A Confusion of Terms

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confusesthe distinction between government and society. As a result of this,every time we object to a thing being done by government, thesocialists conclude that we object to its being done at all.

　　We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that weare opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Thenthe socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to astate-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality.And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us ofnot wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raisegrain.