The Obama Administration has convinced a jury of ordinary Americans that Bernard von NotHaus, the creator of the Liberty Dollar, is a terrorist.
“Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism,” U.S. Attorney Tompkins said in announcing the verdict. “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,” she added. “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.”
Bernie is facing up to 25 years in federal prison and $750,000 in fines. In addition, the government has also confiscated approximately seven million dollars worth of gold and silver which belong to him.
What Did Bernie Do?
Bernie took his gold and silver and made it into coins. He also printed receipts which could be used to transfer ownership of gold and silver that was held in secure storage. In effect, he gave the American people a safe and secure free market alternative to the crashing U.S. dollar.
The government convinced a jury that Bernie’s Liberty Dollars were counterfeit U.S. dollars. Even a casual look at the Liberty Dollars shows that this is obviously untrue.
Nonetheless, the jury was convinced to convict Bernie of one count of conspiracy to possess and sell coins in resemblance and similitude of coins of a denomination higher than five cents, and silver coins in resemblance of genuine coins of the United States in denominations of five dollars and greater, one count of mail fraud, and one count of selling, and possessing with intent to defraud, coins of resemblance and similitude of United States coins in denominations of five cents and higher.
The U.S. Constitution
Article I, Section 8, Clause 5 of the United States Constitution gives the Congress the authority to coin money:
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
This clause, however, was not intended to prevent anyone else from creating or using any other form of currency. In fact, many different forms of currency have been used throughout the history of the United States. Current examples include IthicaHours, BerkShares, and BitCoin. These currencies were most common during the “Free Banking Era” of the mid nineteenth century.
Compare Article I, Section 8, Clause 5:
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
By the reasoning used by the Obama administration to condemn Bernie as a terrorist, Federal Express and the United Parcel Service (UPS) are terrorist organizations because they compete with a function of the U.S. Congress.
Ron Paul Speaks on Bernie’s Behalf
For several years now, Representative Ron Paul has been promoting the Free Competition in Currency Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would officially legalize exactly the type of free market currencies which the Obama administration has labeled “terrorism.” Doctor Paul has spoken up on Bernie’s behalf, saying:
“One particular egregious recent example is that of the Liberty Dollar, in which federal agents seized millions of dollars worth of private currency held by a private mint on behalf of thousands of people across the country …. We stand on the precipice of an unprecedented monetary collapse, and as a result many people have begun to look for alternatives to the dollar …. I believe that the American people should be free to choose the type of currency they prefer to use. The ability of consumers to adopt alternative currencies can help to keep the government and the Federal Reserve honest, as the threat that further inflation will cause more and more people to opt out of using the dollar may restrain the government from debasing the currency.”
What Can You Do To Help?
First, contact your congressmen. Let them know exactly how you feel about this immoral abuse of government power. Let them know how you feel about having an autocratic dictatorship arbitrarily destroy your ability to use whatever currencies you as a free human being choose to utilize.
Second, remember how your congressmen responded when it comes time to re-elect, or not re-elect, them. An unresponsive government must be voted out of office and replaced with a government which respects the will of the people. Make your voice be heard in Washington.
