The Law [Import] [Paperback]

Frederic Bastiat (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 76 pages
• Publisher: Foundation for Economic Education Inc.,U.S.; 2nd edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910614016
• ISBN-13: 978-0910614016
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #929,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

308 of 326 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most common sense logic written on government., January 18, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Beautiful Moab Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Law (Paperback)

I read this book in 1980; at the time I was chairman of the democratic party in my county. I really began to do some serious soul searching. I finally concluded I was going to leave my party, as It no longer represented it's founder Mr Thomas Jefferson. This small simple easy to read book totally changed my life That same year I met Jim Hansen, he was making his first run for congress from the state of Utah, I made a deal with him, I would vote for him if he would read The Law by Bastiat. He promised, and I did. I received a nice letter from Jim after he was elected. " Never read a book that has so impressed me". P.S. "Find Yourself another copy, Im keeping Yours". Jim.

Best three dollars ever spent. Ron Steele Moab, Utah

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Puts political arguments in the proper perspective, July 26, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Law (Paperback)

Arguing from the humble perspective of one of mankind's observers rather than the conceited perspective one of its shapers, Mr. Bastiat effectively defines the only rational purpose of Law.

What is the purpose of Law, according to Mr. Bastiat? To establish a constant force of lawful defense of each person's natural right to defend his life, liberty, and property against any unjust attack. In a word, Justice.

To establish his point, Mr. Bastiat challenges anyone to name a single endeavor that a government can do in addition to securing these rights that does not itself trample upon them, and then analyses the numerous feeble attempts by legislators and philosophers to do this. In his trenchent analysees, he exposes the absolute absurdities of such proposals.

A delightful and tremendously important book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute must read-Best book I've ever read on theory of government, July 27, 2005

By 

Keith A. Canterbury (Tuscaloosa, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Law (Paperback)

In the current climate politicians argue over the course of action the gorvernment should take without ever giving consideration to the proper and appropriate role of government. A free society must acknowledge that there are areas of life in which government has no role. This notion seems to have been forgotten by most politicians. Too many pets on the street? Pass a law. Don't like the way certain segments manage their lives? Pass a law. Blah, blah, blah? Pass a law.

In his book, Bastiat lays out his argument for the proper role of government at a time when France was legitimately deciding on the proper form to adopt. Although the book can be read in an hour or so, the wealth of wisdom contained in those few pages far exceeds the volumes and volumes that have been written on the subject since.

Where does government derive its power? From the people. What rights do individuals have that are inherent from birth and are not dependent on any particular form of government? The right to defend their life, liberty, and property. Consequently, the only power the people can give to government is the right to defend, collectively, life, liberty, and property. Anything else is a misuse of power.

Do you have the right to take money from your neighbor under threat of imprisonment in order to give the money to someone else? No? Then how can you give that power to government?

Bastiat clearly and succincly defines the proper role of government. Once that role is established, an unwavering litmus test exists for any and every piece of proposed legislation that comes forward for vote. There will no longer be any inconsistencies in your ideology.

If you only read two pieces of literature on the role of government, read the U.S. Constitution and The Law.