Code Red

It is not true that the function of law is to regulate our consciences, our ideas, our wills, our education, our opinions, our work, our trade, our talents, or our pleasures. The function of law is to protect the free exercise of these rights, and to prevent any person from interfering with the free exercise of these same rights by any other person.

Frederic Bastiat - The Law (1850)


It’s one of the arts of politics. Enforce an official code on the masses because enough will go along with it, making a virtue of the official position, making a virtue of the rules, making a virtue of the law. Remove one word from Bastiat’s first sentence and we arrive at our ultimate destination. As we now know.

It is not true that the function of law is to regulate our consciences, our ideas, our wills, our education, our opinions, our work, our trade, our talents, or our pleasures.