Theft: Difference between revisions

'''[[w:Theft|Theft]]''' is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud. In some jurisdictions, theft is considered to be synonymous with larceny; in others, theft has replaced larceny. Someone who carries out an act of or makes a career of theft is known as a '''thief'''. The act of theft is known by terms such as '''stealing''', '''thieving''', and '''filching'''.

 

* '''The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.''' If "Thou shall not covet," and "Thou shall not steal," are not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.

**[[John Adams]], [http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/print_documents/v1ch16s15.html Ch. 1 Marchamont Nedham : The Right Constitution of a Commonwealth Examined], ''A Defence of the Constitutions of Government'' (1787). <!-- ''The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States'' vol. VI (1851) p. 9 -->

* The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction<br>Robs the vast sea; the moon's an arrant thief,<br>And her pale fire she snatches from the sun:<br>The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves<br>The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,<br>That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen<br>From general excrement: each thing's a thief;<br>The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power<br>Have uncheck'd theft.

** [[William Shakespeare]], ''[[Timon of Athens]]'' (date uncertain, published 1623), Act IV, scene 3, line 439.

 

* It is true that the ''theory'' of [[Constitution of the United States|our Constitution]] is, that all [[taxes]] are paid voluntarily; that our government is a mutual insurance [[companies|company]], voluntarily entered into by the people with each other; that each man makes a free and purely voluntary [[contract]] with all others who are parties to the Constitution, to pay so much [[money]] for so much [[protection]], the same as he does with any other insurance company; and that he is just as free not to be protected, and not to pay any tax, as he is to pay a tax, and be protected.<p>But this theory of our government is wholly different from the practical fact.&nbsp; '''The fact is that the government, like a highwayman, says to a man: ''Your money, or your life.'''''&nbsp; And many, if not most, taxes are paid under the compulsion of that threat.<p>'''The government does not, indeed, waylay a man in a lonely place, spring upon him from the road side, and, holding a pistol to his head, proceed to rifle his pockets.&nbsp; But the [[theft|robbery]] is none the less a robbery on that account; and it is far more dastardly and shameful.'''<p>The highwayman takes solely upon himself the [[responsibility]], [[danger]], and [[crime]] of his own act.&nbsp; He does not pretend that he has any [[natural rights|rightful]] claim to your money, or that he intends to use it for your own benefit.&nbsp; '''He does not pretend to be anything but a robber.'''&nbsp; He has not acquired impudence enough to profess to be merely a "protector," and that he takes men's money against their will, merely to enable him to "protect" those infatuated travellers, who feel perfectly able to protect themselves, or do not appreciate his peculiar system of protection.&nbsp; He is too sensible a man to make such professions as these.&nbsp; Furthermore, having taken your money, he leaves you, as you wish him to do.&nbsp; He does not persist in following you on the road, against your will; assuming to be your rightful "sovereign," on account of the "protection" he affords you.&nbsp; He does not keep "protecting" you, by commanding you to bow down and [[service|serve]] him; by [[force|requiring]] you to do this, and forbidding you to do that; by '''robbing you of more money''' as often as he finds it for his interest or pleasure to do so; and by branding you as a [[rebel]], a [[traitor]], and an [[enemy]] to your country, and shooting you down without mercy, if you dispute his [[authority]], or resist his demands.&nbsp; He is too much of a gentleman to be guilty of such impostures, and insults, and villainies as these.&nbsp; In short, he does not, in addition to '''robbing''' you, attempt to make you either his dupe or his [[slave]].<p>The proceedings of those '''robbers''' and [[murderers]], who call themselves "[[government|the government]]," are directly the opposite of these of the single highwayman.