Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

There was a problem loading this video. This could be due to a temporary network issue or the video might be unavailable.

Thomas Sowell breaks down how the welfare state creates destructive incentives, promoting dependence, discouraging work, and rewarding family breakdown. Poverty isn't inevitable. Bad policy is.

Students For Liberty

113,891 subscribers

50,091 views • 1 year ago •via X (Twitter)

News & Politics Education Finance

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

0 Comments

No comments available

Comments from the original post will appear here

Related Videos

“Dependence was seen as the key to holding the slaves down. It’s ironic that the same principle comes up in the welfare state 100 years later.” — Thomas Sowell

“Dependence was seen as the key to holding the slaves down. It’s ironic that the same principle comes up in the welfare state 100 years later.” — Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell Daily

21,061 views • 3 months ago

“Centuries of slavery and generations of Jim Crow did not destroy the black family, but one generation of the welfare state did.” — Thomas Sowell

“Centuries of slavery and generations of Jim Crow did not destroy the black family, but one generation of the welfare state did.” — Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell Daily

778,533 views • 5 days ago

The welfare state has been more destructive to the black family than slavery just by restructuring the incentives. In 1960, nearly a century after emancipation, only about 22% of black children grew up in single-parent households. By 1990, after the Great Society welfare expansions, that number had more than tripled. Thomas Sowell has long shown this wasn’t the lingering shadow of slavery or some vague “legacy.” The destruction of the black family was the direct result of welfare policies that subsidized single motherhood and penalized marriage. The incentives changed, and family structure collapsed accordingly.

The welfare state has been more destructive to the black family than slavery just by restructuring the incentives. In 1960, nearly a century after emancipation, only about 22% of black children grew up in single-parent households. By 1990, after the Great Society welfare expansions, that number had more than tripled. Thomas Sowell has long shown this wasn’t the lingering shadow of slavery or some vague “legacy.” The destruction of the black family was the direct result of welfare policies that subsidized single motherhood and penalized marriage. The incentives changed, and family structure collapsed accordingly.

Rothmus 🏴

1,144,590 views • 2 months ago

Thomas Sowell breaks down the real story behind America’s economic struggles during the Great Depression. Instead of just blaming “greed” or capitalism, Sowell looks at the policies, incentives, and decisions that shaped what happened, and why the lessons from that era still matter today.

Thomas Sowell breaks down the real story behind America’s economic struggles during the Great Depression. Instead of just blaming “greed” or capitalism, Sowell looks at the policies, incentives, and decisions that shaped what happened, and why the lessons from that era still matter today.

Thomas Sowell Quotes

20,273 views • 1 day ago

Thomas Sowell breaks down some of the uncomfortable facts about civilization that you probably won’t hear in school. History isn’t always the story of progress, equality, and good intentions. Sometimes it’s about incentives, human nature, and the hard lessons societies learned the hard way.

Thomas Sowell breaks down some of the uncomfortable facts about civilization that you probably won’t hear in school. History isn’t always the story of progress, equality, and good intentions. Sometimes it’s about incentives, human nature, and the hard lessons societies learned the hard way.

Thomas Sowell Quotes

24,768 views • 1 day ago

“Bad posture creates bad strikes.” Bengals Scott Peters breaks down why OL lose hands — and how a single-hand strike with the pelvis engaged changes everything. Pure technician work from one of the best. This is the level of detail we study inside the Mushroom Society.

“Bad posture creates bad strikes.” Bengals Scott Peters breaks down why OL lose hands — and how a single-hand strike with the pelvis engaged changes everything. Pure technician work from one of the best. This is the level of detail we study inside the Mushroom Society.

@TheCOOLClinic®️

18,916 views • 9 months ago

🏈 Coach Coach TRILL breaks down how wrist placement controls the tip and creates takeaways in Lamar University Football "Take Three" Turnover Circuit. Watch the full breakdown ⤵️

🏈 Coach Coach TRILL breaks down how wrist placement controls the tip and creates takeaways in Lamar University Football "Take Three" Turnover Circuit. Watch the full breakdown ⤵️

AFCA

37,495 views • 5 months ago

Official “poverty” in America is not what most people think it is. Thomas Sowell points out that what Washington defines as poverty would be considered upper-middle class in Mexico. Most people in that category have microwave ovens, central air conditioning, and at least one car — many have two. The average person classified as poor in the US has more living space than the average European. This is not poverty by any historical standard. The real catastrophe is not material want. It’s the breakdown of behavior, the explosion of crime, and the loss of basic safety that came with the same non-judgmental mindset that built the modern welfare state. Sowell grew up in Harlem with no television, no car, and almost no books in the house — yet he could walk out at midnight to buy a newspaper without fear. Today that would be unthinkable. Poverty in America is no longer mainly about what people lack. It’s about the squalor of behavior that policy helped create.

Official “poverty” in America is not what most people think it is. Thomas Sowell points out that what Washington defines as poverty would be considered upper-middle class in Mexico. Most people in that category have microwave ovens, central air conditioning, and at least one car — many have two. The average person classified as poor in the US has more living space than the average European. This is not poverty by any historical standard. The real catastrophe is not material want. It’s the breakdown of behavior, the explosion of crime, and the loss of basic safety that came with the same non-judgmental mindset that built the modern welfare state. Sowell grew up in Harlem with no television, no car, and almost no books in the house — yet he could walk out at midnight to buy a newspaper without fear. Today that would be unthinkable. Poverty in America is no longer mainly about what people lack. It’s about the squalor of behavior that policy helped create.

Commentary - Sowell Economics

17,930 views • 28 days ago

Inflation is a hidden tax. It isn't inevitable, it's the policy choice of Federal Reserve. Without it, the regime can't fund its overseas wars, the welfare state, or corporate subsides at our expense. The only way to end the scam is to End the Fed.

Inflation is a hidden tax. It isn't inevitable, it's the policy choice of Federal Reserve. Without it, the regime can't fund its overseas wars, the welfare state, or corporate subsides at our expense. The only way to end the scam is to End the Fed.

Libertarian Party

153,772 views • 2 years ago

Thomas Sowell explains why different cultures can produce very different ways of thinking, and why Americans and the French often approach problems from completely different perspectives. Sometimes, the biggest difference is how people view individual responsibility, institutions, and incentives.

Thomas Sowell explains why different cultures can produce very different ways of thinking, and why Americans and the French often approach problems from completely different perspectives. Sometimes, the biggest difference is how people view individual responsibility, institutions, and incentives.

Thomas Sowell Quotes

29,775 views • 4 days ago

This is beyond wrong. How can the state mandate child support for a kid that isn't even yours? And when the mother admits she just put his name down to get welfare. Our system is very broken.

This is beyond wrong. How can the state mandate child support for a kid that isn't even yours? And when the mother admits she just put his name down to get welfare. Our system is very broken.

Sadie

112,984 views • 10 months ago

What is "The Trump Gold Card" — and how does it work? Commerce Secretary @HowardLutnick breaks down the new visa program.

What is "The Trump Gold Card" — and how does it work? Commerce Secretary @HowardLutnick breaks down the new visa program.

FOX & Friends

48,789 views • 8 months ago

“The era of DEI is over. It was a destructive policy forced on this administration, forced on this country by the previous administration. We are rewarding excellence now and that it does right by our workforce and right by our country.” — U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesperson

“The era of DEI is over. It was a destructive policy forced on this administration, forced on this country by the previous administration. We are rewarding excellence now and that it does right by our workforce and right by our country.” — U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesperson

Department of State

61,378 views • 9 months ago

“Merz is taking Angela Merkel’s politics to the extreme” — ex-German MP Sevim Dagdelen. She says Merz is taking credit for the rearmament policy, despite the buildup beginning under Merkel in 2014. And it’s all coming at the cost of infrastructure and the welfare state. Full breakdown: Sanchez Effect.

“Merz is taking Angela Merkel’s politics to the extreme” — ex-German MP Sevim Dagdelen. She says Merz is taking credit for the rearmament policy, despite the buildup beginning under Merkel in 2014. And it’s all coming at the cost of infrastructure and the welfare state. Full breakdown: Sanchez Effect.

Rick Sanchez

20,781 views • 4 months ago

Our country is stronger when state leaders work with the federal government to combat Medicaid fraud, crush crime, and end the poverty trap with sensible work requirements. We’ll show the country how it’s done in Ohio soon.

Our country is stronger when state leaders work with the federal government to combat Medicaid fraud, crush crime, and end the poverty trap with sensible work requirements. We’ll show the country how it’s done in Ohio soon.

Vivek Ramaswamy

81,824 views • 2 months ago

A great breakdown of how President Trump is cracking down on the regulatory regime… This is the deeper stuff that no one typically pays attention to… and he’s doing great work.

A great breakdown of how President Trump is cracking down on the regulatory regime… This is the deeper stuff that no one typically pays attention to… and he’s doing great work.

Tim Young

39,577 views • 1 month ago