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  2. John Malcolm

    The ONLY reason why this brilliant man is not better known is because the ruling class have not been able to package him into their deluded ideology to sell to the ill-informed masses. He is a true scholar and a critical thinker like very-very few in our (X) generation.

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  3. mj Smith-Jones

    This all comes down to personal responsibility. When my daughter failed kindergarten twice and then 1st grade due to dyslexia.
    I chose home schooling unheard-of at the time. The public schools did not have a recourse to help me with her education but they did have enough money to hire attorneys to Sue me for taking her out of the public school, even though they had failed her themselves and wanted to put her in with retarded children. I did homeschooling for 3 years she went to 99% in reading and it's an ICU nurse today. Our children do not belong to the government. It's our responsibility to do the best by them that we can. mj Fletcher Alpine OR

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  6. High Tech Redneck

    I honestly believe that it is impossible for me to listen to Dr. Sowell and not put another piece of the puzzle in place. The opening quote in this interview–

    “It is not the origins of poverty which need to be explained. What requires explaining are the things that created and sustained higher standards of living.”

    was an Aha! Duh! moment for me. In the late 70s, early 80s I began beating the drum for a shift from the study of mental illness to the study of mental health. Study the well ones so that they can be emulated. His statement concerning what creates/sustains a higher standard of living was that very concept in a different aspect of life.

    I will make one observation concerning his statement that humanity began in poverty and a quick and unclear reference to the garden of Eden. I consider that to be very apropos to his thesis and his view on the welfare state, nanny government. Give a quick consideration of the garden of Eden and the fact that Adam and Eve were content with what they had.

    Until an outside agency came in and said (paraphrased) "You're being held back, you're being oppressed!"

    That's when we became infected with the disease of "More!"

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  7. Ricky Irish

    What an absolutely exceptional man! Just an amazing thinker and a man who knows how to wield his words wisely and with great efficacy.
    To put it plainly and quite simply, I love you and your hard work! Thank you, my good sir, for working as hard as you have and for studying as much and as diligently as you have over the years in order to not only produce excellent work, but also to be able to leave and unmistakable impact in the hearts and lives of so many. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart and from my family to yours.
    I grew up a poor kid in the projects of East Los Angeles, California, in the 80s and 90s and your work has done a lot to challenge me and encourage me to pull me out of it. I am so extremely grateful and humbled by what you’ve done for me and so many both directly and indirectly. I know you didn’t do it for a reward, but I can’t wait to see the reward bestowed upon you when it’s your time to enter the pearly gates. You are such a good man! I can go on for quite a while but I will leave it here. All the best and God bless you thoroughly and richly!

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  8. Max Well

    God bless Thomas Sowell I discovered him when I was in the 9th grade after my shop teacher told me how the democratic party would never lead any one to prosperity but themselves. When I sat out to prove him wrong I came across Sowell, along with Milton Friedman, who gave me an understanding of the world that I would never have without him and my shop teacher. I am a better man because of these men.

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  13. John M

    Hmm – like many commentating here I had not previously heard of Thomas Sowell. But unlike most I find this mans views totally ridiculous – simplistic naive at best, and demonstrably misguided and wrong at worse. . I didn't listen to all this conversation, about 25 minutes of it, but if he truly said "The pain of poverty is what gets you out of poverty" and I did hear him explain "the welfare state reduces the incentives to develop human capital" then he's a dangerous ideologue. His attitude to society's damaging inequality, his anti-socialist and anti-welfare state stance, his dismissive attitude to civil rights laws, indeed his Thatcherite view of the non-existence of society, confirms he's just another right-wing, libertarian capitalist, a social Darwinian – an enabler of a whole economic system that is bringing society and the planet to ruin.

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  18. Terry Tracy

    Yes, Thomas Sowell is a Rock Star. What I like about him is his continued search for the truth. I am watching this video almost 6 years after it was produced. Thomas Sowell was not impressed with Hillary or Bernie and was very skeptical of Trump. Later videos, after Trump was president, show his mindset toward Trump had changed, at least from a political stance, based on his presidential record. Thomas Sowell is not ruled by past prejudices.

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  19. Randy Janssen

    Consolidation of wealth is the biggest threat to the country. It is the result of Republican trickle down tax policies. While the rich get richer, millions of Americans are forced out of the middle class. A Republic cannot survive when 1% of the population owns 40% of the wealth or 10% owns 70%.

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  23. John Bedell

    I love this man. His breadth of knowledge of not just economics but human behavior is unmatched.
    He is a treasure that I’d be willing to guess most Americans know nothing about.
    And that there, is criminal.

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  33. Don Gaetano

    Thanks Peter, and Tom of course. This is one I hadn't watched yet I think (?), 70 anos you know.
    I believe what struck me today besides all the common sense and research and Truth, freeing, enlightening Truth, was the sheer beauty of the presentation, no persuasive, high minded, esoteric rhetoric. Brilliance in simplicity as I often say these days.

    It also makes me feel a bit sorry for my friends, young and older, here in Very Left justified Massachusetts, that they would likely not listen to our 'beloved' Tom Sowell.
    His thoughts and speech are antidotes to greed, envy, victimhood narrative, jealousy and false premises as to cause and effect and, bad politics.

    Life is tough, but in Western countries, you have the best shot at making it better, barring tragedy and even then, in Western societies there are safety nets of some kind.
    His point on learning where and how wealth is created and emulating those practices puts the ball in our court to get us out and improve our lives.
    As he often does, he gives us a lesson in history, character and delineates between truth and falsehood in political rhetoric.
    We are better for having listened.
    Thanks again, Dr Tom Sowell.

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  36. jostsangoku

    Every interview of Thomas Sowell , especially by Peter Robinson, are gems. Thomas Sowell profoundly changed the way I see the world with good, valid and sound arguments. I wish more interview would still come out, i'm currently reading his books, but I understand the man wants some free time after having done so much. Anyway thank you Thomas Sowell for your work and insights and Peter Robinson for your excellent interviewing skills.

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  37. Bill Spallino

    Great video, but on Trade, I think Sowell misses the point. Insistence on "Fair" Trade is not "Protectionism", as the 1930's example implies. Dumping, Unfair Subsidies, and Intellectual Property Theft are what is at issue here,

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  38. Alan Thorpe

    I discovered Thomas Sowell only a few months ago at the age of 76 and in that time from these videos and his books I have learned more about humanity than the previous 76 years. My life is infinitely better because of him passing on his wisdom.

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