Wide World of Wisdom: The Phil Donahue Show- Milton Friedman: ‘Freedom vs. Fairness (1980)’

Source:Wide World of Wisdom– Professor Milton Friedman, on the Phil Donahue Show in 1980.

Source:The FreeState

“Milton Friedman discusses freedom vs. fairness. From: Donahue – 1980”

From Wide World of Wisdom

Milton Friedman has a point when he talks about freedom vs. fairness, when he says he’s not for fairness, but for freedom. Give people the freedom to live their own lives and resources to make that happen for them.

I believe what Professor Friedman is talking about here, is justice, which is not the same thing. In a true just or free society, the people have the right and ability to take out of society what they put into it. That not everyone is entitled to a successful, rich life, just the people who are successful, who’ve done well for themselves and society.

Unlike the socialist (or social democratic, if you prefer) definition of economic fairness or justice, that everyone in society is entitled to live well, simply for being alive. Regardless of what they produce for themselves or society, if anything.