May 22, 2009
Time to Legalize Counterfeiting
By Harold Witkov
Many Americans today believe certain illegal vices in our society should be
decriminalized, taxed, and regulated. The most popular of these vices include
marijuana smoking, prostitution, and all forms of gambling. The proponents for
decriminalization believe that the new tax revenues produced would help support
schools, healthcare, and the impoverished, ease the pain of taxpayers, and
reduce the deficit. They also believe that transgressions such as these will
take place no matter, but, if properly regulated, would be safer for society in
general. It would be a win, win situation.
Unfortunately, when it comes to lowering taxes and helping the downtrodden, the
best-laid government plans seem to fall short of expectations. However, there is
one vice, one small illegal indiscretion, that, if decriminalized would solve
all our problems. The United States needs to legalize the victimless crime known
as counterfeiting.
Once legalized, counterfeiting would be for everyone. This could be accomplished
by making Federal Reserve Note paper (complete with silk threads, watermarks,
etc.) available to the public. With the correct paper, most computers with the
right software would have no trouble replicating U.S. currency. If a household
did not have a computer, special over- the-counter counterfeit kits could be
made available, with instructions in both English and Spanish.
Once in place, universal counterfeiting would prove to be the ultimate stimulus
package for the economy. Employees would always have enough money and never have
to go on strike. Citizens would have no trouble paying their mortgages and never
face foreclosure. Everyone would gladly pay his or her taxes and there would be
no need to have an IRS.
Free market consumerism would return with a flourish. People would purchase
whatever they wanted and stores would only have to worry about having enough
merchandise on hand. Stores could charge the consumer whatever they wanted and
the consumer could still afford. Every shopping day would be like the day after
Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas.
Once legalized, counterfeiting would still have to be regulated. Parity and
fairness would dictate that families earning over $250,000 would only be allowed
to print $1, $2, $5 and $10 denominations. Families with combined incomes of
less than $250,000 could print $20 and $50 bills. The unemployed could print
$100 bills, and ACORN workers and UAW members would be entitled to counterfeit a
new denomination, something even larger than the $100 bill (with President Obama
on the front).
Universal counterfeiting could be the entitlement program that ends all other
entitlement programs and sets us free. It is time to stand up and tell our
legislators we want universal counterfeiting. If they protest, "You cannot just
print money," then promptly respond in kind, "Why not? It works for you."
Page Printed from: http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/time_to_legalize_counterfeitin_1.html
at May 22, 2009