The Power of the Poor

"The Power of the Poor" coming to PBS October 8, 2009.
For more videos, information, or to buy the DVD please visit: www.thepowerofthepoor.com

To those who watch television in the developed world, there doesn't seem to be a better system on earth than the capitalist system. We are experiencing the longest economic expansion in modern history. Soviet Communism has been defeated.

But make no mistake, as we will demonstrate in this program, capitalism is surprisingly vulnerable. The moment of capitalism's greatest triumph is the moment of its greatest crisis, its Moment of Truth. In fact, capitalism is not working for the vast majority of humanity that lives on the planet. Two thirds of the world's population has been locked out of the global economy, forced to operate outside the rule of law, they have no legal identity, no credit, no capital, and thus no way to prosper. To unlock The Power of the Poor is to change the world. If we fail, these people will turn against capitalism as they have turned against other failed economic systems, and that could make for a very difficult, violent time.

Filmed on location from Latin America to Africa, The Power of the Poor will demonstrate how free markets, individual freedom and especially the right to property can transform the poor into the most powerful resource in the world. At its heart is the potential triumph of capitalism as a system.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• The Power of the Poor
• Hernando de Soto
• Peru
• ILD
• poverty
• capitalism
• Free To Choose
• legal
• institutions
• globalization
• poor
• migration
• extra-legal
• Jesse James
• Al Capone
• development
• contracts
• credit
• economy
• humanity
• entrepreneurs
• market

[warriorprince1010]

The legal system, education and regulation are run by the state., The state has failed the poor, NOT free markets. The solution is not to give more power to these corrupt states.

[residentzombie]

@Rodriguez8611 Allowing anyone to produce is how society enriches the lives of everyone. Not everyone can afford the risks to purchase expense equipment which helps to improve production thus allowing workers to produce more and therefor consume more. Government is the road block to voluntary trade of people bartering in the free market with each other.

[AlbertGallatin]

This is an AnCap solution... a voluntary society, Bravo!

[Rodriguez8611]

@FreeToChooseNetwork ...... a confused ex-anarchist. Ask him what he thinks about what you're saying and see how you'll be dismissed as a socialist. So now Soto is only saying that "the walls to the formal sector should be lowered".... are you serious, is that all he is saying?. Now is true that someone is wasting time here, and that is me.

[Rodriguez8611]

@FreeToChooseNetwork ......go read my first 3 comments directed to you. You boast laissez-faire while at the same time using socialism, and don't tell me "let's not be silly"! because if distributing land to people who haven't paid for it is not socialistic, then I'm in the wrong planet. And I'm not against that, I agree with this, what makes me want to choke someone to death is that despite this, you preach laissez-faire. You even have a video of Johan Norberg, .......

[Rodriguez8611]

@FreeToChooseNetwork I know what transaction cost means my friend. I'm not insulting poor people by saying they got nothing, it's the truth. It would be insulting if society fold its arms and pass by like there's nothing wrong with those pictures. It would be insulting to teach them laissez-faire when in reality you're using a socialistic approach.

Are you actually asking me "how did some get rich", believe me or not, this truly truly angered me because you're using my very same stance,......

[FreeToChooseNetwork]

See also "Ultimate Resource: Eusebio's Dream" in the Free To Choose Network uploads.

[FreeToChooseNetwork]

@Rodriguez8611 Let's not be silly. It's not "socialist" to suggest that squatted (public) property be homesteaded to become private property. I am not suggesting that squatters on private land should remain. But public? Homestead them in and give them a title. In rural Peru, poor farmers used to have to work for cooperatives and bureaucrats took away the fruits of their labors. De Soto is saying these farms should be private. He is not saying NOT to assist people with welfare. (I would, though.)

[FreeToChooseNetwork]

@Rodriguez8611 Ok, you've goaded me into more. "Transaction costs" is an economic term for cooperation. It's insulting to poor people to say they have nothing. The entire world was poor once. Think about it: How did some get rich? People have ideas, labor and -- given the right changes in rules -- assets in land. The problem is many are locked in the informal sector.. All de Soto is saying is that the walls to the formal sector should be lowered. E. g. 200 days to get a biz licence is too long..

[Rodriguez8611]

@FreeToChooseNetwork ......and bureaucracy is a lot lower in our countries. So, the "burden" is very little, I'll even dare to call it trivial, yet, poverty will not be dealt with by the simplistic, nonetheless important, advise of De Soto.

Don't call me ignorant when its not me who's being inconsistent and bogus here.