The Vicious Circle of Socialism

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　We shall never escape from this circle: the idea of passivemankind, and the power of the law being used by a great man to propelthe people.

　　Once on this incline, will society enjoy some liberty?(Certainly.) And what is liberty, Mr. Louis Blanc?

　　Once and for all, liberty is not only a mere granted right; it isalso the power granted to a person to use and to develop his facultiesunder a reign of justice and under the protection of the law.

　　And this is no pointless distinction; its meaning is deep and itsconsequences are difficult to estimate. For once it is agreed that aperson, to be truly free, must have the power to use and develop hisfaculties, then it follows that every person has a claim on societyfor such education as will permit him to develop himself. It alsofollows that every person has a claim on society for tools ofproduction, without which human activity cannot be fully effective.Now by what action can society give to every person the necessaryeducation and the necessary tools of production, if not by the actionof the state?

　　Thus, again, liberty is power. Of what does this power consist?(Of being educated and of being given the tools of production.) Who isto give the education and the tools of production? (Society, whichowes them to everyone.) By what action is society to give tools ofproduction to those who do not own them? (Why, by the action of thestate.) And from whom will the state take them?

　　Let the reader answer that question. Let him also notice thedirection in which this is taking us.