(Spoken word, Milton Friedman)
Let's be clear, I don't believe in democracy in one sense. You don't believe in
democracy. Nobody believes in democracy. You will find it hard to find anybody
who will say that if, that is democracy interpreted as majority rule. You will find it
hard to find anybody who will say that at 55% of the people believe the other
45% of the people should be shot. That's an appropriate exercise of democracy.
What I believe is not a democracy but an individual freedom in a society in which
individuals cooperate with one another. And in which there is an absence of
coercion and violence. Now it turns out that democracy in the sense of majority
voting is an effective means for achieving agreement on some things. On things
which are not very important. Really important things we require much more than
a simply majority.
Let's be clear, I don't believe in democracy in one sense. You don't believe in
democracy. Nobody believes in democracy. You will find it hard to find anybody
who will say that if, that is democracy interpreted as majority rule. You will find it
hard to find anybody who will say that at 55% of the people believe the other
45% of the people should be shot. That's an appropriate exercise of democracy.
What I believe is not a democracy but an individual freedom in a society in which
individuals cooperate with one another. And in which there is an absence of
coercion and violence. Now it turns out that democracy in the sense of majority
voting is an effective means for achieving agreement on some things. On things
which are not very important. Really important things we require much more than
a simply majority.