Happy Birthday, Walter Williams!

Walter Williams, the great George Mason University economist, outspoken champion of free-market ideas, and Reason Foundation trustee emeritus, turns 75 years old today. As the Cato Institute's Ed Crane notes in a celebratory birthday post, "on issues ranging from deregulation of the economy to legalizing drugs, Walter Williams is a passionate, laissez-fair libertarian." Happy birthday!

For a sample of Williams' wit and wisdom, see my review of his new autobiography Up From the Projects, and watch Nick Gillespie's great interview with Williams about his life and work.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Can you believe NPR let this guy go?

Happy B-day, Mr. Williams.

[Old Mexican]

That was Juan Williams, FoE.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ha! I couldn't trap anyone the first time I used that joke. Boom, you've just been foe'd, OM.

[Chony to the Max]

Walter Williams is a racist!

[Tim]

Not bad for an old fart.

[Old Mexican]

Happy Birthday, Mr. Williams!!

[Old Mexican]

Ed Crane notes in a celebratory birthday post, "on issues ranging from deregulation of the economy to legalizing drugs, Walter Williams is a passionate, laissez-fair libertarian."

Lefty: He's also a traitor to his race and, besides, a beneficiary of Affirmative Action, because we all know conservative blacks are of inferior intellect!

[Irresponsible Hater]

"Walter Williams ... turns 75 years old awesome today"

FTFY

[deified]

Dude, how does Rush Limbaugh allow WW to substitute-host for him when the Ph.D. economist is anti-Drug War and (presumably) against the prohibition on prostitution, etc.?

Do you think that impotent draft-dodger Limbaugh specifically instructs Williams to avoid talking about that shit? Or that he just makes sure the screener won't let any "social" questions go through?

[SIV]

Williams has spoken about drug legalization on the EIB. Rush said something vaguely pro drug war only once in 20+ years.They may well agree on that issue.

"Draft dodging" is not a smear to libertarians.

[Highway]

I'm very pleased to see more about Walter Williams here on reason. Since first hearing him filling in on the Rush Limbaugh show years and years ago, I've thought he's an excellent voice for liberty and freedom (even though I wasn't too interested in those things back then).

Happy Birthday, Mr. Williams!

[Concerned Citizen]

Happy Birthday Walter Williams! Love to hear you on the radio, and love to hear my liberal 'friends' try to dismiss your views.

[radar]

Almost 20 years ago, he spoke at my high school and I had the honor of interviewing him for the school paper. That one minor encounter had a profound effect on me, as his bluntness shocked me into reconsidering things I had previously accepted as gospel. Happy birthday Dr. Williams!

[?]

Do you think that impotent draft-dodger Limbaugh specifically instructs Williams to avoid talking about that shit? Or that he just makes sure the screener won't let any "social" questions go through?

The only time I heard Williams on the show was years ago, but he was entirely himself, arguing with soccer moms about heroin and calling Chamber of Commerce types socialists.
Limbaugh's not a libertarian, obviously, but he's not a lefty, so he doesn't demand total obedience in all things. His substitutes are just guys he likes who can handle the show and its audience (who also like those guys).