This book differentiates between political will and factual evidence. This means that the reality of a situation has very little to do with effects of political will. For example, Mr. Sowell explains that there is very little evidence to support systemic racism in America, but that has never impeded the call to arms against racism. The theme of book maintains that slowly over time since the Wilson administration and more speedily since the Obama administration the power of Government has increased to the point that personal freedoms of yesteryear have been curtailed. The country continues to grow a cadre of leftist elites that believe they have the power to impose their will over the masses. Mr. Sowell cites facts to contradict the perceptions of the politicians, however, the political will wins out to smash former personal freedoms. Often the political will creates social problems never intended.
One of the these policies, for example, was the demand for more affordable housing. The government forced banks to lower their standards and allow a borrower to gain a mortgage. The obvious noble largess on the service was noteworthy, however, the chances of banks losing great amounts of money increased was also noteworthy. When indeed borrowers could not pay their mortgages housing went bust! No one remembers anyone taking responsibility for the fiasco. Congressman Barney Frank decided not to seek re-election. The real reason? He would lose - he actually was a prime mover in the affordable housing 'bust'.
Mr. Sowell also points out that when government call out 'gifts' or 'free stuff' or 'affordable' healthcare, he shows that there is never anything free! Usually taxes are raised and the public suffers in another way. Another theme of the book: "there are no free lunches!" The Affordable Healthcare bill is a case in point that although the public was told that one's healthcare premiums would be lower, the actual premiums consistently rose until the bill was put into place.
Another issue that the author brings up is the minimum wage. The demand of a reasonable wage is very desirable. No one believes in the exploitation of the worker. Nevertheless, the evidence shows that minimum wage laws actually reduce the number of jobs and create more unemployment. The argument is quite simple. If an employer must raise his minimum wage creating a situation that a non skilled job is worth half of what the employer must pay he will automatically reduce his labor force to get his money's worth. On the other hand, without a minimum wage more people will be employed and the chances rise that the minimum worker will be able to train and learn more skills on the job and advance. Mr. Sowell points out that historically the minimum wage laws were actually originally put in place to stifle employment of ethnic workers. (The progressive president Woodrow Wilson was a bigot and suggested the minimum wage to eliminate workers of African American descent)
The author has some observations about slavery. He points out that the USA was not the only place in the world to enslave others. he points out that slavery was actually a world problem. But it is Western Civilization that abolished slavery. What makes slavery in the USA unique is that the issue was problematic from the moment the country was founded! The issue was constantly debated from the beginning and finally was eliminated.
The book makes observations about the 'greed of Wall Street'. The executives on Wall Street make too much money! They somehow are terrible people. But somehow the entertainment industry is exempt from the accusation of 'greed' even though entertainers make sometimes more than the Wall Street executives. The desire to be compensated according the market seems only one sided. Making money from the Movies does not make greed but making money on Wall Street does make greed?!
Thomas Sowell is a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, his books are cogent arguments for limited government, a less intrusive government, making worthwhile reading.
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