On November 14, Liberty Services, an Evansville, Indiana firm was victimized by a break-in. According to founder Bernard von NotHaus, the gang took everything but desks and chairs.

No ordinary burglars did this. It was government agents. Targeting a firm that dared to provide an inflation-proof safeguard against government money. Liberty’s latest offering was a Ron Paul silver dollar.

According to a leaked affidavit, Liberty Services is being investigated for “uttering coins of gold, silver, or other metal,” or “making or possessing likeness of coins.” Mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy are the types of charges being bandied about. The affidavit says the company’s goal is to “undermine the United States government’s financial systems by the issuance of a non-governmental competing currency for the purpose of repealing the Federal Reserve and Internal Revenue Code.”

Sounds like thought-crime.

Liberty Services has been in business for years. The first Liberty Dollars were sold in 1998. NotHaus has sought to ensure that his company complies with relevant law. Andrew Williams, a spokesman for the Fed, has told the firm that “no law . . . says goods and services must be paid for with Federal Reserve notes. Parties entering into a transaction can establish any medium of exchange that is agreed upon.”

So why the raid now? What real crime has Liberty Services committed? Aside from inflation-proofing their clients? Maybe in court the government will have to say.

Meanwhile, Mr. NotHaus could use some help. To learn more, visit libertydollar.org.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.

• Episode Number: 1963
• Publication Date: 12/19/2007