Milton Friedman Quote 

"The heart of the liberal philosophy
is a belief in the dignity of the individual,
in his freedom to make the most of his capacities
and opportunities according to his own lights...
This implies a belief in the equality of man in one sense;
in their inequality in another."

by:
Milton Friedman
(1912-2006) Nobel Prize-winning economist, economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan, "ultimate guru of the free-market system"
Source:
Capitalism and Freedom, 1962
Categories:
 
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Reader comments about this quote:
My how word meanings change so much over a few decades.
 -- David L Rosenthal		 
His words are not what really matter - what matters is the intent and the heart that expressed them. The world today is fast becoming a pit of inequality - this, more than any other time, is being spearheaded by the current administration. The world sees the corruption and greed in America and how easy it is to manipulate its people with convenient sound bites - if the worlds most powerful country can behave in this manner then let's follow them - what's good the Elephant is good for the Gander. Please, please, bring back the Liberals before we sink into oblivion.
 -- Robert, Sarasota		 
 -- Joe, Rochester, MI 
Absolutely.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
David here is absolutely right. The heart of today's liberalism is: immorality, modification of history to justify self preservation, socialism - denying the dignity of the individual, and everything antithetical to anything that would promote the dignity, morality, and liberty of the individual. If the quote were in the vain of liberals such as Washington and Jefferson it would here deserve 5 stars
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Immorality is the domain of the Republican Party - the list is endless with fraud, child abuse, corruption, greed, murder, etc., etc. Leave Liberalism alone it can defend itself very easily against and compared with the current administration. Without Liberalism America would be another despot, another quagmire of corruption, fascism, and fundamentalism. Washington and Jefferson were only a few there were many other liberals that were the very foundation of America. Alas, if we are not careful all that will be lost to greed and we will slip into the annals of the shortest lived empire. It's amazing how the far-right attack Liberals by the very things they themselves are perpetuating. The fascists were very clever of this type of propaganda and it's going on today -- when you have a one party state and winner takes all what else would you expect. This last 6 years has shown a steady decline along all fronts of humanitarianism and world peace. O we have so much to learn and I wonder if we are able to advance and pull ourselves out from this desperate situation we are in today.
 -- Robert, Sarasota		 
Robert, Though the Republicans have, as you've alluded to, there own brand of immoral fascist tyranny, the liberals brand of criminal activity, anti-Constitutional direction and individual destruction must needs be defended in the face of moral and individual freedom.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Robert, it seems that old saw about pots calling kettles black is still true. From my perspective, I see conservative speakers on college campuses being physically assaulted, mobs storming stages and shouting down speakers with whom they disagree. Typical brownshirt tactics. Who are the Fascists? The liberalism of Jefferson et. al. was about freedom to speak one's mind without fear of being physically attacked. Classical liberalism can indeed work if left alone, but liberalism was hijacked decades ago by communists and socialists, and individual freedom is the furthest thing from their minds.
 -- Ken, Allyn, WA		 
Then they are not Liberals... I thought brownshirts were the product of a fascist army like Hitler and Mussolini. I wouldn't call kids storming a stage (I think it happened twice) brownshirst. Ken, I suppose you are against social security. Fortunately there are many Liberal Republicans otherwise we would be a real trouble. There are also many Conservative Democrats lets just revert back to the definition of words and not rely on the media or personal agendas.
 -- Robert, Sarasota		 
Mike, the "heart of today's liberalism" is compassion. The liberals have continually fought for the 'equal rights' embued in the Declaration of Indpendence -- in particular, discrimination based on religion, race, and sex. The liberals carried the banner for jews, blacks, and women for decades. Are there socialists among liberals? Yes. Are there fascists among conservatives? Yes. The fact remains that there will always be a political spectrum of ideals and solutions -- no 'side' has got it right. The abuse of power is equalliy shared between the political left and right -- that is why we are not supposed to give politicians carte blanche.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
Not all democrats are socialists, but all socialists are democrats.
 -- David L Rosenthal		 
Umm, then on the same note, not all Republicans are fascists, but all fascists are Republicans.
 -- Logan, Memphis, TN		 
Well, if you research which congressmen have cordial relations with Fidel Castro, you will discover that most of them are democrats. Now pt whatever label you like on it, the system in Cuba is clearly and completely totalitarian, which does not bother the businessmen and congressmen who want to normalize relations with Castro's regime to improve their incomes. I think that whoever approves of this is despicable, whatever his party affiliation. It just so happens that most of those who approve are democrats. So is fascism worse than totalitarianism., or are they just two points near the same end of the same continuum? Then look at China and the barbaric practices that seem to be overlooked by republicans and democrats alike, and explain to me in what way the parties are essentially different, while the majority agree to extend preferred-trading-partner status to the regime responsible for millions of deaths of innocent people.
 -- David L. Rosenthal		 
I have never met a 'party man' either Republican or Democrat who could admit his party's faults and the opposition's contributions -- the same for devotees of religion. Talking politics is just that - talk, talk, talk. And that is what the powers-that-be want -- to divide us and to quarrel amongst ourselves while they go smiling to the bank. The almighty dollar officially rules now, and all power belongs to those that issue it -- and it isn't Congress. Boycott credit, and watch the tower crumble.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
Politics is imperfect by definition. Most religion is the invention of men, and whatever was invented by men is likely to bring degradation and suffering, once men with twisted agendas gain control of it. Congress still has the power to do something useful to counter the effects of the Federal Reserve's sacking of America, but why should they rock the boat? After all, no one, but no one, interferes with congressional salary increases and perks. Most of Congress is bought and paid for. Am I a socialist for saying so? I still prefer the degrading system we have to the impostions of so-called communist regimes, which are not what they claim. Socialism is evil and degrading, as is capitalism, when it is abused; but at least the capitalists let you eat and complain.
 -- David L Rosenthal		 
My, how some people bristle at the mere mention of the word liberal. Reagan sure did a fine job indoctrinating his conservative base by.not even saying the word liberal, but referringg to it as the "L word" ...as a sort of esoteric code word or euphemism for evil. .. But look where those fiery supporters have gotten us in the years they had control of the government. Reagan raised the deficit from $60 billion to $200 billion This conservative government, in addition to having a very seamy, scandal-ridden character, after inheriting a surplus, raised the deficit to a record $500 billiont. It is surprising that any conservative would criticize something by a conservative such as Milton Friedman
 -- Jack, Green, OH		 
Clinton is really the one who set up the conditions under which the deficit exploded. And He is the one who was not removed by impeachment by a single vote. And he is the one who has a record of criminality unequaled by any other president. Just the facts.
 -- David L Rosenthal		 
Archer, I am a devotte of religion and can freely and openly admit the degradation there of (by way of organized and otherwise). None of that effects the Christ, his doctrines, or who he is. I believe that feminism, though having made great strides for the advancement and equality of women, has ultimately done more harm than good; the same for America's liberal/conservative Democrat/Republican movements. I am still a devotee of the process and I believe there there to be many individuals progressing the human specie, religiously and politically.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
Mike: Amen
 -- David L Rosenthal		 
Amen Jack, Logan, and E - The trouble is that the conservatives can NEVER take responsibility for there own Watch they ALWAYS blame it on the Democrats or Liberals. The Democrats ALWAYS came back to save the day. We won two WW and we continue to save America from its own greed.
 -- Robert, Sarasota		 
The Democrats are responsible for raping the Social Security fund, which was protected until they joined it with the general fund. The Democrats were responsible for Vietnam, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Democrats were responsible for Ruby Ridge and Waco.
 -- David L. Rosenthal		 
David, no you have it wrong it's the Republicans that rape the coffers of Social Security Fund (this fund was created by the Liberals) and then blame the Democrats. It's all there to be seen let me know if you need back-up. This has always been the GOP MO do it and then go on the offensive and blame the Democrats - the examples are endless... We have 68% who do not approve of the job Bush is doing - until we change our system we will continue to have Presidents that would not pass one hour in open dabate. I like the way the Republicabs hand over the country every eight years for the Democrats to clean up the mess they left behind and what a mess they will leave behind this time. Though I may be wrong, they may use those ........... voting machines again.
 -- Robert, Sarasota		 
 -- Anonymous 
i think... Boooooooorrrrrrinnnnggggggg..................................................................................
 -- Mo, Ball		 
As a DemLiberpublican could we get passed cognitive dissonance created by our own labels to looking at some frightening, deeper truths? Our counrty is being profoundly changed at its core. Our freedoms are being stripped from us. Name a happy socialist country. I've been to Cuba and it is a SPINE CHILLING world. Dave Ramsey's hope is in moral capitalism. Nationalizing banks, corporations? Socializing medicine? Where will the Canadians go for good healthcare? The left wing of our eagles emblem is for compassion, the right is for responsibility, can we afford it. Our right wing has been broken for a long time by both parties. We will all pay for this irresponsibity. And I would be careful, Liberal Tyranny is still tyranny. Before you finsh the coolaid consider this, while parties play politics over waterboarding, the Taliban are outside of a capital city of the nation that has nuclear weopons. Game over. We The People better pull it together
 -- CBM, Tallahassee		 
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