There is often a disconnect between economic reality and political ideology, with politics disregarding the principle of scarcity.
Crusading in politics can overshadow economic realities, as people seek purpose and meaning in pursuing idealistic causes.
The cycle of crusades in politics is perpetuated by the pursuit of an idealized vision, leading to continuous battles for different causes.
Deep dives
The Importance of Economics and Political Realities
The first lesson of economics is scarcity, recognizing that there is never enough to satisfy everyone's wants. However, the first lesson of politics is often disregarding this economic principle. Thomas Sowell highlights the disconnect between the economic reality and the political ideology that often ignores it.
The Temptation of Crusading in Politics
Crusades in politics offer a sense of purpose and meaning to individuals, even if they do not align with economic realities. People often feel an inherent need to crusade for a cause, which can overshadow the practicalities and complexities of real-world dynamics. The allure of crusading can lead to ignoring economic realities and pursuing ideals that may not be feasible.
The Everlasting Nature of Crusades
Crusades in politics are not typically about achieving a specific goal or resolving a particular issue. They are more about unifying a group and pursuing an idealized vision, such as utopia or a sense of unity. Once one battle is won, there will always be another cause to fight for, perpetuating the cycle of crusades.
The Forgotten History of Slavery in North Africa and Transshipment of White Slaves
The podcast discusses the often forgotten history of slavery in North Africa. It highlights that Arab and Black pirates, such as the Barbary pirates, kidnapped and enslaved many sailors. This trade led to the transshipment of millions of white slaves into North Africa and other regions. The podcast mentions the origin of the word 'slave' and how it refers to a specific white ethnic group. It also notes that slavery existed universally around the world, but the US attempted to justify it in racial terms.
Trade-offs in Policies and the Need for Understanding Context
The podcast emphasizes the importance of considering trade-offs in policymaking. It discusses how certain policies implemented to address specific issues can inadvertently create other problems. For example, the episode cites the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on police behavior, which led to a decrease in police shootings but an increase in civilian-on-civilian shootings. The discussion extends to COVID-19 policies, where the trade-off between preventing deaths and preserving personal freedoms is explored. The podcast stresses the need for leaders to evaluate problems within a broader context and consider potential consequences.
NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY: Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
This episode features a conversation with Wilfred Reilly, Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and a law degree from the University of Illinois. Dr. Reilly has so far published two books:
Taboo: 10 Facts you can’t talk about, published in 2020, and
Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War, published in 2019.
He is a prolific public intellectual, writing articles for Newsweek, Commentary, Tablet Magazine, Quillette and provides a daily dose of political commentary on his Twitter feed, which is not only smart, but also very entertaining. Highly recommended.
Wilfred Reilly joins us today to talk about the ideas and works of Thomas Sowell.
Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.
• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan • Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com • Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius • Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell • See all my links at www.alanwolan.com
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