For all of his keen insights into economics and government, Frederic Bastiat was not infallible. In his Freeman column today, Sheldon Richman points out that he didn’t entirely grasp the mutual benefits of trade.

Every writer should be closely read and questioned. Alas, most people fall into the tribal mentality where people regarded as “on our side” are automatically presumed right and those who are in the other tribe are automatically presumed wrong.