Milton Friedman's Centenary

There are several good pieces at NRO on the 100th anniversary of Milton Friedman's birth. Here's an excerpt from that of one of Friedman's former students, Thomas Sowell.

Like many, if not most, people who became prominent as opponents of the Left, Professor Friedman began on the Left. Decades later, looking back at a statement of his own from his early years, he said: “The most striking feature of this statement is how thoroughly Keynesian it is.”

No one converted Milton Friedman, either in economics or in his views on social policy. His own research, analysis, and experience converted him.

As a professor, he did not attempt to convert students to his political views. I made no secret of the fact that I was a Marxist when I was a student in Professor Friedman’s course, but he made no effort to change my views. He once said that anybody who was easily converted was not worth converting.

Below the fold is a segment from a great appearance by Friedman on Phil Donahue's show in 1979. It's striking how much the questions from Donahue and his audience sound like the Obama/Fauxcahontas/Occupy Wall Street Democrat rhetoric today.

The entire interview is worth watching if you have ~45 minutes to spare.

posted by Andy at 08:39 AM

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