My Thoughts on Fredric Bastiat & "The Law"

[niemivh]

Here's my blog.  Check out what I think about Fredric Bastiat's "The Law".

http://reformedlibertarian.blogspot.com/2012/08/friedrich-basiats-law-please-quit.html

Discuss.

 

[myrkul]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

[niemivh]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

[myrkul]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

Calling your writings uninteresting does not equate to the intellectual acumen of the population slipping. You are not the be-all and end-all of scholars.

[TheButterZone]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

What ever, GOD!

[Dalkore]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

[myrkul]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

So, you're advocating the intellectual acumen of the population slipping towards animalistic barbarism?

[Dalkore]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

So, you're advocating the intellectual acumen of the population slipping towards animalistic barbarism?

Nope, just advocating a user of this forum pointing it out in this thread.

[myrkul]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

So, you're advocating the intellectual acumen of the population slipping towards animalistic barbarism?

Nope, just advocating a user of this forum pointing it out in this thread.

So you're agreeing with him. Glad we came to that understanding.

[cryptoanarchist]

I haven't looked, but my guess is a bunch of long winded bullshit.

@niemivh: "The Law" is a short book because the truth can be summed up in simple, short sentences. Only bullshit needs all the extra verbosity.

[Dalkore]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

So, you're advocating the intellectual acumen of the population slipping towards animalistic barbarism?

Nope, just advocating a user of this forum pointing it out in this thread.

So you're agreeing with him. Glad we came to that understanding.

Actually if you took time to read the thread, he was pointing out your comment above that quote.   Your attempt at whit actually provided material for a quite entertaining comment.

[myrkul]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

So, you're advocating the intellectual acumen of the population slipping towards animalistic barbarism?

Nope, just advocating a user of this forum pointing it out in this thread.

So you're agreeing with him. Glad we came to that understanding.

Actually if you took time to read the thread, he was pointing out your comment above that quote.   Your attempt at whit actually provided material for a quite entertaining comment.

Are you really that dense?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=99985.msg1098029#msg1098029

[Dalkore]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

So, you're advocating the intellectual acumen of the population slipping towards animalistic barbarism?

Nope, just advocating a user of this forum pointing it out in this thread.

So you're agreeing with him. Glad we came to that understanding.

Actually if you took time to read the thread, he was pointing out your comment above that quote.   Your attempt at whit actually provided material for a quite entertaining comment.

Are you really that dense?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=99985.msg1098029#msg1098029

No but you "seem" clueless on this.  Just try a little harder.

[myrkul]

I don't know what's funnier, that you spent so much time writing all of that, or that you think anyone is actually reading it.

And the intellectual acumen of the population slips another minuscule degree toward total animalistic barbarism.

+1

So, you're advocating the intellectual acumen of the population slipping towards animalistic barbarism?

Nope, just advocating a user of this forum pointing it out in this thread.

So you're agreeing with him. Glad we came to that understanding.

Actually if you took time to read the thread, he was pointing out your comment above that quote.   Your attempt at whit actually provided material for a quite entertaining comment.

Are you really that dense?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=99985.msg1098029#msg1098029

No but you see clueless on this.  Just try a little harder.

I think you mean "seem". Tsk... One would think that someone as intellectual as you would at least proof-read their posts.

Let me know when you actually have an argument to advance, 'k?

[Zinoviev]

Bastiat's central thesis is indelible probably because it is so easy to grasp. Governments and states create parallel, schizophrenic bodies of law: Public Law and Private Law.

Actors who could never get away with theft as private individuals are able to elevate themselves through entry into government and take by the auspices of their "office." Government allows for the exercise of all kinds of anti-social schemes and insanities that through any other method of organization would be rightly labelled criminal. Give a private offense the sanction of legislation, and it is somehow acceptable. This clearly violated Enlightenment conceptions of "universal law," and the long common law traditions (for one) that are its fundaments, and so Bastiat was able to call the law "perverted."

Grounding his observations and rhetorical strategies in their immediate material and historical contexts does not rob his thesis of its impact and clarity. You've confused yourself with your blog post. You aren't thinking clearly. But the attempt is worthy, and you shouldn't stop writing.

[niemivh]

I haven't looked, but my guess is a bunch of long winded bullshit.

@niemivh: "The Law" is a short book because the truth can be summed up in simple, short sentences. Only bullshit needs all the extra verbosity.

Libtards (what I've taken to calling you all because no other name can suffice) don't want to hear anything that they can't fit on the back of an M&M... with a sharpie.

How about this:  "Jargleedom!"

This word means all the problems we face and the solutions for those problems.  It's the obvious choice.  We suffer from a lot of Jargleedom these days but Jargleedom can fix it all.  See how easy that was! 

Alright boys time to get back to drinking Mt. Dew and playing video games all night!  Woo hoo!  We're saviors!

[niemivh]

Bastiat's central thesis is indelible probably because it is so easy to grasp. Governments and states create parallel, schizophrenic bodies of law: Public Law and Private Law.

Actors who could never get away with theft as private individuals are able to elevate themselves through entry into government and take by the auspices of their "office." Government allows for the exercise of all kinds of anti-social schemes and insanities that through any other method of organization would be rightly labelled criminal. Give a private offense the sanction of legislation, and it is somehow acceptable. This clearly violated Enlightenment conceptions of "universal law," and the long common law traditions (for one) that are its fundaments, and so Bastiat was able to call the law "perverted."

Grounding his observations and rhetorical strategies in their immediate material and historical contexts does not rob his thesis of its impact and clarity. You've confused yourself with your blog post. You aren't thinking clearly. But the attempt is worthy, and you shouldn't stop writing.

Funny then how following Bastiat's suggestions and ideas actually lead to a completely 'hands off' approach from the population, and when they don't have power the people that are financing and promoting Bastiat's works will take hold of it.  So by doing what FB says, you're getting exactly what he warns against.  Rather odd, wouldn't you say?

Of course it's not odd to me because I have a modicum of understanding of how the world actually works.

[Zinoviev]

Of course it's not odd to me because I have a modicum of understanding of how the world actually works.

That is mere apologism- and do you see how thoroughly conservative?

Look how you've pivoted from targeting his diagnosis of socialism to targeting his prescriptions.

[niemivh]

Of course it's not odd to me because I have a modicum of understanding of how the world actually works.

Look how you've pivoted from targeting his diagnosis of socialism to targeting his prescriptions.

I'm traditionally a solutions-minded person.  We have enough bellyaching rhetoric about how everything is messed up, what we need is solutions, not more and better descriptions for how fucked everything is.  If you aren't proposing solutions to anything thing you aren't proposing anything - this should be obvious; and why I try to frame everything in the realm of provided solutions since it is what is needed.

So how are those different?  What pivoting are you talking about?  My review covers both Bastiat's diagnoses of the problem and the solutions he proposes.

That is mere apologism- and do you see how thoroughly conservative?

Could you clarify what you mean by that?  I can interpret that to mean a variety of things, and I know how much Libs relish being vague.

[niemivh]

Bastiat's central thesis is indelible probably because it is so easy to grasp. Governments and states create parallel, schizophrenic bodies of law: Public Law and Private Law.

Actors who could never get away with theft as private individuals are able to elevate themselves through entry into government and take by the auspices of their "office." Government allows for the exercise of all kinds of anti-social schemes and insanities that through any other method of organization would be rightly labelled criminal. Give a private offense the sanction of legislation, and it is somehow acceptable. This clearly violated Enlightenment conceptions of "universal law," and the long common law traditions (for one) that are its fundaments, and so Bastiat was able to call the law "perverted."

Grounding his observations and rhetorical strategies in their immediate material and historical contexts does not rob his thesis of its impact and clarity. You've confused yourself with your blog post. You aren't thinking clearly. But the attempt is worthy, and you shouldn't stop writing.

And if you'd like to have a line-by-line analysis and dialogue of the work "The Law" I'm totally willing and able.  I'll just grab my notated copy and we can get started.

Let me know.