Legal Plunder (house of representatives, wages, lobbyists, speech)

With all the talk of Socialism on these threads I thought a very old (1850) but relevant essay on the purpose of government and the Law would be in order - very eye opening and prophetic.

The Law (Stirling Translation, 1874) - Frederic Bastiat - Mises Institute

A little except:

The delusion of the day is to enrich all classes at the expense of each other; it is to generalize plunder under pretence of organizing it. Now, legal plunder may be exercised in an infinite multitude of ways. Hence come an infinite multitude of plans for organization; tariffs, protection, perquisites, gratuities, encouragements, progressive taxation, gratuitous instruction, right to labor, right to profit, right to wages, right to assistance, right to instruments of labor, gratuity of credit, etc., etc. And it is all these plans, taken as a whole, with what they have in common, legal plunder, which takes the name of socialism.

Now socialism, thus defined, and forming a doctrinal body, what other war would you make against it than a war of doctrine? You find this doctrine false, absurd, abominable. Refute it. This will be all the more easy, the more false, the more absurd and the more abominable it is. Above all, if you wish to be strong, begin by rooting out of your legislation every particle of socialism which may have crept into it, — and this will be no light work.

[NHartphotog]

No American should be unfamiliar with what I consider the best political speech/essay ever given. It is easy to read, in anecdotal form. It's by Davy Crocket in a speech before the House of Representatives, and it's called "Not Yours to Give."

It describes why it is wrong for government to give to charity. You probably think that's crazy, but read the link. There's a reason Davy Crocket is a great national legend; he was smart enough to recognize when he was wrong. Read it here: David Crockett Speech

[newonecoming]

'Well, Colonel, it is hardly worth-while to waste time or words upon it. I do not see how it can be mended, but you gave a vote last winter which shows that either you have not capacity to understand the Constitution, or that you are wanting in the honesty and firmness to be guided by it. In either case you are not the man to represent me. But I beg your pardon for expressing it in that way. I did not intend to avail myself of the privilege of the constituent to speak plainly to a candidate for the purpose of insulting or wounding you. I intended by it only to say that your understanding of the Constitution is very different from mine; and I will say to you what, but for my rudeness, I should not have said, that I believe you to be honest....But an understanding of the Constitution different from mine I cannot overlook, because the Constitution, to be worth anything, must be held sacred, and rigidly observed in all its provisions. The man who wields power and misinterprets it is the more dangerous the more honest he is.' From the link.


We need more of this kind of thinking than we currently have. And Colonel Crockett was out talking to his constituents about the upcoming election. Think about it he was out there talking to the people he was representing. Today politicians spend there time talking to lobbyists. Those are the people they represent not us when was the last time you heard someone talking about when they met a politician that was interested in their point of view? What I think would work today is to have a forum set up for people to talk to the representatives and senators. That way what is said will be public record and the response if any will be public record as well.

[GregW]

We had such a forum in Londonderry, New Hampshire last night at our town hall where Representative Shea-Proter met with some of her constituents and listened to their comments and requests. I se there is nothing new under the sun.

Originally Posted by NHartphotog

No American should be unfamiliar with what I consider the best political speech/essay ever given. It is easy to read, in anecdotal form. It's by Davy Crocket in a speech before the House of Representatives, and it's called "Not Yours to Give."

It describes why it is wrong for government to give to charity. You probably think that's crazy, but read the link. There's a reason Davy Crocket is a great national legend; he was smart enough to recognize when he was wrong. Read it here: David Crockett Speech

Why you suppose I think it is crazy that it is wrong for government give to charity?

It is precisely the kind of precedent (the second bill passed even though narrow in its scope) which engenders the greed and misguided philanthorpy of those in power, which Bastiat talked about, that leds to the type of problems we have today. I agree with the article completely.

The bottom line is the ends do not justify the means. The means were unconstitutional and legalized plunder - the Law is to secure justice not violate it.

[irspow]

"Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."-Bastiat

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by NHartphotog

No American should be unfamiliar with what I consider the best political speech/essay ever given.

Surely you jest?

It describes why it is wrong for government to give to charity. You probably think that's crazy, but read the link. There's a reason Davy Crocket is a great national legend; he was smart enough to recognize when he was wrong.

So we can assume that you oppose military pensions?