Wednesday, July 22, 2009

1982 PBS Documentary Featuring Walter Williams




Watch the first part above of Walter Williams' PBS documentary Good Intentions based on his book, The State Against Blacks (1982). The documentary was very controversial at the time it was released and led to many animosities and even threats of murder.

In Good Intentions, Dr. Williams examines the failure of the war on poverty and the devastating effect of well meaning government policies on blacks asserting that the state harms people in the U.S. more than it helps them. He shows how government anti-poverty programs have often locked people into poverty making the points that:

- being forced to attend 3rd rate public schools leave students unprepared for working life
- minimum wages prevent young people from obtaining jobs at an early age
- licensing and labor laws have had the effect of restricting entrance of blacks into the skilled trades and unions
- the welfare system creates perverse incentives for the poor to make bad choices they otherwise would not

Watch Part 2 here.

Watch Part 3 here.

HT: Drew Suder

9 Comments:

At 7/22/2009 3:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, yes, it is well known that to destroy a group utterly, give them what they want without conditions, and without them working for it. That's what the anti-poverty legislation did.

 
At 7/22/2009 4:15 PM, Blogger Tom said...

Great classic video.

 
At 7/22/2009 4:57 PM, Blogger QT said...

Historical poverty levels

Houston, we still have a problem.

 
At 7/23/2009 10:19 AM, Blogger juandos said...

Freedom Channel
'If you ask me, why do you believe in freedom so much? I don't really know. But somehow, what I want is human freedom.'
- Milton Friedman on Charlie Rose

 
At 7/23/2009 12:18 PM, Blogger misterjosh said...

QT,
My gut tells me that living in poverty today in the US is a lot better than living in poverty in the US in 1959. And a hell of a lot better than say... 99.9% of Africa.

What is poverty?

 
At 7/23/2009 2:38 PM, Blogger Don H said...

Great piece. Has he ever updated this? Where is he these days?

 
At 7/23/2009 2:51 PM, Blogger QT said...

Walter Williams is still around

 
At 7/24/2009 10:11 AM, Blogger Angie said...

Williams frequently is published here: http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=5591

Actually, that's his latest article, but couldn't find a author-specific link.

 
At 7/24/2009 6:36 PM, Blogger juandos said...

"Actually, that's his latest article, but couldn't find a author-specific link"...

Try this out Angela:

About Walter Williams

Beneath the 'about' description they have Dr. Williams' articles going back to Jan. of '96...

I find Capitalism Magazine to be a really great resource...

CapMag also has Thomas Sowell with articles going back to August of '96...

 

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