The word on the street is that two days ago the Liberty Dollar headquarters was raided by the FBI and Secret Service. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111602267.html The liberty Dollar is one of the most successful (up until now) “alternative” currencies out there. One thing is for sure, Bernard von NautHous is trooper. He has a relentless committed to the cause of reestablishing Gold and Silver as money. This is a distinctly libertarian pursuit. It is rooted in a strange conviction that we must return to the wisdom of our for fathers to restore justice in our country. Although, reading through some of their literature they make some sense. But the idea of returning to Gold and Silver, in my view, is shockingly naive. Curseth be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the crafstman, and putteth it in a secret place. (Deut. 27:15) Gold and silver money is that abomination of which the scripture speaks. In the Bible we hear of the Golden Calf and the perils that should come to Israel if they worship this “false idol” The Golden Calf is a direct reference to money (both cattle and gold were commons forms of money) but specifically money that was controlled by the priesthood and kept scarce relative to the needs of the people allowing them to lend it out at high interest rates. This gave the priest an immense amount of power which they often abused. In fact the history of all empires arose from this tradition. So those who advocate any kind of limited physical token as money miss the point. They don’t see that the true measure of value is in the heart of each individual–that real value can really only be measured subjectively and is fundamentally abstract. After all, money is nothing but a transaction that involves a credit and a debit, a promise and a debt which is bound by the “good faith” of each party. Yes, we can try to form a “sound” measure of value, but it will never replace the faith nor the integrity of the members of society. When Gold and silver became money people came to objectify value. The value, and thus relationships, became embodied in the thing, not in each human being. People began to mortgage each other and the land for debt. Because money lenders were more concerned with getting their money back than they were with the well-being of those that they lent to, they would possess the property, and in those days, the people themselves (as debt servants) if the debtor was not able to repay the loan. Usury was considered such a serious crime because it eroded the social fabric of society by disenfranchising the main producers, the farmers and agriculturist, while stirring ill feelings and distrust within the tribe or city. This was the basis for the laws against worshipping money (usury) and the Jubilee, the ancient tradition of releasing all slaves, debts and mortgaged land. Please read Michael Hudson’s paper, “The Lost Tradition of Biblical Debt Cancellations.” michael-hudson…Hudson,LostTradition.pdf