The Petition
Throughout this section, Frederic Bastiat illustrates his outlook on a massive foreign nation and the alleged threat they pose to his country, due to their ability to mass produce light in a more efficient, cost-friendly way than French suppliers. In one of his opening remarks, he states,
We are suffering from the intolerable competition of a foreign rival, placed, it would seem, in a condition so far superior to ours for the production of light that he absolutely inundates our National Market With It At A Price Fabulously reduced.(Bastiat, 2011, pp. 229)
During Bastiat’s era, nearly all substances incorporated some fashion of light; Oxen, sheep, oil, manure, wale fat, coal, iron. The French government initially looked to block or tax all imported goods, but Bastiat provided multiple examples illustrating that this decision would bring more harm than good. Making this choice would cause many foreign manufacturers to simply keep their means of production and staff strictly in their own country. As a result, French citizens would be the ones to suffer from these decisions.
Issues Of Government
Frederic Bastiast was a well-established French philosopher who was universally recognized for his literature collection, Bastiat collection, which outlined his unique viewpoint on the influence between liberty and government. In one of his publications, Government, Bastiat questioned his audience about the true meaning/purpose of our government. He proposes the theoretical question to his reader, “The Government! What is it? Where is it? What does it do? What ought it to do? (Bastiat, 2011, pp. 95). Ultimately, Bastiast concluded that the value of our government is vastly overestimated. He demonstrates his reasoning with consecutive examples that illustrate that while our government has made tremendous strides to increase the livelihood of its citizens, it has come at the expense of others. He argues,
As it is certain, on the one hand, that we are all making some similar request to the Government; and as, on the other, it is proved that the Government cannot satisfy one party without adding to the labor of the others… (Bastiat, 2011, pp. 100)
As a young scholar, while I understand the author’s argument, I would argue that, on one hand, he is holding our government to unrealistic expectations. In America, there are over 300 million citizens with distinct personalities and backgrounds. Evaluating our government on their ability to satisfy each citizen that carries different religious beliefs, social norms, childhood experiences, and other individual factors is impractical. However, on the other hand, I do agree that our government and its officials have been trusted on behalf of the many promises they have made to the public that have not come to fruition. All government parties have found ways to persuade their audiences into giving them more time to achieve the goals promised to the people, without any real consequences. Nevertheless, while I cannot provide a direct solution to this issue, I do not believe revolution is the answer. This would simply divide our country even further. There is a chance it may bring about change, but at what cost?
The Purpose of Law
Frederic Bastiat and I may have diverging views on the role of our government, but we are both in agreement on our stances with the current law code. He believes the system of laws our society abides by are creations of God. Furthermore, as outlined in his short story, The Law, these rules, and regulations were written to protect our constitutional rights, they should not pose any threat to any individual or their belongings. Despite what many believe, the legal code was implemented to protect the personality, liberty, and property of every citizen. As mentioned by Bastiat,
It is not because men have made laws, that personality, liberty, and property exist. On the contrary, it is because personality, lib-erty, and property exist beforehand, that men make laws.? What, then, is law? As I have said elsewhere, it is the collective organi-zation of the individual right to lawful defense. (Bastiat, 2011, pp. 50)
Bastiat outlines that laws should make everyone feel a certain sense of safety and security, while not forcing anyone to act in any specific fashion. In regard to current laws he tells his reader,
It has acted in direct opposition to its proper end; it has destroyed its own
object; it has been employed in annihilating that justice which it ought to have established,
that
An example of Bastiat’s reasoning above is the American code that allows and prevents citizens in different states to protect themselves. As of this moment, eight states (California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, Vermont and Washington) legally permit their citizens to use deadly force, or violent means to protect all their belongings. However, in states such as Oklahoma, one is not allowed to protect themselves at all costs if the attacker is any place in which they are lawfully present. (NCSL, 2022, pp. 1). By deeming it illegal to keep oneself safe by any means, does this not inherently force us to behave in one way? If a woman is attacked in a public place where the offender is lawfully present, should she not have the legal rights to do whatever it takes to escape safely? Unfortunately, most states would say no, and consequently do not offer these rights of safety. In doing this, they are eliminating our options of safety and indirectly giving the community specific ways in which, they can behave. Thus, Bastiat and I agree, why is the stand your ground policy not extended nationally to every state? As a society, the personality we wear, and the properties we purchase both serve as illustrations of who we are. I strongly believe we should have the ability to protect our own identity at all costs!
Citations
- Bastiat Frédéric. (2011). Petition of the Manufacturers of Candles, Waxlights, Lamps, Candlelights, Street Lamps, Snuffers, Extinguishers, and the Producers of Oil, Tallow, Resin, Alcohol, and, Generally, of Everything Connected
with Lighting. In The bastiat collection (pp. 227–232). essay, Ludwig von Mises Institute. - Bastiat Frédéric. (2011). Government. In The bastiat collection (pp. 95–107). essay, Ludwig von Mises Institute.
- Bastiat Frédéric. (2011). The Law. In The bastiat collection (pp. 49–94). essay, Ludwig von Mises Institute.
- Self Defense and “Stand Your Ground.” (n.d.). Www.ncsl.org. https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-criminal-justice/self-defense-and-stand-your-ground