The Law

...not clear that, since interest would be identical and common, some would act without great inconvenience for others.

But let this fatal principle be introduced: that, under the pretext of organization, regulation, protection, or encouragement, the Law may take from some to give to others; that it may draw from the wealth acquired by all classes to increase that of a single class—sometimes that of farmers, sometimes that of manufacturers, merchants, shipowners, artists, or actors. Oh! Certainly, in that case, there is no class that would not claim, with good reason, to also put its hand upon the Law; there is no class that would not demand with fury its right to vote and its eligibility for office; no class that would not sooner overturn society than fail to obtain it. Even the beggars and vagabonds will prove to you that they have incontestable titles to it. They will say to you:

"We never buy wine, tobacco, or salt Salt was historically a heavily taxed and regulated commodity in France (the "gabelle"), often seen as a symbol of regressive taxation. without paying the tax, and a portion of this tax is given by legislation as premiums or subsidies to men wealthier than ourselves. Others use the Law to artificially raise the price of bread, meat, iron, or cloth. Since everyone exploits original: "exploite." In this context, Bastiat refers to the misuse of political power to gain an unfair economic advantage. the Law for their own profit, we want to exploit it too. We want it to produce the Right to