Ashcroft calls for more restrictions on use, transport of cash

[Jim Choate]

On Tue, 7 Aug 2001, Greg Broiles wrote:

> According to the Wall Street Journal online -
> 
> >Mr. Ashcroft said Congress should:
> >7       Make bulk cash smuggling a crime. Mr. Ashcroft said the only law 
> >currently on the books to combat smuggling is a requirement that shipments 
> >of more than $10,000 be accompanied by a report from the U.S. Customs 
> >Service. The Supreme Court has ruled that failing to file reports isn't a 
> >serious enough offense to warrant confiscating the cash, so at worst 
> >couriers for organized crime serve a short jail sentences -- "a virtually 

> .. ugh. Guess who's likely to end up with the burden of proof following the 
> seizure of cash pursuant to his proposals .. and guess how hard it's going 
> to be if your evidence consists of oral testimony to the effect that the 
> cash was saved $10 or $20 at a time over a number of years.

Never mind that. They drop to $5k/mule (talk about absurd - there's this 
story about this Chinese emporer, some bloke who made him happy, a chess 
board, and a bunch of rice...). Doubles the transport cost. I predict an
almost immediate increase of marijuana cost of approx. 20-25%. Stock up
now! (just kidding, really)

At some point they'll have to come face to face with the fact that there
is no (zero, nada, nil, none, nope, not happen') ethical or moral
justification for regulation of 'consensual crimes' in a democracy. That
the only thing it demonstrates is that power corrupts. That to stop
somebody from willingly smoking a doobie is about the silliest fucking
thing any 'rational' man can come up with.

When they see the light they will see that taxation will more than make up
for any social 'disruption' it might cause.

People are people, outside of murder, physical assault, or theft as long
as both parties say "I do!" it ain't nobodies business.


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