Friedman had the gift of taking a few basic premises, with which even die-hard liberals could agree, and relentlessly pursue the logical consequences of them. Some people didn't like those consequences. When I was young, I often watched him debate assorted leftists on William Buckley's old “Firing Line” program, gently shredding their arguments and counter-arguments into incoherent pieces.
Thanks for replying. My problem with Friedman is not his intelligence (he had more than enough) or his political stance in general. It is the relentlessness that you mention. Following a basic premise logically to its end is not always the best route to take in human affairs (is my personal take on things). But we may disagree here, of course.