The Proper Function of Government – IOTW Report

The Proper Function of Government

by Milton Friedman

10 Comments on The Proper Function of Government

  1. The size, duties, and moral makeup of its operators of our government today is nothing even remotely resembling that government that Friedman is talking about.

    Milton is one of my heroes but if he saw the Frankensteinian monstrosity we have today; its size, debt, the amount of shirkers and criminals, and its total dysfunction, he would raise up his hands in exasperation and say,”I got nothing”.

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  2. I agree 100%.
    I often say that the Constitution gives the federal government essentially two functions: common defense and a legal structure. In Friedman’s talk those are #1 and #2-4. Government should not have decision-making power over awarding money to entities, because that clearly leads to favoritism (and inefficiency of course).

    As my favorite Congressman Davy Crockett said,
    https://fee.org/resources/not-your-to-give/

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  3. He did forget one. Probably because he’s economist, not a lawyer. Facilitating commerce. Roads, e.g. It’s no good if people have to deal with fences and tolls everywhere they go, only transversing others’ private property — if allowed. Includes ownership of airports and harbors (also functions for the common defense.) And currency (ditto). All real problems that were addressed by the original U.S. Constitution. IF WE COULD STICK TO THAT.

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