The Political Approach

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　When a politician views society from the seclusion of his office,he is struck by the spectacle of the inequality that he sees. Hedeplores the deprivations which are the lot of so many of ourbrothers, deprivations which appear to be even sadder when contrastedwith luxury and wealth.

　　Perhaps the politician should ask himself whether this state ofaffairs has not been caused by old conquests and lootings, and by morerecent legal plunder. Perhaps he should consider this proposition:Since all persons seek well-being and perfection, would not acondition of justice be sufficient to cause the greatest effortstoward progress, and the greatest possible equality that iscompatible with individual responsibility? Would not this be inaccord with the concept of individual responsibility which God haswilled in order that mankind may have the choice between vice andvirtue, and the resulting punishment and reward?

　　But the politician never gives this a thought. His mind turns toorganizations, combinations, and arrangements -- legal or apparentlylegal. He attempts to remedy the evil by increasing and perpetuatingthe very thing that caused the evil in the first place: legalplunder. We have seen that justice is a negative concept. Is thereeven one of these positive legal actions that does not contain theprinciple of plunder?