Is He a Domestic Terrorist?
Does anybody know Bernard von NotHaus? He is the "monetary architect" convicted in federal court last month. An eight-day trial and less than two hours of deliberation saw the conviction of the man behind the Liberty Dollar. He was found guilty of making coins resembling United States coins and of issuing and passing Liberty Dollar coins intended for use as current money; and of conspiracy against the United States. Von NotHaus could face as much as 20 years in jail and fines of $500,000 on sentencing.
According to federal prosecutors, Liberty coins were marked with the dollar sign; the words "dollar," "USA," "Liberty," "Trust in God" (replacing "In God We Trust") and other features which allegedly sought to perpetrate legitimate U.S. coins. In other words, activities which in today's America... make you a terrorist.
For those who do not recall, the Liberty Dollar first appeared circa 1998 and was treated with the nostalgic fondness befitting a novelty item. In those days of booming funny money, von NotHaus was treated like a charming eccentric. His "inflation proof" currency which sought to establish an alternative to the U.S. Dollar, was hardly news worthy.
What a Difference a Decade Makes
In November 2007 federal investigators raided the Liberty Dollar's headquarters. Federal agents seized nearly two tons of coins featuring Ron Paul's image. They also took about 500 pounds of silver and 40 to 50 ounces of gold. The feds are currently seeking the forfeiture of about 16,000 pounds of Liberty Dollar coins and precious metals, valued at nearly $7 million. Last month the following words accompanied the von NotHaus conviction:
Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism, while these forms of anti-government activities do not involve violence, they are every bit as insidious and represent a clear and present danger to the economic stability of this country. We are determined to meet these threats through infiltration, disruption and dismantling of organizations which seek to challenge the legitimacy of our democratic form of government.
Pretty amazing. Pretty scary. Pretty inefficient. Armed robbery is not so complex. Why waste taxpayer dollars with false judicial protocol? Putting a loaded gun in the man's mouth would be so much easier. Not to mention... far more genuine.
We have had sham trials in this country before. This is nothing new. It is, however, a loud and clear message to the public as to what their free will is worth. Nothing.
For the record, there is absolutely no Constitutional provision banning individuals from using an exchange medium of their own choice. Funny how Food Stamps are fine, but Silver is not.
The von NotHaus sham trial is yet another spit in the face of individual rights and freedoms. Notions which are quickly becoming extinct in order to preserve the interests of a select few groups. It is the perfect dance partner to the Bradley Birkenfeld decision of 2009. It is a stark reminder of who the real criminals are and how far they will go to lock up the truth. One can only imagine how long before impure thoughts become an actionable offense which defines the domestic terrorist...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527487039837045762774318138261…
"The solution to the problem is equally simple. First, in order to limit Fed discretion, the dollar must be made convertible to a weight unit of gold by congressional statute—at a price that preserves the level of nominal wages in order to avoid the threat of deflation. Second, the government must at the same time be prohibited from financing its deficit at the Fed or in the banks—both at home or abroad. Third, only in the free market for true savings—undisguised by inflationary new Federal Reserve money and banking system credit—will interest rates signal to voters the consequences of growing federal government deficits."
The whole Liberty Dollar story is so messed up. You might remember I covered the government seizure of NORFED silver earlier this month:
http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/blog/feds-seek-forfeiture-of-7-million-i…
von NotHaus is just another innocent caught in the federal meat grinder.
Damn, sorry dude...forgot all about it.
P.S. You support domestic terrorism!
I think people have begun to confuse the term terrorist with annoyance.
Is it ironic that as I was reading this there was an advertisement on the side by Pinnacle Gold Group who had coins with terms such as "Liberty", "United States of America", and "In God We Trust"?
Is that Bill Lumbergh in the pic?
$7mm is how much compared to the money supply? People have been using regional currencies for a long time. Washington needs to quit getting their panties in a bunch.
The government is scared that a real currency backed by substance could hurt the U.S. I understand their fear, but at the same time the government allows us to hold gold and silver, how long until they come for that?
This is ridiculous. So much for the land of the free...welcome to the police state.
There have been secondary "currencies" in many times/places in this country. What about casino chips? What about company currency (i.e. mining towns)?
The funny part is that the idiots prosecuting this have no concept of how much damage (even if just symbolic) they are doing to their own country. Fuck them.
I don't understand what this guy was ultimately hoping to accomplish, and why everyone feels so compelled to defend him. Nobody lives in total freedom unless maybe you take a ship to the middle of the Pacific ocean. If you do something that can potentially undermine the united states, you risk the consequences. Right or wrong, that's how it is and always has been. I would not be surprised if someone that isn't very educated or just immigrated to the US confused the liberty dollar as being govt currency. Also he was given plenty of warning. The US has enough economic problems as it is without having to worry about some dude trying to cause widespread circulation of a fake currency.
Officiis non blanditiis molestiae nam. Et dolore eum perspiciatis accusamus aut voluptas sunt. Eius omnis illum id dolor accusamus voluptatem ut. Temporibus consequatur omnis laborum sunt vitae et modi in.
Molestiae aut quod corrupti. Nihil sapiente autem voluptas qui sit. Vel alias eum dolores. Ex velit sequi eum eaque voluptates.
Repellendus vel ea voluptas est eos eaque. Eum exercitationem deserunt assumenda non. Culpa laboriosam dolorum deserunt ea. Non qui accusantium ut sit. Enim ratione in totam aut quibusdam amet hic et.
Exercitationem ad impedit sint nesciunt expedita dignissimos quibusdam maiores. Et ea similique aperiam voluptatibus itaque doloribus. Qui et et vero quia. Consequatur quis rerum et praesentium qui sunt. Consequatur molestias inventore fugiat ea quia tempora eaque enim. Nostrum deleniti et molestias delectus qui.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...