In 1845, Frédéric Bastiat wrote a parody of government lobbying in which the candlemakers of France call upon the government to take action against a foreign competitor:

We candlemakers are suffering from the unfair competition of a foreign rival. This foreign manufacturer of light has such an advantage over us that he floods our domestic markets with his product. And he offers it at an absurdly low price. The moment this foreigner appears in our country, all our customers desert us and turn to him...This foreign manufacturer who competes with us without mercy is none other than the sun itself!  (Read more)  (and check out John Stossel's take on Bastiat)

Bastiat was to France what free trade proponent Richard Cobden was to Britain and his eloquent essays have inspired many to support and defend the elimination of trade barriers. He also inspired the Bastiat Prize for Journalism and Bastiat Prize for Online Journalism.

If you are a writer who, like Bastiat, eloquently and wittily explains the merits of free trade and/or other institutions of the free society, we strongly encourage you to enter. If you know someone who should enter, please encourage them to do so. With a prestigious track record and total prize money of $18,000, these are major Prizes. Deadline for entries is June 30!