“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. ”

I'm not quite sure how to rate this. 5 stars for accuracy or a thumbs down for what the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land is doing to a once free people. You need only to be in possession of more than the governmental goon accosting you thinks you need at that point and time. It doesn't matter if its too much cash or property, as determined by the criminals in uniform - not you - they will take it if they want. I have a child that lost a car that way when taken in under authority of the Patriot Act - no charges every being presented.

Another observation of the ways in which the "Land of the Free" is just another Police State. Kind of renders the National Anthem null and void doesn't it? Restore the Republic, Restore Liberty.

Good old asset forfeiture, thanks to the "War on Drugs". 10 stars for the truth and accuracy of this statement.

It seems to me the the War on Drugs has been the catalyst for stealing every inalienable right we have. All these checkpoints we see propping up in airports, highways, bus stations, train stations, malls, etc. are said to be protecting us from 'terrorism' but in fact is the War on Drugs gone rogue. How many terrorists have been caught since 9/11? (None?) Now, how much has been seized from people going through these checkpoints for any other reason -- I would estimate in the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of money and property via asset forfeiture laws. And as Mike said, the presumption is that the 'property' is guilty and must be proved innocent -- no charges need be laid against a person, and the cost of trying to get your property back is exorbitant. It is nothing less than a license to steal.

Theft is theft, whether by the government or the individual.