Milton Friedman - Iceland 8 of 8 (No Free Lunch)

Friedman visited Iceland in the autumn of 1984, met with prominent Icelanders and gave a lecture at the University of Iceland on the Tyranny of the Status Quo. He participated in a lively television debate on August 31, 1984 with leading socialist intellectuals, including President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. When they complained that a fee was charged for attending his lecture at the University and that hitherto, lectures by visiting scholars had been free-of-charge, Friedman replied that previous lectures had not been free-of-charge in a meaningful sense: Lectures always have related costs. What mattered was whether attendees or non-attendees covered those costs. Friedman thought that it was fairer that only those who attended paid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_friedman

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[jscottupton]

Friedman 3...Iceland 0

[jrsub3]

@cartman1492 Yes yes, I have no denials that Sweden was more socialist than capitalist in the 60's-70's, and that they still would be considered mixed now. It's more a point that I hate people who cite Sweden as this socialist utopia, and then use it to bash Capitalism. It's a lefty lie.

[Playboysmurf1]

The world needs more open economic debates on issues like this, between Socialists, Corporatists, Capitalists, Libertarians etc etc.... It seems to be something that is lacking these days. Or simply that a voice of freedom is challenging these opposing views. I know Ron Paul and Peter Schiff put their word in but surely there can be more civilised debate covering the fundamentals from both points of view.

[kolishu]

Free = someone else paid for it

[hstad100]

Interesting, Friedman was right back in 1984, the European welfare model is bankrupt! These idiots just use their academic background to hide behind their arrogance of everything must be free. Friedman admonished this idiot that their is not free lunch. Because he has to pay some poor schmuck is footing the bill! Iceland being the first monetary collapse, Greece, Italy, Spain and the rest of the free spenders and politicians have collapsed the system.

[ossiorn]

Why are you people arguing with Libertarians over here,don't you realize that

Libertarians will never ever see their dream of a Libertarian society come true.

Don't you know they are all "pipe dreaming".

[ossiorn]

@immanuelkant1

Iceland didn't actually implement his policies.For instance alcohol is still is still sold in government controlled stores.

[jedivish]

And the cheapest thing in the book to try, is to start interrupting the person and cutting him short and then claiming he's the one doing the interrupting. Feel really sorry that Mr. Friedman had to put up with this sort of "civilized treatment". But its a testament to the mans humility and greatness. I wish there were more like him in our world today.

[jedivish]

@albcwc I completely agree with you...not only were they nasty and snide, but they were very condescending and extremely disrespectful with very little if any genuine opinions that were worth the consideration. it was almost as though they had done no research of their own and were simply putting forward the points raised by other individuals. Its very easy to distort the facts of any case by looking at things on a superficial sense as Miltons University Lectures have shown.

[jedivish]

@jscottupton Well I would say Friedman 4 Iceland 0....lets not forget the moderator

[jmonazi]

3 minds against one, fantasic

[gdbalck]

I'm struck by how morally superior the gentleman clamoring for free lectures comes across. Yet, it's almost as if he never pondered the point which Mr. Friedman brought up.