There is a difference between helping people and enabling people. Give people a task to earn money, don’t outright give it to them. It’s not heartless, it’s true compassion to say I believe enough in you to do this and it will bring you reward.
Sowell is referring to the able bodied. If they were all self-sufficient it would free up a lot of resources for the truly needy. Conservatives are not heartless. They simply understand that a man with a job benefits himself, provides a feeling of self-worth, and society. Even if everyone gave money to every homeless, there would eventually be a tipping point where there are more homeless than people giving. At that point society cannot be maintained.
If you are truly concerned about "the homeless" volunteer at a soup kitchen or donate to one. Giving money to a stranger on the street because of their perceived struggle is for your own ego. You can rationalized it all you want, but that's reality. "Heartless" conservatives are the ones volunteering at their church and donating to charities.
I grew up in a heavily-policed neighborhood in Houston. I always thought it was funny that everyone in the neighborhood thought they were either way too many cops or not enough cops and that line seemed to be drawn on which side of the law you lived on. If you had a job and a family, you thought there needed to be more cops, but if you were slinging dope in the park all night, you thought they were too many.
Growing up in a two parent household, as opposed to a single parent household, is the largest determining factor for child becoming successful across almost every dimension. Genuinely appreciate the peek into your childhood. Us all sharing these stories really helps all who participate in the conversation.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._* _Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._ -
I worked at a jail and heard time after time “you don’t understand what it’s like for me “. My line to them was “life is hard, get a helmet”. I spent 12 hours a shift surrounded by people with “stories “. I talked a lot to them and my response to the not understanding was this cold hard fact, everyone is going through something. We had Officers who lost children, who had cancer, whose finances were strained, whose parent committed suicide, whose spouses left them……I could go on and on. I personally suffered a hemorrhagic stroke (aneurysm) while employed there after being pepper sprayed. I told them that the difference between us and them was that when we got knocked down we got back up. You’re either going to be a victim or a victor. I agree with Mr. Sowell about not giving money to the homeless. A lot of our repeat inmates were homeless drug addicts and many of them died because of drug overdose’s. I’ve bought people food but will never give them money. I genuinely liked a lot of the inmates and witnessed them lose their lives to drugs that were laced with fentanyl. We are living in a different times and giving them money is helping them to lose their lives.
The thing about giving money to the homeless: you said giving a homeless man money and him spending it on drugs is between him and God, but then spoke about giving him a sandwich - one of these (the sandwich) will keep him alive for a day, so you helped him. Giving him money that he’ll spend on drugs makes YOU feel better, but keeps him addicted. I believe Thomas Sowell’s meaning here is that some things actually work toward solving an issue, others just make us feel better by making us feel good about solving an issue (that we haven’t actually done anything about).
I've refused to give money to dozens of homeless. But I've offered to buy some food or drinks. Every single time they refused..... Oahu Hawaii, Chicago, L.A, New york York.... every single time
Just wanted to say I'm loving the new direction of your content. There's a lack of intellectually stimulating content in reactions and I'm enjoying going through it with you.
Thomas Sowell is a national treasure who's extremely under appreciated....he's one of the most intelligent humans walking this planet, and his knowledge and opinion on a myriad of topics needs to be heard...he famously made Sen. Biden look like a complete clown in front of a congressional committee and a television audience....he's a legend...
Every time he talks it’s like my mind wants to suck up whatever knowledge he can share. He breaks down the illusions and diversions, and makes it all sound so simple to grasp. Truly a great man.
“lifestyle”. Love it. Definitely a true statement. Instead of changing my habits, I would blame everyone for the reason my life was the way it was in my younger days. I would spend every penny I had just to feel good. Instead of saving money, I would turn around blaming the rich for my irresponsible spending. Life got easier once I realize the difference from what I wanted to what I needed helped.
I experienced something similar. Thank goodness I finally realized the amount of effort I put into complaining and blaming could have gotten me OUT of that bad situation in the first place.
Love the Thomas Sowell videos! I hadn't seen this interview before. I read "Visions of the Anointed" when I was a freshman in college back in 2002. Extremely grateful that I found Sowell's writings at such an early age.
I started a successful nonprofit for the homeless 10 years ago when I was 17 and it has expanded to multiple states, we've helped tens of thousands. I don't speak as a person who's heart is hardened to their plight, I speak as a person who's done more with and for the homeless than most people ever will. If you see someone starving you go buy them food. If you give a person money and he goes to buy drugs or whatever else and you don't think that's a you-problem then you don't actually care about that person, you're not saving them from starvation or whatever you're just enabling them and making yourself feel good for doing the bare minimum; in fact, it would have been better if you didn't give them anything. There are no homeless people dying of starvation and dehydration in this country, we subsidize their substandard, drug abusing, mentally ill, violent lifestyles for the sake of virtue signaling like you just did mr.Van. If a person needs shoes, give them shoes, if they need a shirt give them that, but do your due diligence and don't enable lazy people. Many homeless people are content in their position and thrive off of bleeding heart liberal suckers like my former self, and pseudo-moralistic lazy-people who give the homeless money all the time and think that they're helping them.
Spot on. I have found it is remarkable hard to help people without enabling them somehow. The path to helll is paved with good intentions. That being said... I'm a sucker for a sob story.
The best scene in a comedy was scary movie... Sydney gave the homeless guy a foot long sandwich and he threw it to the back of her head because it wasn’t the dollar he asked for. He’s ok not eating he was an addict looking for money to supply his habit.
No.. You missed his point... I can't control what someone does with their money. I don't attach strings to it either. As that is where the Anointed comes from..If I give money to someone to help them. So they can make it through one more day. And if that happens to be beer or cigarettes. Then so be it.. I'm not there to change their behavior either. As only they can decide to do that. This is the trade off he was taking about. But Government ie the Anointed has spent $4 Trillion this year alone on Homelessness. Did the problem get better, remain the same or get worse? You see the problem now. Government gives people no incentive to change their behavior. But the money was taken out of the pockets of the responsible ones. As that money is removed from the economy. that could have helped people that wanted to change their lives. Those are the ones you help..To quote Thomas Sowell. The world was born into poverty. Wealth is the exception...
As a conservative woman, it breaks my heart to know we’re viewed as being cold hearted because that is everything that I am not. 😢 I was raised to have compassion for everyone, all the time. That was just how I was raised. It was expected to not put blinders on and to pay attention to others. To not be selfish and to always give a helping hand. That being said, I do think conservatives are viewed as maybe “tougher” or a little callous when it comes to stumbling upon hard times because that’s how most of us were raised maybe? Whenever I struggled, whether it was personal, professionally or financially, my Dad always said, “So, what are you gonna do about it? You can cry about it, but then GET UP AND CHANGE IT. Don’t wait for anyone else to do it for you.” Those words stuck with me my whole life.
I think people really need to understand the concept of "Tough Love" meaning sometime the best method is to be tough about a situation and show love when it's needed.
I am a conservative man and I do think its wrong to view conservatives as cold-hearted I've never done anything to hurt anyone or abandoned someone in need. Its a falsehood that liberals created to label those that disagreed with their policies toward the poor or disadvantaged. For example, conservatives are largely against affirmative action which is a liberal policy the left came up with. We believe the policy is unfair and does not actually help most black people for a multitude of reasons some Mr. Sowell pointed out in the video; so instead of liberals debating the policy or attempting to try and change it to be more fair they turn to name calling and the label becomes 'conservatives are cruel and racist they don't want black people to be hired (if they are against my policy)!!' You can copy and paste that childish reaction to any of their policies in which they accuse the right of 'not caring' or 'being bigoted' for disagreeing with. Its not cruelty its simply that we think the policies don't work and also some discriminate based on skin color which does not help society advance to have certain groups have privilege over others. I'm fine with paying extra taxes for social programs to those in need like Medicare or social security for seniors, the disabled and vets but there is a limit to the effectiveness of social programs for homeless people, people of certain races, single mothers (some not all) and others who take advantage of benefits that they shouldn't be entitled to because they have no intention of fixing their life; its just to get free stuff. Not to mention the biggest secret many left wing politicians don't want to get out is they refuse to fix these broken and ineffective policies because they get rich off the corruption from running them. Thats the main reason they will not debate it or change it because they are making bank from federal subsidies among other sources that the city officials use only a portion of to help the homeless and pocket the rest; rinse and repeat.
From academia to media liberals are shaping culture - pushing false perceptions. Cosmopolitan elites are the first to cry and the last to give. When it really counts or it affects them personally those bleeding hearts will turn on a dime. "Not in my backyard" There's empirical evidence that religious (more conservative) people give more to charity. As a non believer ( and a lib.) I don't think that being godless makes you less compassionate or less moral. But giving people fish (to eat) doesn't make you better person. Teaching ppl. how to fish makes you smarter and better person.
@Lyler Taley Did you just hear yourself? "where we pretend everybody has the same capabilities". This is in response to a comment about affirmative action. So, you're saying black people don't have the same capabilities as others. I hope that's not what you meant. This is why the right points out the left believes in the bigotry of low expectations. What has the left done about drug addition and mental health? They set up "safe use" sites and closed the asylums. Pointing out that isn't working is "racist".
It is people like Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder and Yuri Bezmenov that helped me to not just be ruled by feelings of compassion and empathy. I know now that enabling people or treating them as if they are lesser behind a disguise of compassion only creates a group of people that will always be dependent and always be victimized by those who seek power.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._* _Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._ -
@Jeff Gordon No need to apologize for the lengthy comment, I appreciate another deep thinker expressing themselves and sharing what is on their mind. I also hope that the combination of what Van is being exposed to and those that would wish he remain ignorant to other perspectives continues to push him along a path of personal growth and development for the betterment of his life, those he loves and the community that enjoys his reactions. At this point Yuri Bezmenov is almost prophetic in his warnings and was a huge red pill for my mother who was a life long democrat. Now she is questioning everything and that is all I could have hoped for. With many people these days you have to adopt the ancient Greek proverb that says "Societies grow great when old men plant seeds of trees whose shade they will never know".
"There are no solutions, only trade offs" Thomas Sowell is right. Even Murphy's law agrees with him, which says: "every solutions brings a new set of problems." Common sense, pure and simple. It's not perfect, but it's the best 'trade off' you can get for free.
Two instances that I will never forget. When I was 8-12 my parents and us kids were on the road. We were on the road and passed by a homeless dude. They decided to go buy him a pizza because his sign said he needed money for food. He didn’t want the pizza. He didn’t want the food he needed the money for. I was taught to be discerning about it giving, because not every person is worth it. The other instance was the opposite. My parents took him out for food and he broke down in gratefulness from the generosity. Couldn’t stop thanking them. If I remember correctly, the stats are only 25% of beggars actually need it.
This is probably true. Some people asking for handouts make good money peddling and then go home to a hot shower and full supper and comfortable bed. Funniest sign I ever saw was in NV and held my a man, said "too ugly to strip" 😂.
It's great hearing someone say "I don't know, but I want to look it up." There are far too many people just listen to what is said on the news. The scariest thing I ever heard was on the radio was in 1989 while I was driving home from school in NY, and I was sitting at a DQ in Columbia, MO, in my car to get a drink, and I heard an interview with a journalism student from University of MO say that the reason she was going into journalism was to "make the world a better place." I want journalists to present facts, not to "make the world a better place," especially if the two of us might disagree on what "better" means!
When Thomas Sowell talks about the "Annointed", he's talking from his trilogy of books "A Conflict of Visions", "The Vision of the Annointed", and "The Quest for Cosmic Justice". These books contrast two visions (largely "conservative" and "progressive" visions, but not exactly). One vision is one of self-rule... that the person best able to make decisions for an individual's life is that individual. That individual can, and will, make mistakes... but typically those mistakes will be limited in scope to their own life and their immediate surroundings/acquaintances. The "Annointed" (or, if you prefer, Elites or Plutocrats or Experts or many other names) instead believe that the person best able to make decisions for an individual's life is the person with the most knowledge and training on a given subject. While they may not admit it, they too make mistakes and when they do so, if they've been given the power (or regulatory authority) to control the lives of many individuals, their mistakes are broad in scope and affect the lives of a great many people. As Thomas Sowell points out in A Conflict of Visions (I think... these themes are repeated in many of his 50+ books, so I'm not certain), the Elites rarely have to live with the consequences of their failures of policy. Either they're not directly affected by the policy, or they can always blame the failures of their policy on someone else's imperfect execution of their grand design (such as "Socialism only failed in other countries because it's never really been tried. What they did wasn't *real* Socialism" or, more recently, "The pandemic is only continuing because so many people are unvaccinated. Nevermind that vaccinated people are getting sick as well, it's the unvaccinated's fault for not Trusting the Science.") On the other hand, the individual almost always has to live with the consequences of his failures and is, thus, in a good position to assign blame where it rightly goes... to the mistake that actually caused the failure.
Lisa, he's literally (to me anyway) a national treasure. We've had the benefit of his wisdom for so long... and we will certainly need it after he's left us...
I just recently stumbled across your posts. It’s exactly the right prescription for the average individual (such as myself) who are not in social academia and are not exposed to these individuals who have spent a highly educated career in analyzing these topics. I have been introduced to this educated thinker and am appreciating your reaction to these controversial comments without screaming insults at the screen. Your sincere interest in what you are viewing enriches my experience in what WE are viewing. This approach is the medicine that our society requires.
Affirmative action is kinda insulting, especially when you've seen the employee lists, some employees with asterisks who are diversity hires and pigeon holed into easy mindless menial tasks that are normally done by lower level positions, and the other employees with no asterisks who are given work that makes money and put onto management tracks.
imo the idea that asking for i.d to vote is racist is VERY insulting!! are they insinuating people of color are too stupid or lazy to get an i.d?? Cmon you need i.d to get a job buy a car etc etc you need an i.d anytime a cop asks for it I dont know anyone of any color that doesnt have one unless they lost it and they intend to go get a new one!!
You have been very impressive lately Van, listening to diverse opinions is how you grow as a person. Even opinions you don't like can help you affirm you are on the right track or lets you know if you need to modify certain views.
I know right? Those of us who have been watching his channel for while, its been awesome to see the guy grow as a person. The difference you're making is a good thing bro, there are people who need to see these conversations and even if you help only a few people open their eyes to whats going on around them - you doing a good thing. (and getting paid for it ;) haha)
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._* _Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._ -
Am a huge fan of these reactions. It is so refreshing to see someone who, like myself, is trying to wrap their head around the strange turn our culture has taken. Much ❤️.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._* _Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._ -
I don’t envy you Haha. I had that moment in 2015 ish. Cannot go wrong with Thomas Sowell. From a ideology and philosophy (post modernism Marxism/communism socialism) what’s behind the societal agenda, Jordan Peterson is the Man.
By the way I appreciate you contribution to helping people learn as you learn and as I learn what is truth or close to the truth. Thank you my brother.
I've enjoyed your videos! I wanted to share our family motto with you... I believe it's exactly the words you have tried to find multiple times! " you can't let the way people treat you... effect the way you treat people!" Thank you for all you do! From the Turners in kentucky.
"When does your heart step in?" At the point where your brain lets it know, that by giving money to people who can earn it themselves, you're not helping them, but crippling them even more. Giving money makes YOU feel better, that's why you do it.
Oh but even better as Milton Friedman points out there are four ways to spend money and with the government does is spend other people's money on other people. It's the most ineffective way to spend it
Van two things. 1. I’m so glad your enjoying Sowell’s perspective it’s great to see you react to these conversations that need to be had. 2. Affirmative action simply put is racism by forcing equality of OUTCOME over equality of OPPORTUNITY. Because of this, racist quotas were established based on race not merit and now Asians here in America are suing for discrimination because they test to high schools deny them for lower qualified minority students.
What I love about listening to Dr. Sowell, is that discusses his points calmly and clearly without relying on complex language. You get a clear understanding about what he is talking about at all times.
Love your reactions. You are genuine and thoughtful. I love how you process what is being said and come up with your opinion. Its refreshing to see. And yes, Sowell can be harsh but don't forget he came up from extreme poverty he doesn't have excuses. You can be a victim or a victor. Success isn't always about money. I can tell you coming up from Cuba with interracial parents in the sixties and them not speaking the language was hard as F but dad and mom pushed through. What my parents accomplished still astounds me today. My greatest example of perseverance. Stay strong.
As a conservative-ish person, i see nothing wrong in helping a homeless person. However, the specifics to acknowledge within this are 1) My help is charity and as long as it isnt compulsory or required to be supported by taxes, its more than allowable. My charitable actions are not necessarily yours and vice versa. 2) I cant be suprised at the rate or location of said homeless If I or others are subsidizing them.
They did a small bit of that in South Park where people take advantage of charitable actions and sometimes those actions makes the situation worse. Like in that episode Kyle gives a homeless man $20 and the next morning there's like an encampment in front of his house lol
I’ve studied charity vs welfare about 10 years ago. Charities fail if or when an area’s economy fail. However, welfare fails in so many ways that local charities are still required even with the expansion of welfare. So there is less of a safety net with charities, but government welfare has more waste, less help, and address less needs, especially those needs specific to the area. If local economy is the issue for poverty, then welfare doesn’t solve. If charities can not operate due to economy, then economy is focused on. Usually I call welfare “corporate welfare”, because corporations can mitigate loss better than local businesses. Some welfare programs require the recipients to use corporate businesses. Loss of local businesses is sign of loss opportunities which will lead to poverty. It’s not hard to see areas that have only box stores, welfare offices and blue cross medical offices. Each place is so busy, that going to one is 2 hours of mostly waiting. The only opportunity available to escape. Pay, rent, services, and goods is set to only survival level. Even if wages are raised, usually land value is as well causing rent and cost of business to rise.
@@dlimla South Park is a bunch of G's...lol. Yeah, it shouldn't suprise anyone that if you give money to a homeless person, more will show up. Its what T.S. called a trade off. Yes you're helping in the short term, but in the long term you may be contributing to the numbers or concentrations of homeless. I, like LFR, has a real soft spot for people in need. Its why I give "X" every week in donations from my paycheck. I give to 501c3 organizatiins that can help in a more timely and efficient manner than government.
@@dlimla i don’t think it’s that random strangers give them a dollar or two although some people have been caught begging on a street corner and then get picked up in a nice car. Those people aren’t really homeless and are just scammers. The problem is the government giving out cash aid and food stamps to able bodied people
It always makes me think of that meme that says something like: Teach a man to fish, and he can feed himself for a lifetime. Give a man free fish, and he will riot for more free fish when it runs out. 😆🐟
its not just about considering someones feelings it's about considering everyones feelings. no matter what decision you make you're going to upset people. that's the tradeoff.
Everyones opinions are different it's like cold and hot what's hot to you might be warm to me or cold to others we can't put opinions together that's what truly separates us and makes us unique.
"If your not liberal when you're young you have no heart, if your not conservative when your older you have no brain" Thomas Sowell speaks wisdom,life is hard, and people's attempt to help is not actual help, most people are very capable to pull themselves out of a bad situation if they perfect their families and have hard working values.
@@DeusSalis it's a saying, I don't agree with it, but the idea with being youthful and being more liberal when your young and makes sense, young people tend to be more open,but older conservative types see that openness and liberalism as an inherent bad thing not rooted in love, conservative people see that if you actually love people you tell them the truth and preserve the way of life that is objectively good for you, like preserving tge nuclear family, and traditional gender roles, these things benefit people and give them true fulfillment whereas the youthful liberal mindset doesn't benefit from the experience of long term observation of human nature.
I've always enjoyed your music reaction videos and now I am impressed by your openness and willingness to entertain other viewpoints. Keep it up! Cheers.
I have been enjoying your journey in this direction. I have a son that works in HR for a large corporation who does not believe in Affirmative Action. He hires based on merit only. Over a three year period he has actually hired more minorities and women than the other HR personnel who do look at AA. The thing that has been most interesting to him is over that same period more of those he hired based on merit are still employed and advanced in this corporation compared to those hired based on AA. My son believes it is because not only does the new employee know they are valued for their skills and he is excited he found the perfect person for the job but he also makes sure other co-workers understand the value the new employee brings to the organization. It is important to him that no one ever look at a person as a mere token or lesson their value based on such a perception.
I've read and it makes sense when an organization looks to diversify and skin color is the criterion you usually end up with different looking people with similar backgrounds and perspectives.
When a homeless person asks you for money you may want to do what I often do. I tell them I won’t give them cash but I’d be happy to buy them some food or toiletries or some other thing they may need. In my experience the reaction is about 50-50 to that. Half the people are super happy and gladly accept. The other half say no because they just want the money - probably to use for something that is going to be harmful to them rather than helpful.
I do the same thing! I get about a 60-40 reaction. 60% just want the money. The 40% were happy to get the care package I had put together. I will not give cash out period. I donate to soup kitchens, to shelters for the homeless, especially woman & children. Donations of what we think of as basics, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, hygiene products, blankets, etc...
This is a pretty surface level interview with Sowell. The Director of Homeless in California is a 6 figure salary and a massive staff. You don't keep that budget by solving homelessness.
Not saying you're wrong, but I'm not going to blindly agree to such a statement. How many staff exactly and how much of California are they responsible for?
I should provide exact numbers??? That's probably impossible, even for the state to answer. My opinion is simply Government 101 common since. Do a job search, there are a myriad of positions of all sorts of jobs, in the major counties that deal with Homelessness. It's a rabbit hole of job titles and new initiatives, after old initiatives have failed.
@@nicotti "Massive" is a relative term. California budgets are massive. Was that an over-the-top description? Not really, but you are still free to believe what you want of course. #imho, describing my use of "massive" as hyperbole sounds hyperbolic.
I stumbled across your channel and I'm hooked. Your intellectual curiosity and willingness to challenge your own beliefs are refreshing. You discuss to learn, not win, and that makes all the difference.
I dig these, more Thomas Sowell is always appreciated. The guy is a genius but also the most honest and pragmatic intellectual I can think of. His stuff about what they never taught you in school about Slavery is really informative, to say the least.
Yes, he is correct regarding the 7th grade. Sex education was introduced in 5th grade and an advanced class was given in 7th grade. East Palo Alto (EPA) used to have 1 officer on duty at a time during the time frame that Mr. Sowell is talking about.
your comments on feelings/facts (about the 15 min mark) was insightful. you can and should be considerate of others feelings if you're a conservative and many do not, but it also seems many non-conservatives are only about feelings (based on the ones that are my friends). i've only recently found your videos and have been enjoying them! keep up the good work.
The only problem with compassion is abuse. In Phoenix, there are clear places where there is actual homelessness and where homelessness is staged. But people taking the freeway only see the folks working a shift at the on/offramps so they get those people's compassion. Always be generous, Van, but not to that point where you do train someone to be dependent on you. I think that's the message.
I'm a person on the right and when you said that sometimes we seem like we have no heart I understood that but at the same time I would prefer a strict parent over a person who says "we are victims and our lives aren't going to go anywhere because the world is against us", now are there people who are truly suffering OF COURSE but not nearly as many as people claim, a lot of the time its people who are lazy or spending their money on irrelevant things instead of investing in themselves or businesses to climb out of the situation they are in. I have an example, why is it that a drug dealer who makes a bunch of money spends his/her money on shoes, jewelry, cars, etc. instead of saving the money to invest and get out of selling drugs and make their life better? Why do they continue to do it but then say they HAVE to, their are way too many people spending money on stupid things like lottery tickets or something else rather than taking a course or something to better themselves, its their right to do what they want but don't come crying about how bad you have it when it is something you have been choosing for yourself when I know most of us have it in us to be better, just my thoughts. I love the videos you have been putting out recently, I will continue to support your content!
Similar sentiments here. At some point, empathy just doesn't help anymore when people aren't making an effort to help themselves. Helping people requires give and take, not just give. I hate to see people in poverty/etc. but giving them the opportunity to help themselves is infinitely more moral and more helpful to them than just throwing welfare and sympathy at them and hoping it solves the problem. As much as I would like to see poverty ended, socializing everything under the sun will only make people worse off.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._* _Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._ -
Thomas is such a brilliant economist. Interesting note, Van, is that though he leans Conservative on most issues today, he spent his 20’s as “an avowed Marxist”, in his own words. He says life experiences actually opened his eyes. The anointed are those establishment types who feel it is their right and duty to decide your life for you, to “save” you, while enjoying the fruits of your labors.
After selling so many books,having a big platform that he blabs away from,Uncle Thomas Sowell is an "anointed one"!!! He is an ELITIST,& loves Trump! He decided to be a "rebel" of sorts,& that decisionhas made him money!!!! "Conservative" isn't what it used to be;All it means now is "I'm a Trumpster!!!" Uncle Thomas is a "contrarian",& he's someone racist white ppl can point at as "one of the good ones!" Uncle Thom Sowell got where he's at by being a "contrarian"!!! He throws numbers around with his twisted thinking;He's a Republican "apologist",who knows what group of ppl are "buttering his bread"! HE CAN NEVER RATIONALLY EXPLAIN WHY,PER CAPITA,THERE ARE NEARLY 5 TIMES AS MANY BLACK PPL IN PRISON THAN WHITE PPL!!! Uncle Thomas Sowell is BOUGHT & PAID FOR!!! He's still a slave to the white man! The man can kiss some ass,though! LOL
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._* _Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._ -
It's cool to see you go into these videos with an open mind. You are discovering, like me, that there is no group or person that is all right or all wrong. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle, it's just hard to get there sometimes. Keeping an open mind like you're doing is one way to get there I think
I think the need to do "the right thing" in that moment is what TS was talking about. You try to be a good person and do what is right. When you see someone struggling, you help if you can. Nothing wrong with that. What he is outlining is people would not be begging for money, legit or not, if people did not give it. It would be a waste of time. It is, in a sense, a line of work that those individuals perform and it allows them to remain in their situation. In TS's mind, that person would be forced to find work in order to survive.
I spent most of my life on the left, mostly because of the "caring about peoples and their feelings " idea, because I do care deeply about people and how they feel, but the older i got and more i learned (listening to people like Thomas and Ben, etc) the more I realized that its not that the right doesnt care, they just have a different way. Its kinda like the mom verses the dad. We need both types to thrive, but our current state we are in now has gone way too far to the "northerly way" (metaphorically and literally) and its causing a lot of problems. We need a little more "tough love " brought back like earlier generations had. It may seem uncaring when your a kid and your parents give you some "tough love" but its not, they do it to make you a stronger person who can become the best you can be and survive in all situations. That is caring. The right wants people to become the best they can be. They dont want to just give you a fish but teach you how to get your own fish. You need both parents for that reason, just like we need both left and right for that reason, but currently we have no fathers. (The mothers have taken over )
I can see by your reactions,you are close to seeing real truth,wheather you reach a point that you choose between comfortable truths,or real truth. I wish you much luck.
I do take it back because it wasn't meant to attack you.im not the sharpest tool in the shed,but I do try to climb out of my comfort zone.im 67 and have enjoyed learning what makes people believe stuff.for a long time.including my own observations,I try to be a critical thinker sometimes I fall short,but I keep at it.🙂
The interviewer is Roger Ailes. He was a TV executive and ran Fox News for 20 years. He also was a media advisor for Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Learning from Dr. Sowell is like learning HOW to think, not what to think. He understands that people are rational beings who make choices according to their circumstances and incentives. He does not answer questions with wishful thinking, but with empirical facts.
I appreciate and respect that you're doing these videos. Not because Im going to say all the positions presented are right or wrong, but because you're introducing people to other views. As with any view, I want to know the facts behind it so I can from my open view on it. Not just accept or adopt what society says is correct. But it's only when we, as a country and society, approach issues with facts in mind, can we begin a dialogue from a common point. If there is disagreement then, it's not an opinion that needs to be proven or dis-proven, its the facts that then need to be proven or dis-proven.
Voluntary action to help people in need is laudable, and I'm sure Sowell lauds such action. What he is speaking against is empowering government to take up that responsibility thereby relieving people of that burden.
Well, he did specifically say that giving homeless people money, on an individual level, breeds homelessness, enables it, & not giving them money will end it. He also said he doesn't give money to homeless people. I agree that he would also say what you've said, except he'd also stick to his guns about not giving to homeless people. It seems like a contradiction. It's just a result of a really short interview with soundbite answers, I think. He certainly has a more nuanced view on this, & I'm sure he's quite generous to charity. I think he'd be happy for people to give, & events give, himself, if there was any accountability. It's impossible, though, for any of us, under normal circumstances, to make sure the money we give is used wisely & correctly. It's a really difficult problem. Unfortunately, it's made more difficult by people who have no interest in solving it & are only interested in using the system for their own benefit.
@@bnjmnwst but people can be assisted without rewarding them for hanging out in medians and shopping areas. If you want to help people get off the streets and live better, handing them a few dollars here and there actually doesn't do much for them. Providing them with access to food, medical care, counseling, jobs, and showers might work better.
@@bnjmnwst, what should be considered is that giving money to grifters means less is available to those in real need. Here in San Jose, people can get assistance and shelter if they are willing to accept conditions. But homeless people don't have to accept conditions if they can sustain themselves by begging. Many actually receive SS benefits, so begging is supplemental income. I don't understand people who are struggling will waste money on drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes.
These reactions are getting more interesting. Keep up the open mindedness and discussions of all sides. I personally love anything to do with taking personal responsibility for our own decisions actions and results. I think that’s the best policy in every situation.
A friend of mine was telling me of an incident. Her and other friends were going to an event. On the way they saw a young man standing on the street asking for money. They were all concerned about him and if he was sleeping under a bridge. They went to the event and dropped off the women. Her and one other woman stayed in the van along with the driver. They went back to see if he was ok and to watch and make sure he wasn't living under a bridge. They followed him to a church parking lot. It was then they saw him get into a Chevy, Corvette brand new. He was not homeless by any means.
My husband was homeless for a while as a teen, lived on the streets. He lived the life, and he absolutely refuses to give money to panhandlers because he knows a lot of people are scamming. We give food instead.
I've stumbled onto your site a few times now - I really enjoy listening to your commentary. You're very smart but at the same time you don't pretend to know something if you're not familiar with it. That takes someone who is real comfortable in their own skin. I think you also strive to understand both sides before you draw down.
Instead of giving money to a homeless person, I give them a gift card to a fast food restaurant or a care package(shampoo, deodorant, soap, nail clippers, toothpaste, tooth brush, hair brush)
Don’t help people that don’t help themselves. They beg for money because it’s easier to ask you for money than it is to get a job. Begging is there job.
If you think thats crazy remember it was 1995, its gotten so much more in our schools today. I have watched a lot of the teachers tik tok videos and the angry parents at school board meetings and I can tell you if I had kids in school right now I would be looking into home schooling.
I'm a Midwest (Ok) 35yo lower class person with a kid and I disagree with you on several issues but love that you're open and learning. A conversation with me would blow your mind. I feel like you've missed a ton of things in the videos I've watched of yours. I know it'll never happen but I'm very glad you've started broadening your information intake.
Mr. Sowell is one of the best. The facts and just the facts. He's kind, and civil to those who disagree. I wish there was a daytime show that had only men with opposing persepctives to disscuss issues. I think so many young men and women would benefit from seeing educated men who are looking to make this country better have intellectually honest discourse in a constructive way. As far as the homeless issue, he goes more in depth on this issue, where he talks about that there are programs (housing, medicaid, shelters, food stamps) and that if you give people money you dont know on the street you are enabling them to not use the programs and also to continue down the wrong path. He also showed more empathy in the books :)
There's more to life than "facts"...."Facts" can be manipulated! Ask him the "facts" about there being nearly 5 times as many black men in prison than white men,per capita! He is a master of avoiding THAT FACT! Ask him about how many black men have been exonerated by the Innocence project,relative to the number of white men proven innocent by DNA! He's great when he's being thrown REHEARSED,SOFTBALL questions that,I'm sure were given to him before the "interview",&rehearsed before taping! He's a joke with an agenda,& pretty good at feining serious,intellectual discussion WHEN THE INTERVIEW IS A SHAM!!! UNCLE THOM DOESN'T TAKE HARD QUESTIONS!!! Simply put,he's "one of the good ones"! LOL
Feelings are important but they are changed from within, through a change in mindset. Issues around feelings don't get solved by trying to get the outside world to conform to produce the feelings you want.
One interesting thing in regards to giving money to the homeless is what has happened to our local church and their role in the community. I agree with you Van, I will give money in most circumstances - what they do with it is between them and God, but my feeling is the local church needs to be doing more to take care of these people.
A lot of this is regional. I live in the Bible belt, pretty much anywhere you stand in town you could throw a rock and hit a church. Anyone who needed help could just visit two or three churches within an hour tops and at least one will either have a food pantry or will point them to help. This isn't true everywhere though (plus, often people try to point others to go to government programs for help, rather than directing them to the numerous church programs that might be available.)
Keep up the good work Van. I am on a journey myself. This guy is brilliant and ahead of his time. I think when he says "the anointed," he is talking about the liberals and the media who control what they believe society is supposed to think and which leaders we are supposed to follow. I think that includes celebrities that are certainly not informed or educated enough to be irresponsibly spewing out their opinions that their followers eat up and take as gospel. It sucks that the crazy people are screaming the loudest and trying to make the majority of the sane people second-guess themselves. That is especially hurtful to young people who are more impressionable. I like how he described what "woke" and "virtue signaling" are without knowing those terms would become popular. Great work Van
Loving your videos man. Both in finding through you people and knowledge I was ignorant of, but also hearing your push back to some things you hear, like affirmation action because of your lived experience and you provide an excellent alternative view and perspective that is as enlightening as what the people you were watching provide.
You're right that an individual's feelings should be considered, when you're dealing with them as an individual. The problem is using the feelings of an individual or group when legislating or making rules for everyone. When interacting one on one, I'm sure most people who consider themselves conservative are at least as compassionate, if not more so, than those who consider themselves liberal/progressive. It's when we start talking about societal issues or legislative issues that facts trump feelings, regardless of how we may sympathize. Appreciate the journey you're on, always need more people who carefully consider what they're told rather than accept it blindly.
Love the channel! The "Anointed" are our elected officials, news media and Hollywood types. The one's the all of a sudden feel a "Moral responsibility to control everyone and everything." Thomas saying leave people alone and many problems would fix themselves. If you keep feeding wild animals they ALWAYS come back.
TH-cam decided to recommend your vids to me today and I have watched a few so far. I have to say, I don't agree with all of your takes but you are really level headed and reasonable and give a nice calm insight to your views. I really appreciate that. I also really like being exposed to Thomas Sowell. That is one smart man, not sure I agree with him all the time either, but I like the way he presents it(money on the street being a good example)
I understand your compassion for homeless. I was there too, anytime and anywhere. But I had to stop because the homelessness has now reached my neighborhood. In the parks, walking around and once I had to kick a woman out of my driveway when she was about to take her drugs. It's sad but I had to make the decision to stop enabling the homeless.
Something to ponder.... I am a disabled single mom who raised my kid without asking a single penny from able bodied family and friends. Yet, I have at numerous times in my life, had these same able bodied people borrow money, etc., from me and they never paid me back. I did it out of the goodness in my heart. All of these family members and friends that used and abused my kindness, have not stayed in my life. Not because I chose to remove them from my life, but they moved on to other people they can abuse. I will continue to help others when I can. But, not at thee expense of taking care of of my immediate family who has never left me high and dry. These people have never down one single thing for me or my kid, when times were brutal for us.
Agree or disagree, Dr. Sowell is an amazing man who has accomplished a lot. He went from the army, to a J.O.B., to an HBCU, to the top of his class at Harvard. And, he did all that BEFORE the civil rights movement.
You have to understand that giving a homeless man money is only helping yourself feel better. If noone gives them money they will be forced to make their own money by working or committing crimes (they're not gonna let themselves die). Either way this will help with the homelessness problem
@@savsmiles3042 do note that Sowell specifically said "able bodied". The kinds of people who don't need a wheelchair or have health problems that severely impede on their life
@@thatoneshadyguy_2529 yeah I wrote that comment before watching the rest of the video. But Van said he didn’t care if he was getting scammed or not or if they are able bodied and that’s part of the problem. Also to go to the other extremes, some people just assume that homeless people are homeless because they are addicts or are not willing to work when a small percentage are homeless through no fault of their own and just need a hand up to get out of their situation
@@nadBKgea how can someone get a job or go to school if they don’t have a place to sleep and shower and no food for clothes? I’ve been homeless before, living in my car and in a shelter. I needed a place so I could get a job which I did even though I’m disabled. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with helping people who are able and willing to help themselves and get on their feet. The problem is the government handing out cash aid and food stamps to people who are taking advantage and not having any conditions for them like being sober, no violent criminal record, looking for jobs and/or going to school and maybe have them take a finance class so they learn how to handle their money to wean them off of welfare.
No affirmative action again is a trade-off. Do you want to get a job because a company is looking to fill a quota or do you want to get the job because you are the most qualified.
To understand the word "anointed group", sadly, I think you would have to get more into politics. For those of us who study politics, we understand this term. I truly like the way you ask questions about people raising statistics and that they need to be checked on those. Keep up the good work and trust your own instincts and common sense.
The "Anointed" are the modern day Elitist: Federal and Local Government Officials, Mainstream Media figures, Professors, Big tech CEO's, Policy makers Etc..
Thomas Sowell and Walter E Williams, are two of the greatest minds, in the last hundred years. Both Economics professors and scholars. They should also be considered great philosophers.
I'm not sure what year's stats they were talking about with New York, but you can find current statistics on on the NYPD website PDF 2021 Enforcement Report. I'd give the link but most YT pages auto-delete links.
Great video and nuanced thoughts. The interviewer is the late Roger Ailes, former chairman and CEO of Fox News, Fox TV, and 20th Century Fox. I believe Mr. Sowell and Ailes were friends.
The key phrase was "able bodied", of course we should help those in bad situations, but being a sloth is not to be encouraged. You can help people in other ways than monetarily and I hope that more people will do that. As far as feelings go, I was told as a young man, you cant eat or spend emotions. Also to never make a permanent decision based upon temporary emotions. And Im hoping the gas prices are temporary, because is getting my emotions up LoL
One issue I've had with affirmative action is that it has the potential to rob it's recipients of the knowledge that they were accepted to their school of choice because they have what it takes. There will always be that nagging feeling that maybe it's just because of the color of my skin and that breaks my heart. On top of that if a student didn't have the educational savvy to get into a school like Harvard or whatever on merit they may be discouraged away from education. This is all hypothetical and isn't evidence, just something I've been processing over the years. It feels to me like a case of "the soft bigotry of low expectations." But maybe that's not fair... There is a guy named Steven Crowder (who in general is probably a little out there) but he did a couple back and forths with students and teachers with the clickbait headline "Affirmative action is racist" I personally thought the conversations were really good. Video 1: th-cam.com/video/UfEk8UJIwTc/w-d-xo.html Video 2: th-cam.com/video/ZheWh1cMOFM/w-d-xo.html also Thomas Sowell is great.
Steven Crowder does a series of videos called change my mind. He'll come up with really deep topics or very controversial topics depending on your view I guess, but he's very honest and he does like to have the conversations no matter what side you're on. A lot like you're trying to do. Definitely check him out
@@kittylynnlpn yeah those are the main thing I like crowder for. His other stuff is a little over the top for me but Change my mind, especially when he finds well rounded people to talk to, are great.
The one he does in the affirmative action is racist series with the hip hop professor is the best one from the series. The one in the link above ranks #2 in my change my mind ranking.
I feel you on the "don't give them money issue" I have always given the needy guy on the corner a buck when I encountered him. It's called compassion and empathy and it's a good part of you, but after being taken by two very obvious con men that professionally panhandled in my area, I said "No More". I was bitter and angry and I never gave the guy on the corner another look. I ghosted them. But I felt like shit every time I drove past them because I know that there are people that need help. I wanted to help, but I also didn't want to be some slimy asshole's bitch either. My wife and I decided to have regular contributions taken from our bank account every month and given to The Red Cross, The Disabled American Veterans, The Salvation Army, The Dare To Care Food Bank, and St. Joseph's Indian School for Lakota Sioux Children. We give 100 times more money than I would ever hand out on street corners and it goes, efficiently and only, to the people that need help. There may still be folks out there that need help and won't go where it's offered, but I like to think they would be better off if they were forced to seek help. Again, just my opinion
Great and interesting reactions. When Dr. Sowell was speaking of 3%, he said of the very wealthy and the very poor, combined, stayed in the same bracket all their lives.
Loving your content! New subscriber. You point out a valid point, you can't make choices solely on facts nor can you do it solely on feelings. That goes to Thomas' point. Everything is a trade off. If you only look at the upside of your policy not the downside you make poor decisions. Look at Congress over the last 40 years. If they looked for common ground rather than shoving their will down their opposition's throat, we would be making progress not teetering on the verge of tyranny where each side is constantly trying to cancel the other side. BTW I'm a conservative, and there are compassionate conservatives.
The problem with affirmative action rather than getting in on your own merit that I've seen is that those that are selected are often unprepared to perform at that level. Of course they're never told this or acknowledge this. They are told theyre not succeeding because of some form of discrimination.
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There is a difference between helping people and enabling people. Give people a task to earn money, don’t outright give it to them. It’s not heartless, it’s true compassion to say I believe enough in you to do this and it will bring you reward.
Putting it in other words, you're just giving them fish.
Give food not cash they will turn it down
@@maxt3806 except for food stamps, brainiac
Sowell is referring to the able bodied. If they were all self-sufficient it would free up a lot of resources for the truly needy. Conservatives are not heartless. They simply understand that a man with a job benefits himself, provides a feeling of self-worth, and society. Even if everyone gave money to every homeless, there would eventually be a tipping point where there are more homeless than people giving. At that point society cannot be maintained.
Empathy free zone... "make them do tasks"... ffs
If you are truly concerned about "the homeless" volunteer at a soup kitchen or donate to one. Giving money to a stranger on the street because of their perceived struggle is for your own ego. You can rationalized it all you want, but that's reality. "Heartless" conservatives are the ones volunteering at their church and donating to charities.
I grew up in a heavily-policed neighborhood in Houston. I always thought it was funny that everyone in the neighborhood thought they were either way too many cops or not enough cops and that line seemed to be drawn on which side of the law you lived on. If you had a job and a family, you thought there needed to be more cops, but if you were slinging dope in the park all night, you thought they were too many.
Growing up in a two parent household, as opposed to a single parent household, is the largest determining factor for child becoming successful across almost every dimension.
Genuinely appreciate the peek into your childhood. Us all sharing these stories really helps all who participate in the conversation.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._*
_Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._
-
Can not argue with your statement, spot on.
Thomas is legit one of my heroes. He and his works have helped me to “cut through the bullshit” in this world.
Crazy world when the truth is presented ,or maybe a saner world when it is recognized.
I worked at a jail and heard time after time “you don’t understand what it’s like for me “. My line to them was “life is hard, get a helmet”. I spent 12 hours a shift surrounded by people with “stories “. I talked a lot to them and my response to the not understanding was this cold hard fact, everyone is going through something. We had Officers who lost children, who had cancer, whose finances were strained, whose parent committed suicide, whose spouses left them……I could go on and on. I personally suffered a hemorrhagic stroke (aneurysm) while employed there after being pepper sprayed. I told them that the difference between us and them was that when we got knocked down we got back up. You’re either going to be a victim or a victor.
I agree with Mr. Sowell about not giving money to the homeless. A lot of our repeat inmates were homeless drug addicts and many of them died because of drug overdose’s. I’ve bought people food but will never give them money. I genuinely liked a lot of the inmates and witnessed them lose their lives to drugs that were laced with fentanyl. We are living in a different times and giving them money is helping them to lose their lives.
The thing about giving money to the homeless: you said giving a homeless man money and him spending it on drugs is between him and God, but then spoke about giving him a sandwich - one of these (the sandwich) will keep him alive for a day, so you helped him. Giving him money that he’ll spend on drugs makes YOU feel better, but keeps him addicted. I believe Thomas Sowell’s meaning here is that some things actually work toward solving an issue, others just make us feel better by making us feel good about solving an issue (that we haven’t actually done anything about).
simply put: "give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish you feed him for life"
I've refused to give money to dozens of homeless. But I've offered to buy some food or drinks. Every single time they refused.....
Oahu Hawaii, Chicago, L.A, New york York.... every single time
Just wanted to say I'm loving the new direction of your content. There's a lack of intellectually stimulating content in reactions and I'm enjoying going through it with you.
Listen to Shelby Steele as well.
@@willowwale2000 -- Yes , listen to Shelby Steele ...
Thomas Sowell is a national treasure who's extremely under appreciated....he's one of the most intelligent humans walking this planet, and his knowledge and opinion on a myriad of topics needs to be heard...he famously made Sen. Biden look like a complete clown in front of a congressional committee and a television audience....he's a legend...
That's long been one of my favorite videos.
Yes he's great but to be fair it wouldn't be hard to make a fool out of Biden lol
It’s sacrilege how underappreciated he is, Same with JP. I just hope he’s keeps healthy, dreading the day the Western World loses them as guidance...
TBF Biden makes himself look like a clown without any help.
Every time he talks it’s like my mind wants to suck up whatever knowledge he can share. He breaks down the illusions and diversions, and makes it all sound so simple to grasp. Truly a great man.
“lifestyle”. Love it. Definitely a true statement. Instead of changing my habits, I would blame everyone for the reason my life was the way it was in my younger days. I would spend every penny I had just to feel good. Instead of saving money, I would turn around blaming the rich for my irresponsible spending. Life got easier once I realize the difference from what I wanted to what I needed helped.
I experienced something similar. Thank goodness I finally realized the amount of effort I put into complaining and blaming could have gotten me OUT of that bad situation in the first place.
Love the Thomas Sowell videos! I hadn't seen this interview before. I read "Visions of the Anointed" when I was a freshman in college back in 2002. Extremely grateful that I found Sowell's writings at such an early age.
I started a successful nonprofit for the homeless 10 years ago when I was 17 and it has expanded to multiple states, we've helped tens of thousands. I don't speak as a person who's heart is hardened to their plight, I speak as a person who's done more with and for the homeless than most people ever will. If you see someone starving you go buy them food. If you give a person money and he goes to buy drugs or whatever else and you don't think that's a you-problem then you don't actually care about that person, you're not saving them from starvation or whatever you're just enabling them and making yourself feel good for doing the bare minimum; in fact, it would have been better if you didn't give them anything. There are no homeless people dying of starvation and dehydration in this country, we subsidize their substandard, drug abusing, mentally ill, violent lifestyles for the sake of virtue signaling like you just did mr.Van. If a person needs shoes, give them shoes, if they need a shirt give them that, but do your due diligence and don't enable lazy people. Many homeless people are content in their position and thrive off of bleeding heart liberal suckers like my former self, and pseudo-moralistic lazy-people who give the homeless money all the time and think that they're helping them.
Spot on. I have found it is remarkable hard to help people without enabling them somehow. The path to helll is paved with good intentions. That being said... I'm a sucker for a sob story.
That is exceptionally accurate!
The best scene in a comedy was scary movie... Sydney gave the homeless guy a foot long sandwich and he threw it to the back of her head because it wasn’t the dollar he asked for. He’s ok not eating he was an addict looking for money to supply his habit.
Agree 100%!
No.. You missed his point... I can't control what someone does with their money. I don't attach strings to it either. As that is where the Anointed comes from..If I give money to someone to help them. So they can make it through one more day. And if that happens to be beer or cigarettes. Then so be it.. I'm not there to change their behavior either. As only they can decide to do that.
This is the trade off he was taking about. But Government ie the Anointed has spent $4 Trillion this year alone on Homelessness. Did the problem get better, remain the same or get worse? You see the problem now. Government gives people no incentive to change their behavior. But the money was taken out of the pockets of the responsible ones. As that money is removed from the economy. that could have helped people that wanted to change their lives.
Those are the ones you help..To quote Thomas Sowell. The world was born into poverty. Wealth is the exception...
As a conservative woman, it breaks my heart to know we’re viewed as being cold hearted because that is everything that I am not. 😢 I was raised to have compassion for everyone, all the time. That was just how I was raised. It was expected to not put blinders on and to pay attention to others. To not be selfish and to always give a helping hand.
That being said, I do think conservatives are viewed as maybe “tougher” or a little callous when it comes to stumbling upon hard times because that’s how most of us were raised maybe? Whenever I struggled, whether it was personal, professionally or financially, my Dad always said, “So, what are you gonna do about it? You can cry about it, but then GET UP AND CHANGE IT. Don’t wait for anyone else to do it for you.” Those words stuck with me my whole life.
I think people really need to understand the concept of "Tough Love" meaning sometime the best method is to be tough about a situation and show love when it's needed.
That perception was concocted by the Liberals
I am a conservative man and I do think its wrong to view conservatives as cold-hearted I've never done anything to hurt anyone or abandoned someone in need. Its a falsehood that liberals created to label those that disagreed with their policies toward the poor or disadvantaged. For example, conservatives are largely against affirmative action which is a liberal policy the left came up with. We believe the policy is unfair and does not actually help most black people for a multitude of reasons some Mr. Sowell pointed out in the video; so instead of liberals debating the policy or attempting to try and change it to be more fair they turn to name calling and the label becomes 'conservatives are cruel and racist they don't want black people to be hired (if they are against my policy)!!' You can copy and paste that childish reaction to any of their policies in which they accuse the right of 'not caring' or 'being bigoted' for disagreeing with. Its not cruelty its simply that we think the policies don't work and also some discriminate based on skin color which does not help society advance to have certain groups have privilege over others. I'm fine with paying extra taxes for social programs to those in need like Medicare or social security for seniors, the disabled and vets but there is a limit to the effectiveness of social programs for homeless people, people of certain races, single mothers (some not all) and others who take advantage of benefits that they shouldn't be entitled to because they have no intention of fixing their life; its just to get free stuff. Not to mention the biggest secret many left wing politicians don't want to get out is they refuse to fix these broken and ineffective policies because they get rich off the corruption from running them. Thats the main reason they will not debate it or change it because they are making bank from federal subsidies among other sources that the city officials use only a portion of to help the homeless and pocket the rest; rinse and repeat.
From academia to media liberals are shaping culture - pushing false perceptions. Cosmopolitan elites are the first to cry and the last to give. When it really counts or it affects them personally those bleeding hearts will turn on a dime. "Not in my backyard"
There's empirical evidence that religious (more conservative) people give more to charity. As a non believer ( and a lib.) I don't think that being godless makes you less compassionate or less moral. But giving people fish (to eat) doesn't make you better person. Teaching ppl. how to fish makes you smarter and better person.
@Lyler Taley Did you just hear yourself? "where we pretend everybody has the same capabilities". This is in response to a comment about affirmative action. So, you're saying black people don't have the same capabilities as others. I hope that's not what you meant. This is why the right points out the left believes in the bigotry of low expectations. What has the left done about drug addition and mental health? They set up "safe use" sites and closed the asylums. Pointing out that isn't working is "racist".
It is people like Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder and Yuri Bezmenov that helped me to not just be ruled by feelings of compassion and empathy. I know now that enabling people or treating them as if they are lesser behind a disguise of compassion only creates a group of people that will always be dependent and always be victimized by those who seek power.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._*
_Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._
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check out Walter Williams and Shelby Steele.
@Jeff Gordon No need to apologize for the lengthy comment, I appreciate another deep thinker expressing themselves and sharing what is on their mind. I also hope that the combination of what Van is being exposed to and those that would wish he remain ignorant to other perspectives continues to push him along a path of personal growth and development for the betterment of his life, those he loves and the community that enjoys his reactions.
At this point Yuri Bezmenov is almost prophetic in his warnings and was a huge red pill for my mother who was a life long democrat. Now she is questioning everything and that is all I could have hoped for. With many people these days you have to adopt the ancient Greek proverb that says "Societies grow great when old men plant seeds of trees whose shade they will never know".
"There are no solutions, only trade offs"
Thomas Sowell is right. Even Murphy's law agrees with him, which says: "every solutions brings a new set of problems."
Common sense, pure and simple. It's not perfect, but it's the best 'trade off' you can get for free.
Two instances that I will never forget. When I was 8-12 my parents and us kids were on the road. We were on the road and passed by a homeless dude. They decided to go buy him a pizza because his sign said he needed money for food. He didn’t want the pizza. He didn’t want the food he needed the money for. I was taught to be discerning about it giving, because not every person is worth it. The other instance was the opposite. My parents took him out for food and he broke down in gratefulness from the generosity. Couldn’t stop thanking them. If I remember correctly, the stats are only 25% of beggars actually need it.
This is probably true. Some people asking for handouts make good money peddling and then go home to a hot shower and full supper and comfortable bed.
Funniest sign I ever saw was in NV and held my a man, said "too ugly to strip" 😂.
It's great hearing someone say "I don't know, but I want to look it up." There are far too many people just listen to what is said on the news. The scariest thing I ever heard was on the radio was in 1989 while I was driving home from school in NY, and I was sitting at a DQ in Columbia, MO, in my car to get a drink, and I heard an interview with a journalism student from University of MO say that the reason she was going into journalism was to "make the world a better place." I want journalists to present facts, not to "make the world a better place," especially if the two of us might disagree on what "better" means!
When Thomas Sowell talks about the "Annointed", he's talking from his trilogy of books "A Conflict of Visions", "The Vision of the Annointed", and "The Quest for Cosmic Justice". These books contrast two visions (largely "conservative" and "progressive" visions, but not exactly). One vision is one of self-rule... that the person best able to make decisions for an individual's life is that individual. That individual can, and will, make mistakes... but typically those mistakes will be limited in scope to their own life and their immediate surroundings/acquaintances. The "Annointed" (or, if you prefer, Elites or Plutocrats or Experts or many other names) instead believe that the person best able to make decisions for an individual's life is the person with the most knowledge and training on a given subject. While they may not admit it, they too make mistakes and when they do so, if they've been given the power (or regulatory authority) to control the lives of many individuals, their mistakes are broad in scope and affect the lives of a great many people.
As Thomas Sowell points out in A Conflict of Visions (I think... these themes are repeated in many of his 50+ books, so I'm not certain), the Elites rarely have to live with the consequences of their failures of policy. Either they're not directly affected by the policy, or they can always blame the failures of their policy on someone else's imperfect execution of their grand design (such as "Socialism only failed in other countries because it's never really been tried. What they did wasn't *real* Socialism" or, more recently, "The pandemic is only continuing because so many people are unvaccinated. Nevermind that vaccinated people are getting sick as well, it's the unvaccinated's fault for not Trusting the Science.") On the other hand, the individual almost always has to live with the consequences of his failures and is, thus, in a good position to assign blame where it rightly goes... to the mistake that actually caused the failure.
This was worded very well. It's easy to understand while not being condescending. Thank you for a well worded comment.
@@jasoningram4255 I agree. I just read this and realised how condescending I can be lol. That's my medicine for the day.
Thomas Sowell is one of the greatest philosophers of this century.
He's an economist which is better. He has the facts and numbers to back up what he's saying.
Lisa, he's literally (to me anyway) a national treasure. We've had the benefit of his wisdom for so long... and we will certainly need it after he's left us...
@@philsdon8932 He's kinda both.
Scientist.
And economists
I just recently stumbled across your posts. It’s exactly the right prescription for the average individual (such as myself) who are not in social academia and are not exposed to these individuals who have spent a highly educated career in analyzing these topics. I have been introduced to this educated thinker and am appreciating your reaction to these controversial comments without screaming insults at the screen. Your sincere interest in what you are viewing enriches my experience in what WE are viewing. This approach is the medicine that our society requires.
I admire that you are willing to listen and verify. You are your own man, not some puppet on a string.
Affirmative action is kinda insulting, especially when you've seen the employee lists, some employees with asterisks who are diversity hires and pigeon holed into easy mindless menial tasks that are normally done by lower level positions, and the other employees with no asterisks who are given work that makes money and put onto management tracks.
imo the idea that asking for i.d to vote is racist is VERY insulting!! are they insinuating people of color are too stupid or lazy to get an i.d?? Cmon you need i.d to get a job buy a car etc etc you need an i.d anytime a cop asks for it I dont know anyone of any color that doesnt have one unless they lost it and they intend to go get a new one!!
You have been very impressive lately Van, listening to diverse opinions is how you grow as a person. Even opinions you don't like can help you affirm you are on the right track or lets you know if you need to modify certain views.
I know right? Those of us who have been watching his channel for while, its been awesome to see the guy grow as a person. The difference you're making is a good thing bro, there are people who need to see these conversations and even if you help only a few people open their eyes to whats going on around them - you doing a good thing. (and getting paid for it ;) haha)
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._*
_Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._
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Am a huge fan of these reactions. It is so refreshing to see someone who, like myself, is trying to wrap their head around the strange turn our culture has taken. Much ❤️.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._*
_Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._
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I'm a huge fan too...and I'm an even bigger fan of Thomas Sowell interviews and
his research.
Sowell was referring to able body men on the streets. They don't need your coat...they need a kick in the ass
I don’t envy you Haha. I had that moment in 2015 ish. Cannot go wrong with Thomas Sowell. From a ideology and philosophy (post modernism Marxism/communism socialism) what’s behind the societal agenda, Jordan Peterson is the Man.
Peace in that journey. For real.
By the way I appreciate you contribution to helping people learn as you learn and as I learn what is truth or close to the truth. Thank you my brother.
I've enjoyed your videos! I wanted to share our family motto with you... I believe it's exactly the words you have tried to find multiple times! " you can't let the way people treat you... effect the way you treat people!" Thank you for all you do! From the Turners in kentucky.
"When does your heart step in?" At the point where your brain lets it know, that by giving money to people who can earn it themselves, you're not helping them, but crippling them even more. Giving money makes YOU feel better, that's why you do it.
Oh but even better as Milton Friedman points out there are four ways to spend money and with the government does is spend other people's money on other people. It's the most ineffective way to spend it
If you do it to make yourself feel better; i would suggest that theres an issue with self deception.
Van two things. 1. I’m so glad your enjoying Sowell’s perspective it’s great to see you react to these conversations that need to be had. 2. Affirmative action simply put is racism by forcing equality of OUTCOME over equality of OPPORTUNITY. Because of this, racist quotas were established based on race not merit and now Asians here in America are suing for discrimination because they test to high schools deny them for lower qualified minority students.
love Thomas Sowell he speaks the absolute truth
What I love about listening to Dr. Sowell, is that discusses his points calmly and clearly without relying on complex language. You get a clear understanding about what he is talking about at all times.
Love your reactions. You are genuine and thoughtful. I love how you process what is being said and come up with your opinion. Its refreshing to see. And yes, Sowell can be harsh but don't forget he came up from extreme poverty he doesn't have excuses. You can be a victim or a victor. Success isn't always about money. I can tell you coming up from Cuba with interracial parents in the sixties and them not speaking the language was hard as F but dad and mom pushed through. What my parents accomplished still astounds me today. My greatest example of perseverance. Stay strong.
His videos of debunking leftist talking point to back to the 1970s. Sowell is one of the only famous modern men I would like to meet.
I agree. He’s One of the few true intellectuals left.
As a conservative-ish person, i see nothing wrong in helping a homeless person. However, the specifics to acknowledge within this are 1) My help is charity and as long as it isnt compulsory or required to be supported by taxes, its more than allowable. My charitable actions are not necessarily yours and vice versa. 2) I cant be suprised at the rate or location of said homeless If I or others are subsidizing them.
They did a small bit of that in South Park where people take advantage of charitable actions and sometimes those actions makes the situation worse. Like in that episode Kyle gives a homeless man $20 and the next morning there's like an encampment in front of his house lol
I’ve studied charity vs welfare about 10 years ago. Charities fail if or when an area’s economy fail. However, welfare fails in so many ways that local charities are still required even with the expansion of welfare. So there is less of a safety net with charities, but government welfare has more waste, less help, and address less needs, especially those needs specific to the area. If local economy is the issue for poverty, then welfare doesn’t solve. If charities can not operate due to economy, then economy is focused on.
Usually I call welfare “corporate welfare”, because corporations can mitigate loss better than local businesses. Some welfare programs require the recipients to use corporate businesses. Loss of local businesses is sign of loss opportunities which will lead to poverty. It’s not hard to see areas that have only box stores, welfare offices and blue cross medical offices. Each place is so busy, that going to one is 2 hours of mostly waiting. The only opportunity available to escape. Pay, rent, services, and goods is set to only survival level. Even if wages are raised, usually land value is as well causing rent and cost of business to rise.
@@dlimla South Park is a bunch of G's...lol. Yeah, it shouldn't suprise anyone that if you give money to a homeless person, more will show up. Its what T.S. called a trade off. Yes you're helping in the short term, but in the long term you may be contributing to the numbers or concentrations of homeless.
I, like LFR, has a real soft spot for people in need. Its why I give "X" every week in donations from my paycheck. I give to 501c3 organizatiins that can help in a more timely and efficient manner than government.
@@dlimla i don’t think it’s that random strangers give them a dollar or two although some people have been caught begging on a street corner and then get picked up in a nice car. Those people aren’t really homeless and are just scammers. The problem is the government giving out cash aid and food stamps to able bodied people
It always makes me think of that meme that says something like: Teach a man to fish, and he can feed himself for a lifetime. Give a man free fish, and he will riot for more free fish when it runs out. 😆🐟
its not just about considering someones feelings it's about considering everyones feelings. no matter what decision you make you're going to upset people. that's the tradeoff.
Everyones opinions are different it's like cold and hot what's hot to you might be warm to me or cold to others we can't put opinions together that's what truly separates us and makes us unique.
If you are doing what is right or at least the right thing for you then you shouldn't consider anyone elses feelings
To hell with feelings. We should do what's right and not wrong with logic. Feelings are what get us in trouble.
"If your not liberal when you're young you have no heart, if your not conservative when your older you have no brain"
Thomas Sowell speaks wisdom,life is hard, and people's attempt to help is not actual help, most people are very capable to pull themselves out of a bad situation if they perfect their families and have hard working values.
I disagree. Conservatives have bigger hearts.
@@DeusSalis it's a saying, I don't agree with it, but the idea with being youthful and being more liberal when your young and makes sense, young people tend to be more open,but older conservative types see that openness and liberalism as an inherent bad thing not rooted in love, conservative people see that if you actually love people you tell them the truth and preserve the way of life that is objectively good for you, like preserving tge nuclear family, and traditional gender roles, these things benefit people and give them true fulfillment whereas the youthful liberal mindset doesn't benefit from the experience of long term observation of human nature.
I've always enjoyed your music reaction videos and now I am impressed by your openness and willingness to entertain other viewpoints. Keep it up! Cheers.
I have been enjoying your journey in this direction.
I have a son that works in HR for a large corporation who does not believe in Affirmative Action. He hires based on merit only. Over a three year period he has actually hired more minorities and women than the other HR personnel who do look at AA. The thing that has been most interesting to him is over that same period more of those he hired based on merit are still employed and advanced in this corporation compared to those hired based on AA. My son believes it is because not only does the new employee know they are valued for their skills and he is excited he found the perfect person for the job but he also makes sure other co-workers understand the value the new employee brings to the organization. It is important to him that no one ever look at a person as a mere token or lesson their value based on such a perception.
I've read and it makes sense when an organization looks to diversify and skin color is the criterion you usually end up with different looking people with similar backgrounds and perspectives.
affirmative action was designed to destroy the overall success of the white race
When a homeless person asks you for money you may want to do what I often do. I tell them I won’t give them cash but I’d be happy to buy them some food or toiletries or some other thing they may need. In my experience the reaction is about 50-50 to that. Half the people are super happy and gladly accept. The other half say no because they just want the money - probably to use for something that is going to be harmful to them rather than helpful.
I do the same thing! I get about a 60-40 reaction. 60% just want the money. The 40% were happy to get the care package I had put together. I will not give cash out period. I donate to soup kitchens, to shelters for the homeless, especially woman & children. Donations of what we think of as basics, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, hygiene products, blankets, etc...
Once I’m done paying my bills, buying food, etc. those people have way more cash than I do.
This is a pretty surface level interview with Sowell. The Director of Homeless in California is a 6 figure salary and a massive staff. You don't keep that budget by solving homelessness.
What has a Democrat ever solved? other than enriching themselves by the exploitation of the very people they claim to advocate for.
Not saying you're wrong, but I'm not going to blindly agree to such a statement. How many staff exactly and how much of California are they responsible for?
I should provide exact numbers??? That's probably impossible, even for the state to answer. My opinion is simply Government 101 common since. Do a job search, there are a myriad of positions of all sorts of jobs, in the major counties that deal with Homelessness. It's a rabbit hole of job titles and new initiatives, after old initiatives have failed.
@@okccuster You're claiming it's "massive", yet you can't ballpark me a number? It sounds like you're just speaking hyperbole.
@@nicotti "Massive" is a relative term. California budgets are massive. Was that an over-the-top description? Not really, but you are still free to believe what you want of course. #imho, describing my use of "massive" as hyperbole sounds hyperbolic.
I stumbled across your channel and I'm hooked. Your intellectual curiosity and willingness to challenge your own beliefs are refreshing. You discuss to learn, not win, and that makes all the difference.
Thank you for posting these videos. It helps educate the viewer and your comments matter. ❤️
I dig these, more Thomas Sowell is always appreciated. The guy is a genius but also the most honest and pragmatic intellectual I can think of. His stuff about what they never taught you in school about Slavery is really informative, to say the least.
Yes, he is correct regarding the 7th grade. Sex education was introduced in 5th grade and an advanced class was given in 7th grade. East Palo Alto (EPA) used to have 1 officer on duty at a time during the time frame that Mr. Sowell is talking about.
Thomas Sowell explains things well; even when the truth is difficult to hear.
Especially with stupid twitch noises cutting him off
your comments on feelings/facts (about the 15 min mark) was insightful. you can and should be considerate of others feelings if you're a conservative and many do not, but it also seems many non-conservatives are only about feelings (based on the ones that are my friends). i've only recently found your videos and have been enjoying them! keep up the good work.
Thank you LFR for airing this clip and giving honest responses--brilliant!
The only problem with compassion is abuse. In Phoenix, there are clear places where there is actual homelessness and where homelessness is staged. But people taking the freeway only see the folks working a shift at the on/offramps so they get those people's compassion. Always be generous, Van, but not to that point where you do train someone to be dependent on you. I think that's the message.
Good Comment!
I'm a person on the right and when you said that sometimes we seem like we have no heart I understood that but at the same time I would prefer a strict parent over a person who says "we are victims and our lives aren't going to go anywhere because the world is against us", now are there people who are truly suffering OF COURSE but not nearly as many as people claim, a lot of the time its people who are lazy or spending their money on irrelevant things instead of investing in themselves or businesses to climb out of the situation they are in. I have an example, why is it that a drug dealer who makes a bunch of money spends his/her money on shoes, jewelry, cars, etc. instead of saving the money to invest and get out of selling drugs and make their life better? Why do they continue to do it but then say they HAVE to, their are way too many people spending money on stupid things like lottery tickets or something else rather than taking a course or something to better themselves, its their right to do what they want but don't come crying about how bad you have it when it is something you have been choosing for yourself when I know most of us have it in us to be better, just my thoughts. I love the videos you have been putting out recently, I will continue to support your content!
Similar sentiments here. At some point, empathy just doesn't help anymore when people aren't making an effort to help themselves. Helping people requires give and take, not just give. I hate to see people in poverty/etc. but giving them the opportunity to help themselves is infinitely more moral and more helpful to them than just throwing welfare and sympathy at them and hoping it solves the problem. As much as I would like to see poverty ended, socializing everything under the sun will only make people worse off.
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._*
_Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._
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Thomas is such a brilliant economist. Interesting note, Van, is that though he leans Conservative on most issues today, he spent his 20’s as “an avowed Marxist”, in his own words. He says life experiences actually opened his eyes.
The anointed are those establishment types who feel it is their right and duty to decide your life for you, to “save” you, while enjoying the fruits of your labors.
After selling so many books,having a big platform that he blabs away from,Uncle Thomas Sowell is an "anointed one"!!! He is an ELITIST,& loves Trump! He decided to be a "rebel" of sorts,& that decisionhas made him money!!!! "Conservative" isn't what it used to be;All it means now is "I'm a Trumpster!!!" Uncle Thomas is a "contrarian",& he's someone racist white ppl can point at as "one of the good ones!" Uncle Thom Sowell got where he's at by being a "contrarian"!!! He throws numbers around with his twisted thinking;He's a Republican "apologist",who knows what group of ppl are "buttering his bread"! HE CAN NEVER RATIONALLY EXPLAIN WHY,PER CAPITA,THERE ARE NEARLY 5 TIMES AS MANY BLACK PPL IN PRISON THAN WHITE PPL!!! Uncle Thomas Sowell is BOUGHT & PAID FOR!!! He's still a slave to the white man! The man can kiss some ass,though! LOL
@@johnroop9625 you must not know that “Uncle Tom” was the hero in that book
He got a good look at Marxism and saw it for what it really was: a loser religion based on self-pity
*_John 10.9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly._*
_Jesus Christ loves you. Only Jesus Christ saves. Repent and be saved. God bless you, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all._
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It's cool to see you go into these videos with an open mind. You are discovering, like me, that there is no group or person that is all right or all wrong. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle, it's just hard to get there sometimes. Keeping an open mind like you're doing is one way to get there I think
I think the need to do "the right thing" in that moment is what TS was talking about. You try to be a good person and do what is right. When you see someone struggling, you help if you can. Nothing wrong with that. What he is outlining is people would not be begging for money, legit or not, if people did not give it. It would be a waste of time. It is, in a sense, a line of work that those individuals perform and it allows them to remain in their situation. In TS's mind, that person would be forced to find work in order to survive.
I spent most of my life on the left, mostly because of the "caring about peoples and their feelings " idea, because I do care deeply about people and how they feel, but the older i got and more i learned (listening to people like Thomas and Ben, etc) the more I realized that its not that the right doesnt care, they just have a different way. Its kinda like the mom verses the dad. We need both types to thrive, but our current state we are in now has gone way too far to the "northerly way" (metaphorically and literally) and its causing a lot of problems. We need a little more "tough love " brought back like earlier generations had. It may seem uncaring when your a kid and your parents give you some "tough love" but its not, they do it to make you a stronger person who can become the best you can be and survive in all situations. That is caring. The right wants people to become the best they can be. They dont want to just give you a fish but teach you how to get your own fish. You need both parents for that reason, just like we need both left and right for that reason, but currently we have no fathers. (The mothers have taken over )
I can see by your reactions,you are close to seeing real truth,wheather you reach a point that you choose between comfortable truths,or real truth. I wish you much luck.
I do take it back because it wasn't meant to attack you.im not the sharpest tool in the shed,but I do try to climb out of my comfort zone.im 67 and have enjoyed learning what makes people believe stuff.for a long time.including my own observations,I try to be a critical thinker sometimes I fall short,but I keep at it.🙂
The interviewer is Roger Ailes. He was a TV executive and ran Fox News for 20 years. He also was a media advisor for Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Learning from Dr. Sowell is like learning HOW to think, not what to think. He understands that people are rational beings who make choices according to their circumstances and incentives. He does not answer questions with wishful thinking, but with empirical facts.
I appreciate and respect that you're doing these videos. Not because Im going to say all the positions presented are right or wrong, but because you're introducing people to other views. As with any view, I want to know the facts behind it so I can from my open view on it. Not just accept or adopt what society says is correct. But it's only when we, as a country and society, approach issues with facts in mind, can we begin a dialogue from a common point. If there is disagreement then, it's not an opinion that needs to be proven or dis-proven, its the facts that then need to be proven or dis-proven.
Voluntary action to help people in need is laudable, and I'm sure Sowell lauds such action. What he is speaking against is empowering government to take up that responsibility thereby relieving people of that burden.
Well, he did specifically say that giving homeless people money, on an individual level, breeds homelessness, enables it, & not giving them money will end it. He also said he doesn't give money to homeless people. I agree that he would also say what you've said, except he'd also stick to his guns about not giving to homeless people. It seems like a contradiction. It's just a result of a really short interview with soundbite answers, I think. He certainly has a more nuanced view on this, & I'm sure he's quite generous to charity. I think he'd be happy for people to give, & events give, himself, if there was any accountability. It's impossible, though, for any of us, under normal circumstances, to make sure the money we give is used wisely & correctly. It's a really difficult problem. Unfortunately, it's made more difficult by people who have no interest in solving it & are only interested in using the system for their own benefit.
@@bnjmnwst but people can be assisted without rewarding them for hanging out in medians and shopping areas. If you want to help people get off the streets and live better, handing them a few dollars here and there actually doesn't do much for them.
Providing them with access to food, medical care, counseling, jobs, and showers might work better.
@@bnjmnwst, what should be considered is that giving money to grifters means less is available to those in real need.
Here in San Jose, people can get assistance and shelter if they are willing to accept conditions. But homeless people don't have to accept conditions if they can sustain themselves by begging. Many actually receive SS benefits, so begging is supplemental income.
I don't understand people who are struggling will waste money on drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes.
I always learn so much from your videos and you make me look further into what your videos show to learn more for myself. Thank You. VAN THE MAN.
These reactions are getting more interesting. Keep up the open mindedness and discussions of all sides.
I personally love anything to do with taking personal responsibility for our own decisions actions and results. I think that’s the best policy in every situation.
Well said...victim mentally is losing mentality
A friend of mine was telling me of an incident. Her and other friends were going to an event. On the way they saw a young man standing on the street asking for money.
They were all concerned about him and if he was sleeping under a bridge.
They went to the event and dropped off the women. Her and one other woman stayed in the van along with the driver.
They went back to see if he was ok and to watch and make sure he wasn't living under a bridge.
They followed him to a church parking lot.
It was then they saw him get into a Chevy, Corvette brand new.
He was not homeless by any means.
My husband was homeless for a while as a teen, lived on the streets. He lived the life, and he absolutely refuses to give money to panhandlers because he knows a lot of people are scamming. We give food instead.
I've stumbled onto your site a few times now - I really enjoy listening to your commentary. You're very smart but at the same time you don't pretend to know something if you're not familiar with it. That takes someone who is real comfortable in their own skin. I think you also strive to understand both sides before you draw down.
“Basic Economics” by Thomas Sowell should be required reading in schools.
Instead of giving money to a homeless person, I give them a gift card to a fast food restaurant or a care package(shampoo, deodorant, soap, nail clippers, toothpaste, tooth brush, hair brush)
Thomas is one of last great intellectuals of our time.
It will be a sad day when he passes. We just lost Walter E. Williams
@@The442nd another great American, who will hopefully live on through his great works.
@@markbrown8097 If we can stop Liberals from erasing him from existence
Don’t help people that don’t help themselves. They beg for money because it’s easier to ask you for money than it is to get a job. Begging is there job.
Compassion and empathy...we do give...
If you think thats crazy remember it was 1995, its gotten so much more in our schools today. I have watched a lot of the teachers tik tok videos and the angry parents at school board meetings and I can tell you if I had kids in school right now I would be looking into home schooling.
The "anointed" is a reference to his book The Vision of the Anointed. Excellent read. Can't recommend enough.
The tough criticism comes from a place of love, we just want people to improve themselves instead of leaning on others.
as Milton Friedman once told a young lady, “I’m on your side, but you’re not!”
th-cam.com/video/of4QMhzQeAM/w-d-xo.html
I'm a Midwest (Ok) 35yo lower class person with a kid and I disagree with you on several issues but love that you're open and learning. A conversation with me would blow your mind. I feel like you've missed a ton of things in the videos I've watched of yours. I know it'll never happen but I'm very glad you've started broadening your information intake.
These are great to watch. There is something special about seeing your genuinely enquiring mind work through the content being presented.
Mr. Sowell is one of the best. The facts and just the facts. He's kind, and civil to those who disagree. I wish there was a daytime show that had only men with opposing persepctives to disscuss issues. I think so many young men and women would benefit from seeing educated men who are looking to make this country better have intellectually honest discourse in a constructive way. As far as the homeless issue, he goes more in depth on this issue, where he talks about that there are programs (housing, medicaid, shelters, food stamps) and that if you give people money you dont know on the street you are enabling them to not use the programs and also to continue down the wrong path. He also showed more empathy in the books :)
There's more to life than "facts"...."Facts" can be manipulated! Ask him the "facts" about there being nearly 5 times as many black men in prison than white men,per capita! He is a master of avoiding THAT FACT! Ask him about how many black men have been exonerated by the Innocence project,relative to the number of white men proven innocent by DNA! He's great when he's being thrown REHEARSED,SOFTBALL questions that,I'm sure were given to him before the "interview",&rehearsed before taping! He's a joke with an agenda,& pretty good at feining serious,intellectual discussion WHEN THE INTERVIEW IS A SHAM!!! UNCLE THOM DOESN'T TAKE HARD QUESTIONS!!! Simply put,he's "one of the good ones"! LOL
Feelings are important but they are changed from within, through a change in mindset. Issues around feelings don't get solved by trying to get the outside world to conform to produce the feelings you want.
One interesting thing in regards to giving money to the homeless is what has happened to our local church and their role in the community. I agree with you Van, I will give money in most circumstances - what they do with it is between them and God, but my feeling is the local church needs to be doing more to take care of these people.
A lot of this is regional. I live in the Bible belt, pretty much anywhere you stand in town you could throw a rock and hit a church. Anyone who needed help could just visit two or three churches within an hour tops and at least one will either have a food pantry or will point them to help.
This isn't true everywhere though (plus, often people try to point others to go to government programs for help, rather than directing them to the numerous church programs that might be available.)
Keep up the good work Van. I am on a journey myself. This guy is brilliant and ahead of his time. I think when he says "the anointed," he is talking about the liberals and the media who control what they believe society is supposed to think and which leaders we are supposed to follow. I think that includes celebrities that are certainly not informed or educated enough to be irresponsibly spewing out their opinions that their followers eat up and take as gospel. It sucks that the crazy people are screaming the loudest and trying to make the majority of the sane people second-guess themselves. That is especially hurtful to young people who are more impressionable. I like how he described what "woke" and "virtue signaling" are without knowing those terms would become popular. Great work Van
Loving your videos man. Both in finding through you people and knowledge I was ignorant of, but also hearing your push back to some things you hear, like affirmation action because of your lived experience and you provide an excellent alternative view and perspective that is as enlightening as what the people you were watching provide.
"A conflict of visions" "The vision of the anointed" "quest for cosmic justice" is a trilogy worth reading.
You're right that an individual's feelings should be considered, when you're dealing with them as an individual. The problem is using the feelings of an individual or group when legislating or making rules for everyone. When interacting one on one, I'm sure most people who consider themselves conservative are at least as compassionate, if not more so, than those who consider themselves liberal/progressive. It's when we start talking about societal issues or legislative issues that facts trump feelings, regardless of how we may sympathize.
Appreciate the journey you're on, always need more people who carefully consider what they're told rather than accept it blindly.
Love the channel! The "Anointed" are our elected officials, news media and Hollywood types. The one's the all of a sudden feel a "Moral responsibility to control everyone and everything." Thomas saying leave people alone and many problems would fix themselves. If you keep feeding wild animals they ALWAYS come back.
TH-cam decided to recommend your vids to me today and I have watched a few so far. I have to say, I don't agree with all of your takes but you are really level headed and reasonable and give a nice calm insight to your views. I really appreciate that. I also really like being exposed to Thomas Sowell. That is one smart man, not sure I agree with him all the time either, but I like the way he presents it(money on the street being a good example)
Boss Hoggsh, hahaahhahhahhah it is a pleasure whatch this videos witth you Van......Thank You
I understand your compassion for homeless. I was there too, anytime and anywhere. But I had to stop because the homelessness has now reached my neighborhood. In the parks, walking around and once I had to kick a woman out of my driveway when she was about to take her drugs. It's sad but I had to make the decision to stop enabling the homeless.
You get what you pay for.
@@markbrown8097 yup. Sad but true.
Something to ponder.... I am a disabled single mom who raised my kid without asking a single penny from able bodied family and friends. Yet, I have at numerous times in my life, had these same able bodied people borrow money, etc., from me and they never paid me back. I did it out of the goodness in my heart. All of these family members and friends that used and abused my kindness, have not stayed in my life. Not because I chose to remove them from my life, but they moved on to other people they can abuse. I will continue to help others when I can. But, not at thee expense of taking care of of my immediate family who has never left me high and dry. These people have never down one single thing for me or my kid, when times were brutal for us.
Agree or disagree, Dr. Sowell is an amazing man who has accomplished a lot. He went from the army, to a J.O.B., to an HBCU, to the top of his class at Harvard. And, he did all that BEFORE the civil rights movement.
Just discovered your channel and love it you are a breath of fresh air.
"The Anointed" will always tend to inflate the numbers because they control the purse strings.
You have to understand that giving a homeless man money is only helping yourself feel better.
If noone gives them money they will be forced to make their own money by working or committing crimes (they're not gonna let themselves die). Either way this will help with the homelessness problem
Some people are homeless through no fault of their own. Like being disabled and/or a veteran
@@savsmiles3042 do note that Sowell specifically said "able bodied". The kinds of people who don't need a wheelchair or have health problems that severely impede on their life
@@thatoneshadyguy_2529 yeah I wrote that comment before watching the rest of the video. But Van said he didn’t care if he was getting scammed or not or if they are able bodied and that’s part of the problem. Also to go to the other extremes, some people just assume that homeless people are homeless because they are addicts or are not willing to work when a small percentage are homeless through no fault of their own and just need a hand up to get out of their situation
@@savsmiles3042 in my opinion, and i might be wrong, the only thing that will get a person out of poverty, is the harshness of poverty
@@nadBKgea how can someone get a job or go to school if they don’t have a place to sleep and shower and no food for clothes? I’ve been homeless before, living in my car and in a shelter. I needed a place so I could get a job which I did even though I’m disabled. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with helping people who are able and willing to help themselves and get on their feet. The problem is the government handing out cash aid and food stamps to people who are taking advantage and not having any conditions for them like being sober, no violent criminal record, looking for jobs and/or going to school and maybe have them take a finance class so they learn how to handle their money to wean them off of welfare.
No affirmative action again is a trade-off. Do you want to get a job because a company is looking to fill a quota or do you want to get the job because you are the most qualified.
No solution, just tradeoffs. 🤔Never thought about it that way but he’s right
Love your show man, always good content
To understand the word "anointed group", sadly, I think you would have to get more into politics. For those of us who study politics, we understand this term. I truly like the way you ask questions about people raising statistics and that they need to be checked on those. Keep up the good work and trust your own instincts and common sense.
The "Anointed" are the modern day Elitist: Federal and Local Government Officials, Mainstream Media figures, Professors, Big tech CEO's, Policy makers Etc..
Thomas Sowell and Walter E Williams, are two of the greatest minds, in the last hundred years.
Both Economics professors and scholars. They should also be considered great philosophers.
Would love to see some Walter Williams on this YT channel
Def should check out the documentary “Uncle Tom” - they are both discussed and featured there. Great content
I'm not sure what year's stats they were talking about with New York, but you can find current statistics on on the NYPD website PDF 2021 Enforcement Report. I'd give the link but most YT pages auto-delete links.
"Seams Boss Highish"
LMAO 😂😂😂
He definitely looks like Boss Hog
Great video and nuanced thoughts. The interviewer is the late Roger Ailes, former chairman and CEO of Fox News, Fox TV, and 20th Century Fox. I believe Mr. Sowell and Ailes were friends.
The key phrase was "able bodied", of course we should help those in bad situations, but being a sloth is not to be encouraged. You can help people in other ways than monetarily and I hope that more people will do that. As far as feelings go, I was told as a young man, you cant eat or spend emotions. Also to never make a permanent decision based upon temporary emotions. And Im hoping the gas prices are temporary, because is getting my emotions up LoL
Amen to that notion.
One issue I've had with affirmative action is that it has the potential to rob it's recipients of the knowledge that they were accepted to their school of choice because they have what it takes. There will always be that nagging feeling that maybe it's just because of the color of my skin and that breaks my heart. On top of that if a student didn't have the educational savvy to get into a school like Harvard or whatever on merit they may be discouraged away from education. This is all hypothetical and isn't evidence, just something I've been processing over the years. It feels to me like a case of "the soft bigotry of low expectations." But maybe that's not fair... There is a guy named Steven Crowder (who in general is probably a little out there) but he did a couple back and forths with students and teachers with the clickbait headline "Affirmative action is racist" I personally thought the conversations were really good. Video 1: th-cam.com/video/UfEk8UJIwTc/w-d-xo.html Video 2: th-cam.com/video/ZheWh1cMOFM/w-d-xo.html also Thomas Sowell is great.
@LFR Family
Please react to these conversations.
The change my mind on affirmative action was one of the most informative conversations I ever heard about it.
Steven Crowder does a series of videos called change my mind. He'll come up with really deep topics or very controversial topics depending on your view I guess, but he's very honest and he does like to have the conversations no matter what side you're on. A lot like you're trying to do. Definitely check him out
@@kittylynnlpn yeah those are the main thing I like crowder for. His other stuff is a little over the top for me but Change my mind, especially when he finds well rounded people to talk to, are great.
The one he does in the affirmative action is racist series with the hip hop professor is the best one from the series. The one in the link above ranks #2 in my change my mind ranking.
I feel you on the "don't give them money issue" I have always given the needy guy on the corner a buck when I encountered him. It's called compassion and empathy and it's a good part of you, but after being taken by two very obvious con men that professionally panhandled in my area, I said "No More". I was bitter and angry and I never gave the guy on the corner another look. I ghosted them. But I felt like shit every time I drove past them because I know that there are people that need help. I wanted to help, but I also didn't want to be some slimy asshole's bitch either. My wife and I decided to have regular contributions taken from our bank account every month and given to The Red Cross, The Disabled American Veterans, The Salvation Army, The Dare To Care Food Bank, and St. Joseph's Indian School for Lakota Sioux Children. We give 100 times more money than I would ever hand out on street corners and it goes, efficiently and only, to the people that need help. There may still be folks out there that need help and won't go where it's offered, but I like to think they would be better off if they were forced to seek help. Again, just my opinion
Great and interesting reactions. When Dr. Sowell was speaking of 3%, he said of the very wealthy and the very poor, combined, stayed in the same bracket all their lives.
Loving your content! New subscriber. You point out a valid point, you can't make choices solely on facts nor can you do it solely on feelings. That goes to Thomas' point. Everything is a trade off. If you only look at the upside of your policy not the downside you make poor decisions. Look at Congress over the last 40 years. If they looked for common ground rather than shoving their will down their opposition's throat, we would be making progress not teetering on the verge of tyranny where each side is constantly trying to cancel the other side. BTW I'm a conservative, and there are compassionate conservatives.
The problem with affirmative action rather than getting in on your own merit that I've seen is that those that are selected are often unprepared to perform at that level. Of course they're never told this or acknowledge this. They are told theyre not succeeding because of some form of discrimination.