The Law

I came across Dean Russell’s translation of Frederic Bastiat’s The Law, published by the Foundation for Economic Education when I began a project of my own in which I intended to write an article or small book logically identifying the purpose of the law. I knew that, in order to have any credibility, I would need to begin with a definition of justice that was readily agreed upon in legal circles. To that end I began a search for a basic, well recognized book on the law. I wanted something fundamental, not a specific case study or a text book, but something that treated on the topic as a whole; when I came across the title of The Law in my search I figured it was as good a place to start as any. It turned out to not be what I was looking for at all, however, it was instead exactly what I would have wanted to write, and I doubt I could have done the subject more justice, or written as convincingly as Bastiat did in his treatise.

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Taxes in Texas

Yesterday I read the intriguing comments of someone claiming to be a Texan who said,

"...Texas does not have a state income tax. Our municipalities depend largely on property taxes. It's insane to hear well-to-do folks whine about their property taxes when there are virtually no other local taxes (besides sales tax). Probably the only way for people to appreciate the services provided based on our tax dollars is to start taking them away. Start with the rich neighborhoods..."¹

I know many people who have this same mindset and felt that I should address the idea before I was forced to hear it one more time from the uninformed masses who consider themselves so well educated. So let's quickly clear up the facts in this ridiculous claim from the "Texan". Here is a list of just a few taxes that real people pay in Texas on a daily or yearly basis, depending on the tax or fee (which is just another name for a tax).

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