The latest release from Free To Choose Network is coming to your area soon!

What can a man with a plain name who lived over 200 years ago tell us about life today? Who was The Real Adam Smith? And why should we care?

In this two-hour, two-part documentary, FTCM Executive Editor and Cato Institute Senior Fellow Johan Norberg explores Adam Smith's life, his ideas about morality and economics, and how the concepts he discussed in his books and lectures are still relevant today.

The Real Adam Smith – like all Free To Choose Media programs – will challenge viewers to form their own opinions on issues regarding personal, economic, and political freedoms, in keeping with our corporate purpose. Mark your calendars or set your DVRs today!

The Real Adam Smith is airing across the country. Please check your local listings and be sure to tell your friends not to miss this documentary.

CLICK HERE FOR AIRDATES AND TIMES IN YOUR AREA

Spread the word to your friends and colleagues, and visit our website for more information on this program and Free To Choose Network. If you are not sure of the channel in your area, we're here to help.

Arkansas Residents: The Real Adam Smith is airing in your area on Monday (5/2/2016) - tune in!

The Real Adam Smith is airing in your area on Monday (5/2/2016) be sure to tune in!

• Anchorage, Arkansas  residents - tune into station KAKM tomorrow - (5/2/2016) at 8:00 AM and 11:00 am AK to catch this broadcast.

Don't see your state or city listed? Don't worry you can sign up for broadcast notifications here.

Having trouble locating the airing channel? Click here and we'll help you locate it.

To learn more about The Real Adam Smith, click here.

New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, Georgia and New Hampshire Residents: The Real Adam Smith is airing in your state TONIGHT (5/1/2016)

The Real Adam Smith is airing in these cities tonight - be sure to tune in!

• Boston, Massachusetts  residents - tune into station WGBH - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Presque Isle, Maine  residents - tune into station WMEM - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Garden City, New York residents - tune into station WLIW - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Gainesville, Florida residents - tune into station WUFT - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Binghamton, New York residents - tune into station WSKG -  Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Calais, Maine residents - tune into station WMED - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Bangor, Maine residents - tune into station WMEB - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Dawson, Georgia residents - tune into station WACS - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Norwood, New York residents - tune into station WNPI - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Watertown, New York  residents - tune into station WPBS - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Durham, New Hampshire residents - tune into station WENH - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania residents - tune into station WHYY - Tonight 5/1/2016 at 7:00 PM ET to catch this broadcast.

Don't see your state or city listed? Don't worry you can sign up for broadcast notifications here.

Having trouble locating the airing channel? Click here and we'll help you locate it.

To learn more about The Real Adam Smith, click here.

New Mexico, California and Texas Residents: The Real Adam Smith is airing in your state (4/14/2016 - 4/18/2016)

The Real Adam Smith is airing in these cities starting Thursday until Monday - be sure to tune in!

• Portales, New Mexico residents - tune into station KENW on Thursday 4/14/2016 at 1:00 AM MT to catch this broadcast.

• San Antonio, Texas residents - tune into station KLRN on Thursday 4/14/2016 at 4:00 PM CT to catch this broadcast.

• San Mateo, California residents - tune into station KCSM on Thursday 4/14/2016 at 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM PT to catch this broadcast.

• San Antonio, Texas residents - tune into station KLRN on Saturday 4/16/2016 at 3:30 AM CT and again on Monday 4/18/2016 at 2:00 AM CT to catch this broadcast.

Don't see your state or city listed? Don't worry you can sign up for broadcast notifications here.

Having trouble locating the airing channel? Click here and we'll help you locate it.

To learn more about The Real Adam Smith, click here.

From the Founder: Between the Ideal and the Possible

The ultimate goal of our efforts can be started simply: reduce the role of government in order to increase individual freedom. The tough part is agreeing on the specifics. What's the size and scope of government that's desirable? By what means do we get there? What is the right balance between accepting the need for incremental change and advocating for core principles?

First we must establish a vision of limited government, but we have to do so recognizing the electorate will ultimately decide to what extent they'll accept that vision.

Therefore we must devise messages that are convincing to the majority of citizens and find distribution channels that reach millions. The millions on which we focus are students who are still forming their vision of a just world. 

The second challenge relates to the first. People are naturally "conservative" in their behavior; once they've formed an opinion they are resistant to change. Bring them a radically new insight and they are likely to refuse to give it any consideration. But with young people, this isn't always the case.

Consider two aspects of Milton Friedman's thought: his definition of the limited role of government and his advocacy of school choice. He thought government had only three functions: 

"The basic functions can be listed very simply. They are, first of all, to prevent one man from coercing another- the internal police function. They are, second, providing for external defense. These two are really part of the same: to prevent coercion- to prevent coercion from within, to prevent coercion from without, and beyond this to promote voluntary cooperation among people by defining the terms under which we are going to cooperate together and by adjudicating disputes." 

Providing education was not included, yet Friedman did not join Marshall Fritz's effort to abolish compulsory state-funded education. He agreed with Marshall in principle and applauded him for outlining the arguments in favor of taking education out of the hands of government, but he thought to push for immediate repeal of tax-supported education was a push too far.

Instead Friedman conceived the concept of school choice, leaving compulsory education in place. He felt that it was unrealistic to expect to counter 150 years of entrenched government control of education in one stroke. So he devised an approach that would lead to competition between private and government schools, resulting in improved outcomes- thus setting the stage for future repeal of tax based school funding.

We grapple with this kind of decision every day. Whether developing material for our prime audience of 6 -26 year olds or public TV viewers, we must decide how far we can take them on the path to awareness of the power of free markets, the effectiveness of market-based solutions to public policy problems, and the increased well-being from reducing government's role in our lives.

I am saddened when I hear someone accuse Friedman of being a statist because he put forth ideas for incremental change. We need to constrain our tendency to demonize those who opt for less than complete and immediate realization of ideal. We need both; those who set forth a vision of the ideal society and those who can formulate the steps that can get us closer to it.