| For Immediate Release to the
Global Press: Capitalist School: Examining the Soul of the American Economy. Background: Viewers meet distinguished professor, Michael Novak, author of well-over thirty books and hundreds of articles; he is the winner of the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion and twice the U.S. ambassador to the UN Human Rights Commission. The answer to question is examined, "Are the 25 million small businesses in the USA "the soul of the American economy"? Michael Novak not only thinks so, he also believes small business is the most important institution in a civil society and "the backbone out of which democracy comes." Novak holds the George Frederick Jewett Chair of Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. and provides the evidence for his conclusions within an episode of the television show, Small Business School. This show airs primarily on PBS-member stations around the country and then the Worldnet TV (VOA) around the globe. The working title for this episode is "The Capitalist School." Small Business School usually focuses on a small business owner; they go in-depth, into-the-trenches to find out what it takes to start, run, and grow a business. But this episode is different. Bruce Camber, the executive producer says, "After ten years and 260+ episodes, we finally met a person who can articulate why small business is the soulful part of the American economy. One might think that after so many years of these productions, we would have caught on by now, but it takes a person like Michael Novak to articulate what seems obvious but is so little discussed." Camber continued, "Novak is a reluctant capitalist. He tried socialism but it just didn't work for him. He discovered what works is individual responsibility for oneself and one's family and then he discovered that small business is at the heart and soul of it! He wants us all to be like sovereigns. Although that may sound rather regal, there is a gritty truth to it that repels most." In light of the war on terrorism, this episode is an invitation to enter the historic debate about economic and political models. What works? What is good for people? And, with little doubt, this show will stir the debate. MORE: All the content of each episode of the show is also online. /webapp/sbs/1000/1001/homepage.jsp Summary: /webapp/sbs/1000/1001/profile.jsp Transcript: /webapp/sbs/1000/1001/transcript.jsp Case study: /webapp/sbs/1000/1001/guide.jsp Video: /webapp/sbs/1000/1001/video.jsp This episode is an analysis of the Spirit of America, a focus on the miracle of the US economy. Nobody appreciates small business quite like Novak and this show. Every small business owner should watch --that's 25 million people-- as well as every person who use the services of small business ( and that's everybody else!). Key quotes from this show: "Building your own businesses teaches a set of virtues which you just won't learn any other way." "It teaches you to live with failure." "It gives you great satisfaction to see something that existed only in your imagination come to life and reality." "It teaches you to do very difficult things." "The most important institutional change to be happening in the world is the promotion and the multiplication of small business." "It's the only hope of the poor." "It creates that sense of leadership, strength and self confidence- that makes citizens willing to take on their government and become responsible for it ... to become the sovereigns." "Small business is the most important institution of civil society. "It is the backbone out of which democracy comes." |
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Go to this episode's other pages: Overview / Profile, case study, video or home page. COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. We invite your comments and questions. Was the show inspirational and/or educational? We hope this show is both! |