Milton and me

The recent death of Milton Friedman reminded me of a telephone conversation we had a decade ago. I expressed admiration for a couple of his ideas but could not understand why he was so rigidly anti-government. We argued back and forth, until I said, what about the Post Office of the 1930s, '40s and '50s? Remember how they delivered the mail twice a day to residences, and three times to businesses? Packages arrived swiftly and intact. A 13-cent special-delivery stamp would guarantee delivery immediately by courier upon arrival at the destination post office.

Friedman chuckled and said he had to concede, fondly recalling how he had relied heavily on the post office when courting his wife, Rose. I was delighted to have scored a point with the great man. But then he asked me to ponder why I had to reach back so far to find a convincing example of government working. He had me. I knew there were other government agencies that performed well, but all the recent examples that came to mind were small agencies. I know government can work. But it is true that most of the large institutions could stand a lot of improvement. The point is that many of them, like the CDC, do essential work. Instead of wasting time arguing pro or anti government, as do too many Democrats and Republicans, we should concentrate on ways to make these essential agencies do a better job.

COPYRIGHT 2007 Washington Monthly Company
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning