Do you agree that "a society that puts equality before freedom will get neither"?

Question

Actually, the entire quote, from economist Milton Friedman, is as follows:

"A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both."

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Milton_Friedman

What does this mean to you? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Thanks.

Answer 1

The problem with equality as today's society defines it is that it is really about the lowest common denominator.

The only way to have "equality" in this society is if you lower the standards of behavior, expectations, education for everyone.

This is faulty thinking.

We should all be "equal under the law" --that the law is applied equally to all (someone shouldn't be getting a free pass because they're the president's friend).

We have neither equality or freedom in this society. Government control is at an all-time high and our rights--our precious protective freedoms--were destroyed by the Patriot Act 1 and 2.

Sadly, most people aren't aware of or even care about the very foundations of our society crumbling. With the usurping of all our rights (freedoms) and the politically corrected equality the whole concept of freedoms and equality can no longer be applied to real life circumstances...these things and are now only concepts to be debated in forums.

Answer 2

I disagree.

Let me first note this is a terrible oversimplification. Any time someone tries to break social issues down into flashy one liners they are bound to miss their mark.

First off personal property is an essential freedom for a successful society.

That said, most people in the United States believe that a free society entails a capitalist driven democracy, under which the corporation is all "mighty". In this scenario the society begins wonderfully, the people who work hard become successful, and those who don't are less successful, but the society tends to allow everyone to live fairly well. As time goes on the people who are initially successful become wildly successful, and no longer need to work, but simply invest their money in the work of others. This is where the corporation is formed, and we get into a cycle where the corporation is a machine in which money is inserted, and more money is extracted as a finished product. The cogs within this corporate structure form a pyramid, at the top are highly paid officials, and at the bottom are people struggling to make ends meet. It is easy to target the people at the top (such as the CEOs) and say that they are overpaid, but their cut usually pales in comparison to the cut that is produced in "shareholder value," or that which all corporations seek to build as their primary goal.

So do I believe that equality necessarily follows freedom? No. The contrary is far more likely to be the truth. In thinking of these ideas, do not be fooled into blindly believing modern day economists. You must first ask who is to benefit from what you are told, and always keep that in mind when considering matters, especially ones that concern money.

Small business is a great counter example, but do not forget that eventually the big businesses (wal-mart, and mcdonalds being prime examples) force the smaller ones out of business, and what you are eventually left with is big business, it's employees, and those becoming rich off of the system.

Answer 3

definite. human beings have equality via skill of their freedom, in spite of the fact that whilst government regulates it(like in a egalitarian society), Tyranny is the only technique wherein a egalitarian society can perform. In a egalitarian society, government demands each man or woman follows the collective physique of suggestions, the only way it is enforced is thru skill of Tyranny In a unfastened Society, everybody has their own own evaluations, no remember if those evaluations are bigoted or not relies upon completely on the guy. All this is had to realize equality is only to have government handle everybody the two, fairly of 'enthroning' it. As in, government treating particular those with particular concerns under the guise of Equality(i.e. Affirmative action)

Answer 4

You have to be free of thought to see someone as an equal. The problem is society has to be free for all not just the select few and the others will have a degree of freedom. That nullifies any hope of equality because the truly free will never see the "kinda"free as an equal because society doesn't treat them with the same degree of freedom.

Answer 5

The Constitution already puts equality before freedom.

What is equality, if not a freedom?



Sharia --- There is no equality of opportunity anywhere. The better off you are, the more connections you have, the more opportunities you have.

This is not to say that it is not possible for a poor man to rise up and claim opportunity but this is really quite rare outside of celebrities.

Answer 6

It has some truth to it, but I think they need to be considered as equally important. If you look back to the old robber baron days there was a great deal of freedom, for some people anyway, but not much equality.

Answer 7

I say if a society put freedom to oppress before equality will keep freedom to oppress.

Answer 8

Depends on what it means to me at a given point of time.Freedom is the one which gets us so much including equality.

Answer 9

Absolutely agree.

Socialism which claims to seek equality will find it (except for the ruling class who administer it) and they will measure it in poverty.

Free market capitalism (not the crony capitalism you largely see today) will not result in such absolute equality, but the differences will be measured in wealth, not poverty.

Answer 10

Yes I do agree, why? FREEDOM should take priority regardless, without freedom there can be no equality.