More news from Milton Freedman, who turns 91 on the last day of the month and extolls the facilies of the "war on drugs" and the socialist state of our governement. Not that I am pro-drugs or is Milton, it is just that the entire war on drugs effort is a joke and a complete waste of tax payer dollars, not to mention limiting the freedom of individuals. If you look at one link on this site, please check this one.
Friedman said "the war on drugs and the harm which it does are simply manifestations of a much broader problem: the substitution of political mechanisms for market mechanisms in a wide variety of areas." He estimated that "the United States today is a little over fifty percent socialist," as measured by the resources the government commands through taxes and regulation.
Friedman emphasized that "the problem is not the kind of people who run our governmental institutions versus those who run our private institutions. The trouble, as the Marxists used to say, is in the system."
In particular, he explained, the ability to spend other people's money at will means that government programs do not face the discipline that private businesses do. "When a private enterprise fails, it is closed down," he noted. "When a government enterprise fails, it is expanded."
Friedman cautioned reformers against trying "to cure a problem created by socialism [with] some more socialism" by putting the government in charge of drug distribution. He urged them to "recognize that repealing drug prohibition is part of the broader problem of cutting down the scope and power of the government and restoring power to the people."
The DPF speech displayed several of the qualities that have made Friedman such an effective champion of liberty. For one thing, he is not shy of disagreement, even with people who share some of his views. He challenges leftish opponents of the war on drugs to rethink their opposition to school vouchers, and he challenges conservative supporters of vouchers to rethink their support for the war on drugs.
At the same time, Friedman strives to engage people on their own terms. He does not suffer fools glady, but he sees his task as correcting their foolishness rather than silencing or humiliating them.
Friedman said "the war on drugs and the harm which it does are simply manifestations of a much broader problem: the substitution of political mechanisms for market mechanisms in a wide variety of areas." He estimated that "the United States today is a little over fifty percent socialist," as measured by the resources the government commands through taxes and regulation.
Friedman emphasized that "the problem is not the kind of people who run our governmental institutions versus those who run our private institutions. The trouble, as the Marxists used to say, is in the system."
In particular, he explained, the ability to spend other people's money at will means that government programs do not face the discipline that private businesses do. "When a private enterprise fails, it is closed down," he noted. "When a government enterprise fails, it is expanded."
Friedman cautioned reformers against trying "to cure a problem created by socialism [with] some more socialism" by putting the government in charge of drug distribution. He urged them to "recognize that repealing drug prohibition is part of the broader problem of cutting down the scope and power of the government and restoring power to the people."
The DPF speech displayed several of the qualities that have made Friedman such an effective champion of liberty. For one thing, he is not shy of disagreement, even with people who share some of his views. He challenges leftish opponents of the war on drugs to rethink their opposition to school vouchers, and he challenges conservative supporters of vouchers to rethink their support for the war on drugs.
At the same time, Friedman strives to engage people on their own terms. He does not suffer fools glady, but he sees his task as correcting their foolishness rather than silencing or humiliating them.
posted by Champion at 12:21 AM
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