BLACK REDNECKS and WHITE LIBERALS
Those of you who know me know how impressed I was with Thomas Sowell's BASIC ECONOMICS. Over 15 CDs, Sowell explains why many of our actions and programs actually end up producing exactly the opposite results of what we intended. For example, why rent control laws actually increase homelessness.
While I was on Amazon ordering some copies to pass around, Amazon suggested that I consider other works by Sowell. One of these was BLACK REDNECKS AND WHITE LIBERALS. The title sounded controversial (who woulda thunk - a controversial economist), so I thought I would give it a read - well actually a listen.
The most impressive thing about Sowell's work is his insistence that results correlate with intentions and his extensive documentation of facts which contract common talking points. Many people have good intentions. (Enough to pave the road to hell apparently) In fact, I think that we could get nearly unanimous agreement on certain goals. 1) Reducing poverty; 2) having well educated citizens; 3) ensuring that people have quality health care; 4) ensuring that we have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. Where the dispute arises, is how to accomplish these goals.
In BLACK REDNECKS AND WHITE LIBERALS, Sowell disabuses the reader of many misconceptions about history, minority groups and education in general. As an economist, he takes aim at many of the policies which allegedly are supposed to help blacks and other minorities and documents how many of these have actually been counterproductive, if not downright destructive. He also points out where things work or did work before well intentioned people got involved. For example, Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. was a school for blacks that consistently had scores as good as or better than the schools for whites. The incredible accomplishments of its graduates would rival any school in the country. If there is a first black to do ________ odds are pretty good he or she came out of Dunbar. Yet most of the students were children of maids, janitors and low level government employees. However, political correctness destroyed Dunbar and other similar schools.
Unfortunately, there are many who are so tied to their political positions and social networks that they cannot simply acknowledge what works and what doesn't. In fact, Sowell points out numerous occasions where government employees and others were forced to abandon programs that generated incredible success among disadvantaged minorities because they were inconsistent with political orthodoxy. Programs that had black children reading years above grade level did not use the officially sanctioned reading program. Programs that had hispanic students grades ahead of their white counterparts were shut down because they did not use bilingual education. It is sad that children suffer so that ideologues and bureaucrats can implement their latest myopic program.
Sowell's analysis of certain minority groups, which he titles "middleman minorities" ,also gives a pretty good road map of how to get ahead in America - or anywhere for that matter. He also exposes a consistent thread across human nature - resentment for those who work hard and get ahead - even when they do so by making all of our lives better.
I would highly recommend the book.
While I was on Amazon ordering some copies to pass around, Amazon suggested that I consider other works by Sowell. One of these was BLACK REDNECKS AND WHITE LIBERALS. The title sounded controversial (who woulda thunk - a controversial economist), so I thought I would give it a read - well actually a listen.
The most impressive thing about Sowell's work is his insistence that results correlate with intentions and his extensive documentation of facts which contract common talking points. Many people have good intentions. (Enough to pave the road to hell apparently) In fact, I think that we could get nearly unanimous agreement on certain goals. 1) Reducing poverty; 2) having well educated citizens; 3) ensuring that people have quality health care; 4) ensuring that we have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. Where the dispute arises, is how to accomplish these goals.
In BLACK REDNECKS AND WHITE LIBERALS, Sowell disabuses the reader of many misconceptions about history, minority groups and education in general. As an economist, he takes aim at many of the policies which allegedly are supposed to help blacks and other minorities and documents how many of these have actually been counterproductive, if not downright destructive. He also points out where things work or did work before well intentioned people got involved. For example, Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. was a school for blacks that consistently had scores as good as or better than the schools for whites. The incredible accomplishments of its graduates would rival any school in the country. If there is a first black to do ________ odds are pretty good he or she came out of Dunbar. Yet most of the students were children of maids, janitors and low level government employees. However, political correctness destroyed Dunbar and other similar schools.
Unfortunately, there are many who are so tied to their political positions and social networks that they cannot simply acknowledge what works and what doesn't. In fact, Sowell points out numerous occasions where government employees and others were forced to abandon programs that generated incredible success among disadvantaged minorities because they were inconsistent with political orthodoxy. Programs that had black children reading years above grade level did not use the officially sanctioned reading program. Programs that had hispanic students grades ahead of their white counterparts were shut down because they did not use bilingual education. It is sad that children suffer so that ideologues and bureaucrats can implement their latest myopic program.
Sowell's analysis of certain minority groups, which he titles "middleman minorities" ,also gives a pretty good road map of how to get ahead in America - or anywhere for that matter. He also exposes a consistent thread across human nature - resentment for those who work hard and get ahead - even when they do so by making all of our lives better.
I would highly recommend the book.
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