No government has ever succeeded in improving an economy…other than by avoiding war, providing some rudimentary justice, and removing the impediments set in place by government itself.
All those Bookworms of Old... And then there was Benjamin Franklin, Father of Founding Fathers. Indentured servant in his youth, printer by trade, reader by avocation. Indeed... In that era books were valuable items; hand-made in the sense that every page was hand-laid on a press and all the type was hand-set. Even the bindings were hand-sewn. And in a logical flow of proceedings, thus thus did Old Ben "invent" the idea of a lending library by which he and his Philadelphia pals combined their collections, the better to share ideas in those pre-Amazon days.
On the down-side -- but don't hold it against him; it was a necessity of the times -- Ben Franklin the Printer was a promoter of paper scrip to use as currency. In fact, many of the Revolutionary War "Continentals" were his personal handiwork, if not the work of his print-shop while the Man was overseas in Paris, begging funds from Rex Louis and others. But consider that America of that time lacked almost any semblance of hard money. British coins, yes but not many and the Brits were the oppressors. And so Colonials used a smattering of Spanish silver "Ochos" (aka "pieces of eight"), or various other copper and silver coins of French, Dutch and Germanic province... esp silver "Thalers" of Mitteleuropa, products of the mines of Joachimsthal, now part of Czechia. And this is where we get the word "dollar," meaning a round coin that contains just shy an ounce of silver.
And while we're on these points of history... It's fair to say that the founding ethic of the United States of America was penury. The country was abject-broke during the Revolution. Broke during Articles of Confederation. Broke under the Constitution of 1788. And recall that among the first acts of the new Govt of 1789 was tariffs on imports, and then (per Alexander Hamilton) a tax on whiskey stills... this latter led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791-94... And along the way the Currency Act of 1792 that established a Mint (in Philadelphia, BTW), and the first US coinage that came out in 1794... The "Flowing Hair" silver dollar, and an assortment of others such as copper pennies... Phased out finally, just this week at the Mint because the cheap zinc items cost all of 4-cents to manufacture.
When it comes to hard money, it's nice to read ancient Greek and Roman writers. But it also helps to read a few books on geology, mining engineering, and metallurgy.
Fartin' - I think you are way too optimistic. As the world rolls into a multi-polar order, the alternate currency is going to be backed by gold and be "money" - not fiat. That will accelerate the collapse of the US$ and helped by the U.S.'s weaponizing the US$ financial system. All countries capable are diverting funds into other forms than the US$ including the vast majority are stacking gold. As the BRICS cross-border trade system (gold settled) takes off, all fiat currencies will make the Weimar crash pale by comparison. This is NOT going to be pretty and, unfortunately, who knows how much gold ol' Uncle Sam has stashed away. There is a strong possibility the U.S. will seize whatever gold happens to be under ground in NYC no matter who actually owns it. Of course, the U.S. will pay them in US$ but the gold (and maybe silver too) is needed for national security and defense. It's coming........so few are awake enough to see beyond the U.S. news media and their tight focus on keeping us peons ignorant. As always, just an ol' man's lament.
I don't think you are going to force those who voted for Mamdani, the majority, to read Roman classics. There are some people who will read the classics but these are the same people who understand how the government is progressing anyway. Those searching for sensibility. I've come to the conclusion there is only one lesson that will influence society, collapse.
Fully agree. People (including everyone) usually don't take anything to serious until it affects them personally. Watch the soybean and cotton farmers - they are now fit to be tied. Why? Because their lives have taken a direct hit in the pocketbook. Until food goes missing, heat doesn't come on, and hope fades - people just don't get their panties in a wad. It is coming sooner than anyone thinks.......
AD 33 was almost certainly the year of the crucifixion of Christ. I had never realized that the financial system collapsed as well. Let’s treat Christians better if we want to live in peace and tranquillity.
In My opinion , all are not wanting to read the "classics". We that do not leave it up to those who do. . Trusting that they will share their insight. But then , not even government wants to hear about history. It would make them look "bad". Freedom and liberty seem to be the words that would, could, should mean the most to all people. But being an old sort fellow that thinks about many a subject, freedom and liberty are lost in the hustle and bustle of todays "I want " world.
Bill, can you commission a similar series of cartoons, showing this repeated stupidity of inflation? Seems like a great use of someone else's money. Mike Maloney has done some great videos on the history of money and stupidity.
All those Bookworms of Old... And then there was Benjamin Franklin, Father of Founding Fathers. Indentured servant in his youth, printer by trade, reader by avocation. Indeed... In that era books were valuable items; hand-made in the sense that every page was hand-laid on a press and all the type was hand-set. Even the bindings were hand-sewn. And in a logical flow of proceedings, thus thus did Old Ben "invent" the idea of a lending library by which he and his Philadelphia pals combined their collections, the better to share ideas in those pre-Amazon days.
On the down-side -- but don't hold it against him; it was a necessity of the times -- Ben Franklin the Printer was a promoter of paper scrip to use as currency. In fact, many of the Revolutionary War "Continentals" were his personal handiwork, if not the work of his print-shop while the Man was overseas in Paris, begging funds from Rex Louis and others. But consider that America of that time lacked almost any semblance of hard money. British coins, yes but not many and the Brits were the oppressors. And so Colonials used a smattering of Spanish silver "Ochos" (aka "pieces of eight"), or various other copper and silver coins of French, Dutch and Germanic province... esp silver "Thalers" of Mitteleuropa, products of the mines of Joachimsthal, now part of Czechia. And this is where we get the word "dollar," meaning a round coin that contains just shy an ounce of silver.
And while we're on these points of history... It's fair to say that the founding ethic of the United States of America was penury. The country was abject-broke during the Revolution. Broke during Articles of Confederation. Broke under the Constitution of 1788. And recall that among the first acts of the new Govt of 1789 was tariffs on imports, and then (per Alexander Hamilton) a tax on whiskey stills... this latter led to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791-94... And along the way the Currency Act of 1792 that established a Mint (in Philadelphia, BTW), and the first US coinage that came out in 1794... The "Flowing Hair" silver dollar, and an assortment of others such as copper pennies... Phased out finally, just this week at the Mint because the cheap zinc items cost all of 4-cents to manufacture.
When it comes to hard money, it's nice to read ancient Greek and Roman writers. But it also helps to read a few books on geology, mining engineering, and metallurgy.
By the second half of the 21st century America's money will be worthless. (sigh)
Fartin' - I think you are way too optimistic. As the world rolls into a multi-polar order, the alternate currency is going to be backed by gold and be "money" - not fiat. That will accelerate the collapse of the US$ and helped by the U.S.'s weaponizing the US$ financial system. All countries capable are diverting funds into other forms than the US$ including the vast majority are stacking gold. As the BRICS cross-border trade system (gold settled) takes off, all fiat currencies will make the Weimar crash pale by comparison. This is NOT going to be pretty and, unfortunately, who knows how much gold ol' Uncle Sam has stashed away. There is a strong possibility the U.S. will seize whatever gold happens to be under ground in NYC no matter who actually owns it. Of course, the U.S. will pay them in US$ but the gold (and maybe silver too) is needed for national security and defense. It's coming........so few are awake enough to see beyond the U.S. news media and their tight focus on keeping us peons ignorant. As always, just an ol' man's lament.
pay no attention to that man behind the curtain…..
I don't think you are going to force those who voted for Mamdani, the majority, to read Roman classics. There are some people who will read the classics but these are the same people who understand how the government is progressing anyway. Those searching for sensibility. I've come to the conclusion there is only one lesson that will influence society, collapse.
Fully agree. People (including everyone) usually don't take anything to serious until it affects them personally. Watch the soybean and cotton farmers - they are now fit to be tied. Why? Because their lives have taken a direct hit in the pocketbook. Until food goes missing, heat doesn't come on, and hope fades - people just don't get their panties in a wad. It is coming sooner than anyone thinks.......
This is why I read you every morning...
Veni, Vedi, Vinci!
AD 33 was almost certainly the year of the crucifixion of Christ. I had never realized that the financial system collapsed as well. Let’s treat Christians better if we want to live in peace and tranquillity.
Simply put, “What goes around, comes around” The year, decade, century. . . matters not
In My opinion , all are not wanting to read the "classics". We that do not leave it up to those who do. . Trusting that they will share their insight. But then , not even government wants to hear about history. It would make them look "bad". Freedom and liberty seem to be the words that would, could, should mean the most to all people. But being an old sort fellow that thinks about many a subject, freedom and liberty are lost in the hustle and bustle of todays "I want " world.
Bill, can you commission a similar series of cartoons, showing this repeated stupidity of inflation? Seems like a great use of someone else's money. Mike Maloney has done some great videos on the history of money and stupidity.