"We are talking at cross purposes because of what I regard as the important necessity of keeping clearly separate the longrun ideal goal and tactical steps that may be appropriate in moving toward it," he told Patrick Buchanan. "I have long supported and pushed the voucher plan for schooling as well as the negative income tax in welfare. In both cases I do so not because these are necessarily part of my ideal utopian society but because they seem to me the most effective steps, given where we are, in moving toward where we want to go." The voucher system was a trojan horse that would enable the gradual extinction of governmentrun schools: "By permitting parents to supplement the voucher, it is possible to conceive of the system developing into one where the government contribution becomes less and less." Similarly, the negative income tax would allow for the gradual diminution of welfare benefi ts until they disappeared altogether. "Exactly the same logic underlies my belief in a negative income tax," he told Buchanan. "I see no other way in which we can go from our present situation toward the ultimate situation you and I would like." Friedman was vocal about these longterm goals when he engaged in discussion with ideological sympathizers, but he only rarely mentioned them when addressing a general audience.

Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, loc. 495