That Which Is Seen And That Which Is Not Seen: The Unintended Consequences Of Government Spending
byFrédéric Bastiat
Bravo, this was a great long essay by Frédéric Bastiat, a French classical liberal theorist and member of the French Assembly. Written almost over 170 years ago, this classic is still relevant today, shows how simple principles and a solid, small government can endure over an overly complicated and massive government. History continues to repeat itself, as hard lessons of the past are lost in ignorance and ego. That which is seen and that which is not seen is an informative essay on the principles of Austrian economics and talks about the harms of too much government spending and budget deficits.
Motivations to Read
During my early college years, when Ron Paul was running for president I was inspired by his libertarian message and I started to be more conscious and question the extent of the government's involvement. I am also very interested in system dynamics and That Which is Seen and That Which is not looks to explore many government policies that can have widely varying macroeconomic results. Bastiat's classic has stood the test of time, and his analysis is valid even today.
3 Reasons to Read
- Gain a better understanding of government and the political economy
- Insights into the dangers of Government spending, written over 165 years ago and still applicable today
- A book by one of the founding fathers of libertarianism
