This book is titled "Basic Economics" because Sowel is a troll, and the economics in his book are largely correct but incomplete to the point of misinforming people. This is an incredibly "conservative" book through-and-through.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

It's correct in a bourgeois friendly way, in that it aligns with existing liberal economics. The problem is immediately apparent upon reading liberal economics, though, as invariably there is a distinct urge towards the futility of study, or the supernatural benefits of market mechanics above all. Bourgeois economists are closer to priests justifying the unrestrained tyranny of Capital over Man, when its the historic duty of the proletariat to wrest that control back and firmly reign in Capital, to be bent to our will. We must know more, learn the unlearned, know the unknown, to do so. Marx was the first to truly completely take on such a task.

Sowell is just one such priest of liberalism, an especially useful one in that he is allegedly ex-Marxist. This combination of "abandoning leftist economics for real economics" results in quite a common book to throw in the faces of those that get too uppity towards the status quo.

[–] andrewrgross@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

He is a former Marxist?? I find that bewildering, hilarious, and doubtful.

I think it's great when people have open enough minds to radically rethink their beliefs, but I hope I'm never so brainrotted as to somehow strawman my own former beliefs.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago

Pretty sure it's either one big grift, or he was never much of a Marxist in the first place.