Free To Choose, By Milton Friedman

Milton Friedman's book, "Free to Choose," presents two main ideals that the founding fathers built this country on. The first, equality, was originally interpreted “equality before God” The second, Liberty, meant the “right to shape one’s own life.” Both ideals point to all individuals as having inherent value, and should be given the same opportunities and resources to succeed as everyone else.
None of the founding fathers, however, were naïve enough to believe that everyone is literally equal. They understood that not everyone has equal talents, characteristics, abilities, opportunities, etc. although they understood that everyone was created equal with “certain unalienable rights,” such as “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” They believed that all men were created equal before God so all men have the same basic rights under the law. The founding fathers had no doubt that some people were superior over others, but they knew that did not give them the right to violate the liberties of others. Instead, the government is supposed to protect their rights under the law.
After the Civil War the discussion surrounding equality shifted from– equality under God and the law– to equality of opportunity. Again, in its literal form, equality of opportunity, in it of itself is impossible. Not everyone …show more content…
In this definition, it is believed that everyone should live by the same means and everyone is literally identical across the board. Every person should have the same income, opportunities, success, lifestyle, etc. Yet, this definition of equality conflicts with the idea of liberty because it prevents one from shaping his or her own life. The founding fathers believed that individuals should be able to dictate every aspect of their own lives independently from the ruling government. And it is that governments job to protect those individuals and secure their freedom to live how they