I have just returned from a meeting of the Mont Pèlerin Society (MPS) in Guatemala. Prof. Friedrich Hayek, winner of the 1974 Nobel Prize in economics, established MPS in 1947, in the alpine setting of Mont Pèlerin, Switzerland. Milton Friedman was a cofounder.

The totalitarianism surrounding World War II motivated the creation of MPS. It cherishes individual rights and alerts us to the arbitrary and predatory abuses of governments and other powers. Members meet to discuss and analyze institutions that foster freedom and prosperity. Seven Nobel laureates have been members and five of these, including Milton, have been MPS presidents.

Like the creators of MPS six decades ago, I am seriously concerned about our ability to maintain civil society and the rule of law. This, then, is the perfect time to celebrate the life achievements of Milton Friedman, one of the world’s greatest defenders of responsible liberty. He died last Thursday morning at a young 94 years. Winning the 1976 Nobel Prize in economics was not his greatest accomplishment. Changing the way thoughtful people view the world was.

I knew and admired Milton for 35 years and am hardly a neutral judge. I once had the temerity to debate his radical proposal to auction off the National Forests. We both understood the environmental problems produced by rapacious behavior and perverse incentives but neither of us got it quite right. Thirty-five years later I’m still working on institutions that address these issues.

Several decades ago my work was attacked by politicians and compliant university administrators. Yet, despite our public disagreements, Milton submitted a strong letter on my behalf. He was widely respected as a persistent, persuasive, gentlemanly, public intellectual.

No one who knew Milton speaks ill of him. Democrat economist Larry Summers wrote, “I grew up in a family ... [where] Milton Friedman was a devil figure.” But Sunday he stated, “No contemporary economist anywhere on the political spectrum combined Mr. Friedman’s commitment to clarity of thought and argument, to scientifically examining evidence and to identifying policies that will make societies function better.”

Milton was the model of the fully engaged, responsible, compassionate, and well-intended citizen. Further, he was courageous as very few academics are. He had strong ideas about responsible liberty, understood the dangers to it, and consistently advocated means to achieve it.

Because he understood how good intentions go awry, he championed a minimalist government. Milton knew the rich and powerful usually win when the government allocates wealth and opportunities. Thus, his proposals for reform favored the poor -- but often in subtle and counterintuitive ways that escape “progressive” minds.

Unlike many economists, Milton did not find calculus the most compelling form of communication. His 1962 book, Capitalism and Freedom, was written for the intelligent reader -- and of course was ignored or scorned by most intellectuals. His proposals countered the illogic, arrogance, and silliness of dictates from both the right and the left.

This book was prescient. Some of Friedman’s contributions to improved public policy have been fully implemented, eliminating the military draft for example. Others, decriminalizing drug usage and breaking the government school monopoly on tax dollars, are not yet realized.

He knew that the well-off would obtain good education but they too would benefit from competition. In 1955 Friedman first proposed school vouchers, and a decade ago Milton and Rose created the Friedman Foundation to foster quality K-12 education, aimed toward the poor and minorities. (To contribute, please see www.friedmanfoundation.org.)

Milton’s introduction to the 50th-anniversary edition of Friedrich Hayek’s book, The Road to Serfdom, urges government activity be “limited primarily to establishing the framework within which individuals are free to pursue their own objectives.” Have Republicans recently learned the consequences of ignoring his counsel?

When the Friedmans could no longer comfortably travel to MPS meetings, Milton addressed us via videoconference. On November 7th we were treated to selections from the forthcoming PBS feature, The Power of Choice: The Life and Ideas of Milton Friedman. This program follows Free to Choose (1980) and The Commanding Heights (2002) (both available from PBS on DVD). I highly recommend Milton’s last exposition of American ideals of liberty and the rule of law. Please watch it on PBS, Monday, January 29.