In the video segments below, famed economist Milton Friedman explains why people gravitate toward collectivism and sway from the preferred state of liberty and personal freedom. He then goes on to explain the raw deal people get when they turn to government to establish fairness and solve their problems:

People think that when you argue that way, you’re arguing for selfishness, for greed. That’s utter nonsense! The people who are in positions in a political hierarchy, are also selfish and greedy. Man kind is selfish and greedy.

Friedman then concludes with some insightful thoughts about government waste:

Thank god for government waste. If government is doing bad things, then it’s only the waste that prevents the harm from being greater. And the waste in government has two very important elements. Number one: If government were now spending the amount it now spends, which is 40% of our income (governments federal state and local in the United States have total spending which equals 40% of total national income) if they were spending that efficiently, we’d be slaves now. And in the second place, the waste is so obvious that it arouses a counter movement in the population at large. People are disillusioned by government and it increases the change that they will recognize where this road is taking them and get off that train before it goes all the way.

Part 1

Part 2