great seeing you two over the years in these interviews. Seems like you have a good friendship.
Thank you, Dr. Sowell. A true American hero and treasure!
Thanks for these awesome videos. I love Uncommon Knowledge.
Amazing conversation. And so civil! Like a breath of fresh air.
50 years of helping us understand why Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" trapped Black culture in the US in poverty. Here he takes a larger view of detailed sociocultural data and builds stunningly insightful accounts of those data.
Uber Genie Did he also trap White farmers in poverty after decades of welfare in the form of subsidies, given to them to not grow crops and in some cases to burn their crops to keep the prices inflated? There has always been more whites on welfare than blacks, so he destroyed this segment of white welfare recipients as well?
This man is simply a GEM!! "How do you know all this?" ..... TS: "My research assistants"!!!!! Simply the greatest!
What an incredible human being Thomas is. With today's issues from BLM, his perspectives of life as black or white are so important to listen too. Thank goodness we have a gentleman that looks at facts instead of emotions which seem to be out of control with the media fueling racial hate. As a 65 year old White gentleman I feel I have not contributed racism in this country and very very proud of that. Considering my father from the past was extremely racist against black folks, I should be racist but I never participated in his teachings of hatred.
Dr. Sowell is too smart to be a politician.
I can’t get enough of him ! I am learning so much ! Love this
"If the government took over the Sahara desert, their would be a shortage of sand" Is both the funniest and most honest quote I have ever heard
One of the greatest thinkers of our time. I wish more people knew about him.
I have always loved this man's brilliance..
Even the poorest people in this country have two big screen TV's, air-conditioning, at least one car, and on and on. It's a joke to even say we have a real poverty problem.
I can't get enough of this guy. What an amazing, amazing man.
"squalor of behavior." Exactly! :)
It’s almost as if what he says sounds redundant. If you have read into almost anything he says you’d say to yourself no shit, this is observed fact.
“It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.”
-Thomas Sowell, one of the greatest Americans alive today.
Every, single, time I listen to Thomas Sowell, I feel more knowledgeable and educated. Thank you Hoover Institution and Thomas Sowell for your ongoing support of rational evidence based wisdom!
Another masterpiece by Dr. Sowell.
Man! I do admire Thomas Sowell.
Dr. Thomas Sowell's line about the cultural prerequisites for turning raw materiel into wealth should be shouted from the rooftops. People like to say the Indians were cheated out of Manhattan. However, Manhattan was swampy useless marshlands to the Indians. The European settles were the ones with a culture to turning such things into cities. Another example is Florida, It was mostly swamp lands filled with alligators and snakes and most tribes lived along the coast. Now look at Florida. What the European culture achieved is something that CAN be learnt. It is not white people's whiteness or asian people asianess that makes them great wealth creators but their culture. It can be learned as humans have been doing for thousands of years.
If we could get Thomas Sowell and Victor Davis Hanson in a room, that would be a conversation that I would pay to hear.
"Milton Friedman once said that if the government took over the Sahara Desert there would be a shortage of sand"
This man is one of God’s gifts to mankind and has a blessing of wisdom and understanding of humanity and the pitfalls of socialism and totalitarian ideology, spread the word while America still has a SLIM CHANCE TO STOP DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM
Economist Thomas Sowell defending truth through primary sources, facts and research.
Thank you for your career's great work it is inspiring.
This man.. Very enlightening. Taught me more economics than my whole economics degree course!
Dr Sowell is a flat out genius. What a bastion of wisdom & knowledge.
Great job, love listening to Dr Sowell. Oh, and btw, this is one of the best interviewers I know
+SanQae Yes, Peter Robinson always remembers to laugh when Dr Sowell retells of his midnight Harlem newspaper reads and his struggle to hit the backboard in basketball.
+SanQae He used to be one of Reagan's speechwriters. In fact, he was the one who wrote the "Tear down this wall" speech.
+SanQae Yeah, i was really happy with him but then.. @38:50 ish there. I dunno if he was just exhausted or even serious? I guess even sum1 like hIm doesn't seem to understand the difference between REACTING and RESPONDING. Ive encounter'ed Exactly the same social behavior so...
Or maybe he just had ppl screaming in his ear cuz they want'd a sound byte? I can only make wild guess'
but he Did definitely loose major points for that in my book. Sure you one could argue but im sure i'll just keep looping back to my orig assertion that regarding reaction vs responses. a nd if ya dont beleive me, then study sum Japanese culture shtuff... i can prolly provide a link but this girl does an Excellent job of showing how Disruptive to conversation that constant reaction shtuff creates a feeling of interrupting, particularly for westerns.
Unlike Her tho, this guy is ready from a script so; how hard can it be? Im often arguing points with ppl while day 2 of insomnia AND drunk @ 1 good 0.1ish so.. ...LoL?? ...
Look at the interview (2part) by Tony Brown "The Ethnic Flaw" on UA-cam search. Early eighties- also brilliant.
Every time I hear this man speak I feel like I'm receiving profound clarity and wisdom
Great interview. Watching in 2019 and I don't fault the great Dr. Sowell at all for his skepticism of Trump in 2015 but I hope to find an interview of him discussing Trump currently.
Dr. Thomas Sowell is brilliant! I am thankful to know who he is, and wish I had known about him many years ago.