More Liberty Means Less Government: Our Founders Knew This Well (Hoover Institution Press Publication ; No. 453) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this new collection of thoughtful, hard-hitting essays, Walter E. Williams once again takes on the left wing's most sacred cows with provocative insights, brutal candor, and an uncompromising reverence for personal liberty and the principles laid out in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. He challenges the assumptions of contemporary liberalism with ruthless honesty, presenting an impressive array of powerful ideas and substantive information to frame his perspectives on the issues facing America in such critical areas as race, sex, government, law, education, the environment, and international relations. Williams's often controversial views include commentary on

• Women in the Military. "At Parris Island, it was discovered that 45 percent of female Marines were unable to throw a hand grenade far enough to avoid blowing themselves up. If I were in a foxhole with a woman about to toss a hand grenade, I'd consider her the enemy."
• Racial and Gender Quotas. "The only reason the elite haven't mandated quotas for women, Japanese, and other underrepresented groups in the NBA and the NFL is because the folly and costs of their cosmic justice vision would be exposed."
• Affirmative Action. "Too many blacks receive twelve years of fraudulent primary and secondary education that cannot be overcome by four years of college. Unfortunately, liberals and civil rights organizations add to that disaster by giving unquestioned support to a corrupt education establishment that produces the fraud."
• The Americans with Disabilities Act. "In some quarters, the ADA is taken to stand for 'Attorney's Dream Answered.' And who pays? You and I, through higher prices or less convenience."
• The Minimum Wage. "Low wages are more a result of people being underproductive than being underpaid. They simply do not have the skills to produce and do things their fellow man highly values. The minimum wage law is evil legislation and deserving of repeal altogether."

Using the fundamentals of economics—and basic common sense—to prove his points, Williams offers wise, witty, and stimulating insights on these and other controversial subjects, including corporate welfare, gun control, environmental regulations, free trade, abortion, the public school system, tobacco industry regulation, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Hoover Institution Press (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817996125
• ISBN-13: 978-0817996123
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #194,210 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read., April 11, 2002

By	M. Kirkland (Alabama) - See all my reviews

As stated, this book is a must read for any person who wants to have a clear grasp of the issues of our day. As other reviewers have noted, this book is a collection of some of his syndicated columns that were previously published. That being said:

Dr. Williams writes with a style which is completely opposite of much of the intellegencia. His writings are straightforward and to the point. This book is worth the price just to read his wrtings about Dunbar High School, a primarily black school in a poor district of D.C. which yielded outstanding results in the 50's and 60's....until the great forces of public education intervened and destroyed that success. I urge anyone who is a great supporter of public education and who buys into the "education needs more money....Black schools can't succeed" philosophy to obtain a copy of this book. It may not change your mind, but it will challenge your thoughts.

Dr. Williams writings on affirmative action are equally superb. He, again in simple terms explains how the economics of affirmative action don't match up with the political rhetoric. Be not scared that he is an economist, he writes for the reader and not for himself, with practical examples easily understood by all. Walter Williams is a national treasure.

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Skewer statists, watch them squirm, February 18, 2001

By	Stephen B. Cobb "Shameless Reductionist" (Reston, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of a handful of exceptionally eloquent black libertarian thinkers, Professor Williams sees clearly and speaks bluntly. If you are not one of the fortunate few GMU students to attend his lectures, you have a chance here to get an idea of what you're missing. Each essay skewers a failed statist solution, whether left-wing public education or right-wing Aid to Dependent Corporations, setting them to roasting on the fires of reason. Economics is an extremely easy subject...to get completely backwards, upside down, and inside out. For a gyroscopic lock on the issues from the economist's perspective, get this book and Thomas Sowell's new Basic Economics.

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book deserves 6 stars., June 14, 2002

By	Maria Folsom (East Glacier Park, Montana USA) - See all my reviews

Mr. Williams says things I've always believed, but was afraid to say aloud for fear of being thought of as intolerant, uncompassionate, or politically incorrect. Mr. Williams knows how people work and what they do to further their best interests (which is the study of economics) and explains it in a jovial and colloquial manner. READ it.