Debating some twitter followers over the idea that Obama's amnesty violates the libertarian ideal of
national sovereignty, I cited libertarian godfather Frédéric Bastiat's belief that
government exists solely to defend life, liberty, and
property. Thinking about the word "life", I began to wonder what Bastiat would think about abortion. I found the following quote in the godfather's seminal writing
The Law:
Life Is a Gift from God. We hold from God the gift which includes all others. This gift is life -- physical, intellectual, and moral life. But life cannot maintain itself alone. The Creator of life has entrusted us with the responsibility of preserving, developing, and perfecting it.
An agnostic, I have little opinion on abortion. But I'm starting to wonder if Bastiat would have been pro-life.
i've got to hand it to you, seth...you aren't afraid to "go there". have you every thought about talk radio?
ReplyDeleteYes, I had a business show in grad school and I interned at CNN Radio. But haven't (yet) had the opportunity to do anything commercially.
ReplyDeleteOne could easily take this passage from "The Law" and misinterpret it to mean that Bastiat believed that we needed a large and central government to enforce the preservation and development of life. I doubt he meant this in this way.
ReplyDeleteIt is more likely he speaks from the position of an individual - the sovereign - and with regards to ones own life.