"It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder." - Bastiat 1801-1850
"Socialism Is Legal Plunder" - Bastiat 1801-1850
"Is there any need to offer proof that this odious perversion of the law is a perpetual source of hatred and discord; that it tends to destroy society itself? If such proof is needed, look at the United States [in 1850]. There is no country in the world where the law is kept more within its proper domain: the protection of every person's liberty and property. As a consequence of this, there appears to be no country in the world where the social order rests on a firmer foundation." - Bastiat 1801-1850
Thanks for posting. Great post. Great thread. Thanks to all posters.
He didn't however, grow up in a distributed world. His world was heirarchical. As was the world of all the founders. His view is biased toward big government and central control. It's all he knew.
He did define the function of government narrowly. Smart guy.
/johnny