Was Bastiat against all government?
My argument was not for anarchy, but for a limited government whose sole legitimate function is to protect the natural rights of individuals: life, liberty, and property. The law should be an instrument of justice, not of plunder. When the law goes beyond this to grant special favors, impose taxes for redistribution, or create monopolies, it becomes an engine of oppression and economic distortion. My concern was with the abuses and overreach of government, not its essential role in maintaining order and security.
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