Back to Basics: The Conclusion to Frederic Bastiat's "The Law" (Must Read!)

The Law (via the Foundation for Economic Education) ^ | 1850 | Frederic Bastiat

[Pyro7480]

God has given to men all that is necessary for them to accomplish their destinies. He has provided a social form as well as a human form. And these social organs of persons are so constituted that they will develop themselves harmoniously in the clean air of liberty. Away, then, with quacks and organizers! Away with their rings, chains, hooks, and pincers! Away with their artificial systems! Away with the whims of governmental administrators, their socialized projects, their centralization, their tariffs, their government schools, their state religions, their free credit, their bank monopolies, their regulations, their restrictions, their equalization by taxation, and their pious moralizations!

And now that the legislators and do-gooders have so futilely inflicted so many systems upon society, may they finally end where they should have begun: May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works.

[Pyro7480]

This is a timeless read. I first read it in college, and I was riveted by the blunt and concise rhetoric and his simple logic. I thought of it again this month with all the bail-out talk, and I finally took it out of the bookcase this morning. I’m going to have to read it again.

[djsherin]

Very refreshing words in today’s world.

[knarf]

Never heard of the guy, nor his words ... but you have me interested.

Thank you.

[FreedomPoster]

Another in that genre that I would recommend is Hayek's The Road to Serfdom. We seem to be trotting down it at a pretty good clip.

[Sans-Culotte]

I read the pamphlet earlier this year when it was lent me by a friend who was taking a course in college, and Bastiat's The Law was part of their reading material.

Sadly, Bastiat's views were becoming outmoded when he wrote them down, and liberals were already paving the road to socialism and mob rule. Once we get rid of the electoral college, there will be nothing left in The Law that Bastiat would espouse.

[Harry Wurzbach]

Funny. I took my copy off the bookshelf and put it on the nightstand last night. Times like these require a return to the basics.

[meandog]

This is very much reflective of the Founding Father’s beliefs...too bad, it isn’t much followed by today’s political hacks—including the current president.

[mattdono]

The Law, in my opinion, is in the Top 5 reading of all time. And, yes, I'm including The Bible and The Declaration of Independence in that list.

It's just that good.

And, his Candlemakers' Petition is one of the most clever and thoughtful pieces of satire that I think has ever been written.

[Pyro7480]

Sadly, Bastiat's views were becoming outmoded when he wrote them down, and liberals were already paving the road to socialism and mob rule. Once we get rid of the electoral college, there will be nothing left in The Law that Bastiat would espouse.

Yeah, the Left revealed their modus operandi with the French Revolution -- overthrow a flawed but legitimate government, try to cleanse society of religion, commit genocide on all that oppose them, and implement their egalitarian agenda.

[Pyro7480]

You can read the whole thing at the link above, but I also suggest that you buy the print edition.

[Paladin2]

"...his God-given right to be left alone..."

I will sheepishly admit that I was unaware of this Old, white French guy until today.

The above right is what I've been seeking all my life since I was a young'in. It's unfortunate that I have already been to court over this issue (thankfully successful in that particular case). It is certainly a huge issue these days.

[Pyro7480]

Actually, that is from Walter Williams’ introduction to the book, but it is a good summary of “this Old, white French guy’s” work.

[Paladin2]

WEW for POTUS, though I’m sure he is way too smart to do it.

[Leisler]

My modified Adam Smith,

"People who meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to enrich themselves at the expense of others.”

It's good we have a lot of people in government. Together, all the time, together. Talking. Always, working in the same place, same town. Knowing each other, for years, decades. Going to the same places on vacation. Living in the same suburbs.

Yep.

This way they'll 'take care' of us.

Yep.

Next year, all those trillions in taxes and debts will pay off. Yes, Sir-ee I tell you!

[count-your-change]

Try the Mises.org site for works on the economy and related subjects.

[Mother Mary]

Thank You so much for posting this. It brings clarity to what is happening in America and the entire world.

I’ve forwarded to family and friends. Thanks again.

[This Just In]

I would wholeheartedly agree. We have the book in our home, and in studying economics, it was required reading for our children. The Law is timeless.

[vpintheak]

After the Bible, and a distant second, “The Law” changed my life.

[smokingfrog]

ping for later

[PGalt]

Now, legal plunder can be committed in an infinite number of ways. Thus we have an infinite number of plans for organizing it: tariffs, protection, benefits, subsidies, encouragements, progressive taxation, public schools, guaranteed jobs, guaranteed profits, minimum wages, a right to relief, a right to the tools of labor, free credit, and so on, and so on. All these plans as a whole — with their common aim of legal plunder — constitute socialism.

But how is this legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime.

Socialists desire to practice legal plunder, not illegal plunder. Socialists, like all other monopolists, desire to make the law their own weapon. And when once the law is on the side of socialism, how can it be used against socialism?

Then abolish this law without delay, for it is not only an evil itself, but also it is a fertile source for further evils because it invites reprisals. If such a law — which may be an isolated case — is not abolished immediately, it will spread, multiply, and develop into a system.

Thanks raygun