Talk:Frédéric Bastiat

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Bastiat also has this interesting quote: "The plans differ; the planners are all alike."

By the way, I would remove capitalist from that introductory "was an early capitalist economist and classical liberal French author." Besides the fact that capitalist is such an undetermined term, it is further confusing because people will associate it with the meaning at the time -- some economics then believed that better capital resulted in unemployment, many were against industrialization. Replace it by "free market" or "laissez-faire" if you must. I would just remove it though because you follow saying he was a liberal, so the reader already understands where he stands. --82.155.154.46 09:29, 13 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not to be pedantic but most liberals in American and European politics are not free market, laissez-faire advocates. Most are, quite the opposite. I have no comment on capitalist vs. free market but removing it completely would not let people know where he stood. -- Greyed 09:44, 13 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
The term 'liberal' in the article does no refer to the version associated with American and European politicians of today. It is key to use the entire term, "classical liberal" to better understand. This page explains: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberalism I agree that "free market" or "laissez faire" would probably be better.

Dropped two unsourced quotes, which can’t be found on fr.wikisource.org which has the complete works of Bastiat :

  • When goods do not cross borders, soldiers will.
  • “Everyone wants to live at the expense of the State. They forget that the State lives at the expense of everyone.”

Some similar quotes :

  • The State, having nothing but resources taken from the people can not bestow liberally among the people. (“L’État, n’ayant rien qu’il ne l’ait pris au peuple, ne peut pas faire au peuple des largesses.”), in The State
  • Citizens support State. State can’t support citizens. (“Les citoyens font vivre l’état. L’état ne peut faire vivre les citoyens. ”), in Fatal illusions]

-- Sloonz 12:46, 31 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]