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The Appropriate Role of Government
Milton Friedman, Hoover Institution Senior Research Fellow and Nobel Laureate, discusses how there are times when the government can become involved without infringing upon political freedom and autonomy. If two individuals enter into a business, most likely they will both benefit from it; however, there are cases in which a business can impose a cost on another individual without providing reparation. In this case, the government can become involved if markets are unable to compensate for the harm they’ve imposed.
Peter Berkowitz Illustrates the Beauty of Natural Rights
When writing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson included the principle that everyone has certain unalienable rights. These natural rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The beauty is that in America, these rights are available to all people at all times.
We live in an overgoverned society. The government is failing to perform the functions only it can perform. It is crucial to recognize where we want to the government to act and where we want individuals to take the lead.