ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN A FREE SOCIETY - LECTURE [videorecording]
Series: MCIS video collection -- R-4V, PT. 1
Place of publication: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich
Number of pages: 60
Description: John Stuart Mill said, in effect, that self-protection is the only legitimate reason for people to interfere with the freedom of others. If we are to define the role of government in a free society, we must first specify what we mean by self-protection. Defense from foreign enemies and protection of property, including the enforcement of private contracts, are clearly legitimate functions of government - providing a substitute for voluntary cooperation when it appears impossible to achieve and providing for irresponsible individuals - the justification is much less clear-cut, because in a free society people should be able to take risks but should not be able to force others to pay the consequences. If the proper limitations of the government action were observed, the government would not do many things it now does. We should not resort to government regulations until we have adequately explored the implications of our own values. We should not allow ourselves to be "front man" for values we oppose merely because we are confused about the meaning of freedom and the legitimate role of the government in a free society. No. 4 of the Milton Friedman Series. 
Notes: Miami University's MCIS video collection