The Anomalous Revolution
Interesting Reel from Libertarianism.org
According to Milton Friedman, the United States nearly followed the same trajectory as many other post-revolutionary nations—sliding into military rule. Fortunately, George Washington made a different choice. In this lecture, delivered at a 1987 California Libertarian Party conference, Friedman reflects on whether the United States remains a free society, especially in contrast to other parts of the world, and how often people underestimate the fragility of freedom. Watch the full video at the link below.
Nik's Thoughts on It
I've always thought it was kind of an anomaly—how the American Revolution, unlike so many others, didn't end in tyranny or a military dictatorship. That rare outcome has always resonated with me, and hearing Milton Friedman articulate it here really struck a chord.
I'm not sure who the speaker in the video is—whether it's Friedman himself or someone else introducing his ideas—but the message still comes through clearly. The sound quality isn't great, but it’s worth listening to. This short clip captures something that feels foundational about American political history—and fragile, too.