(Image: Shane Coley)
I’ve recently had the privilege of reading the fantastic new book by M. Shane Coley, Know Stealing. The title’s clever play on words provides more than an intriguing clue as to the book’s contents, but gives rise to a seemingly obvious yet neglected truth: Without the knowledge and understanding to identify theft when it occurs, we are powerless to stop it.
Coley begins the book with the most widely used form of theft in history: deception. Specifically, the early chapters discuss the deceptive origins of what we commonly refer to as money. The average RevoluTimes reader is likely somewhat familiar with the differences between fiat money and “honest” money backed by a commodity. What you may not be familiar with however, is the argument that the very term “money” is not a thing at all, but a system. Coley contends that the bills of credit and coins we use in our daily transactions are not money in reality but money tokens, and part of a larger system designed for legal plunder. Writes Coley:
“Being a money token is like being a car tire. A tire is not a car, but it is part of a car…A token has no meaning outside of a money system.”
Through dozens of well-documented examples, Know Stealing makes the case that what we falsely perceive to be real money is nothing but a sophisticated scheme devised to not only rob us of our productive capabilities and thus the power we hold over ourselves, but to also perpetuate the further transferring of wealth from the producers of society to the non-producers. In short, by permitting the use of costless or fiat money, we are enabling our own enslavement.
Coley identifies that natural money is a medium exchange derived from the marketplace that holds intrinsic value beyond any money system imposed by the State. Coley further explains this saying:
“The easiest way to identify natural money is to ask the following question: If this thing that claims to be natural money stopped being used as money immediately without warning, would it still have other useful purposes?”
He goes on to note that natural money in the form of gold, silver, salt, butter, etc. must be produced by human labor. Whereas time and energy must be used to mine gold or silver, costless money or fiat money is simply derived from nothing, and a bill printed with any denomination costs only a few pennies to produce. In other words, there is no greater cost in the production of a one dollar bill versus a one hundred dollar bill, and yet we are told, (and forced) to accept them as vastly different measures of wealth.
Founded upon a keen understanding of economics, history and particularly original Biblical translations, Shane Coley illustrates that though such systems of plunder have developed throughout man’s existence, this is only due to our own ignorance. A devout Christian, Coley demonstrates that due to multiple misinterpreted or falsely translated verses in Scripture over the centuries, we have lost sight of the warnings of “differing weights and measures” and the destruction that they cause. The author tirelessly labors to prove his argument that all of the workings of a truly free, peaceful and prosperous society have been laid out for us long ago.
I found the most edifying observations in the book to be Coley’s points regarding law, just authority, and how these functions of society have been turned on their head in our current world. Coley argues that power and authority are derived from production and the control of production. As he states many times, everyone eats food and uses things—food and things must first be produced, therefore everyone depends on production. In a just society, he who produces is rewarded with authority over himself and his property, he who does not produce, either starves or changes his ways due to hunger and desperation.
Coley notes that this is the “natural order of things”. You need not be a Christian or religious at all to understand that we are a creation designed to produce. Our bodies make it known to us when we need food, clothing, shelter and so forth; all of these things must be produced, so the only logical and moral conclusion must be that each individual is responsible for producing and is given the freedom to trade freely with whomever they choose.
In an unjust society, rather than the non-producers being forced to choose between life and death, they use the force of the State to steal from the producers and live as parasites. Which society are we living in today? This brings us to one of the vital points of Coley’s work: the difference between authority and law. Reiterated many times throughout the book is the statement:
“Law is a standard, not a force. Authority is a force, not a standard.”
As Coley points out, we are led to believe that any and all authority has “the right to rule” over us, thus rendering them exempt from criticism or accountability. Indeed, the author admits many of his fellow Christians submit to this notion and often reference Romans 13 as a justification for it. Coley thoroughly disproves this assertion with original research detailing centuries of false translations of Scripture that have misinformed masses of people.
As we mentioned above, Coley addresses the difference between law and authority. To be just authority, it must be held subject to the law—to the standard by which society functions. Whether an individual is a theist or not, the Natural Law as the standard by which society functions dates back through generations and as Coley illustrates is the only consistent, logical and morally sound system of law.
With impeccable insight and a zeal for seeking the truth and righteousness, Shane Coley leaves the reader with a single and yet profound rule for society: No Stealing of life, liberty or property. Prepare to “take the red pill” and behold the matrix of lies, deception and plunder that have ruined cultures for generations and are threatening our lives, liberties and prosperity today. Fans of Bastiat’s The Law will be pleased to find a modern day counterpart to the 19th century classic that begins where Bastiat left off. Whether you’re an atheist or evangelical, an outright statist or libertarian, you will be challenged, enlightened and thoroughly pleased with this work. Though Know Stealing tackles many topics that have long been entrenched in our society, Coley reassures the reader not to worry, because “lies take decades, truth takes a minute.”
Tags: Featured
Do You Know Stealing? [A Book Review]
(Image: Shane Coley)
I’ve recently had the privilege of reading the fantastic new book by M. Shane Coley, Know Stealing. The title’s clever play on words provides more than an intriguing clue as to the book’s contents, but gives rise to a seemingly obvious yet neglected truth: Without the knowledge and understanding to identify theft when it occurs, we are powerless to stop it.
Coley begins the book with the most widely used form of theft in history: deception. Specifically, the early chapters discuss the deceptive origins of what we commonly refer to as money. The average RevoluTimes reader is likely somewhat familiar with the differences between fiat money and “honest” money backed by a commodity. What you may not be familiar with however, is the argument that the very term “money” is not a thing at all, but a system. Coley contends that the bills of credit and coins we use in our daily transactions are not money in reality but money tokens, and part of a larger system designed for legal plunder. Writes Coley:
Through dozens of well-documented examples, Know Stealing makes the case that what we falsely perceive to be real money is nothing but a sophisticated scheme devised to not only rob us of our productive capabilities and thus the power we hold over ourselves, but to also perpetuate the further transferring of wealth from the producers of society to the non-producers. In short, by permitting the use of costless or fiat money, we are enabling our own enslavement.
Coley identifies that natural money is a medium exchange derived from the marketplace that holds intrinsic value beyond any money system imposed by the State. Coley further explains this saying:
He goes on to note that natural money in the form of gold, silver, salt, butter, etc. must be produced by human labor. Whereas time and energy must be used to mine gold or silver, costless money or fiat money is simply derived from nothing, and a bill printed with any denomination costs only a few pennies to produce. In other words, there is no greater cost in the production of a one dollar bill versus a one hundred dollar bill, and yet we are told, (and forced) to accept them as vastly different measures of wealth.
Founded upon a keen understanding of economics, history and particularly original Biblical translations, Shane Coley illustrates that though such systems of plunder have developed throughout man’s existence, this is only due to our own ignorance. A devout Christian, Coley demonstrates that due to multiple misinterpreted or falsely translated verses in Scripture over the centuries, we have lost sight of the warnings of “differing weights and measures” and the destruction that they cause. The author tirelessly labors to prove his argument that all of the workings of a truly free, peaceful and prosperous society have been laid out for us long ago.
I found the most edifying observations in the book to be Coley’s points regarding law, just authority, and how these functions of society have been turned on their head in our current world. Coley argues that power and authority are derived from production and the control of production. As he states many times, everyone eats food and uses things—food and things must first be produced, therefore everyone depends on production. In a just society, he who produces is rewarded with authority over himself and his property, he who does not produce, either starves or changes his ways due to hunger and desperation.
Coley notes that this is the “natural order of things”. You need not be a Christian or religious at all to understand that we are a creation designed to produce. Our bodies make it known to us when we need food, clothing, shelter and so forth; all of these things must be produced, so the only logical and moral conclusion must be that each individual is responsible for producing and is given the freedom to trade freely with whomever they choose.
In an unjust society, rather than the non-producers being forced to choose between life and death, they use the force of the State to steal from the producers and live as parasites. Which society are we living in today? This brings us to one of the vital points of Coley’s work: the difference between authority and law. Reiterated many times throughout the book is the statement:
As Coley points out, we are led to believe that any and all authority has “the right to rule” over us, thus rendering them exempt from criticism or accountability. Indeed, the author admits many of his fellow Christians submit to this notion and often reference Romans 13 as a justification for it. Coley thoroughly disproves this assertion with original research detailing centuries of false translations of Scripture that have misinformed masses of people.
As we mentioned above, Coley addresses the difference between law and authority. To be just authority, it must be held subject to the law—to the standard by which society functions. Whether an individual is a theist or not, the Natural Law as the standard by which society functions dates back through generations and as Coley illustrates is the only consistent, logical and morally sound system of law.
With impeccable insight and a zeal for seeking the truth and righteousness, Shane Coley leaves the reader with a single and yet profound rule for society: No Stealing of life, liberty or property. Prepare to “take the red pill” and behold the matrix of lies, deception and plunder that have ruined cultures for generations and are threatening our lives, liberties and prosperity today. Fans of Bastiat’s The Law will be pleased to find a modern day counterpart to the 19th century classic that begins where Bastiat left off. Whether you’re an atheist or evangelical, an outright statist or libertarian, you will be challenged, enlightened and thoroughly pleased with this work. Though Know Stealing tackles many topics that have long been entrenched in our society, Coley reassures the reader not to worry, because “lies take decades, truth takes a minute.”
Tags: Featured