On Friedman
25 November 2006
The Editor, The Atlantic
To the Editor:
Your list of the 100 most influential Americans of all time (December 2006) is marred by one glaring flaw: the omission of Milton Friedman. This great economist exposed many of Keynesianism's deep but politically convenient flaws. He also taught the world that government does not create wealth by printing pretty pictures of dead statesmen on ever-larger numbers of small pieces of paper and calling the result "legal tender."
Most importantly, through the clarity and vigor of his popular writings he inspired several generations of people from around the world to cherish individual liberty not only as a means to material prosperity but also as the indispensable foundation for human flourishing and dignity.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
The Editor, The Atlantic
To the Editor:
Your list of the 100 most influential Americans of all time (December 2006) is marred by one glaring flaw: the omission of Milton Friedman. This great economist exposed many of Keynesianism's deep but politically convenient flaws. He also taught the world that government does not create wealth by printing pretty pictures of dead statesmen on ever-larger numbers of small pieces of paper and calling the result "legal tender."
Most importantly, through the clarity and vigor of his popular writings he inspired several generations of people from around the world to cherish individual liberty not only as a means to material prosperity but also as the indispensable foundation for human flourishing and dignity.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Sunday July 29, 2007 at 4:17am