2021 Hardcover Reprint of 1950 American Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French economist, statesman and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before and just following the Revolution of February 1848 in France. This was the period during which France was turning to Socialism. "The Law" is here presented again because the same situation was perceived to being transpiring in American in 1950, when this ...
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2021 Hardcover Reprint of 1950 American Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French economist, statesman and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before and just following the Revolution of February 1848 in France. This was the period during which France was turning to Socialism. "The Law" is here presented again because the same situation was perceived to being transpiring in American in 1950, when this translation was first published. The explanations and arguments then advanced against socialism by Mr. Bastiat are were equally relevant for many Americans in the 1950s. Contents: Life is a gift from God -- What is law? -- A just and enduring government -- The complete perversion of the law -- A fatal tendency of mankind -- Property and plunder -- Victims of lawful plunder -- The results of legal plunder -- The fate of non-conformists -- Who shall judge? -- The reason why voting is restricted -- The answer is to restrict the law -- The fatal idea of legal plunder -- Perverted law causes conflict -- Slavery and tariffs are plunder -- Two kinds of plunder -- The law defends plunder -- How to identify legal plunder -- Legal plunder has many names -- Socialism is legal plunder -- The choice is before us -- The proper function of the law -- The seductive lure of socialism -- Enforced fraternity destroys liberty -- Plunder violates ownership -- Three systems of plunder -- Law is force -- Law is a negative concept -- The political approach -- The law and charity -- The law and education -- The law and morals -- A confusion of terms -- The influence of socialist writers -- The socialists wish to play God -- The socialists despise mankind -- A defense of compulsory labor -- A defense of paternal government -- The idea of passive mankind -- Socialist ignore reason and facts -- Socialists want to regiment people -- A famous name and an evil idea -- A frightful idea -- The leader of the democrats -- Socialists want forced conformity -- Legislators desire to mold mankind -- Legislators told how to manage men -- A temporary dictatorship -- Socialists want equality of wealth -- The error of the socialist writers -- What is liberty? -- Philanthropic Tyranny -- The socialists want dictatorship -- Dictatorial arrogance -- The indirect approach to despotism -- Napoleon wanted passive mankind -- The vicious circle of socialism -- The doctrine of the democrats -- The socialist concept of liberty -- Socialists fear all liberty -- The superman idea -- The socialists reject free choice -- The cause of French revolutions -- The enormous power of government -- Politics and economics -- Proper legislative functions -- Law and charity are not the same -- The high road to communism -- The basis for stable government -- Justice means equal rights -- The path to dignity and progress -- Proof of an idea -- The desire to rule over others -- Let us now try liberty.
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Add this copy of The Law (Paperback Or Softback) to cart. $11.70, new condition, Sold by BargainBookStores rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Grand Rapids, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2018 by Simon & Brown.
This book was written in a time when people were thinking, not opining. If one is truly interested in freedom and how laws are written and the rationale behind those written laws should read this book.
Khlit
Jun 22, 2009
Short but to the point; easy but powerful
This very short book is a very powerful treatise in favor of natural law, the free market, capitalism, the private sector, and limited government. Refutes the ideas of socialism very quickly and easily. Its very easy to understand and does not take long to read at all. Every US legislator should have to read this book. Next to the constitution and declaration of independence, it is the most important book in america
ShawnCL
Jul 5, 2007
Paradigm Shift
I grew up in a socialist country thinking that government intervention was a good thing. Moreover, I thought that 'rights' entailed entitlements I had on everyone else, especially the wealthy. Bastiat's work on 'The Law' challenges that whole conception from head to toe. Moreover, it is the kind of paradigm shifting gem you rarely come across in political, legal, or economic literature. In less than a hundred pages, Bastiat lucidly argues the case that laws should only be minimally used to defend, and not to remove, personal liberty. It single-handedly changed my mind on a number of issues. Highly reccomended, especially since it can be had so cheaply.
JSGINC
Jun 22, 2007
Economic version of LEX REX
Excellent book! A necessary read for all engaged in economics and politics (hence, everybody)!!! This book should be a required reading for all university students in all disciplines.
Bastiat is both brilliant and rhetorically sublime with his depth and ease of comprehension.
Huffy
May 24, 2007
LIBERTY's TRUE MEANING
This skinniest of wee tomes, is packed with amazing philosophical truths. In it, one of the great philosophers so clearly presents a discourse on Liberty, it can be understood by even us ordinary citizens.
Many readers will have epiphanies upon learning Bastiat?s definition of the SOCIALISM, so cleverly incorporated in U.S. government since the 1860?s. He terms Socialism ?LEGAL PLUNDER, ? contending that the LAW [ which is in our case, our government] has as its purpose protection of citizens from plunder, but ?the Law, not only fails to do so, it participates in it,? placing ?the whole apparatus of judges, police, prisons ?? at the service of the plunderers. The government then treats the victim--when he defends himself?as a criminal.?
Bastiat defines Legal Plunder: ?See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them and gives it to others 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.?
Every person who pays taxes, loves his U.S. heritage, or cares about his children?s future, should read The Law as an accompaniment of the United States Constitution.