TAKE IT TO THE LIMITS: Milton Friedman on Libertarianism

This interview was filmed February 10, 1999.
What are the elements of the libertarian movement and how does one of its most illustrious proponents, Milton Friedman, apply its tenets to issues facing the United States today? Milton Friedman, Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences discusses how he balances the libertarians' desire for a small, less intrusive government with environmental, public safety, food and drug administration, and other issues.

[@David-md8bd]

“So how many government departments should be eliminated?” Milton Friedman: “Yes”

[@TheRev1269]

Imagine having Milton Friedman as your grandfather and being like 15-20 years old and being able to just sit there and ask him question after question

[@dtacherra6063]

lets hope thats the kind of grand children he had..

[@nevercomment73]

I believe Patri Friedman did do that in fact

[@minimax9452]

An talking about his help for Pinochet who tortured his people - what a bedtimestory from graddaddy.

[@nathanschubert3048]

I loved to ask questions for hours in the evenings and listen to my dad's explanations. Not saying my Dad has the same brain as Milton, but I was blessed to recognize his wisdom early on.

[@mandykhoo2473]

Proud capitalist you'd feel about 0-5!!!.....

[@tubik7758]

"If we can't persuade the public that it's desirable to do these things, then we have no right to impose them -- even if we had the power to do it." That closing statement of Milton Friedman's is a perfect representation of the moral difference between libertarians and liberals.

[@luizmatte4345]

Damn right.

[@JoDeKeCh]

and also the exact reason why liberals are right and libertarians are wrong... :D

[@martymcfly5423]

exactely. Everyone should have the right to do the wrong thing.

[@calebwatson2160]

Also is an excellent rebuttal to people saying Friedman supported or accepted Pinochet's regime

[@dumbdumber1885]

jhgjhgj, Yes, as long as "doing the wrong thing" doesn't impose a cost on anyone else.

[@forestsburning3324]

wish ' journalists ' still did interviews like this..

[@joshuabrown7815]

Yea, i feel like this interviewer was a legend for some reason

[@cameronhauver-reeves2337]

Joshua Brown he’s still doing interviews for Hoover Institution still

[@chanchoqatari3328]

They never did, this guy is unique.

[@dumyjobby]

ther are planty on youtube who do interviews with very intelligent and knowlegeble people

[@ScribblebytesWorldwide]

You knew journalists! 😲 My mom told me about them but I thought it was just a fairytale!

[@gastonboykins3641]

Even at 87 he had more mental acuity than most people. Amazing.

[@CzipperzIncorporated]

Trump gets mentioned in a non biased way lol.

[@Gamerteamguy]

Chris Gregory the good ol' days

[@automatofix]

3:15, just in case

[@PreciousBoxer]

If you like that, at the 5 minute mark in this clip #45 is associated to Mother Teresa by Milton Friedman: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHzQY3SOfrSso6s That was from one of his discussions on our immoral drug policies. His full lecture on medical care is still spot on too, and the AMA still has their monopoly to this day: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaSYgauGodOgfM0

[@joshuabrown7815]

I legit had never heard of trump before 2016. Weird how well known he was

[@elreytriton]

Joshua Brown You live in a bubble then. He's been known synonymous with real estate since the 80s. He was big in the news for becoming a billionaire then going broke then got rich again and filing bankruptcy multiple times afterwards. He considered himself the "king of debt"...literally losing other peoples money and filing bankruptcy not to pay them back lol.

[@markapsolon]

Milton Friedman was a good logical and rational man. I wish I could have met him

[@Freek314]

+Mark Apsolon His son even moreso.

[@RobertMOdell]

Smart, but misleading. The result of human nature is people rarely think they are "interfering with anybody else". But even when you take a home loan you are doing just that.

[@paptimus3666]

In what way does taking a home loan interfere with someone else? After contemplating the question myself the only things I could come up with were two that actually resulted from scarcity. In the first case, my borrowing of the money meant that it wasn't available for another loan applicant to borrow the same money (presuming that the current paradigm of fractional reserve banking didn't result in the banks having unlimited fiat money to lend), and the second being that my purchase of the house with the loan precluded other individuals from buying that same house (they might still buy others if they wish though, naturally). You might argue that by entering into the loan agreement with the bank "interferes" with my life (or theirs, such as it is), but how can this be? I am taking the loan voluntarily, just as they are offering it to me of their own volition based on my qualification and my promise to pay back the money with interest. Any restrictions (I must pay taxes, carry insurance, provide a down payment or sufficient other collateral) are in the contract to protect both parties interest in an asset they both hold equity in (the home) or they are coercive regulations imposed by government and not the fault of either party. If I am dissatisfied with the conditions under which the bank is willing to lend me money then I can choose another bank or choose not to get a loan. In my mind that covers virtually every aspect of the loan process, so what exactly about it is irking you?

[@JamesOGant]

He was very smart and very well spoken, but not really arguing from accurate premise. He uses a lot of rationalizing tricks of sorts which sound reasonable but which are entirely false or half true out of context to pull fast ones on people. Mostly just arguing from false premise and leaping to conclusions. But Neoliberalism has lead to debt and credit crisis worldwide while creating a class of super rich like the world has never seen while at the same time it has enabled unsustainable debt peonage and burdens pretty much throughout the contemporary world.

[@scratchformula9196]

I wish everyone in the world thought like him

[@EZPZMAGA]

If Milton Friedman had a country I’d have migrated there in a second

[@innvestor4622]

Friedman & Sowell = Freed Man & Soul.

[@corycullimore7513]

tfw you will never attend a lecture where you ask Milton Friedman a question and he starts out seriously but can't help but start smiling as he explains it to you

[@tubik7758]

The beautiful combination of a vast intellectual superiority and a kind heart.

[@niggy730]

imagine if we had interviewers like this man nowadays, wonderful interview. thanks for uploading

[@chloeagnew1]

The left-wing "liberals" would call him a NAZI.

[@jhoward954]

He's still around. There's an Uncommon Knowledge podcast that you should check out.

[@kysotice]

"I should be free to do whatever I want, as long as I do not impinge on the rights and freedoms of others." That's my quote

[@john1425]

You know your old and see something from 1999 but assume its the eighties, then realize its been 20 years since the 90s.

[@jameseverett4976]

The essence of modern mentality: Thinking things through is now considered HATE, while being emotional is righteous heroism.

[@ExtractEngineer]

As a Minarchist and Libertarian myself, I agree with Dr. Friedman. Limited government, low taxes, and strong individual rights combined with a completely free market will create, not immediately but over time, a society that respects the life, liberty and property of all citizens.

[@sirdynos5646]

+ExtractEngineer Hahah And eventually everything will just go back a huge gov't! LOL You Minarchast crack me up! You think you are better and wiser and more level headed than commies when they're really just your statist cousins!

[@Freek314]

+Al S There are plenty of voluntaryist leftists. Personally I'm an egoist identifying as AnCap, rationalized using a synthesis of deontological and consequentialist reasoning.

[@XxPx3xNx6xUx1xNxX]

Are you implying you are a voluntaryist leftist or just stating that there are plenty? I'm just wondering because "leftist" and "AnCap" are diametrically opposed. If you had said anarcho-syndicalist/anarcho-communist/libertarian socialist then that would have been a different story because they are compatible.

[@Freek314]

Stacy Keen Try reading it again. And no, there are people who want voluntary collectives without forcing them on anyone. Hell, you can have a voluntaryist socialist as long as they don't force their state on you.

[@Freek314]

Egoism is based on individualism, even though it does talk of collectives, because they are voluntary.

[@racciacrack7579]

On top of the brilliance of Milton, the interviewer is very intelligent, respectful, and seeks to learn, understand, and properly represent Milton.That’s something the news has failed us with today.

[@casienwhey]

Milton Friedman, although admired by many conservatives, I don't think was sufficiently recognized for the being the intellectual giant that he was. He was such a powerful thinker and could relate his views in such a common sense way. He was an American icon in my view.

[@joshr7277]

If only we still had Dr. Friedman here to help us today...

[@Earej]

We still have his wisdom and we can still follow his advice.

[@VandroiyIII]

People didn't listen before, what makes you think they'll listen now? Of course I would like Friedman back, but to help us today, the bottleneck isn't in knowledge. It's in reproducible ways to combat ignorance.

[@boredom5132]

We have millions of dr Friedman’s, we just haven’t seen them yet.

[@OolTube02]

He'd be considered a dirty commie for his suggestion of handling environmental issues with pollution credits alone. That's what Al Gore tried to do, after all...

[@relegaldesigns1]

We still have Ron Paul, which is a blessing!

[@lachlanmaclean6506]

It’s like a drug watching these kinds of people when you’ve never been exposed to this kind of thinking before. Even when you disagree youre engaged and it’s truly time well spent wondering just how you would possible argue with people like Milton if you were given the chance. Incredible

[@hamnchee]

Corniest motorcycle entrance ever,

[@simonrudi28]

This host is the smarter version of Stephen Colbert

[@scotthix2926]

You can tell the interviewer just loves his job. And Milton Friedman has such a good responses

[@funmeister]

That was one of the best interviews of Milton Friedman, both for Dr. Friedman and the host, Peter Robinson, who was very engaging and connected perfectly.

[@Chuby_ubesie]

Westerners often criticise capitalism because of the industrial revolution, forgetting that it's the bedrock for their current prosperity.

[@miguelyanez438]

Excellent interview. Much to be learned. Greetings from Chile. This man saved my country

[@MarioBishara]

Had he been living in our Covid times he would have been described as a conspiracy theorist.

[@milagroman75]

Robinson has been a great speaker for so long. His line of questioning is often directed towards giving the guest an opportunity to flesh out their thoughts. Robinson is a master of interviewing and a glimpse of hope during a time with such poor, futile, and/or malicious attempts at this style of journalism.

[@chiefsittingstill6061]

86 and though admittedly past his peak, still sharper (and possibly smaller) than most of the mouthpieces who spout off on these topics.

[@Tr055]

" That government is best which governs the least because its people discipline themselves." David Henry Thoreau.

[@mrtimjitsu]

i wish it didn't take me so long to become a libertarian so i had a chance to meet this wonderful man

[@jackchorn]

mrtimjitsu Not all libertarians are Satanists- but all Satanists are libertarian.I care not what label you put on your philosophy- but the philosophy reflects your belief.

[@trinity1945]

jackchorn so Satanists don't want to tell others what to do and refuse to be controlled by others. Well how about that! I guess there is a little good in everyone.

[@mrtimjitsu]

Mark Marsh yeah he promoted a free, non violent form of economics. where everyone cooperated through voluntary interaction, not coercion... how horrible.

[@jackchorn]

mrtimjitsu Milton Friedman- free- non violent- non coercion? In 1973 Friedman was flown to Chile to personally oversee the economics of dictator Pinochet. The Previous government had just been forcefully overthrown by this fascist leader with help of the US governmemt, The reason for this coup is -like most coups in central and south America- the democratically elected or supported government is over thrown because they do not share the philosophy of the US. And this philosophy is, of course, that of Chicago school. I find it interesting that the citizens needed to be controlled in order to enact these policies. This also happened a few years latter in Argentina.The trend especially in the south and in the North as well is the population is naturally moving to more of a socialist model. After 40 or so years of Chicago school economics the affects of the philosophy are all to apparent. Lets just hope that the people in leadership do not decide to defend their friedman philosophy again on a massive scale with violence. Friedmans philosophy does work just fine. There is no right or wrong- simply what kind of society you want. The numbers are in- the philosophy has been practiced for some time now. For the first time in US history quality of life is down. Middle class down. Mobility down. Equality down- on and on. We know the outcome- Do you support this?

[@trinity1945]

+Mark Marsh lol... truth? So to you the truth is a bunch of unsupported claims? The vapid left in this country is nauseating.

[@ideale3183]

Imagine Milton Friedman and Noam Chomsky having a discussion on economics.

[@fmj4138]

I could listen to Milton Friedman all day. Excellent interview, thank you!

[@2WorldWar2]

What a brilliant man. R.I.P

[@lucatomas5039]

Imagine this man having a long conversation with Jordan Peterson.

[@baronhippolytussk]

So important that this channel exists. I don't always agree but I love the space that is given for someone to put forth an idea without constant interruption.

[@coastercritic287]

Such a phenomenal interviewer

[@danmorell8240]

Friedman was so much smarter than most people . I could listen to him all day

[@saudalharbi9157]

God, this guy is a breath of fresh air.

[@aceharris1463]

Robinson’s interviews with Hitchens and Friedman are just a mine of pure articulate quality.

[@youshengli5430]

Milton Friedman is a true wise man. Even today you can use his wisdom.

[@dustinharford8454]

This was a television program? Good luck finding anything of this quality on the tube today.

[@kkampy4052]

I never had more fun without a helmet. The roaring in your ears, rocks and bugs hitting you in the face, not to mention getting caught in the rain.

[@johnbaker6125]

Everyone should read "The Road to Serfdom". It's a PITA the way it it's written with ponderous run on sentences etc. But at it's core, Hayek lays out what the government should do, the amount of intervention it should do and the perils of an ever expanding bureaucracy as well of the failings of socialism. I agree with most of his points. The government should do just enough to protect the people from nefarious actors in society and overseas and only intervene in people's lives in times of extreme strife. When it becomes too big, too involved, it becomes the nefarious actor.

[@karolgolden231]

Interviewer is unbiased, it’s so good to watch because of that.

[@dralexkay2485]

At 13.26 I thought ‘finally, a question that may stump him!...’ within ten seconds he squashed it with such simplicity I couldn’t help but smile. What a genius. A true icon. Friedman, Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell have contributed so much to society that they really should be worshiped. Unfortunately only a few will ever hear about them. Icons.

[@nevercomment73]

It makes me sad knowing my hero has passed

[@acekim4750]

I wish modern journalism could take inspiration from this brilliant interview.

[@riccardotrombetti6663]

love this man, seriously. a true genius

[@kenneth1032]

Friedman is a legend and his stock as an economist of historical significance will only rise over the next decades.

[@Peter-fg7rd]

who else is worried about there liberties in 2019??

[@jameshelliwell3829]

They are going very quickly across the western world as people think they are getting things for "free" from government which they aren't and the day of reckoning is coming

[@MrPercipience]

Where???

[@johnk2452]

P, every liberty-loving LEGAL American Citizen ... SHOULD BE!

[@thechef6507]

Absolutely

[@arklanbk]

their*

[@Andman8210]

Limited government is a beautiful idea

[@bingeltube]

Very recommendable! We need more Milton Friedmans!

[@BasketballAve]

This is so awesome very detailed and great view of libertarian views love it

[@blthetube1]

Great respect for Mr. Friedman. I can't say whether he is right all the time but the fact that he can explain things in such a way that a person with a capacity to reason can figure it out is something to be admired in my books. I completely understand Mr. Friedman's position on Government regulatory bodies. They are in the business, as are many government bodies of being the referees of social conduct and getting paid for it and virtually never being responsible for a bad outcome. Great gig....

[@trygvb]

I wish news programs had more stuff like this that educate the public on opposing viewpoints

[@Lashovadjs]

A great interviewer brings the best out of the great minds. Keep the work going on Peter!

[@dcourtn1]

Milton Friedman is so damn smart. I love him.

[@xxmotaxx93]

We need this kind of discussion TODAY.

[@weenisw]

If Central Park were privately owned, it never would have come to exist in the first place. Individual owners would have more value in constructing structures and other income producing improvements. If it were suddenly sold to a single entity they would either construct such improvements or build a fence around the whole thing and charge admission. Please deconstruct my argument to help me understand why I may be wrong. Seeking knowledge. Thanks

[@VNeto94]

In the past, well, this might have been true. But "if"s don't have a role in the present time. So, today, I say that if someone, or a group of people, publicly manifested their desired of owning the park, they'd realize that being commited to preserve the park and its most authentic characteristics, they'd produce A LOT MORE value to their customers than if they'd destroy the whole thing and sell it to real estate.

[@VNeto94]

The text might be confusing cus my English is a bit rusty and I'm kind of drunk on this sunday afternoon.

[@Cayno23]

+weenisw You imply that all parks (not just Central Park) would never come to exist in the first place. Or at least the kind of parks that people could freely walk through. If the individual owner(s) don't feel like profiting from a park, and instead want a Walmart, then yes, Central Park as we know it would cease to exist, but it doesn't mean that a Central Park-like estate couldn't and therefore wouldn't exist. I'm sure you're not alone in wanting parks to exist. I like parks myself. But this just means there's a demand for parks. As libertarians we believe that wherever there's demand, there's entrepreneurial ability. If a business opens a park, but has a fence around it as you pointed out, then the next business that opens up a park that figures out how to profit without a barrier in place has an advantage. Of course this assumes that most people prefer parks without walls, but it's probable that there will many different flavors of parks to satisfy all sorts of demand. And because they're in competition with other parks, that incentivizes the private owner(s) to continue to maintain and improve their park. Also, don't make the mistake of thinking that Central Park is free to maintain and upkeep. The taxes the state government of New York receives from the citizens is the price of admission.

[@rogerdodger8415]

OK, let's address your argument. Let's say that someone DID buy the park, and invested billions into improving it and charged an admission fee. That park because of a profit motive would be run better, offer more, and benefit THOSE THAT USE IT, more than the taxpayer who does not benefit from it now, while still shouldering it's costs and loss of tax receipts.

[@weenisw]

+Roger didit +Kevin Cano +Virgilio Marques I want to thank you all for your thoughts. I'm glad to have these points to ponder and hopefully reach a higher level of understanding. For the record Kevin, I had forgotten to account for the taxes utilized for maintenance. That is certainly an important factor.

[@sassy6292]

It’s fabulous that you rode in on a Yamaha motorcycle! I have a Yamaha Bolt and I love it. Great interview! You are the best of the best and I enjoy your show very much. Thank you

[@Ducaluk]

I love this interview, it was done so well.

[@russellhaygood3566]

Dr. Friedman is a brilliant man! I would love to be able to have a sit down with him and pick his brain.

[@nicmart]

A book on the drug war featuring essays by Milton Friedman and Thomas Szasz is a classic.

[@markbartlett6287]

What a fantastic presentation of classical libertarianism. But where on earth did Peter come up with an '83 Yamaha Vision that actually runs? Those things were total lemons. (Mine among them.)

[@2tirefire79]

This was needed. Thank you

[@jackieo7113]

Will somebody please interview Peter Robertson?! The man has sat at the feet of GIANTS!

[@FreedomSpirit108]

Life changing interview

[@abrahemsamander3967]

I know this is a newer video and this is why Friedman looks older and less energetic but still sharp and well spoken, I hope I can age that well.

[@soapbxprod]

HUD! Uncle Milty, I love you. I grew up in NYC in the 70s, I know from personal experience that you were right!

[@ChristianNorge]

Regarding Britain, the conditions on farms were not worse than in the cities. If you read reports from the time, which do exist, they point out that innercity workers died much earlier than their rural counterparts during the industrial revolution. Furthermore, the reason they moved from the countryside to the city wasn't because it was better, it was because of land enclosure. Common land over the centuries in Britain became privatized.

[@alexboxebe2851]

One of the only people who truly know what government is for long live Milton Friedman and his ideas

[@owenbanks2089]

I wish everyone could trust Mr. Friedman on this. He's right, he's always been right, but nobody seems to care. America has become unrecognizable.

[@msdrakegx]

One of my favourite interviews. Would've liked to hear more about what parts of the health department should be abolished.

[@blueschewsmith]

Yessss! Such a great interview and a wonderful mind! Its very nice to see him field questions from someone other than college students.

[@kerrywsmyth]

RIP one of the greatest champions of freedom that I've ever heard.

[@adamaliberti9433]

Amazing man. Brilliant. Big fan.

[@factseek]

Can't someone bring him back to life and make him India's prime minister!

[@kek397]

FDA Regulations: **exists** Milton Friedman: I'm abouta ends this mans whole career.

[@stellarphant]

mind-blowing wisdom

[@Vacidity]

i love this guy so much

[@Wanderlust1231]

Milton Friedman is always one of the three people who I say I'd like to have dinner with - dead or alive - when asked that hypothetical getting-to-know you question at parties (because I party with nerds), and I'm always excited to educate people who have no idea who he is about the amazing person he was and his world-changing beliefs.

[@M_at_utub]

The interesting point is that technologies like blockchain could make all aspect of libertarianism possible. Tnx dear professor Friedman for free the man .❤

[@rockeazymatt]

The interviewer is very polite and poised, demonstrating good sense. Bravo. And Friedman is superbly eloquent.

[@MrMariner34]

Really good interview.

[@publicanimal]

Whenever I have doubts about some of the extreme libertarian positions I hold which don't seem to resonate with most of my peers, I watch Milton Friedman videos and am again reminded of the supremacy of libertarian logic. We miss you Milton.

[@mikewilliams4947]

So abolish the FDA....? Absolutely His conviction is legendary. I share his views on the housing and urban development 💯. Sell the units for $1 to the inhabitants. Great idea

[@ncc426]

Thank you for honing the ideas I already had

[@tomvox76]

Good interviewer too!

[@scopeless22]

I realize that this interview was edited in order to fit a time slot of what looks like 30 minutes, but is there a full version so we can see all the questions and responses?

[@HooverInstitution]

Sorry, we do not have a longer version.

[@funmeister]

I absolutely agree with this. Too bad there's no longer version, or that the interview wasn't longer.

[@donwolfberg8419]

Give me the unreleased footage !!!!

[@nathanschubert3048]

I would love to see the raw footage. Would the hoover institute be able to locate the records and put them together to sell the unedited footage?

[@karlnord1429]

I think this video is a good example of honest cutting, unlike dishonest VICE media treatment of Dr. Peterson. The interviewer provides a brief but helpful ( ! ) introduction and then you're off!

[@ANewYorkerLostInFlorida]

ty for all you do.

[@yvesgomes]

That interviewing is very good. Still kicking ass.

[@raymonroe1983]

Take it to the limits one more time..... I'm sorry I couldn't help it 🤣. Milton Friedman Was one of the best modern Philosophical and intellectual thinkers. I wish that we had more people like him to go around and teach normies truly the only problem is that too many people have their fingers in their ears and are yelling I can't hear you.

[@spencerantoniomarlen-starr3069]

He has freed my mind if that counts

[@markwest8960]

Love and miss Milton!

[@karanbhatt6481]

Friedman list of keep department was amazing.

[@arcad1an292]

THANK YOU MR FRIEDMAN!!!!!!!!!!

[@abhishekdev258]

One word..... "fantastic".

[@MDPS26]

24:40. Calculator watch. I love it.

[@giaosudau]

this is gold! Learn a lot.

[@jpsforthgee]

Man you must be doing something right to have this many haters!