A Hero Passes
Economist Milton Friedman dies at 94.
What an amazing hero, and an amazing man. Reading the Friedman's "Free to Choose" was a defining turn in my student days from muddle-headed wishful thinking to understanding the nature of trade-offs, costs, and consequences in human behavior.
Fare thee well!
UPDATE: A friend writes with these thoughts:
And a mighty hero too. Many people think of Friedman as an idealouge, but I think a more careful read of Friedman reveals a man who was more interested in truth than in theory for its owns sake. He constantly returned to the themes of freedom and free markets because he believed (as do I) that humanity thrives when individuals make their own choices and are free to reap the rewards of their efforts. The obits. are right that Friedman's message was powerful, but what I love about Uncle Milt. was his approach.I remember hearing him speak at U of C where he ruminated on the success of Hong Kong. About halfway through the lecture he paused and said something like, "I'm not going to convince you that free markets are the best system right now, becasue I am not an orator who strives to convince on the basis of elocution, my purpose today is to point you toward some ideas that you should consider in your own heart and mind . . .
and I think there you will find the truth unadorned."
To me that was a very inspiring statement.
Hear hear!
