Wrote Bastiat:

…the most ardent wish of a refugee, after the one of ending his exile, is to practise some trade in order to create some resources for his survival. But for that, he must choose the location of his residence; those who can be useful in commercial enterprises should be able to go to towns where there are such enterprises, those who want to do some industrial activity should be able to go to industrial regions, those who have some talents should go to cities encouraging those talents. Furthermore, they should not be expelled at any moment, nor live with the sword of arbitrary measures hanging above their heads.1

In fond remembrance of Frédéric Bastiat, on the celebration of 200 years since his birth, allow me to parody this topic in a manner that Bastiat might appreciate. One of Bastiat's most famous essays was about candle makers who wanted to ban light and heat from the sun in order to protect local industry. Why not protect labour in a similar manner?

The Petition of the Candlemakers, Part Deux

From the Makers of Candles, Tapers, Lanterns, Candlesticks, Street Lamps, Snuffers, and Extinguishers, and from the Producers of Tallow, Oil, Resin, Alcohol, and Generally of Everything Connected with Working.

To the Honorable Members of the Chamber of Deputies. Gentlemen:

We are suffering from the ruinous competition of rivals who apparently work in such a far superior manner that they are flooding the domestic market with great diligence and an incredibly low price. From the moment they begin to work, our work ceases, all the consumers turn to them, and a branch of French labour whose ramifications are innumerable is all at once reduced to complete stagnation. These rivals are appearing everywhere around US, they are none other than millions of birth newcomers—infants born into our midst, destined to take our jobs and our industry.

We ask you to be so good as to pass a law requiring the closing of all openings through which they might enter to destroy our livelihood—in short, seal all wombs and secure these passages by the engagement of all necessary guards and patrols.