Milton Friedman has died today at the age of 94. Here's the CNN link.I remember him for arguing that economic freedom leads to political freedom.
That state intervention into ones economic life makes less free and more beholden to the whims of the state. Capitalism and Freedom is a must read for anyone that wants to understand his philosophy and how it has shaped the world.
This was truly a man that loved freedom and liberty.
I'm not going to say that this ruins my day but it sure makes it harder for me to finish a paper I'm working on.
I am writing about rentier states, democracy and oil. It almost seems to be a direct application of some of Friedman's ideology.... (I love Berkeley! Robert Reich just walked by my co-op. He always looks so unhappy these days.)
.... Particularly how in these states, the population is bought off with welfare/handouts from extractive/oil revenues and also they do not pay any voluntary taxes. These populations in theory do not demand political rights/participation in the running of the state. It's truly fascinating stuff.
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