Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Libertarian Discussion Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Richard Babusek who wrote (2820)	5/12/1999 3:24:00 PM
From: Don Lloyd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13062

Ricardo - (...that's an interesting utilitarian response, but is there a moral reason to stop or allow the benevolent counterfeiter? One that Joe sixpack could understand?) The only moral issue is the infinitesimal effective tax dispersed over the entire economy without knowledge or permission. With a time machine the counterfeiter could observe the purchases made with the money and just supply those instead of the money and be considered as a philanthropist. Like any other real world tax, it is the functional equivalent of theft. Certainly the moral issue pales in comparison with any real government actions. If the counterfeiter were to invent a way to cheaply crystallize gold out of seawater and distribute that instead, there would be no problem at all and the understanding would be no problem either. -g- Regards, Don

To: Richard Babusek who wrote (2820)	5/26/1999 12:41:00 AM
From: MeDroogies	Respond to of 13062

I don't think there is one Joe Sixpack can understand, but you can compare him to the benevolent despot. No harm done, but potential harm is vast. While this one is good, the next one may be out of control. The obvious difference here is that the despot is working from a position of power, which increases his potential for harm exponentially. The counterfeiter is a grassroots movement and while he can cause some problems, they are likely to be of a far less important scale.