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The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy Paperback – June 28, 1996

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Thomas Sowell (Author)
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4.6 out of 5 stars 197 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Basic Books (June 28, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 046508995X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0465089956
  • Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (197 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 starsAre people missing the books bigger message?
By Kevin Currie-Knight VINE VOICE on February 22, 2004
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
It is very rare that I will write more than one review for a book. I wrote one for "Vision of the Annointed" a few years ago, and is by now burried in the heap of 5 star reviews below. In it, I praised Sowell for walking us through some of the rhetorical tricks used predominantly by the left wing (though since reading the book, I've become sensitive to the 'right' using similar arguments). I stand by that review. So why am I writing a new one?

I've recently picked up the book again after 2 or so years and have read through some - not all - of the chapters again and...it really hit me. The most important thing about this book is not simply the 'expose of the left'; rather, the predominant message seems to be about how the left (and I would argue, the right) ignore why 'tradeoffs' have to be made.

To put it more philosophically, the politicians dream is the policy that has no downsides. Sowell realizes that in a nation of many millions, every policy has negatives and that politicians should, instead of being focused on perfection, should be focused on taking the most gain for the least loss. This, Sowell says, is capitalism and markets. Yes, there are some losers. But there will be more winners and less losers through markets than there will through a regulatory state.

Now, let's put Sowells argument into modern context (the issue that made me pick the book up again). Lately, companies have been moving overseas and this, says the dems (and to a lesser degree the reps) is a problem. The solution being proposed? Let's pass laws to keep them here. The problem with that is that it ignores the real problem (by refusing to look at tradeoffs).Read more ›
17 Comments 374 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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5.0 out of 5 starsDr. Sowell incisively analyzes left wing group think
By A Customer on November 6, 1997
Format: Paperback
Thomas Sowell demonstrates how anti-intellectual the current intelligensia are and how closed minded. When good intentions are more important than outcomes, a closed belief system results, insulated from real world feedback, with catastrophic results.
Modern political discourse has degenerated into name-calling ("mean-spirited," "reactionary," "racist") without reference to actual merits of a proposed course of action. Until I read Dr. Sowell's discussion of "mascots" and the "benighted," I never understood why organizations like the ACLU display the most passion of the behalf on those who exhibit the most anti-social behavor (Nazis marching in Skokie, drunks yelling obscenities at ballball games): Now I do.
Dr. Sowell's description of the genesis of government "solutions" (a phony crisis, a proposed program whose critics are shouted down and a retroactive redefinition of the program's goals when the critics prove correct) was also a revelation. Read this section and then turn to any N.Y. Times article discussing either global warming or the gender "wage gap" to see this cycle in action today.
If you read the book (and I highly recommend it), look at the Kirkus Review of it for an example of what Dr. Sowell is talking about. Isn't funny how articulate liberal writers are "passionate" and articulate conservative writers are "venomous?"
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4.0 out of 5 starsGood platform for debate
By Kolby on March 20, 2003
Format: Paperback
This book's main emphasis is the need for "results oriented" social policy.
Sowell's fundamental argument is:
1. Social policy is often built based on a perceived, "crisis."
2. That a "crisis," even exists, usually goes unchallenged, or ignored.
3. When said social policy fails to accomplish its stated objective, attempts are made to change the initial objective, or simply ignore the outcome.
"The Anointed," as Sowell calls them, are those who identify the crisis, put forth the policies, and then, if they fail, obfuscate the results. They live in a self justifying world, where what they "envision" is correct and moral *a priori.* Those who disagree are demonized as simpleminded and mean-spirited.
Sowell offers a lot of examples that support his theory at varying degrees of success. From Sex Ed programs, Low Income Housing, to environment policy. It is certainly a fascinating read.
Whether you agree with him or not (I mostly agree with him), what this book accomplishes is that it forces you to refocus on facts and data to make decisions, as opposed to your own moral vision.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWon't be read by those who need it most
By Stan Vernooy on July 12, 2001
Format: Paperback
Ever wonder why liberals are so emotionally in favor of gun control even though it's a conclusive fact that gun control doesn't reduce gun violence? Or why they support the bilingual education programs that do so much damage to immigrant children? Or why they favor rent controls that make housing unavailable to the poor people for whom they supposedly have so much sympathy? Or why they want to make it illegal for a person to be employed if (s)he lacks the skills to do more than $7 worth of work every hour?
If the motives of liberals were truly what they say they are, then these positions would never gather the support that they now enjoy from the liberal community. Liberals are not uninformed; they read the same books, newspapers and academic journals as conservatives or libertarians. So why do they so consistently advocate policies whose results are demonstrably contrary to the results they claim to want?
Sowell explains the answer in this wonderful book. The reason, he says, is that the real motives of liberals have nothing to do with the welfare of other people. Instead, they have two related goals: first, to establish themselves as morally and intellectually superior to the rather distasteful population of common people, and second, to gather as much power as possible to tell those distasteful common people how they must live their lives. If a policy moves them closer to those two goals, they will find a reason to advocate it, regardless of how harmful the consequences of that policy may be.
Once you read this book, the dishonest posturing of liberals becomes far more understandable. They engage in a preposterous circular argument: They are wiser and more moral than others because they "understand" the need for the policies they advocate.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsBook great. Kindle formatting terrible.

The book is great, as are all of Thomas Sowell's writings. But the Kindle version of this is terribly formatted. Read more

Published 7 days ago by Bill Reagan
1.0 out of 5 starsHe loves to blame ppl who don't think like him.

it's sad an economist is so detached from the plight of people who are less fortunate.

Published 11 days ago by Hope
4.0 out of 5 starsWhy Leftist policy stubbornly advances, despite evidence to the...

I feel like the phrase, "vision of the anointed," never quite says what Sowell is driving at. Read more

Published 1 month ago by charlene at Dosido Bookshelf
5.0 out of 5 starsWords will not do it justice. Read this book ...

Words will not do it justice. Read this book. It is the MOST influential book I have ever read for me personally. It blew me away.

Published 1 month ago by Texan
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

good service,

Published 2 months ago by mbray
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent - I am giving it to young people

What can I say. Dr. Sowell is again an exceptional writer. Complex ideas in his hands become easy to understand and he helps you start your thinking process in ways other writers... Read more

Published 2 months ago by VCL
5.0 out of 5 starsStellar. And frightening.

Stellar. And frightening.

Published 2 months ago by Susan E. Littmann
5.0 out of 5 starsExceptional insight into something that irks many people

This book provides exceptional insight into something that irks many people ... the "so called experts" always know more than we do ... Read more

Published 3 months ago by bhs67
5.0 out of 5 starsLoved every word

There is no better explanation of the modern left than this book. More timely than ever with the rise of the self-anointed "social justice" warriors.

Published 4 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsHighly readable, stunning in its conclusions.

almost half way thru and the evidence and references presented by the author are challenging my
way of thinking. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Amazon Customer

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