It is also an act that is designed to demonstrate they are asserting control. Arguably much of EPA and federal land regulations are de facto property confiscation. It's simply that much of the people haven't realized that is what it is. And a significant portion of our citizenry is in favor of confiscation. Class warfare is alive, well and still effective.
Nonetheless, there is ample evidence that the government has developed an unhealthy interest in who buys and owns bullion. You and I can argue what the government "intends" to do what that information. But there is no debate what it "can" do with that information, should it choose to do so.
The government's interest in tracking gold and silver purchases is no more benign that its interest in gun purchases. Information is power and they are striving to get as much as possible on each and every one of us.
I'm am becoming convinced that potential unintended consequences is no deterrent to loony fascists. And at crunch time, those in power will probably consider loss of trust to be a worthwhile price to pay for keeping power.
Also, I believe you may be falling into the same logic trap that most of us reasoning people fall into. That is, being rational beings ourselves, we try to ascribe to our adversaries rational thought processes for what is in reality, irrational behavior. You and I aren't interested in controlling every aspect of everyone else's behavior and life. These people are. That's their goal.
If there is a collapse of paper currency, these people may well consider it to their benefit to confiscate gold and silver. And the consequences be damned.
I agree they are not rational, and anyone who has been paying attention knows what they are up to. I suppose they can try, but if “paper money collapses” as you describe it, then by definition they (and everyone else) will have far greater things to worry about.
They may not be rational, but they aren’t complete idiots either. At this point, it’s obvious to even the feeble minded that certain types of politician are determined to crash what’s left of the system, and are no longer representatives of their alleged constituencies. This has been going on for a long time, except that, while you correctly point out the politicians don’t care, the difference today compared with the 1930s is the citizenry doesn’t either.
They can’t effect their nonsense without money, and lots of it. Gold isn’t the answer, it’s part of the question. Whether or not the government confiscates my land, my home, means of self-defense, freedom of religion, peaceable assembly - there I go again, getting all radical!
What about my savings bonds? My 401k? Do they want to criminalize those too? At some point we just gotta dust ourselves off and start over, so in some ways this kind of talk is very welcome.