Discrimination and Disparities with Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell: Wealth, Poverty, and Politics

Wealth, Poverty, and Politics HooverInstitution Recorded on September 8, 2016 Hoover Institution fellow Thomas Sowell discusses inequality and how it is part of the human condition. Sowell notes that political and ideological struggles have led to a dangerous confusion about income inequality in America. We cannot properly understand inequality if we focus on the distribution of wealth and ignore wealth production factors such as geography, demography, and culture. What is important is not inequality but human capital; once human capital is unleashed it creates an enormous amount of wealth for people of all classes. In addition there needs to be a sense of humility and gratitude for the generations that have gone before us for the prosperity we have today.

Thomas Sowell: Wealth, Poverty, and Politics

Trickle Down Economics: Thomas Sowell on Uncommon Knowledge

To read Dr. Sowell's essay: "Trickle Down Theory and Tax Cuts for the Rich," click on the link below:

http://media.hoover.org/sites/default/files/documents/Sowell_TrickleDown_FINAL.pdf

Happy 100th Birthday Milton Friedman

The inestimable Thomas Sowell, a former student of Milton Friedman, devoted his column at National Review Online today to his mentor who was born 100 years ago today,

If Milton Friedman were alive today — and there has never been a time when he was more needed — he would be 100 years old. He was born on July 31, 1912. But Professor Friedman’s death at age 94 deprived the nation of one of those rare thinkers who had both genius and common sense. Most people would not be able to understand the complex economic analysis that won him a Nobel Prize, but people with no knowledge of economics had no trouble understanding his popular books like Free to Choose or the TV series of the same name.

To read the entire piece, click on the link below:

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312648/milton-friedman-s-centenary-thomas-sowell

Thomas Sowell: More on Intellectuals and Society

From the website of The Hoover Institution at Stanford University:

On the occasion of the publication of a new edition of his book Intellectuals and Society, Thomas Sowell returns to Uncommon Knowledge for a wide-ranging interview.

This is the entire five parts of the latest interview of Dr. Sowell by Peter Robinson at The Hover Institution.  It's typical Sowell: full of wisdom that can be at the same time pithy and humorous.  Please don't miss any of the 52+ minutes of the interview; you can watch one segment at a time and return and pick it up where you left off.

The Revised and Expanded edition of the original Intellectuals and Society is available at Amazon.Com.  The original edition by Dr. Sowell was published in 2009.

For additional posts on Thomas Sowell, you can type his name in the "Search This Blog" box under the flags on the right.

Thomas Sowell: Racism and George Zimmerman

Dr. Thomas Sowell takes the mainstream media to task for once again (in the Trayvon Martin case) "filtering and slanting the news to fit their own vision of the world."

"One of the first things presented in the media was a transcript of a conversation between George Zimmerman and a police dispatcher. The last line in most of the transcripts shown on TV was that of the police dispatcher telling Zimmerman not to continue following Trayvon Martin.

"That became the basis of many media criticisms of Zimmerman for continuing to follow him. Only later did I see a transcript of that conversation on the Sean Hannity program that included Zimmerman’s reply to the police dispatcher: “Okay.”

"That reply removed the only basis for assuming that Zimmerman did in fact continue to follow Trayvon Martin. At this point, neither I nor the people who assumed that he continued to follow the teenager have any basis in fact for believing that he did or didn’t."

You can read the article on National Review Online by clicking on the link below: 

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/297172/racism-and-george-zimmerman-thomas-sowell

Bill Whittle: The Battle of Big Ideas

This is Bill Whittle at his best.  Using the lessons of Thomas Sowell's great book: "A Conflict of Visions," Whittle compares and contrasts the philosophies that inspire the beliefs, and actions, of the Left with those of the Right.

Thomas Sowell: Choosing Gingrich

Thomas Sowell, writing today at National Review Online, has endorsed Newt Gingrich for the GOP nomination.

Thomas Sowell: Christmas Books This Year

The inestimable Thomas Sowell recommended several new books that would make excellent Christmas gifts this year, in a piece on National Review Online yesterday.

Included in his recommendations: a biography of Stan Musial, Ann Coulter's new one: "Demonic," which practically predicated the "Occupy" movement, and new offerings by his friend, Walter Williams, and one of his favorite writers, Theodore Dalrymple.

You can read about all his recommendations by clicking on the link below:

Christmas Books - Thomas Sowell - National Review Online

Thomas Sowell, Uncommon Knowledge Ch 3 of 5

Thomas Sowell talks with Peter Robinson (again) at the Hoover Institution about his newest book: The Thomas Sowell Reader.

Thomas Sowell, Uncommon Knowledge Ch 2 of 5

Thomas Sowell talks with Peter Robinson (again) at the Hoover Institution about his newest book: The Thomas Sowell Reader.

http://tv.nationalreview.com/uncommonknowledge/post/?q=YTZjOWNlYjI3MTgwZGIyZmUyYWM5NjNiOWJkNGM2MTE=

Thomas Sowell: Uncommon Knowledge Ch 1 of 5

Thomas Sowell talks with Peter Robinson (again) at the Hoover Institution about his newest book: The Thomas Sowell Reader. The video starts with a clip from Dr. Sowell's appearance on Firing Line with William F. Buckley, on November 12, 1981 - Priceless!

http://tv.nationalreview.com/uncommonknowledge/post/?q=MmZjMTVmOWE5YzBlMTdhYjFkMDA0OWNjYmQ2YjFjMTU=

Cavuto and Sowell on Fox Business News

In case you missed this half hour interview on Fox Business News last night (I didn't), this is a six minute clip courtesy of Real Clear Politics. Thomas Sowell is a treasure.

If It's Good Enough for Thomas Sowell, It's Good Enough!

Surely we're all sick to death of hearing about the debt ceiling debacle still ongoing in Washington. Late yesterday, Peter Robinson of The Hoover Institution, posted this at Ricochet.com after he said he'd been listening to Sean Hannity on his car radio yesterday:

Sean spent an hour lambasting Speaker Boehner and everyone who supports Boehner's proposal to raise the debt ceiling, including the Wall Street Journal and Bill Kristol.

Then Congressman Ryan came on the air. Sean asked if Paul Ryan agreed with those who believed that voting against the Boehner proposal would "play into Obama's hands" in a tone leaving no doubt that Sean expected Ryan to prove as dismissive of the Boehner proposal as was Sean himself. "I absolutely believe that voting against the Speaker's proposal would play into Obama's hands," Ryan replied. (I'm quoting from memory here.)

Respectfully but firmly and--very much worth noting--cheerfully, Ryan explained, a) that Boehner's proposal would cut federal spending by more than it would raise the debt ceiling, b) that the Boehner proposal would do so without raising taxes, and, c) that, even though Obama and Geithner have been misleading the public about the likelihood of a default, if Congress failed to raise the debt ceiling the markets would indeed be disrupted, doing damage to a weak economy. Ryan continued to say that the conservative movement was split "right down the middle on this." While urging listeners to support Boehner's proposal, he nevertheless insisted that "after this is over we're going to unite as conservatives to keep on pounding and pounding."

The interview lasted only a few minutes, but it was as deft a performance as I've ever heard. Also, in its way, courageous. Sean, Rush, others--Ryan surely knew that they had devoted their air time today to attacking the Boehner proposal, and that they were speaking for a lot of the people who most admire Ryan, including much of the Tea Party. Ryan stood his ground.

If Paul Ryan's endorsement of the Boehner proposal is not enough to convince you (it does me), read the below article posted at National Review Online today by Thomas Sowell. Here's a bit of it:

Is the Boehner legislation the best legislation possible? Of course not! You don’t get your heart’s desire when you control only one house of Congress and face a presidential veto.

The most basic fact of life is that we can make our choices only among the alternatives actually available. It is not idealism to ignore the limits of one’s power. Nor is it selling out one’s principles to recognize those limits at a given time and place, and get the best deal possible under those conditions.

That still leaves the option of working toward getting a better deal later, when the odds are more in your favor.

Boehner’s Plan Will Do - Thomas Sowell - National Review Online

It shouldn't have to be pointed out that both Paul Ryan and Thomas Sowell are endorsing the Boehner proposal now - not what it might look like after Harry Reid's senate takes a shot at it.

Thomas Sowell: Economic Facts and Fallacies, Parts 4 & 5

About Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell has studied and taught economics, intellectual history, and social policy at institutions that include Cornell, UCLA, and Amherst. Now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Sowell has published more than a dozen books. His most recent book is a revised and expanded second edition of Economic Facts and Fallacies.


Here are parts 4 & 5 of his interview with Peter Robinson of The Hoover Institution about the second edition of his best selling book: Economic Facts and Fallacies.

Part 4

http://tv.nationalreview.com/uncommonknowledge/post/?q=NzdlNjA3YjU0Mjg1Y2RhYzUwYjAxYzQ0ZDRmYzk3ZDU=

Part 5

http://tv.nationalreview.com/uncommonknowledge/post/?q=MTk0ZTNhMTljYTJhMTBmNDY2Yjc0N2JlYTg5ODRkMWM=

Thomas Sowell: Economic Facts and Fallacies, Part 3

http://tv.nationalreview.com/uncommonknowledge/post/?q=MGZmMTIwYzY2OWQxNjhhNGY1NGQ5NzRjZDFkYTc4YmM=


About Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell has studied and taught economics, intellectual history, and social policy at institutions that include Cornell, UCLA, and Amherst. Now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Sowell has published more than a dozen books. His most recent book is a revised and expanded second edition of Economic Facts and Fallacies.

Thomas Sowell: Economic Facts and Fallacies, Part 2

I'm certainly not alone when thinking that had Thomas Sowell been my Economics 101 professor the subject would have become my Major. Dr. Sowell learned his profession from Milton Friedman and others who preceded the Nobel Laureate, and he, better than anyone, has that special talent that allows him to make an otherwise dry and boring topic not only understandable, but even interesting.

This is part 2 of a five part interview with Peter Robinson about the second edition of his newest book: Economic Facts and Fallacies.

http://tv.nationalreview.com/uncommonknowledge/post/?q=MzkxZDE1NjM3NjU1YzZmMWIxNzY2MmI1YWRmNTNkZmE=

Thomas Sowell: Economic Facts and Fallacies, Part 1

I'm certainly not alone when thinking that had Thomas Sowell been my Economics 101 professor the subject would have become my Major. Dr. Sowell learned his profession from Milton Friedman and others who preceded the Nobel Laureate, and he, better than anyone, has that special talent that allows him to make an otherwise dry and boring topic not only understandable, but even interesting.

This is part 1 of a five part interview with Peter Robinson about the second edition of his newest book: Economic Facts and Fallacies.

http://tv.nationalreview.com/uncommonknowledge/post/?q=NDU5ZDVjNDExZWIwNGM4ODA5YjI1YWYyZjgxNjQyMjM=

Thomas Sowell: High-Speed Rail = "World-Class Chutzpa"

Thomas Sowell's column this week tells us all we need to know about the government's unrealistic plans for "high-speed rail." Here are some clips:

Nothing more clearly illustrates the utter irresponsibility of President Obama than his advocacy of "high-speed rail." The man is not stupid. He knows how to use words that will sound wonderful to people who do not bother to stop and think.

High-speed rail may be feasible in parts of Europe or Japan, where the population density is much higher than in the United States. But, without enough people packed into a given space, there will never be enough riders to repay the high cost of building and maintaining a high-speed rail system.

However little Obama knows or cares about economics, he knows a lot about politics -- and especially political rhetoric. "High-speed rail" is simply another set of lofty words to justify continued expansion of government spending.

To talk glibly about spending more money on "high-speed rail" when the national debt has just passed a milestone, by exceeding the total value of our annual output, for the first time in more than half a century, is world-class chutzpa.

To read the entire column, go here.