A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell (book review)

Oregon Magazine ^ | February 1, 2003 | Peggy Whitcomb

[WaterDragon]

"Mad as the sea and wind when both contend." -- Hamlet

"They're talking apples and oranges!" is a familiar frustrated cry from bystanders listening to a furious discussion. It means that while the two sides seem to be arguing about the same thing, they probably aren't.

For example, when Democrats in Congress denounce the "unacceptable costs" of President Bush's tax cut proposal, the Democrats are stating their belief that government would be negligent in its duties if it allowed a reduction in the flow of money to Washington --money which the Democrats confidently believe they spend wisely to create and fund important improvements in our society

President Bush and his supporters in Congress argue that tax cuts, leaving more money in the hands of those who earn it, create -- through investments, savings and purchases -- capital which creates more jobs, and ultimately a total increase in wealth. In fact, conservatives have proven that tax cuts invariably increase the amount of money flowing to Washington for Congress to spend.

If more U.S. dollars will go to the politicians when taxes are reduced, why would the Democrats object?

Thomas Sowell's book "A Conflict of Visions" goes a long way towards unraveling such conundrums. He provides an explanation for why liberals and conservatives often seem to talk at cross purposes with each other, and why sometimes their proposals seem to be at cross purposes with their own stated goals....(snip)

For Complete Review Please Click Here.

[WaterDragon]

Ping!

[Leto]

In addition, the French intellectuals believed that a government which is good, led by morally superior, disinterested men sincerely devoted to the improvement of its citizens, needs no foolish "checks and balances" because such a government would be benevolent, certainly not a danger. Citizens would accept this leadership and the ordering of their daily lives for their own, ultimate, good, and hopefully would do so voluntarily. When liberal Democrats (the heirs of the French intellectuals) use words such as fidelity, sincerity, freedom, equality, justice, even power -- they mean very different things than when they are used by conservative Republicans (heirs of the American Federalists). When liberals talk about knowledge, they are referring to what an elite of highly intelligent people have studied and grasped and rationally, cleverly articulated.. For conservatives, knowledge is the vast accumulated wisdom that has been handed down through the centuries, usually not articulated, or even thought about consciously, but just "known", tested and retested against reality by vast numbers of generations.

The rats and the frogs we should have known!!!!! ;-)

Looks like a must read.

[RAT Patrol]

I'm sold!

[moneyrunner]

worth reading

[HumanaeVitae]

I read this book in college. It is excellent, straightforward and brief. Highly recommended.

[MeekOneGOP]

bttt

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Question_Assumptions]

Definitely a must read. Along with Sowell's two other books that lead into it, Visions of the Annointed and The Quest for Cosmic Justice, this provides great insight into what makes the left-wing mind tick and why clear and obvious facts never seem to convince them they are wrong.

[WaterDragon]

You probably read "Visions of the Annointed", his earlier book. This one is new.

"..Annointed" goes into a lot of detail that is also extremely interesting. The two books really belong together.

[WaterDragon]

Ooooh, yes! "Quest for Cosmic Justice skewers the Left like I've never read before! LOL!

[HumanaeVitae]

Actually, I've never gotten to that one. However, another excellent book for understanding the left-wing mind is Paul Johnson's Intellectuals.

However, the best book by far for understanding the left-wing mind is Dostoevsky's The Demons (also titled as The Possessed or The Devils). It's fiction, but it'll open your eyes to what's really going on inside the collectivist mind--especially the passage that's become known as "Stavrogin's Confession".

[HumanaeVitae]

Oh, wait, you mean this one is new?

No, I distinctly remember the book as "A Conflict of Visions". Let me check that out...

Does this one address the main concept underlying conservatism as "articulated reason"? That's the statement I remember most from the book...

[WaterDragon]

Yes! Paul Johnson's "Intellectuals" was the first book I read that exposed the Left. He does a devastating bio on each of the moronic intellectuals.

Haven't read the other book you mentioned, but now I will!

[HumanaeVitae]

The one great thing Ayn Rand did for me was to turn me on to Dostoevsky. He's not for the faint of heart, but he's well worth the time.

[WaterDragon]

"Articulation" is a big deal for the Lefties, according to Sowell. What is not intellectually studied, understood and "articulated" cleverly (cleverness is important)(by a properly educated elite) simply is not considered worthy to be called "knowledge".

A barely educated workingman with high morals and character, honoring his family, work, religion, neighbors, and patriotic to his nation -- is "knowledgeable" in a basic way that the intellectuals sneer at, and that the conservatives rely on to keep our society healthy and strong.

Most of what we "know" we may not be able to articulate cleverly. To the intellectuals that PROVES us to be ignoramuses in need of their control and guidance.

[WaterDragon]

ping

[awelliott]

Conflict is an outstanding book, though it isn't the easiest read. Another good one by Sowell is "Compassion vs Guilt", which is a collection of short articles. Nobody can peel the hide off of the left quite like he can. You may be referring to an updated edition of "A Conflict of Visions", but it isn't a new book. My copy has a copyright date of 1987...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!