Libertarian economist Milton Friedman handed away in 2006, which is a disgrace as a result of he would probably be thrilled about what is occurring in the US proper now with Elon Musk and DOGE beneath President Trump.
In 1999, Friedman gave an interview to Peter Robinson of the Hoover Establishment during which he was requested which authorities departments he would reduce and which of them he would hold. It’s primarily a preview of the work that Musk and DOGE are doing proper now.
It’s superb to see it now within the context of what’s taking place.
This Daily Mail report from final fall describes the interview:
Friedman stated he would eliminate the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Inside, Training, Labor, Transportation and Veteran Affairs.
He additionally advisable axing the division of Housing and City Growth, which he stated ‘has completed an infinite quantity of hurt’ and has ‘destroyed components of cities beneath the rubric of eliminating slums.’
Friedman the Division of Vitality also needs to be abolished – ‘besides when it ties in with the navy.’
When it comes to the Nationwide Institute of Well being, Friedman stated ‘There may be room for some public well being actions to stop contagion,’ however he would abolish the company, which he claimed ‘was principally a analysis company.’
‘That’s a query of whether or not the federal government ought to be concerned in financing analysis, and that’s a really difficult problem and it’s not a simple reply,’ Friedman added.
Friedman was probably the most influential economists of the twentieth century.
He headed the Chicago College of Economics, a gaggle of financial thinkers related to the work of the college on the College of Chicago.
Elon Musk shared the video on Twitter/X in the present day. Watch the entire thing, that is superb.
Smart phrases
pic.twitter.com/kuSuFSNEWh— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 5, 2025
On a aspect word, right here’s a enjoyable piece of trivia. Peter Robinson, who’s interviewing Friedman within the video, was a speechwriter for Ronald Reagan and wrote the well-known line, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
