Nick De Los Santos
CWID: A20317844
Professor Trost
EEE- 2083-30940
February 6, 2023
Module 02 Essay
Frederic Bastiat was a French economist, political philosopher, and writer of the 19th century; he was very known for much of his work; however, the three readings we looked over stand to be some of his most infamous writings. Those writings being "Government," "The Law," and "The Petition of the Manufacturers of Candles, Waxlights, Lamps, Candleights, Street Lamps, Snuffers, Extinguishers, and the Producers of Oil, Tallow, Resin, Alcohol, and, Generally, of Everything Connected with Lighting." These writings, in particular, overview Frederic Bastiat's view on how the government, society, and economy all tie in together and work.
First, I would like to review the wording from "The Law," which speaks about multiple ideas and things that man had before the Law was even a thing, to begin with. Frederic Bastiat states, "It is not because men have made laws that personality, liberty, and property exist. On the contrary, because personality, liberty, and property existed beforehand, men make laws. What, then, is Law? As I have said elsewhere, it is the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense" (Bastiat, pg. 50). I feel that Frederic Bastiat is trying to get the point across that we, as men, have had certain rights. Liberties and properties long before these rules and orders are now in place. We have always had the righteousness of God before anything else that has been put in our life. With that, Bastiat believes that The Law should protect our possessions and do everything we can to prevent things such as Tyranny and oppression from our lives. It is also with great understanding that Frederic Bastiat wants the Law to be based on equality and justice to protect people from the danger of some sort. These ideals are what Frederic Bastiat believes to better society and the Law within itself.
As for "Government," It profoundly signifies the roles and functions of the government and how it works. Frederic Bastiat believes that the government's primary concern should be about its citizens and the rights they are empowered. The idea of the government controlling or worrying about the economy and or citizens' lives should not be determined by the government, according to Frederic Bastiat. He later states that when the government intervenes or develops specific policies, it does more harm than good to society. I don't know how to feel about some of these accusations. However, what do I know? What if the government focused a little more on other things? Would the world spin round and round with fewer problems? That is the point that Frederic Bastiat is trying to get at in this writing section, and I do not find it absurd. Now that things of this nature have been done or changed in our lives, I cannot give you a firm answer. That is why we study and review these things to know that the problems we may have now as a society has been the same or similar before us.
"The Petition of the Manufacturers of Candles, Waxlights, Lamps, Candlelights, Street Lamps, Snuffers, Extinguishers, and the Producers of Oil, Tallow, Resin, Alcohol, and, Generally, of Everything Connected with Lighting" is a petition asking for help from the French government to protect them from newly invented gas lighting. "We are suffering from the intolerable competition of a foreign rival, placed, and it would seem, in a condition so far superior to ours for the production of light that he inundated our national market with it at a price fabulously reduced" ( Bastiat, pg. 228). The petition was so eagerly made in the hope of prospering in the way of artificial lighting, all by restricting the flow of natural lighting. They wanted to be heard and not denied without evaluation of their proposition. Without this evaluation and approval, it opens up the market and allows convenience and, ultimately, a better alternative. Obviously, this would leave the candle makers out of the market, which they did not want. Frederic Bastiat believed in a free market system that prevented things like this from happening. Frederic Bastiat wanted the French government to oppose all import taxes and not limit the market, which would affect certain things, such as international trade, alongside competitors. However, the petition was not enough to sway the French government from their actions. It is essential to know that protectionism is used globally by various governments in the market. These three essays give a clear overview of what Frederic Bastiat believed in and his thoughts on the Law, government, and economy. Frederic Bastiat's thoughts are still reviewed and influential in today's world as we deal with similar things in society today. The idea of a government caring more for the people and protecting individual rights will always get brought up and fought to improve it.
Citation
Kanopi Admin. (2014, August 18). The bastiat collection: Claude Frédéric Bastiat. Mises Institute. Retrieved February 6, 2023, from https://mises.org/library/bastiat-collection