Nothing matches the self-righteousness of the bankrupt who reports a
hard-working saver to a government which has just outlawed the ownership of
useful money. It was this kind of action against decent people which
spawned a demand for constitutionally protected bank secrecy. Power over
banks is all too easily abused by governments to criminalise particular forms of
property. The wheel has now spun, and under the arguable case against
money laundering banks in many western countries now act as information agents
for the state. It has advantages, but dangers too.