General

Re: Friedman Quote

kiba — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:04:48 GMT

My memory of the quote was different though.

"If men are good, they don't need rulers; if men are evil, than men are not fit to be rulers."

Re: Friedman Quote

Lyle D. Riggs — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:44:47 GMT

Jon I., I like your take. It is a reversal of Madison's "men are not angels." The statement ought to be since man are not angels, they should not rule over one another.

Re: Friedman Quote

rstruzik — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:03:54 GMT

likewise, Mises wrote

"If one rejects laissez faire on account of man’s fallibility and moral weakness, one must for the same reason also reject every kind of government action."

Re: Friedman Quote

Jon Irenicus — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:18:14 GMT

Wow, even shorter than Mises's dismissal of it. Of course, Mises was battling socialist (and especially Marxians) at the time, and had much more important considerations to deal with first. What's Friedman's excuse?

Re: Friedman Quote

sirmonty — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:59:41 GMT

Kind of reminds me of LeFevre's quote.

"If men are good, you don't need government; if men are evil or ambivalent, you don't dare have one."

Re: Friedman Quote

Eric — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:57:33 GMT

laminustacitus:

I could see that quote completely reversed: "The need for anarchy in these respects arise because absolute control is impossible. However attrative statism might be as a philosophy, it is not feasible in a world of imperfect men." - laminustacitus

Wow I like that alot. Good quote

Re: Friedman Quote

laminustacitus — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:40:59 GMT

I could see that quote completely reversed: "The need for anarchy in these respects arise because absolute control is impossible. However attrative statism might be as a philosophy, it is not feasible in a world of imperfect men." - laminustacitus

Friedman Quote

Eric — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:42:09 GMT

"The need for government in these respects arise because absolute freedom is impossible. However attractive anarchy might be as a philosophy, it is not feasible in a world of imperfect men."-Milton Friedman

I found this quote in Friedmans quote "Capitalism and Freedom".

It kind of shocks me that he would debase a philosophy in 2 short sentences, furthermore he states a general reason, does anyone know a place where I can find where he more throughly talks about anarchy? Thanks.