The Law

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.

I think that every tax paying American needs to read this book. Everything bastiat talks about in this book applies to whats happening in America today. Its almost creepy. If you love your liberty and your freedom, you MUST READ THIS BOOK. Based on his assessment of the early 1800s French government, this book describes our current governmant and all of the consequences that we the people will suffer if it continues to expand its size and capabilities while systematicly eliminating our liberty, rights and freedom. I was a little worried before I read The Law. Now im soiling my pants !

This book is an interesting read. It can be little difficult to follow sometimes because of the authors reference to other historical people and economists of the period (1850). The author was French and this book has been translated (quite well, I think). The book is only 88 pages and I got through it in a few hours. Im sure if I were interested, I could have gone more slowly and taken notes or researched the people the author referenced. If you are interested in Libertarian ideas or believe that the government has become too big, powerful and intrusive, you will probably like this book. While Im not a Libertarian, Im a fan of economics and probably lean a little Austrian School and I enjoyed reading this book. Keynesians will probably like this book, Marxists...not so much. I hope this review was useful to you!

This book succinctly defines what law is, and what it is not. In so doing, the reader clearly sees why our present system of “laws” is not working.

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Law is justice. Though written in 1850, this persuasive argument for Natural Law and the free market by French economist, Frédéric Bastiat is, still, absolutely relevant today. What is the solution for a freer more prosperous society, limited government or, the socialistic, legal plunder of wealth that is growing like a cancer across our great nation? Three factors that are crucial, as quoted from Thomas DiLorenzo in the forward: Bastiat believed that all human beings possessed the God-given natural rights of `individuality, liberty, [and] property. And, from Bastiat himself: The mission of Law is not to oppress persons and plunder them of their property, even though the Law may be acting in a philanthropic spirit. Its mission is to protect property. As a personal witness of corrupt law, he quotes varied interventionists throughout history followed by an argument against, at times with a touch of sarcasm. Personality, liberty and property are superior to all human legislation; it is not because men have made laws that these exist, for they existed since the beginning. This God given Law (Natural Law) reaps prosperity, however, as we have seen, it can also be perverted. A Good accompaniment: Lex Rex by Samuel Rutherford

After reading all the comments on the content of this book with such a dominance of five stars, my expectation was maybe too high. This high expectation was probably the cause for not being stunned after reading this book and not giving it unconditional glory and perfect score. However, for anyone dealing with politics, economics and law this is a must read. A must read not for one time, but rather maybe once a year just to keep the idea of liberty and nature of governance fresh and accurate. The need for reread is caused also by the the writing style and the pure content of the book. Writing style is obviously little bit archaic and can be sometimes burdensome. Numerous quotations of influential philosophers of our past which carry from time to time more serious philosophical traits, will also push you to reread some lines for better understanding and deeper reflection. In my opinion the end of the book and final conclusion is the most impressive part and its strongest point. In less than a one page story of a newborn child and its future capacities, author succeeds to encircle very descriptively central idea of entire book, which is the idea of human liberty and how it should be treated. Timeless and illuminating, but as I said, in some parts little bit flat and hard to read.

Although written in 1850, the principles of freedom from government intrusion into our lives, could not be more appropriate in todays world. Mr. Bastiat elucidates, in 75 pages, his concept of the over-reach of the Socialist style of government, by creating laws which actually limit our rights to free expression. This short treatise should be read and reread by every citizen, and taught in history classes throughout the world. It tells in simple terms, how the government systematically erodes freedoms, and makes the populace dependent upon it for its power over its citizenry. The concept of ominous parallels in our world today, could not be more appropriate and critical to understand. The principles are great ammunition for those who wish to preserve the freedoms our forefathers fought for to bring us.

Knowing that he was terminally ill. He wrote this book as a call to action in standing up to the state. Beautiful book highly recommend for anyone interested in liberty.

This is a pretty small book and had to understand its full meaning. It consists of an essay written by Bastiat, one of his most notable works. I would recommend the book but I wouldnt this edition. It had no preface, no words whatsoever about the author, the time of the publishing of this essay or historic context. I had to go online to search for all of this. A book like this needs at least double its content to specify certain things as historical background, about the life and beliefs of the author, about his other works etc. As I said, I do recommend the book, but try and find another edition with at least an introduction to this work. Overall this edition was dry and of a poor quality of paper and print.