The Law

Read it

Bastiat warns us not to kid ourselves about a kind, gentle, caring government. Like George Washington, Bastiat reminds us that law means force, and that any appeal to the law is ultimately an appeal to force. In appealing to the law, therefore, we must ask ourselves if we would be justified in using force to vindicate our appeal. Life, liberty, and property, Bastiat argues, are the rights which God has given to each individual by virtue of the fact that the individual exists, and that with or without government, an individual is justified in defending his or her life, liberty, and property. Ideally, governments should exist to defend these three basic God-given rights. As an individual, I cannot spend all of my time defending my life, liberty, and property, nor can my neighbors. Government is born when my neighbors and I come together to hire a sheriff to defend these rights full-time for us. The sheriffs authority to defend these rights on our behalf is derived from the authority of each of us individually to protect ourselves in these rights. Because government derives its authority from the aggregrate authority of individual citizens, government should not be allowed to do for me what I cannot legally do for myself. This is the foundation of Bastiats argument, and when taken to its natural conclusion, it shows us that redistribution-of-wealth schemes that the government forces upon some members of society to benefit others are a potential threat to a free people. Social security, welfare, and other government entitlements are all examples of this. Bastiat referred to such government programs as legalized plunder which ultimately creates far more social problems than it solves. The recent presidential race has shown us just how weak and dependent Americans have become. Just as Bastiat predicted, every little social group is clamoring to get its own share of government entitlements, and politician are clamoring to pander to these groups in exchange for political power, even if it means continuing the disastrous economic course of deficits and staggering public debt which may someday threaten the country with bankruptcy and economic collapse. We should learn the lesson of communism--it isnt governments job to take care of us. Being responsible for our own subsistence, including the inherent risks involved in such responsibility, is the price we must pay for freedom and prosperity. If we succumb to the lure of government-provided security by means of legalized plunder, we will one day find ourselves bereft of the freedom which we once took for granted. Bastiats classic shows us how to preserve a free society and avoid the consequences of legalized injustice.

Bastiat is a must read for everyone. Inexpensive and a quick read. Plunder abounds, so buy this book for everyone you know.

I always kept this little book in my travel bag because it contains great wisdom on every page and I could get a quick hit of inspiration by opening any page and reading for a few minutes where time allowed.

The Law is a name that doesnt turn a person on to read this book. The book itself is a reflection of our present day culture that is in need of a renewal of the values that this nation once held dear. As a young man I heard men that I looked up to say things like the lord willing we will have a good crop . These were men who were not church going people but the culture praised hard work,truth,and generally values that dealt with having good character. Women were respected and children protected from bad language and men had honor. The present generation and the ones that came before have been on a slow downward path that this man MR. Bastiat is warning his nation France about . Our nation was the greatest nation ever to bring a people to real freedom but we have lost it to the desire for free stuff and we no longer have a love for the things we create with the work of our hands. If the culture will return to the founders values there is hope. I am 73 and dont think it will happen in my life time, but could if The Law written by Frederic Bastiat were to be in braced by the home ,the church, and the government there would be hope.

Good, short read that gives another opinion that contrats the left-leaning literature coming out at the time. I recommend this for people trying to expand their own political opinions.

My husband is very pleased with this book.

Good thought provoking book. Definitely one to have on your bookshelf.

I have a new mind-crush. My top 5 has gained another member. Bastiat has joined the Who would you have to dinner club along with Locke, Paul, Madison, and either that guy I forgot about or I still have an open space. Oh yeah, Jesus, but that goes without saying. Seriously, this is a great read. This is one of those reads that should be required, but its painfully obvious as to why it isnt. It will be required for my kiddos once theyre around the 7th or 8th grade mark. I think anyone 12 and over could easily grasp and appreciate the concepts laid out in The Law. Not to mention that its a quick read for those that flirt with philosophy, but arent committed. Where did I NOT highlight? I usually try to summarize my reads according to how much I underlined or scribbled. Now that I look back, nearly every page has a remark. So, my major crush topics are 1) Bastiat takes on Rousseau and the Reign of Terror 2) Bastiat takes on Democracy 3) Bastiat is pro-human 4) Bastiat is anti-slavery 5) Bastiat is anti-Socialism. That might be a lot of antis, but his solution is pro-Liberty. Hey Misanthropic Philanthropist guy who thinks hes above mankind and uses men as if theyre raw material- put the Law down. Hey Mr. Fancy Pants Utopian dude who wants to make the world over in your own image- check your vices. I think I have figured out why pro-Liberty books are so short compared to Utopian books. Its a lot quicker to say, we should be free and this is why as opposed to I am an authoritarian bent on making people into new creations, but I have to come across as if I really care about them, hence the 500 page sleeping pill. Except for the Communist Manifesto, and thats chiefly because Marx said hey, quit lying and tell these people who we really are. I should have read this book years ago. It is certainly foundational work.

This classic text challenges readers to think, not just about politics but even the language, and the history behind the authors words. Challenge a high school mind with a text like this on each of these fronts and todays graduating classes could rise to the day. I am a 24 year old and can only just now understand why Bastiats name rings in the annals of history and I wish I had in or before college. If you arent certain this book is what you are looking for, buy it anyway, you wont regret it for a second!