1. What is the main idea of Thomas Sowell’s commentary?

2. a) Which of the following statements made by Thomas Sowell are new to you?
b) Ask a parent the same question.

• "People who attribute income inequality to capitalists exploiting workers, as Karl Marx claimed, never seem to get around to testing that belief against facts — such as the fact that none of the Marxist regimes around the world has ever had as high a standard of living for working people as there is in many capitalist countries."
• "Socialism has turned oil-rich Venezuela into a place where there are shortages of everything from toilet paper to beer, where electricity keeps shutting down, and where there are long lines of people hoping to get food and complaining that they cannot feed their families."
• "Most low-wage jobs are entry-level jobs that young people move up out of, after acquiring work experience and a track record that makes them eligible for better jobs. But you can’t move up the ladder if you don’t get on the ladder."

3. Do you support Sen. Sanders for president? If so, how would you refute Dr. Sowell’s assertion:

“It is only when you go beyond rhetoric, and start looking at hard facts, that socialism turns out to be a big disappointment, if not a disaster.”

CHALLENGE: Socialists point out the inequality of wealth, or the wealth gap between the rich and the poor. Those who say capitalism is the best economic system point out that the standard of living in free market (capitalist) economies far surpasses that of people living in government-run (socialist) economies. It is important to know the facts that support each side of an issue before forming your own opinion. Pay attention to news reports: which side gets more coverage: those who support a socialist economy, or those who support a capitalist economy? Which side gets challenged and/or criticized by the media?