Milton Friedman, Freedom Fighter

Friedman's masterpieces of essays, such as Capitalism and Freedom, advised Americans not to look to the state for either rights or responsibilities but to look to themselves for their strength, and then made his case with numbers. He took on Marxism and with potent logic proved that it did not work. He was perhaps the most impressive combination of mathematician, economist and caped crusader there has ever been.

The world has lost an irreplaceable champion of liberty. And an irascible one. He even warned that the postal service was a threat to freedom. I never bought that one. Nor did I agree with his sangfroid about immense budget deficits, which he thought would restrain federal spending, which in turn would promote liberty. He worked tirelessly for school choice for the poor through vouchers--possibly the most controversial work he ever did.

When I learned he had died, I was despondent, but I also realized you cannot kill Friedman's exaltation of human liberty--not with a gun, not with a tank, not with terrorism--not even with heart disease. His ideas and faith in the human spirit are as implanted in civilization as those of any benevolent economist and social revolutionary since his idol Adam Smith, whom he so worthily followed.

Ben Stein is a writer, an actor and an economist