Friedman's ideas have been consistent failures every single time anybody has tried them. For me to take an economist seriously - people trying his policies must actually achieve what he predicted they would.
Most often - they've achieved the exact OPPOSITE of what is predicted. 
Austerity causes debts and deficites to go UP - not down (you inevitably cut government revenue by MORE than you can possibly cut expenses - it's an unavoidable mathematical fact. Simply put austerity is like trying to save on your heating bill by burning your paycheck for warmth). And every single time, ever, that a government has implemented austerity measures- their deficits got worse.
Every single time a government implemented tax cuts - their economy grew slower, their revenues went down (sorry Laffer you were wrong) and in most cases they had complete economic collapse. Most recently: Oklahoma.

Empirical facts trump theory every time. And the empirical fact is your ideas never work.