Government Plundering or Plundering Government ?

"Men naturally rebel against the injustice of which they are victims. Thus, when plunder is organized by law for the profit of those who make the law, all the plundered classes try somehow to enter -- by peaceful or revolutionary means -- into the making of laws. According to their degree of enlightenment, these plundered classes may propose one of two entirely different purposes when they attempt to attain political power: Either they may wish to stop lawful plunder, or they may wish to share in it."

-- Frederic Bastiat
(1801-1850) French economist, statesman, and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before -- and immediately following -- the French Revolution of February 1848

Source: "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat (1848)

http://liberty-tree.ca/research/TheLaw
http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote_blog/Frederic.Bastiat.Quote.5EF4