New Money

[eyeball]

We won't be done until we can match every government's word with an action.

In my dog I trust, all others pay cash, sans the computer chip.

[Michael Hardner]

Sorry, eyeball, but if you are let off the hook by being allowed to use cash, you know damn well that the shadowy hand will use it as well.

Aren't you willing to do your part ?

[eyeball]

I'm perfectly willing to be monitored but not until I have access to a monitor too.

I'm not willing to let power off the same hook it hands me, and you know damned well that shadowy hand will do everything it can to avoid its own medicine.

Don't expect any apologies from me for demanding the government be as willing to be monitored as it expects the governed to be.

You on the other hand perhaps should be ashamed for suggesting greater government control over individuals. That seems to be what you're defending. Why don't you ever spend as much time defending individuals having more control over their governance? Are you a politician or an unregistered lobbyist or something?

Edited December 22, 2008 by eyeball

[Michael Hardner]

eyeball,

I'm perfectly willing to be monitored but not until I have access to a monitor too.

I'm not willing to let power off the same hook it hands me, and you know damned well that shadowy hand will do everything it can to avoid its own medicine.

Don't expect any apologies from me for demanding the government be as willing to be monitored as it expects the governed to be.

You on the other hand perhaps should be ashamed for suggesting greater government control over individuals. That seems to be what you're defending. Why don't you ever spend as much time defending individuals having more control over their governance? Are you a politician or an unregistered lobbyist or something?

It's odd to call it 'control' when we're talking about monitoring. Those are two different things.

Unfortunately, the problem is that we can't discern an individual from whatever evil interloper you're against all the time. You seem to think lobbyists are a different species. In fact, they put on their solid gold and diamond encrusted pants one leg at a time as you do.

[eyeball]

eyeball,

It's odd to call it 'control' when we're talking about monitoring. Those are two different things.

They may be different but the former will be the logical consequence of what you're proposing isn't it?

I'm proposing that all money have (like email) a To: and From: address. That would help governments, who are responsible for the creation of money, to track how well it's achieving its purpose.

This sounds even more suspiciously facetious now in hindsight. Are you talking about tracking money's purpose, the government's or our's?

[eyeball]

People need access to resources...

The various agreements between big companies and governments for resource extraction rights are not relavent to a general discussion of money and capital.

I bet they're pretty relavent around kitchen tables and coffee shops in Grand Falls Newfoundland.

[Riverwind]

I bet they're pretty relavent around kitchen tables and coffee shops in Grand Falls Newfoundland.

Hardly. They were perfectly happy with abig company having those rights as long as the mill was running. If the government takes over the those rights it will likely give them to another big company with the capital to run the mill.

What the people in Grand Falls need is access to money - not timber.

[eyeball]

Hardly. They were perfectly happy with abig company having those rights as long as the mill was running. If the government takes over the those rights it will likely give them to another big company with the capital to run the mill.

What the people in Grand Falls need is access to money - not timber.

What the people in Grand Falls have is a government that appears to be putting their needs first. Granted this might just be for apperance's sake but it seems to be resonating with a lot of people. If William's is merely playing with fire he'll get burned soon enough. A refreshing spark has nonetheless been lit.

It would have been interesting to see what effect the presence of Beothuk's might have had on this issue if they'd survived and made the same sorts of land claims other indigenous Canadians have.

[Michael Hardner]

eyeball,

They may be different but the former will be the logical consequence of what you're proposing isn't it?

I don't know if more control needs to come out of better monitoring, or if it's just better execution of existing policies.

[August1991]

How can we change money so that it can better serve our needs today ?

Some ideas:

- Eliminate paper money, and create only virtual money.

- Virtual money needs to be associated with a person or a corporate entity to have value.

- Virtual money exchanges are timestamped and the reason for the exchange is given.

Others ?

I may get back to you Michael but in the meantime, I suggest these books:

Galbraith Money Readable political (anecdotal) history of US federal government's relation to money.

Friedman Money Mischief Far more fun than his history with Schwartz. Friedman opens with the island of stone money and then poses a good riddle involving cigarettes and post-war Germany.

Greider If you are bad at math.

Sargent If you are good at math.

----

We all know people in our lives who keep tabs on who has done what to whom. In a very real sense, such people are life's bankers. Money merely puts a specific number to value such slights or admirations.

And after all, life is all about dealing with others.

Money, prices and mathematics merely make the terms of trade explicit rather than vague - but the terms of trade, deals, have existed since life began.

Edited December 23, 2008 by August1991