The Law

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!

My Niece teaches in a Home School Group and her young students read this book. They also read Shakespeare and perform in Shakespeare plays as young as 8... Our Education System needs an Overhaul. Here is a good start.

Though not light reading by any means, this essay is something that should be taught in all high school class rooms around America. His point (which is repeated candidly many times) is that Law is there for structure and protection, not to redistribute wealth among social classes. History has shown us that this idea is one that ultimately fails, and this essay by a 19th century Frenchman explains why in broad terms. No matter your personal political views, one should attempt a read of The Law. If nothing else, you can see the other sides perspective.

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. 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. The person who profits from this law will complain bitterly , defending his aquired rights. .... The present day delusion is an attempt to enrich everyone at the expense of everyone else; to make plunder universal under the pretense of organizing it. Frederick Bastiat, The Law Profound words from a man who died in the 1850s. The Law remains one of the classics of its age for a reason. People and human nature remain the same, and men are always looking for benefits they didnt work for at the expense of another. Hence the hall mark of socialism is that it steals from one and gives to another. When an individual researches the topic honestly they soon discover this truth: Socialism in any form will always degrade into tyranny and the loss of liberty. Many socialists have nothing but good intentions (Bastiat makes this clear). However, it is important that intentions are only good for the intent of the person, and are absolutely no guarantee for truth. Bastiats common sense and precise logic reveal to his audience what socialism really is. Unmasked are all the twisted logic and slight of hand. In the end anyone who reads this with a pure heart will understand socialism, and why its a poisonous coctail to liberty.

There are others that can and will write much more intelligent reviews, but Im writing this in support of the book and the ideas in it. To only boost the reviews by a micro fragment. In the United States, we have pastors and religious leaders telling us that we are to obey the laws that the state decrees because it is Gods will. That if man left to his own devices and desires will only seek atheism and destruction. Nothing can be a worse lie. It is the worse lie because it subjects man under other mens desires, making the many individuals of a country lower than the minority - the real inequality. This is cruel. It is the worse lie because it deviates reality that God has appointed and allows a few to override truth to use the force of law to their benefit. This is cruel. Personally, incredibly, at the end of reading this short book, I was not angered at politicians, though they are at the center of this issue. I was angered at so-called church leaders giving lies about what has been established before mans arrival, that is good as declared by the Creator, and calling it evil. They teach this to the masses, who sit in hours upon hours through these contorted messages that believe there is something bigger, better than this docile and passive lifestyle. Sadly, most people will never know that what they know inside of themselves is true. Religious leaders will never allow it. I find myself not wanting to fight against the politics of the day, but the religion that supports the state. Law is justice; it is to protect life, liberty, property. Thats it. To violate any of those is injustice. There is no gray area, no middle ground. Justice or injustice. Religious leaders in their warped mind tell their audience that legal plunder is ordained by God. Legal plunder is an injustice. God did not setup man to be violated by others: Existence, faculties, assimilation - in other words, personality, property - this is man. They perverse the law. They tell people of another religion. That officials that are ordained by God - the enlightened ones - however that occurred so that they have higher elevated thinking nobody knows, are to subject them by force a philanthropic spirit, but really is only their selfish will. So, somehow Gods salvation is not enough that we must play revolution roulette because we allow a group of men to take part in Gods acts. As if, God did not do enough in His decrees that we ought to subject ourselves to another god. Pastors, reverends, priests - most espouse that man needs to have guidelines by the state. Yet, you cant have guidelines by the state and keep liberty; it will all end in destruction, ironically. Yes, what they preach is a violation of what is true, of Gods Law. As Bastiat states: And now, after having vainly inflicted upon the social body so many systems, let them end where they ought to have begun - reject all systems, and try liberty - liberty , which is an act of faith in god and in HIs work.

Excellent overview of what the role of law is in the society and how it has been morphed into a tool of power by people who think they know better how people ought to behave. Must read.

Bastiat, a classical liberal shows just how evil a big government is, and how once you give government the power to get their hands on the economy, they quickly get involved in legal plunder, and it is not to the aid of the poor. He then talks about the absurdity of socialism, and how unnatural and ineffective it is. He talks about the absurdity of government violating property instead of protecting it, because after all, the only reason government comes into existence in the first place, is to only protect property. He also talks about the types of plunder and also makes the distinction that law is supposed to enhance freedom, not restrict it, although in our world, it is definitely the other way around. There is also a bit of history to be found in the book as well, and it goes back as far as ancient Greece. A must read for all people. Bastiat, the great economist, is also a great political philosopher.

This book is an essay by French economist Frederic Bastiat written in 1850. The book clearly explains the true role of law in a free society and critiques the perversion of law by socialists and collectivists. The law should exist to collectively provide defense of liberty, property, and individual rights. The law is perverted when it does other things which inevitably infringe on liberty, property, and individual rights--no matter how noble or charitable on the surface. The book makes clear so much of what is wrong with US government today and once again proves there is nothing new under the sun.

This short book (about 55 pages) just confirms the old adage that some things never change. King Solomon wrote centuries ago that there is nothing new under the son while in other places it explains selfish self serving politicians cant be trusted. Still other scriptures explain, mankind is inherently selfish, self-serving motivated by greed, fame and fortune. I dont know if the author was a Christian as I have only made it to page 30 with highlighted sections on almost every page. But he was definitely a fan of the freedoms promised to Americans in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. How little did he know that the southern Democrats would start the US civil war that would prove where ever Socialists get elected into office, its just a matter of time before their elitest Jim Crow like laws will steal citizens liberty. Self serving corrupt politicians believe their intelligence is superior to their subjects and will say anything to convince the masses that with empty promises of equality their edicts will lead to prosperity. Instead it leads to insecurity, oppression, servitude and poverty of the masses. If you dont understand how or why the Socialist agenda always leads to a society of enslaved subjects this book will explain it in plain English. If only it was required reading for every American that was seeking a job at all levels of government and every branch of government. Maybe than Americans liberty would not be vanishing like a sunset over the horizon before your last breath on earth. The timeless truths of scripture of the sinful and corrupt nature of man governing with selfish desire and control were confirmed in biblical times. Again in the 1850s by this author and are today on every MSM news show around the globe. Godless men governing by pride, selfish control and desire seem to infect and destroy every country, and its peoples hope to survive tyranny from dictators around the globe. Sin is a heart condition that is only subdued by an intentional personal relationship with Jesus Christ as mankind learns to love others as themselves and seek what is right, true and honest for all of Gods creation. Partisan politics promoting class warfare, hate, violence, and the Socialist religions based on mans theories (evolution, class warfare, lawlessness, sexual promiscuity, population control, climate change, CRT, etc) in every country around the globe inevitably result in oppression, persecution, depression and death of the people at the hands of dictators and tyrants. Read this book and maybe youll begin to understand why the socialist agenda always creates this vicious cycle of hatred and oppression that kills every nation infected by these socialist poisons promoted to the people while protecting the selfish interests of the wealthy tyrants in charge. If Gods people will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, God will hear their prayers and heal their land.

I have not read this work for 45 years. I have a greater appreciation now in light of the current political and administrative State we live in today as opposed to any other time of my life. I a ‘Just’ society it should be required reading and adherence for judges and society as a whole. I doubt the population as it exist today would even come close to grasping the importance of ‘The Law’. Thus Liberty does not exist.