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[PBS adresses Globalism in a 6 hour program] "Commanding Heights, The Battle for the World Economy"
PBS ^ | 3 April 2002 | PBS

Posted on 04/03/2002 6:00:50 AM PST by flamefront

Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy, premieres on PBS April 3, 10, and 17, 2002 at 9:00 PM ( check local listings ). Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw, this six-hour limited series traces the evolution of the modern global economy through the nine tumultuous decades since World War I.

And a Ben Wattenberg interview transcript. An exerpt:

BEN WATTENBERG: Hello, I’m Ben Wattenberg. When Soviet dictator Vladimir Lenin coined the phrase ’the commanding heights’ he was referring to the locus of national economic power. That is, the major enterprises and the major industries. The epic struggle between the government and the marketplace to control those commanding heights has profoundly altered human history since the close of World War II. Joining us to explore that history and its consequences are Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Yergin, co-author with Joseph Stanislaw of The Commanding Heights: The Battle Between Government and the Marketplace That is Remaking the Modern World; and one of the supreme generals in that battle, Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman. Later in the program, we will hear a different point of view from the noted economist John Kenneth Galbraith. The topic before the house, the Commanding Heights.
...



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: globalism; yergin
FYI - first session of the 6 hours hits the TV tonight. See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/ for more detail and schedule.

Will governmental intervention be the only hope for stable future economic activity (GAG) or will Reaganomics get its due?

1 posted on 04/03/2002 6:00:51 AM PST by flamefront
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To: flamefront
PBS ?

Yawn...I think I've got to change the air in my tires, give the dogs a bath, fill out my income tax and read FreeRepublic.

2 posted on 04/03/2002 6:09:04 AM PST by Drango
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To: flamefront
I'm very glad that PBS got rid of Lew Rukeyser. He is such a blatant capitalist! He did not fit in at all with all the other pinko, leftist, liberal extremists that they have on. I really think that financial news should be done by younger people, especially, those demonstrating diversity. I sure hope they come up with folks who are much more like Regis and Kathy Lee; folks with sparkle and personality. In fact, I believe PBS would be spending our money nuch more wisely if they got into sex and violence. And, of course, all their programming should contain a great deal more diversity and sensitivity to the problems in the third world, ALL caused by evil white capitalists.
3 posted on 04/03/2002 6:11:21 AM PST by Tacis
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To: Drango
I rarely watch PBS, but this series, beginning tonight is getting some rave reviews from conservatives whom I respect. I think I'm going to tune it in.
4 posted on 04/03/2002 6:13:13 AM PST by Dog Gone
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To: flamefront
There has been, is now, and always will be government intervention in the markets.

It is more a matter of the degree of intervention. Sort of akin to the degree of government intervention in your personal daily life nowadays.

If there ever was such a thing as a totally free market place I think it would cause political unrest on a grand scale.

How to strike that "perfect" balance. That is the question.

5 posted on 04/03/2002 6:13:22 AM PST by fightu4it
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To: Dog Gone
I rarely watch PBS, but this series, beginning tonight is getting some rave reviews from conservatives whom I respect. I think I'm going to tune it in.

OK, but if your tires go flat don't blame me:-)

6 posted on 04/03/2002 6:18:46 AM PST by Drango
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To: flamefront
Some Amazon.com reviews of the book Commanding Heights:

Highly Recommended!, March 13, 2001
Reviewer: Rolf Dobelli, getAbstract from Switzerland
The second half of the 20th century was marked by the ebb and flow of government influence over national and international economies. Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw characterize the balance between government and private marketplace clout as a battle for the commanding heights of the economy. They trace this fight back to the years after World War II, where they discover that capitalism had been widely discredited and governments were basking in the glow of wartime victory. With descriptions of the catalytic people and events that moved markets and policy, Yergin and Stanislaw have turned an essentially academic topic into a readable book, which is as much about economics as it is about history. As engaging as the stories are, don't assume you're in for a light read. Many business books today have plenty of sizzle, but not much steak. We at getAbstract recommend that you sink your teeth into this big, juicy T-bone of a book, a rare treat for intellectual readers searching for economic adventure and substantive history.

This is not another "The Prize"., January 13, 2000
Reviewer: Stephen Bland from Alabama
I was disappointed by this book, but then my expectations were very high after reading Yergin's earlier work on the history of the oil industry (5 stars!). Early on, the authors present us with a historical dilemna: the post World War II nations are distrustful of market economies and experiencing prosperity under centralized, planned economies. Yet market economies take over in a matter of decades. The authors use the strategy of a broad, global view to explain why and how -- with most of the emphasis on how. As a result, the reading is quite repetetive. The thesis is clear: market economies work best. There is almost no discussion on the limitations of market economies -- or of their social consequences. Worse, for those like myself with no background in economics, the implications of the emerging global free-market economy is virtually untouched. My advice... read "The Prize".

somewhat overrated, but very enjoyable, April 26, 2000
Reviewer: cp from London
This book should have gotten five stars without a doubt. It's very readable; the author doesn't fall into the temptation of inventing new "-isms" as so many academics do. The content is extremely accurate and very well documented, with viewpoints from major historical players. Why not five stars? First, it did get a little repetitive and by the time I got to South America, the chapter seemed very predictable (let me guess, they cut spending and taxes and privatised, restricted monetary supply and killed off the evil hyperinflation dragon and everybody lived employed ever after). Second, instead of constantly giving concrete examples, the author could have examined the theoretical debates that pit free-marketeers and Keynesians against one another. The downside of free markets, both globally and domestically is not examined, despite the fact that the argumentative ammunition to bring down anti-market theories is abundant. Finally, I thought Daniel Yergin generalised a little too often when examining economic remedies. The dismal science is known as such because general assumptions in the real economic world are virtually impossible.

7 posted on 04/03/2002 7:14:29 AM PST by sanchmo
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To: Tacis
LOL....you forgot your sarcasm tag. Some here will think you are serious.
8 posted on 04/03/2002 7:19:16 AM PST by goodnesswins
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To: flamefront
Will governmental intervention be the only hope for stable future economic activity (GAG) or will Reaganomics get its due?

Knowing PBS, I bet on the former being the 'message'.

Did anyone catch the 'dictator' hit piece PBS just ran about the 'overthrow' of Milosevic. Seems like there's a rush in the 'propaganda' department to 'educate' sheep. Since Milosevic's success in defending himself, 'they' are taking no chances.

9 posted on 04/03/2002 7:25:53 AM PST by duckln
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To: Dog Gone
I rarely watch PBS, but this series, beginning tonight is getting some rave reviews from conservatives

PBS is rarely worth watching, and rarely balanced - But when it is, it is very well done.

Ethics in America comes to mind, as does several episodes of the usually leftist Frontline.

10 posted on 04/03/2002 8:01:01 AM PST by LouD
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To: flamefront
It should be interesting regardless of its slant. Hopefully it will not be a sensationalist diatribe against sweat shops. IMHO eventual development without "crony capitalism" is a long term fix to some of our problems both internally with lower wage employment and externally with communism. Korea and Taiwan are good examples of the transition from sweat shop economies to consumer economies.
11 posted on 04/03/2002 8:10:45 AM PST by JimSEA
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To: flamefront
bump
12 posted on 04/03/2002 8:12:33 AM PST by Valin
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To: duckln
Knowing PBS, I bet on the former being the 'message'.

Now you're just being judgemental and narrowminded.
No bet.

13 posted on 04/03/2002 8:15:51 AM PST by Valin
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To: flamefront
Watched it. Thought it was good. Seemed to clearly state that Keynes was wrong and is now discredited. Hayek was proven right. Gave lots of credit to Reagan and Thatcher (for implementing Hayak's ideas).

I think it made a very clear point that in 1979 the world was dominated by governments which sought to control national economies. And the economic times were not good. Reagan and Thatcher came in, cut taxes, deregulated industries and started economic booms (after some necessary tough times). Once they had shown the way, countries around the world starting allowing market forces to do their thing and we've had good times ever since.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. PBS just showed the public why government intervention always hurts the economy.

14 posted on 04/03/2002 7:09:56 PM PST by ClearCase_guy
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To: flamefront
Did I just see this program on PBS, or am I dreaming? Somebody pinch me.

This first episode was outstanding. Two hours relentlessly hammering home the rationality, morality, beneficence and superiority of conservative economic theory and the principles of individual and market freedom and limited government that go with it.

The story of the development, and then the implementation, and then the success, of the philosophy that would challenge free-world socialism -- command economies with wage and price controls and "stimulatory" government spending, stultifying regulatory regimes and all the rest -- was told with passion, power and lucidity. The audience was pounded, especially during the second hour, with clips, interviews and quotes from a series of influential conservatives, culminating with Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher. All were treated almost heroically.

I repeat, THIS WAS ON PBS!!!

15 posted on 04/03/2002 7:19:56 PM PST by Stultis
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To: Stultis
Best show I've seen on PBS in at least a decade. Absolutely magnificent.

Carter, FDR, and Keynesian economics thoroughly discredited in a lively show with lots of great historical film footage. Nixon was trashed, too, but he deserved it.

I LOVED IT!

16 posted on 04/03/2002 7:21:55 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
Favorite part: A blistering, yet glowing, montage of clips of Reagan during the '80 campaign and after hammering home the predacious excesses and destructive evils of big government.
17 posted on 04/03/2002 7:31:09 PM PST by Stultis
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To: Stultis
Ditto! OUTSTANDING first episode - waiting for the "But"

Hope it never comes ;-)

18 posted on 04/03/2002 7:31:32 PM PST by Theophilus
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To: Stultis
I never thought I would hear a PBS show depict Reaganomics as a great thing. I'm still in shock.
19 posted on 04/03/2002 7:33:19 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: flamefront
Another thread on this topic posts an attempted slam of the series by a lying, delusional socialist (pardon the redundancy) writing for the Los Angeles Daily News:

World shrinks, chasm grows- PBS Show "Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy"

20 posted on 04/03/2002 7:51:51 PM PST by Stultis
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