{"id":32,"date":"2009-08-22T21:47:13","date_gmt":"2009-08-23T01:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/?page_id=32"},"modified":"2011-03-03T16:56:44","modified_gmt":"2011-03-03T21:56:44","slug":"inspiration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/inspiration\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspiration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Excerpts from The Law<\/em><\/h2>\n

Frederic Bastiat, 1801-1850<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Reprinted with permission from The Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington-on-Hudson, NY, 10533\u00a0 (800) 960-4333 www.fee.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

p.1:<\/p>\n

The law perverted!\u00a0 And the police powers of the state perverted along with it!\u00a0 The law, I say, not only turned from its proper purpose but made to follow an entirely contrary purpose!\u00a0 The law become the weapon of every kind of greed!\u00a0 Instead of checking crime, the law itself guilty of the evils it is supposed to punish!<\/em><\/p>\n

If this is true, it is a serious fact, and moral duty requires me to call the attention of my fellow-citizens to it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\nLife is a Gift from God<\/strong><\/p>\n

We hold from God the gift which includes all others.\u00a0 This gift is life \u2013 physical, intellectual, and moral life.<\/p>\n

But life cannot maintain itself alone.\u00a0 The Creator of life has entrusted us with the responsibility of preserving, developing, and perfecting it.\u00a0 In order that we may accomplish this, He has provided us with a collection of marvelous faculties.\u00a0 And He has put us in the midst of a variety of natural resources.\u00a0 By the application of our faculties to these natural resources we convert them into products, and use them.\u00a0 The process is necessary in order that life may run its appointed course.<\/p>\n

Life, faculties, production \u2013 in other words, individuality, liberty, property \u2013 this is man.\u00a0 And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it.<\/p>\n

Life, liberty and property do not exist because men have made laws.\u00a0 On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.<\/p>\n

\nWhat Is Law?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What, then, is law?\u00a0 It is the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Each of us has a natural right \u2013 from God \u2013 to defend his person, his liberty, and his property.\u00a0 These are the three basic requirements of life, and the preservation of any one of them is completely dependent upon the preservation of the other two.\u00a0 For what are our faculties but the extension of our individuality?\u00a0 And what is property but an extension of our faculties?<\/p>\n

If every person has the right to defend \u2013 even by force \u2013 his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that a group of men have the right to organize and support a common force to protect these rights constantly.\u00a0 Thus the principle of collective right \u2013 its reason for existing, its lawfulness \u2013 is based on individual right.\u00a0 And the common force that protects this collective right cannot logically have any other purpose or any other mission than that for which it acts as a substitute.\u00a0 Thus, since an individual cannot lawfully use force against the person, liberty or property of another individual, then the common force \u2013 for the same reason \u2013 cannot lawfully be used to destroy the person, liberty or property of individuals or groups.<\/p>\n

Such a perversion of force would be, in both cases, contrary to our premise.\u00a0 Force has been given to us to defend our own individual rights.\u00a0 Who will dare to say that force has been given to us to destroy the equal rights of our brothers?\u00a0 Since no individual acting separately can lawfully use force to destroy the rights of others, does it not logically follow that the same principle also applies to the common force that is nothing more than the organized combination of the individual forces?<\/p>\n

If this is true, then nothing can be more evident than this:\u00a0 The law is the organization of the natural right of lawful defense.\u00a0 It is the substitution of a common force for individual forces.\u00a0 And this common force is to do only what the individual forces have a natural and lawful right to do: to protect persons, liberties and properties; to main the right of each, and to cause justice<\/em> to reign over us all.<\/p>\n

\np.72\u2026end:<\/em>
\nJustice Means Equal Rights<\/strong><\/p>\n

Law is justice.\u00a0 And it would indeed be strange if law could properly be anything else!\u00a0 Is not justice right?\u00a0 Are not rights equal?\u00a0 By what right does the law force me to conform to the social plans of Mr. Mimerel, Mr. de Melum, Mr. Thiers, or Mr. Louis Blanc?\u00a0 If the law has a moral right to do this, why does it not, then, force these gentlemen to submit to my plans<\/em>?\u00a0 Is it logical to suppose that nature has not given me sufficient imagination to dream up utopia also?\u00a0 Should the law choose one fantasy among many, and put the organized force of government at its service only?<\/p>\n

Law is justice.\u00a0 And let it not be said \u2013 as it continually is said \u2013 that under this concept, the law would be atheistic, individualistic, and heartless; that it would make mankind in its own image.\u00a0 This is an absurd conclusion, worthy only of those worshipers of government who believe that law is<\/em> mankind.<\/p>\n

Nonsense!\u00a0 Do these worshipers of government believe that free persons cease to act?\u00a0 Does it follow that if we receive no energy from the law, we shall receive no energy at all?\u00a0\u00a0 Does it follow that if the law is restricted to the function of protecting the free use of our faculties, we will be unable to use our faculties?\u00a0\u00a0 Suppose that the law does not force us to follow certain forms of religion, or systems of association, or methods of education, or regulations of labor, or regulations of trade, or plans for charity; does it then follow that we shall eagerly plunge into atheism, hermitary, ignorance, misery and greed?\u00a0 If we are free, does it follow that we shall no longer recognize the power and goodness of God?\u00a0\u00a0 Does it follow that we shall then cease to associate with each other, to help each other, to love and succor our unfortunate brothers, to study the secrets of nature, and to strive to improve ourselves to the best of our abilities?<\/p>\n

\nThe Path to Dignity and Progress<\/strong><\/p>\n

Law is Justice.\u00a0 And it is under the law of justice \u2013 under the reign of right; under the influence of liberty, safety, stability, and responsibility \u2013 that every person will attain his real worth and the true dignity of his being.\u00a0\u00a0 It is only under this law of justice that mankind will achieve slowly, no doubt, but certainly \u2013 God\u2019s design for the orderly and peaceful progress of humanity.<\/p>\n

It seems to me that this is theoretically right, for whatever the question under discussion \u2013 whether religious, philosophical, political or economic; whether it concerns prosperity, morality, equality, right, justice, progress, responsibility, cooperation, property, labor, trade, capital wages, taxes, population, finance or government \u2013 at whatever point on the scientific horizon I begin my researches, I invariably reach this one conclusion:\u00a0 The solution to the problems in human relationships is to be found in liberty.<\/p>\n

\nProof of an Idea<\/strong><\/p>\n

And does not experience prove this?\u00a0\u00a0 Look at the entire world.\u00a0 Which countries contain the most peaceful, the most moral, and the happiest people?\u00a0 Those people are found in the countries where the law least interferes with private affairs; where government is least felt; where the individual has the greatest scope, and free opinion the greatest influence; where administrative powers are fewest and simplest; where taxes are lightest and most nearly equal, and popular discontent the least excited and the least justifiable;\u00a0 where individuals and groups most actively assume their responsibilities, and consequently, where the morals of admittedly imperfect human beings are constantly improving; where trade, assemblies and associations are the least restricted; where labor, capital, and populations suffer the fewest forced displacements; where mankind most nearly follows its own natural inclinations; where the inventions of men are most nearly in harmony with the laws of God;\u00a0 in short, the happiest, most moral, and most peaceful people are those who most nearly follow this principle:\u00a0 Although mankind is not perfect, still, all hope rests upon the free and voluntary actions of persons within the limits of right; law or force is to be used for nothing except the administration of universal justice.<\/p>\n

\nThe Desire to Rule over Others<\/strong><\/p>\n

The must be said:\u00a0 There are too many \u201cgreat\u201d men in the world \u2013 legislators, organizers, do-gooders, leaders of the people, fathers of nations, and so on, and so on.\u00a0 Too many persons place themselves above mankind; they make a career of organizing it, patronizing it, and ruling it.<\/p>\n

Now someone will say:\u00a0 \u201cYou yourself are doing this very thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

True.\u00a0 But it must be admitted that I act in an entirely different sense; if I have joined the ranks of the reformers, it is solely for the purpose of persuading them to leave people alone.\u00a0 I do not look upon the people as Vancauson looked upon his automaton.\u00a0 Rather just as the physiologist accepts the human body as it is, so do I accept people as they are.\u00a0 I desire only to study and admire.<\/p>\n

My attitude toward all other persons is well illustrated by this story from a celebrated traveler; He arrived one day in the midst of a tribe of savages, where a child had just been born.\u00a0 A crowd of soothsayers, magicians and quacks \u2013 armed with rings, hooks and cords \u2013 surrounded it.\u00a0\u00a0 One said: \u201cThis child will never smell the perfume of a peace-pipe unless I stretch his nostrils.\u201d\u00a0 Another said: \u201cHe will never be able to hear unless I draw his ear-lobes down to his shoulders.\u201d\u00a0 A third said:\u00a0 \u201cHe will never see the sunshine unless I slant his eyes.\u201d\u00a0 Another said:\u00a0 \u201cHe will never stand upright unless I bend his legs.\u201d\u00a0 A fifth said:\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe will never learn to think unless I flatten his skull.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStop,\u201d cried the traveler.\u00a0 \u201cWhat God does is well done.\u00a0 Do not claim to know more than He.\u00a0 God has given organs to this frail creature; let them develop and grow strong by exercise, use, experience and liberty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nLet Us Now Try Liberty<\/strong><\/p>\n

God has given to men all that is necessary for them to accomplish their destinies.\u00a0 He has provided a social form as well as a human form.\u00a0 And these social organs of persons are so constituted that they will develop themselves harmoniously in the clean air of liberty.\u00a0 Away then, with quacks and organizers!\u00a0 Away with their rings, chains, hooks and pincers!\u00a0 Away with their artificial systems!\u00a0 Away with the whims of governmental administrators, their socialized projects, their centralization, their tariffs, their government schools, their state religions, their restrictions, their equalization by taxation, and their pious moralizations!<\/p>\n

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:\u00a0 May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Excerpts from The Law Frederic Bastiat, 1801-1850 Reprinted with permission from The Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington-on-Hudson, NY, 10533\u00a0 (800) 960-4333 www.fee.org p.1: The law perverted!\u00a0 And the police powers of the state perverted along with it!\u00a0 The law, I say, not only turned from its proper purpose but made to follow an entirely contrary […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38,"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32\/revisions\/38"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/civilsocietytrust.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}