U.S. Mint Confiscates 10 Rare Gold Coins

Yahoo | AP ^ | 8/25/05

[FreedomCalls]

>>See my previous post. The difference is that the Mint was going to destroy the coins anyway. That's their legal right, of course, but it does change the situation somewhat. The "thieves" in the case of the coins were in effect rescuing them from the trash can, not taking something that the Mint intended to keep and use (in which case theft of the item would deprive the Mint of the item's utility).

>So it's perfectaly acceptable for an employee of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to take stacks of $100 bills that failed their final quality inspection and are due to be shredded? That's not theft?

Hello. Anyone home? No answer from you on this.

[bjs1779]

So it's perfectaly acceptable for an employee of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to take stacks of $100 bills that failed their final quality inspection and are due to be shredded? That's not theft?

On the other hand, when a President orders the confiscation of real property, gold, and then devalues the paper dollar in return, that is not theft? Where was the bigger crime here?

[FreedomCalls]

On the other hand, when a President orders the confiscation of real property, gold, and then devalues the paper dollar in return, that is not theft? Where was the bigger crime here?

So your solution to that is for US Mint and Bureau of Engraving and Printing employees to steal coins and banknotes from where they work? It's OK as long as you "take if from the man" I guess. I recall a lot of unwashed hippies saying the same thing back in the 60s.

[bjs1779]

So your solution to that is for US Mint and Bureau of Engraving and Printing employees to steal coins and banknotes from where they work? It's OK as long as you "take if from the man" I guess. I recall a lot of unwashed hippies saying the same thing back in the 60s.

Nope, I didn't say that at all so don't put words in my mouth. To counter what you are saying though, do you think it is okay for the government to confiscate property of greater value and issue notes for it for less value? Is that not theft also?

[FreedomCalls]

Is that not theft also?

Not by the laws currently on the books. Change the laws if you don't like them as they are.

[bjs1779]

Not by the laws currently on the books. Change the laws if you don't like them as they are.

Let's just say you are right about the laws. Is it right for the government to steal and the peons can't?

[FreedomCalls]

Is it right for the government to steal and the peons can't?

It's not right for anyone to steal. You can't justify the peons theft by claiming that the government does it, so therefore it's OK either. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[bjs1779]

It's not right for anyone to steal. You can't justify the peons theft by claiming that the government does it, so therefore it's OK either. Two wrongs don't make a right.

That is correct. Now, do the laws make it right for government to steal in your opinion? My problem in this case is that I have little sympathy for a massive thief who got ripped off a little and then uses the law to cash in off the peon years latter.

[Happy2BMe]

#112

[The Red Zone]

If Treasury records truly prove that the Treasury never made the coins publicly available, then the Treasury should get them back.