"A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself."
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) Ch. 1 "The Relation Between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom", 2002 edition, page 15
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Reader comments about this quote:
This quote reminds me that when a politician proposes some hare brained bill, he usually says that "the people demand this." In most cases "the people" have never given it a second thought, much less demanded it.
 -- jim k, Austin, Tx     
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    Because we do not know what we need or want according to government they come up with programs for our own good which we do not want.
     -- cal, lewisville, tx     
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    Using Social Security as his prime example, Milton Friedman explores the idea that the major expansions in government resulted from popular demand. In a speech delivered more than 30 years ago, he directly relates this dynamic to today's health care debate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rCdgv7n9xCY
     -- Mary MI, Lake Orion, MI     
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    As just another example: the government has perceptually usurped all rights, claiming the religious ordinance of marriage to be illegal, uniquely offering a granted privilege (license) to perform such illegal ordinance. The rabble aught to want their god masters (government) to give them privileges, wanting to be married in a free society just doesn't work.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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