Government seems to operate on the principle that if even one individual is incapable of using his freedom competently, no one can be allowed to be free.
Harry BrowneRead
Asset forfeiture is a mockery of the Bill of Rights. There is no presumption of innocence, no need to prove you guilty (or even charge you with a crime), no right to a jury trial, no right to confront your accuser, no right to a court-appointed attorney (even if the government has just stolen all your money), and no right to compensation for the property that's been taken.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques asset forfeiture laws for undermining fundamental rights.
Harry Browne's quote expresses deep concern about asset forfeiture practices that bypass basic legal protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. He highlights the lack of a presumption of innocence and the absence of essential rights such as the right to a jury trial and legal representation, emphasizing how these practices unjustly strip individuals of their property without due process.
Themes
Asset ForfeitureBill Of RightsDue ProcessJusticeInnocenceProperty Rights
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on civil liberties at a community forum.
More from Harry Browne
All quotes →Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't make people be moral, but they believe it can end poverty. Neither group attempts to explain why government is so clumsy and destructive in one area but a paragon of efficiency and benevolence in the other.
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When you know that you're capable of dealing with whatever comes, you have the only security the world has to offer.
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You can't give the government the power to do good without also giving it the power to do bad - in fact, to do anything it wants.
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A great burden was lifted from my shoulders the day I realized that no one owes me anything.
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