On the show this evening, we hosted Bob Chitester, who's produced an intellectual biography of Milton Friedman, "The Power of Choice," airing tomorrow night on PBS. Bob's site, The Idea Channel, is also streaming both the original Free to Choose series and its updated version for free. Several years earlier, the Dallas Fed hosted a conference dedicated to the legacy of that series and book.
When Milton Friedman died late last year, much was made of the legacy of his economic thought, and its spirited promotion of liberty. Sadly, the election to majority status of a party dedicated to the slow destruction of that liberty has also emboldened those Republicans who don't quite trust their fellow citizens. Reminders of the power of economic freedom are desperately needed.
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Apparently, outright fear of economic freedom is more ingrained than I thought. My coffee-and-bagel glance at the Columbus Dispatch this morning found a headline decrying the increasing outsourcing of US Military supply operations. The reporter laments the "potential loss of oversight" this might engender. He fails to mention the accompanying loss of $1000 toilet seats, delayed shipments, and duplicate personnel. Oh well. As one my diehard Hillsdale economics professors used to say, "Central planning isn't inherently BAD--not everyone may actually WANT indoor plumbing, clothing, and food."
Posted by: Kappy | February 5, 2007 2:57 PM