Tuesday 8 December 2009

Stossel on Fox, Rand, Gekko and more

Broadcaster John Stossel gives good interview at The Daily Beast on his move from ABC to Fox, what Ayn Rand predicted, plans for his first show (starting this week), and about rumours he worships at the altar of Gordon Gekko:

img-bs-top---grove-stossel_165028773146Do you still worship at the altar of Gordon Gekko?
   
I never worshipped at the altar of Gordon Gekko. I did do an ABC Special titled “Greed.” I argued that when markets are free, and when government does not collude with business, greed is useful. People acting in their own self-interest is the fuel for all the discovery, innovation, and prosperity that powers the world. Gordon Gekko is a lefty in sheep’s clothing. Sort of like George W. Bush.
    Gordon Gekko describes a world the way a socialist bureaucrat sees it: Wealth is a static pie and rich people grab the biggest share. But that’s a child’s view of the way the world works. I make speeches arguing the opposite. Wealth is created. When entrepreneurs are free to compete, they grow the pie so that everyone’s share gets larger.

Some of the comments at the end of the interview also make interesting, if not exactly intelligent, reading.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

He's certainly had a colourful career.

From 1984

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrX9Ca7LSyQ

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed that. He's going to have some fun.