9/25/06 Richard Russell: The Evansville, Indiana-based National Organization for Repeal of the Federal Reserve Act and the Internal Revenue Code (known as NORFED) has been making Liberty Dollar coins for eight years. They claim $20 million of the coins are in circulation. The group states that the coins are a hedge against inflation because the coins are made almost entirely of silver and are backed by stocks of silver held in a vault in Idaho. The coins come in various denominations, and are used in trade by the group's 2,500 Liberty Associates in stores run by the group.A few week ago the US government warned consumers and businesses that it is illegal to use alternative money known as "Liberty Dollars," in competition with the almighty dollar. The coin's producers vow that they will fight the government's decision. The Justice Department has stated that using the group's money is "a crime" according to the US mint. Says the mint, "The United States Mint is the only entity that can produce coins." NORFED says that it will fight the government's stand.So the government is saying that you can't use alternative intrinsic money for transactions, you must use the fiat paper money that is produced by the Federal Reserve. In essence they are saying that privately-produced coins made of silver are illegal because they are not made by the US mint. On the other hand, fiat paper turned out the Federal Reserve (which is not strictly a division of the US government, but private) is legal tender. "money"