Most things you purchase today were probably the product of theft somewhere down the line. “How can that be?” you may ask. Well, let’s start with the most simple example: food.

A farmer hears that the government is subsidizing corn this year because it has the potential to be used as a fuel and thus an alternative to oil. Let’s say you buy your corn directly from the farmer. A transaction involving only two people (no middle men), the grower and the consumer, except there is an X factor in this equation: the government subsidy.

After all, where did the money for the subsidy come from? That’s right. You and me. Now you might be alright with subsidizing farmers to grow corn, but I’m not. I don’t even like corn! Yet, the government took my money and transferred it to the farmer, who then transferred it to you via lower corn prices.

You (and the farmer) have effectively stolen my money. You didn’t mean to steal my money; you just really like fresh corn on the cob, and so you decided to buy some. By now you are probably saying, “That’s not fair! I can’t be held morally responsible.”

And I ask, then who is responsible?

The government? The one that is supposed to be, by the people, of the people, and for the people? It’s your government. You elected the representatives. You sat idly by while they subsidized farmers to grow more corn than the market determined was needed.

But you only had the best of intentions, after all, our dependence on foreign oil funds oppressive dictators and terrorists! We needed a solution and what’s better than a homegrown solution?

Except…it turns out that making ethanol from corn is ineffective, it takes more energy to turn corn into ethanol than the energy gained from the fuel! Not only that, but we have also now burned up a great deal of the world’s food. Places that actually rely our corn so that they can eat are now starving…

Oddly enough the government in all of its infinite wisdom didn’t foresee any of this, but the free market would have foreseen it all. Because no farmer would have been growing extraneous corn without the government paying them to do so, and thus no imbalance in the corn market would have occurred. And even if some farmer had been growing corn extra corn, no producer of Ethanol would’ve been dumb enough to waste money burning corn as fuel. And even if some business had been dumb enough they wouldn’t last very long, as they would be out of business much more quickly with higher corn prices and ineffective methodology.

Even more absurd is the fact that there is a crop, which could be grown quickly and easily without chemicals, and would supply us with enough fuel to not even need foreign oil. But the government has made growing this plant illegal!

Yes. I’m talking about Hemp. If we were to grow 7% (that’s all) of the world’s Hemp we would no longer be dependent on foreign oil. Do you think that if it were not illegal to grow farmers would need subsidies to grow such a crop? Not a chance.

Farmers would grow what makes them money, just like Wal-Mart sells the products that make them money. You would think it was absurd if the government was subsidizing the sale of the Nintendo Wii. Yet, the majority of people never question our country’s numerous government subsidies. Not to even mention the waste that occurs from lack of oversight of government funds.

So, the next time someone tells you that the unfettered free (redundant I know) market caused the economic recession, you should laugh in their face. Our market is no freer than the Chinese Press. Between congress’ laws (Cap and Trade), taxes (Corporate Income Tax and “Sin” Taxes), regulations (like those put upon the Auto Industry), and monetary inflation (from The Federal Reserve) inevitably one section of the economy is harmed and another rewarded. My money and your money is stolen and given to someone else, and believe me it ain’t the poor people.

Government subsidies of any kind are not only bad for the economy, they are morally reprehensible.

A Copy is Never Theft

Ideas are the only infinite resource. Everything else cannot be copied infinitely. If I have a loaf of bread, I can’t simply place it on the copy machine and make two loaves. But if I copy a book or a software program or a movie, then I now have two where I formerly had one. If it were your movie or your book, I have deprived you of nothing. If it was your idea then you still (mentally) retain the idea, and you have been deprived of zero physical property.

Mercantilism is Dead

Intellectual property rights were born out of mercantilism and governments failed attempts to keep “capital” within their own countries. Before the printing press the idea of “owning the intellectual rights” to your work was a non-issue. Copying books was very expensive and if your work was copied, you had received the ultimate form of flattery. This applied in all disciplines, including music and art.

Today, we understand the economic destruction a mercantilist systems causes, but cling to the idea of intellectual property rights, mostly via our patent system.

Fashion, Scents, and Emulation Innovation

Oddly enough, certain “intellectual property” remains outside the protection of the law. You can’t patent a scent. If I can figure out the formula for CK One and copy it, then I can market and sell it without any laws requiring me to pay royalties or give credit. Although admittedly, I would probably put on the label “compare to CK One!” to raise my sales.

The world of fashion also evades “intellectual property” laws. Every year, thousands of designers compete to create the latest fashion. Every year six months later you can buy clothes identical to those found at Talbots (TLB) at your local Wal-Mart (WMT).

Yet, Talbots not only remains in business but fashion is the second largest producing enterprise in the world (after automobiles). If the regulators and advocates of intellectual property law were right, then shouldn’t all the fashion designers be bankrupt? I know of at least one grave that should read: Christian Dior, Died Poor.

What the “Pirate” Teaches Us

Remember when VHS and cassettes were supposed to be the end of the music and movie industries? Those industries that felt threatened by such innovations quickly ran to the government to pass protectionist laws. Those who embraced the new technology like BluRay continue to reap the rewards.

Today, it will be no different for those who seek to profit off the likes of The Pirate Bay and online live streaming sites such as Megavideo or Justin.Tv. Many companies will bankrupt themselves paying for lawsuits in one last ditch effort to survive, but many more will thrive.

Capitalism could be called one giant conspiracy to reduce all profits to zero. I find it ironic the only system that will ever successfully achieve that which is the ultimate goal of socialism is freedom. When left to the free market, competition reigns supreme. Everyone is forced to innovate or die. History shows us that time and time again any company which ignores this fact will die not with a bang but a whimper.

Are you looking for those companies that stay on the cutting edge and find ways to profit from the internet and data revolution? Or are you relying on the government and laws to protect your investments? Let me hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Fight the Power,

Nicholas (aka Dare)

The crimes of our government are indeed too numerous to list them all, but some of the more egregious offenses include restriction of liberty through excessive taxation for the purpose of redistributing wealth, maintaining a monopolistic control over the means of money and credit, propagating inflation and the subsequent devaluation of the only legal tender allowed by law, subsidization of the immoral behavior of banks and bankers, the jailing of criminals who have committed victimless crimes, the sending of our men and women to fight unnecessary wars as well as unlawfully occupying other countries for the benefit of those in power while simultaneously spying on its own citizens without first obtaining the proper warrants.

It is because of the above mentioned policies that if any man, woman, or child should choose to fight back peacefully either by not paying taxes or impeaching the whole of the government he/she would be entirely justified in their actions.

The Constitution of Freedom

An individual owns his/her life, labor, and the product of his/her labor. People are free and no government, law or collective action of any kind shall infringe upon their freedoms, namely those of life, choice, belief, action, and property. A person’s freedom is infinite so long as it does not infringe upon the freedoms of another, cause bodily harm to another, or damage another’s property.

No person can be the property of another person, government or collective.

No ruling body is necessary for a functioning society. No government can make law restricting rights or freedoms.

People have the right to individual defense of their own life, liberty, and property. No army is permitted during times of peace; this does not include security forces for the purposes of personal protection of life, liberty, and property. No military war shall be waged for the purpose of conquest. If an army is formed it shall be for defense only. No army nor the government or collective it represents has a right to the land or property of any other individual or collective.

The will of the people can never take precedent over the rights and freedoms of the individual.

Law is justice. A law shall be invalid if it stands in violation of the rights or freedoms of an individual except in cases of reparations for payment of damages to another person or their property. Any law that promotes injustice in any form is invalid. Any law which would plunder a person’s life or property for the benefit of another person or group is invalid.

No tax shall be levied upon any individual or group of individuals. No tariffs shall be levied upon foreigners as this is a hidden tax upon the people. No inflation of any money supply is allowed without the consent of all the holders of that money.

No government can determine what is or is not money. No person must accept any form of payment that he/she determines to be unfit as proper payment for his/her goods or services.

Morality can not be imposed upon a person. No law shall be made in an attempt to impose morality on anyone. No crime can occur without a victim. If the rights or property of a person are infringed upon he/she make seek just compensation by bringing a complaint against the offender to be tried before a jury of peers presided over by an arbitror agreed upon by both parties.

The only public property is of that necessary to travel; this is to protect the freedom of movement. No one may prevent someone from traversing his/her land if their means are peaceful and nondestructive; this does not apply to a person’s or people’s private residence, only to pathways essential to commerce. If destruction does occur from such travel, just compensation for damages may be sought.

No restrictions of any kind shall be placed upon what may be owned by an individual. No restrictions or regulations may be put upon any business as no person may be forced to purchase the goods or services of another against his/her will.

No person shall commit fraud or in any way deceive another person in a voluntary exchange of goods or services. All contracts whether verbal or written are binding. In cases of fraud a person may seek just compensation by bringing a complaint against the offender to be tried before a jury of peers presided over by an arbitrator agreed upon by both parties.

The signer(s) of this document believe(s) that the government which governs least governs best, and that people should not be accountable to the government but the government accountable to the people. I ask nothing which I can not rightfully earn of my own accord, and demand only to be allowed to keep that which I earn. I ask no assistance from any government as anything the government has is not theirs to give. I hold all governments to the same standards expected of all people, namely not to plunder one person or group to profit another, to respect life, liberty, choice and property and deem any government which does not act in accordance with these laws as unlawful, unjust, invalid, and an atrocity in the history free acting people.

No matter who you are or what your income, you can retire today. Here’s how:

The Fed recently said it will leave interest rates unchanged at 0.00% to 0.25%. Helicopter Ben believes their is a low danger of inflation due to high unemployment. Let’s pretend for a moment that inflation is not strictly a monetary phenomenon and could simply be defined as “an increase in the money supply.” Don’t worry that the money supply has actually doubled. Just put your faith in Old Ben.

How to Retire Without Money

First, drive/fly/walk/run to your local Federal Reserve Bank, or go straight to the source in Washington, DC. Ask to talk to Ben. Tell him Nick sent you. Tell him that you understand how tough these economic times are, and that you want to do him a favor. Due to the lack of liquidity in the credit market you are going to help out the biggest of all “too-big-to-fail” banks. All he needs to do is give you a $1,000,000,000 loan at 0.00% interest. Heck, if you have bad credit you will even settle for the 0.25% rate.

In the Citi!

Now take your billion and head down to the nearest Citibank. Tell that you would like to make a deposit. I suspect the conversation will go a little like this:

Teller: Hi. Welcome to Citi. How can I help you.

You: I would like to open a savings account.

Teller: Excellent! How much would you like to deposit?

You: (pinky finger held at corner of mouth) One billion dollars!

Teller: Very funny sir.

You: (Show them your Federal Reserve check signed by Ben) Here you go.

Teller: (Mouth agape.) Let me get my manager.

Commercial Break

Living Off the Interest

Just a quick glance at Citi’s current savings account rates shows that their Ultimate Savings Account (which you will certainly qualify for….) pays an annual interest of 1.19%. Which means if you had good credit and got the 0.00% interest loan you are now making $19 million/year on the interest alone, and if you got the 0.25% (cause you had bad credit) you are making a measly $9.4 million. Either way you should be able to retire to the life of luxary.

Doin’ Nothin’, Nothin’ Doin’

While you are sitting on the beach somewhere sipping on an Italian Margarita you may start to wonder at this magic money trick, and how fractional reserve banking and fiat money managed to steal from the poor to give to the wealthy, but put that out of your mind. Instead, think about how cool a trick it is to be able to make money from nothing and to get your chicks for free!

After all, you have just injected a billion dollars liquidity back into the markets into a struggling bank that was really pressed for cash. They can now loan that money out to small business owners at exorbitant rates. The streets will flow with money again. House prices will rise forever. Buffett will buy an entire Railroad!

Don’t worry that you didn’t actually add any real production to the economy. Forget the fact that you didn’t have to work for an honest dollar like the common man. You are a member of the elite now. And when billions of dollars are involved you can afford not to have conscience.

Just remember that the Fed and all the banks they lend to have been getting away with the exact same practice for years now.