The Law by Frederic Bastiat

The Law was first published in French in 1848.  The book was written in response to a socialist movement that was occurring at the time of publication in France.  Though the book was written 170 plus years ago, the book is as relevant today as it was when the book was first published. 

Frederic Bastiat in a short 70 pages provides a fully comprehensive argument for protecting freedom, liberty as well as the law from social engineers.  Bastiat utilizes “The Law” to support his argument of individual right to legal defense. 

Though the book can easily be read in an hour to fully comprehend the books premise along with the principles contained therein requires time to ponder the concepts and ideas presented.  This book “The Law” is packed with eye-opening information making the book invaluable to understanding man’s rights. 

Frederic Bastiat

Frederic Bastiat was a French author, economist and law maker.  As an author Bastiat had written several books on economics.  Many of these books are still prized for their contribution to free market economics.  His pamphlet “The Law” is highly prized today for its comprehensive treatise on the purpose of law to protect man’s unalienable rights. 

Bastiat was ill when he wrote “The Law”.  He died a year after its publication.  Bastiat was a French patriot concerned that the valued things of the society he cherished and loved were being allowed to disintegrate

Bastiat uses “The Law” to argue that law is force utilizing government authority.  He calls legal plunder specialty groups desiring advantages over groups currently not in power.  Bastiat felt that society would be better off with fewer leaders along with our fellow beings seeking control over their own actions.  The Law describes how as citizens of a free society freedom can be preserved avoiding excessive government creating legal injustice.

Recap

This book is a must read for anyone desiring to understand freedom, liberty along with the proper role of government required to protect man’s unalienable rights.  Reading “The Law” will alter your present assumptions about the purpose of government as well as our individual obligation to society. 

The Thomas Jefferson Center highly recommends reading Frederic Bastiat’s treatise “The Law”.  Reading this book will increase your overall understanding of life, liberty, freedom along with the role of government.  This is an important book that every student should be introduced. 

The book is available online as an ebook as well as in a paper back version.  

The Majesty of God’s Law

The Majesty of God’s Law was researched and written by W. Cleon Skousen.  Once again Cleon Skousen is able to take a complex subject making it easy to understand.  This treatise focuses on the Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution their writings about the research into determining what form of government would best meet the needs of a free people.  Dr. Skousen delves into the principles the Founders discovered that are encased within the constitution.

The Majesty of God’s Law uses the historical events around the Founder’s exploration for a suitable government as a backdrop to fully analyze the principles of good government.  The Founders search for an acceptable government model to emulate included the Bible, Greek, Roman as well as Anglo-Saxon writings and history.  Though the book is historical its primary focus is the principles that guarantee our freedom.

The book is well researched easy to follow and understand.  The Majesty of God’s Law provides an understanding of the principles that foster and support freedom.  This book is a must read for anyone seeking to fully understand freedom along with the safe guards that a government constitutional document must contain in order for the citizenry to maintain freedom.

A Constitution under Attack

From its enactment in 1789 the United States Constitution has been under attack.  Benjamin Franklin after the constitution had been written was asked by a woman stating “Sir, What have you given us”.  Benjamin Franklin replied “a Republic, Madam, if you can keep it.”  That original constitution lasted a mere thirty years before alterations were made.

Dr. Skousen details the events and circumstances that have eroded our original constitution.  Our political party system is NOT part of our original governing constitutional document.  The first president of the United States George Washington was not a member of a political party. 

The Founders saw definite negative consequences from an establishment of political parties.  A mere thirty years later the two political party system was introduced into our governmental operations.  Changes or modifications to the constitution have continued to erode the freedoms contained within the original constitutional document. 

Central Bank

Dr. Skousen uses the historical interactions between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton to discuss the principles of a free market money system as well as the threat to the preservation of our freedoms.  Alexander Hamilton was a fervent supporter of a central bank where as Thomas Jefferson was adamantly against any type of a central bank.  George Washington was fearful of national debt and sided with Hamilton.  Cleon Skousen uses this historical event to critic the dangers of a central bank to maintaining the freedoms of the people. 

Unalienable Rights

The Founding Fathers believed that our freedoms are God given.  Historically governments prior to the enactment of the U. S. Constitution did not adequately protect the unalienable rights of the people.  The U. S. Constitution was designed to limit government protecting the freedom of the people from government oppression.

The Majesty of God’s Law

Though “The Majesty of God’s Law” is an easy read, it is not a book you should rush through.  The principles and concepts presented by Dr. Skousen require thought along with personal analysis.  We highly recommend this book as you continue your education in understanding the U. S. Constitution.

The Cleansing of America

Of all the published works of W. Cleon Skousen this book is unique.  Dr. Skousen after working diligently to research and write the book did NOT want it published.  The completed manuscript was presented to his family both immediate and extended family members for their personal edification.

The Skousen family was instructed that “The Cleansing of America” was not to be published during his life time but at such a time when politically everything will seem dark and hopeless.  Dr. Skousen then continued on to clarify the correct time to publish this book.

Cleon Skousen described a time when the U. S. Constitution would be thought by many to be irrelevant.  Concurrently with the political unrest the United States would be in a period of economic turmoil nearing a possible collapse.  That the electorate would abandon well known established principles for temporary “patchwork” approaches that would worsen the overall situation. 

 
In 2010 the Skousen family decided that the time W. Cleon Skousen had described has come to pass so the book “The Cleansing of America” has been published.  Dr. Skousen wrote numerous books both religious as well as historical documenting the development of the freedoms we have today.  The Cleansing of America is an abridgment of these two distinct yet separate subjects.

The Cleansing of America

This book describes the “signs of our times” comparing today with Biblical prophecy of old as well as modern-day prophecy.  Though this treatise has been written from an LDS perspective the book has been written in such a manner where LDS as well as non-LDS will find it easy to comprehend. 

 
Dr. Skousen’s thought process in organizing this book is easy to understand and follow.  Cleon Skousen analyzes prophecy drawing conclusions backing up his thought process with citations.  This allows the reader to acquire an understanding of his position so that they can make an educated decision on their own. 

No Need to Fear

The conditions leading to the cleansing of America are quite extreme.  Many people may find future prospects to be fearful.  This was not Dr. Skousen’s intent in writing the book.  He sees the development of these developments as a time for hope.  Hope due to the blessings that will be brought about by the events happening.  We only need to align our lives with the principles contained in the scriptures. 

Recap

Dr. Skousen’s writing style and book organization make this an easy read.  I am sure the book will be enlightening awakening desires to correct our lives to more fully live the standards we know are true and appropriate. 

 
W. Cleon Skousen was one of the great minds of the last century possessing the ability to simplify otherwise complex principles into easy to understand segments.  By combing the segments together the complex became understandable.

Dr. Cleon Skousen had an illustrious career serving in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, later serving as a police chief of Salt Lake City.  W. Cleon Skousen also served tenure as a professor at Brigham Young University.  In addition he authored many books covering a multitude of subjects of which “The Cleansing of America” was the last published. 

The 5000 Year Leap is a treatise detailing the development and growth of society.   The United States of America as a result of following historically proven principles of liberty, freedom and prosperity has greatly enhanced the living standards of all mankind. 

A Noble Experiment

These principles have been discovered by earlier societies though not used simultaneously with one another.  For the first time in history a government was established built to initiate a “great noble experiment” testing whether these historical individually proven
principles would benefit the newly formed government of the United States. 

The creation of the U. S. Constitution began a great experiment that has created a remarkable period of growth and development along
with awakening man’s personal liberty, and freedom.  The 5000 Year Leap details the progression leading to the creation of the United States, development of man’s freedoms that have led to the greatest period of prosperity experienced by mankind.

In a short 200 years mankind has grown considerably making a 5000 year leap.   Though not all growth occurred in America, the flow of liberty, 
freedom and prosperity which the American Founders awakened in the world has caused this magnificent development world-wide. 

28 Great Ideas

Dr. Skousen uses “The 5000 Year Leap” to introduce us to “28 ideas that changed the world.”  Though the American Founding Fathers had not originated these ideas and principles they were instrumental in assembling the principles into a singular package creating an unparalleled period of success and prosperity. 

Today these ideas and principles may seem common as well as old-fashioned.  However these principles have been proven true by history.  The
5000 Year Leap explicitly describes these ideas and principles explaining how our return to these ideals will solve many of the problems we find our society facing today.  This book was written years ago but it is as relevant today as it was when it was originally published. 

As members of society we have lost our connection to the basic elements that make true happiness possible.  The 5000 Year Leap enlightens these principles inviting us to reintroduce these basic qualities back into our lives. 

Every month, the Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Studies will recommend a powerful book that will enhance your knowledge of our country and the Constitution. You can also leave comments on the Book of the Month page and share your feelings and ideas about the current study. Here is some information about this month’s Book of the Month:

“The Naked Communist”

A number of years ago, when Glenn Kimber returned from Vietnam, he asked Dr. Skousen, his father-in-law, if he would teach him what was going on in America and throughout the world. In many ways Vietnam was so confusing because of all the political haggling that was going on pertaining to the war. Glenn loved his country, but was very confused about what was happening, so he wanted Dr. Skousen to teach him.

Dr. Skousen commented that he would teach him if he promised to maintain a balance and love for America. To do this, he recommended that for every book that Glenn read on what was wrong with America, he would read another book about the greatness of America.

Following this counsel, our Book of the Month is about those who oppose the original American government as established by the Founding Fathers. Next month, we will read a book that is positive about America’s founding.

We are comfortable that this approach will be of great benefit to each Healing of America Patriot who desires to know what is happening to our great country, and yet remain optimistic about what they can do to help heal our land.

The first book we will begin with is one of Dr. Skousen’s national best sellers. It explains the people and groups who established devious plans designed to destroy America’s formula of greatness.

Overview: In this hard-hitting book an urgent need is finally fulfilled. In one exciting, readable volume, the incredible story of Communism is graphically told. We believe this to be the most vivid and comprehensive book on the subject ever published. It contains a distillation of more than a hundred books and treatises on Communism, many written by Marxist authors.

We see the Communist the way he sees himself – stripped of propaganda and pretense. Hence the title, “The Naked Communist.” Here is explained Communism’s amazing appeal, its history, its basic and unchanging concepts – even its secret time-table of conquest!

Vital questions are clearly answered –

• Who gave Russia the A-bomb?

• How did the F.B.I. fight the battle of the underground?

• Why did the West lose 600 million allies after World War II?

• What really happened in Korea?

• What is Communism’s great secret weapon?

• Is there an answer to Communism?

• What lies ahead?

In addition, Dr. Skousen lists the 45 astonishing goals of the Communist Party, determining how they planned to demoralize and take over the United States of America. This list is shocking because some 50 years later – today – all these Communist goals have been met.

We would love to read your comments about the book as you read along.

The Making of America

This book “The Making of America” is an enjoyable read.  The writing style is such that you find yourself seeking more information of which the text has supplied ample sources of corroborating reference material.  The book was authored by W. Cleon Skousen several years ago.  Though the book was written several years ago the information contained therein is as relevant today as it was then.

The Making of America begins with a biographical delineation of the man, Thomas Jefferson who discovered the principles behind America’s great awakening of freedom.  The book then follows the path that the American Founding Father’s took in their search for a workable governmental system that would protect the freedom of the populous.

 
Background Information of America’s Formation

 
Cleon Skousen in writing the book wanted to show what writings had influenced America’s Founding Fathers to opt for a governmental system that had never been fully implemented before in all of man’s history.  During the Revolutionary War the colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation which proved to be deficient not providing sufficient authority to the central government.  The founding fathers were fearful of the abuses that are inevitable from an all powerful central authority.  Strengthening of the central government was done slowly after much thought, discussion and deliberation.

The Why & Hows of Capitalism

America’s great renaissance of prosperity and freedom is the result of multiple factors all coming together at the same time.  Adam Smith published “Wealth of Nations” at around the same time period the Founding Fathers were working to frame America’s political and economic system.  The Founding Fathers adopted Adam Smith’s premise thereby directing free men to trade freely among themselves.  Dr. Skousen in his book “The Making of America” uses this part of history to explain capitalism along with why capitalism works.  Free men given the freedom to own property, freedom to try or fail has created the greatest era of prosperity known to mankind.

 
Dissection of the U. S. Constitution

Cleon Skousen then continues with a detailed dissection of the U. S. Constitution using writings of the Founders individually as well as information recorded in the “Federalist Papers.”  The Making of America tells how the U. S. Constitution is unique from all previous governing documents in that it SECURES the rights and powers of the people.

 
Recap – The Making of America

Most books covering legal matters are boring difficult to read and understand.  Dr. Skousen has delved into the constitution uncovering the principles behind the included clauses within the constitution bringing the document alive.  This fact accompanied with his unique writing style makes “The Making of America” an easy enjoyable read for both young and old.  Historical background information provides color to an otherwise dry subject matter.

The book has a very enticing manner that invites the reader to personally delve deeper into the subject.  I have found this quality unique to many of Cleon Skousen’s books.  As an introduction to understanding America’s constitution this book cannot be beat.  It provides the historical background as well as the principles encompassed within this great legal document.