A Just and Enduring Government

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　If a nation were founded on this basis, it seems to me that orderwould prevail among the people, in thought as well as in deed. Itseems to me that such a nation would have the most simple, easy toaccept, economical, limited, nonoppressive, just, and enduringgovernment imaginable -- whatever its political form might be.

　　Under such an administration, everyone would understand that hepossessed all the privileges as well as all the responsibilities ofhis existence. No one would have any argument with government,provided that his person was respected, his labor was free, and thefruits of his labor were protected against all unjust attack. Whensuccessful, we would not have to thank the state for our success.And, conversely, when unsuccessful, we would no more think ofblaming the state for our misfortune than would the farmers blame thestate because of hail or frost. The state would be felt only by theinvaluable blessings of safety provided by this concept of government.

　　It can be further stated that, thanks to the non-intervention ofthe state in private affairs, our wants and their satisfactions woulddevelop themselves in a logical manner. We would not see poorfamilies seeking literary instruction before they have bread. Wewould not see cities populated at the expense of rural districts, norrural districts at the expense of cities. We would not see the greatdisplacements of capital, labor, and population that are caused bylegislative decisions.

　　The sources of our existence are made uncertain and precarious bythese state-created displacements. And, furthermore, these actsburden the government with increased responsibilities.