one of Milton Friedman’s most memorable rhetorical moments...
During the Vietnam War era, Friedman served on President Nixon’s Commission on an All-Volunteer Force, which was tasked with evaluating the feasibility of ending the military draft.
In a public hearing, General William Westmoreland, then commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, expressed opposition to a volunteer military. He said he didn’t want to command “an army of mercenaries.” Friedman, never one to let a loaded term go unchallenged, replied:
“General, would you rather command an army of slaves?”
Westmoreland objected, saying he didn’t like hearing patriotic draftees referred to as slaves. Friedman shot back:
“I don’t like to hear patriotic volunteers referred to as mercenaries. If they are mercenaries, then I, sir, am a mercenary professor, and you, sir, are a mercenary general. We are served by mercenary physicians, we use a mercenary lawyer, and we get our meat from a mercenary butcher.”
Brilliant reply!
Let's just say General Westmoreland had no comeback, his clip was empty
one of Milton Friedman’s most memorable rhetorical moments...
During the Vietnam War era, Friedman served on President Nixon’s Commission on an All-Volunteer Force, which was tasked with evaluating the feasibility of ending the military draft.
In a public hearing, General William Westmoreland, then commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, expressed opposition to a volunteer military. He said he didn’t want to command “an army of mercenaries.” Friedman, never one to let a loaded term go unchallenged, replied:
Westmoreland objected, saying he didn’t like hearing patriotic draftees referred to as slaves. Friedman shot back:
Brilliant reply!
Let's just say General Westmoreland had no comeback, his clip was empty