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The Wisdom of Bastiat
By:
Howard Blitz
Claude Frederic Bastiat was born June 29, 1801 in Bayonne, France and died in Rome, Italy on December 24, 1850. In that relatively short span of time Mr. Bastiat had the most profound impact not only in his world, but in all future generations to come.
Frederic Bastiat was a statesman, philosopher, author, leader, economist, and witty satirist. He had the ability to communicate effectively in a simple and penetrating, yet humorous style. When one reads his, “The Candlemakers’ Petition”, his humor is evident, yet his explanation of why government control of the economy is ludicrous.
Frederic Bastiat’s masterpiece, though, is “The Law” where he maps out a classic blueprint for a free society. In doing so, the Frenchman defines law and government and the meaning of just government. The book truly defines the essence of government and why it exists in the first place in very simple terms for all to understand. This is the beauty of Frederic Bastiat.
Mr. Bastiat also delves into the perversion of the law, which he defines as plunder. Here is a sample of Bastiat: "Sometimes the law defends plunder and participates in it. Thus the beneficiaries are spared the shame and danger that their acts would otherwise involve. 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 the other persons to whom it doesn't 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 that law without delay; No legal plunder; this is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, harmony and logic."
Frederic Bastiat gave the world an understanding of human nature that when truly understood would go very far in accomplishing world peace on this planet of ours. He is one of many that fostered the founding of The Freedom Library, Inc., an educational organization dedicated to helping others learn what Frederic Bastiat understood. Check out the website at www.freedomlibrary.org or
e-mail The Freedom Library, Inc. at info@freedomlibrary.org.
Here is Frederic Bastiat at his best:
"Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
"Law cannot organize labor and industry without organizing injustice.”
"When goods do not cross borders, soldiers will."
"By virtue of exchange, one man's prosperity is beneficial to all others."
"Life, faculties, production, in other words, individuality, liberty, property, this is man. And in spite of the cunning of artful political leaders, these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it. Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place."
"When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law."
"Each of us has a natural right, from God, to defend his person, his liberty, and his property."
Long live the ideas of a great human being, Frederic Bastiat. We should all be so learned.
On May 14, 2012 at the First Christian Church, 32nd Street and Avenue 6E in Yuma, Arizona, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry and two 21st Century scholars will debate whether the U.S. Constitution or the Articles of Confederation is the superior document. Tickets are only $5 for the amount of entertainment and education one will receive. You will even have an opportunity toask questions of the gentlemen. Get your picture taken with them and give yourself an opportunity to purchase books from The Freedom Library and win valuable prizes. If you help sponsor the event, you will participate in a private lunch with the gentlemen among other benefits for your sponsorship. Doors open at 5:45 pm, the debate begins at 7:00. The Freedom Library will award its scholarships. Come and attend and have a great time learning about these most important documents. All funds raised go to The Freedom Library Education and Scholarship program.
Howard J. Blitz
Founder
The Freedom Library, Inc.
May 1, 2012
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