Victims of Lawful Plunder

by Frédéric Bastiat

  Men naturally rebel against the injustice of which they arevictims. Thus, when plunder is organized by law for the profit ofthose who make the law, all the plundered classes try somehow to enter-- by peaceful or revolutionary means -- into the making of laws.According to their degree of enlightenment, these plundered classesmay propose one of two entirely different purposes when they attemptto attain political power: Either they may wish to stop lawfulplunder, or they may wish to share in it.

  Woe to the nation when this latter purpose prevails among the massvictims of lawful plunder when they, in turn, seize the power to makelaws!

  Until that happens, the few practice lawful plunder upon the many,a common practice where the right to participate in the making of lawis limited to a few persons. But then, participation in the making oflaw becomes universal. And then, men seek to balance their conflictinginterests by universal plunder. Instead of rooting out theinjustices found in society, they make these injustices general. Assoon as the plundered classes gain political power, they establish asystem of reprisals against other classes. They do not abolish legalplunder. (This objective would demand more enlightenment than theypossess.) Instead, they emulate their evil predecessors byparticipating in this legal plunder, even though it is against theirown interests.

  It is as if it were necessary, before a reign of justice appears,for everyone to suffer a cruel retribution -- some for their evilness,and some for their lack of understanding.


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