The Idea of Free Lunch

on January 13, 2009

Theme: : : : :

Kartikey Sehgal

[Milton Friedman in his book 'There's No Such Thing As a Free Lunch' says that ". . . every bit of pork, every subsidy, every inflation, every politically-imposed inefficiency, is paid for, and paid for in full -- by somebody."]

The traffic cop stops a citizen and complains that his vehicle is emitting dangerous amount of pollutants. The driver shows the sticker to the cop and exits from the situation. That sticker was purchased for 100 Rs from a government official who checks vehicle maintenance. The true cost of the sticker is 1000 Rs. By bribing the government official, the driver saved 900 Rs with which he made his children happy.
This is free lunch for the driver.

However, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Six months after this escapade, the driver is anxious at the city airport. The dense fog has delayed his flight by six hours and he would miss his niece’s sangeet ceremony. He had been planning to attend this event for the last six months. After escaping the traffic cop the driver had reached home and read the invitation card announcing his niece’s wedding.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.

His children now suffer from wheezing cough and the sum total of the cost of the medicines is Rs. 900.

In relation to acts of terror

Similarly, the many car drivers who refuse to abide by traffic laws and threaten traffic cops with political connections should not complain when gunmen from another territory break into the country through the sea-route. The drivers are a part of the culture that promotes terrorism. Terrorism is culmination of the law breaking acts in the country. The drivers (the nation) are paying for their various free lunches.

Misdirected anger

A businessman got away with breaking the traffic rules. Another businessman accepted his driving errors and paid the fine or got away with an apology. But his son died in the attack conducted by the gunmen who entered the country through the sea-route.

The honest businessman is paying for the corrupt businessman’s mistakes.

But he will not accept that his son died because of the faults of other people. The other people – the ones who break traffic laws and get free lunch – are his clients and any anger towards them would affect his business. So he shouts and curses the government. He claims that it is their responsibility to ensure that people don’t break laws. He would also feel bitter towards young people who spend time at coffee shops and beaches. He would tell his wife that they are spoiling their youth and taking the country to misery.

In an effort to sublimate his anger and pain, the businessman would turn to religion and accept that his son died because God wanted him to die.

In effect, he would not deal directly with people who are responsible for his son’s death; the ‘free-lunch’ people.

No Reprieve 

On the other hand, the dishonest businessman would restrict his children from travelling in trains and buses. He would spend more money on fuel and vehicle. He would be seen as the loving father who is concerned for his family’s welfare. 

Of course, he is the person who caused their downfall. He is responsible for his family’s fear of terror attacks. He thought he was smart when he broke simple laws, but he is responsible for the gunmen coming by sea to his country and making his children fearful. His son may not have got murdered, but he has affected his family’s freedom.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.

 

free-lunch


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