The Socialists Reject Free Choice

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　Please understand that I do not dispute their right to inventsocial combinations, to advertise them, to advocate them, and to trythem upon themselves, at their own expense and risk. But I do disputetheir right to impose these plans upon us by law -- by force -- and tocompel us to pay for them with our taxes.

　　I do not insist that the supporters of these various socialschools of thought--the Proudhonists, the Cabetists, the Fourierists,the Universitarists, and the Protectionists -- renounce their variousideas. I insist only that they renounce this one idea that they havein common: They need only to give up the idea of forcing us toacquiesce to their groups and series, their socialized projects, theirfree- credit banks, their Graeco-Roman concept of morality, and theircommercial regulations. I ask only that we be permitted to decideupon these plans for ourselves; that we not be forced to accept them,directly or indirectly, if we find them to be contrary to our bestinterests or repugnant to our consciences.

　　But these organizers desire access to the tax funds and to thepower of the law in order to carry out their plans. In addition tobeing oppressive and unjust, this desire also implies the fatalsupposition that the organizer is infallible and mankind isincompetent. But, again, if persons are incompetent to judge forthemselves, then why all this talk about universal suffrage?