Gold & paper & regulation

Link broken, Please make a tinyurl.thanks phil

http://tinyurl.com/2zl7nc

Link broken, Please make a tinyurl.thanks phil
  From: Derek Jensen
  To: lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:18 PM
  Subject: [lpsf-discuss] Re: Gold & paper & regulation

  Starchild:

  Apart from the Federal power to insist on taxes being paid in

federal

  Reserve notes, why should anyone value them at all? This is
  counterintuitive, but the linked article explains why this is so
  better than any other I've read.

  http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_05/milhouse062006.html

  -Derek

  >
  > That first paragraph has a lot of "ifs" in it, Phil. What
  makes you
  > think that demanding taxes in gold would lead governments to

stop

  > printing federal reserve notes? What more effective scheme to
  > increase revenue than to take in something valuable and pay out
  > something inherently worthless (i.e. collect taxes in gold and
  give
  > out subsidies in FRNs?)
  >
  > ((( starchild )))
  >
  >
  >
  > > Right now all the accounting rules are denominated in

dollars.

  > > There is no way to do a significant amount of commerce in

gold,

  > > egold, or paper gold. The Constitution requires that "the

states

  > > shall take no thing in payment except gold and silver coin.

If

  all
  > > they were collecting in was gold, and there no legal tender
  laws,
  > > they would have to spend the gold if they obeyed the
  constitution's
  > > ban on emitting bills of credit, in other FRN.
  > >
  > > By permitting accounting in gold, and conducting a goverment
  > > business in gold, the transition would be speeded up.
  > >
  > > With the printing press taken away, there would be very

limited

  > > ability to fund wars, or for that matter welfare.
  > >
  > > This scenario is unlikely to happen until the present fiat
  system
  > > blows in infaltion and , which they have always done in the
  past,
  > > without exception.
  > >
  > > One can hope and work to spread the knowledge of what wrong

so

  we
  > > don't end witha Bolshevic, or Nazi victor emerging from the

chaos.

  > > From: Starchild
  > > To: lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com
  > > Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:53 AM
  > > Subject: Re: [lpsf-discuss] Re: Re George Phillies, honest

money

  is
  > > not the Gold Standard
  > >
  > > Phil,
  > >
  > > I don't think we want governments collecting taxes in gold as

a

  > > first step. It bears too much similarity to Castro's model in
  Cuba --
  > > collect all the hard currency as it comes into the country,

and

  use
  > > it to prop up a failed economic system in order to perpetuate

a

  > > police state.
  > >
  > > Also perhaps I'm not understanding part of what you wrote --

what

  > > difference would it make to do "accounting in gold" if you

still

  paid
  > > in dollars?
  > >
  > > ((( starchild )))
  > >
  > >
  > > >
  > > > It would suffice if the goverment started to collect

tarrifs and

  > > > fees, and for the time being taxes in the form of gold, or

at

  least
  > > > allow accounting in gold and eliminated taxes on the

phantom

  gains
  > > > gold makes versus an ever deptreciating dollar.
  > > >
  > > > The market would eventually drift to gold and gold backed
  > > > securities as long as fraud laws were enforced.
  > > > No other schemes are necessarry.
  > > >
  > > > However, the present system has been dug into a very large

hole,

  > > > which requires massive infllation to stave off a financial
  nuclear
  > > > winter.Being as that is the case, the adoption of gold

could be

  > > > huried and the pain of another round of debt inflation

could be

  > > > avoided if the Fed chose the purchase of gold as the medium

to

  > > > inflate the economy with bales of fiat. To ameliorate the
  > > > infllationary effects, they could gradually raise the

reserve

  > > > requirements of the banks until they were at one hundred
  percent.
  > > > Viola, one hundred percent gold backed currency. The Fed

could

  then
  > > > be closed, the legal tender laws repealed, and economic
  financial
  > > > reign.
  > > > From: Rob
  > > > To: lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com
  > > > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 9:26 AM
  > > > Subject: [lpsf-discuss] Re: Re George Phillies, honest

money is

  not
  > > > the Gold Standard
  > > >
  > > > Woohoo! We'd all be millionaires! :slight_smile:
  > > >
  > > > Rob
  > > >
  > > > --- In lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com, Ron Getty

<tradergroupe@>

  > > > wrote:
  > > > >
  > > > > Dear Phil;
  > > > >
  > > > > What he should have said is he would dissolve the federal
  reserve
  > > > system, stop fractional banking, devalue the US paper

dollar by

  at
  > > > least 1,000 to one then go back on the gold standard with

an

  > > arbitrary
  > > > value of say $50.00 per oz gold maybe even a $100 value.
  > > > >
  > > > > Ron Getty
  > > > > SF Libertarian
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > From: Philip Berg <philip@>
  > > > > To: lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com; lpsf-
  activists@yahoogroups.com
  > > > > Cc: Mike Gittelsohn <gittel@>; misha <Iolmisha@>; Luke
  > > Thomas
  > > > <editor@>; claycom@
  > > > > Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 9:09:10 PM
  > > > > Subject: [lpsf-discuss] Re George Phillies, honest money

is

  not
  > > the
  > > > Gold Standard
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > Yesterday at the LPSF meeting in response to a question

about

  > > > hard money, Libertarian Presidential Candidate George .

Phillies

  > > > stated that gold caused the various panicks of the

nineteenth

  > > century.
  > > > I said that he was wrong, but the conversation was ended

there.

  > > > >
  > > > > I picked up the conversation later and discovered that

Mr.

  Philies
  > > > is in favor of central banking, like Ben bernanke, that
  steady ,
  > > slow
  > > > inflation should be the policy of the central bank. In the

same

  > > > conversation in which he praised the management of the

european

  > > > Central Bank, he also noted the lower standard of living

that

  > > > Europeans enjoy in certain material ways.
  > > > >
  > > > > WHY DOES THIS MATTER???
  > > > >
  > > > > 1. (And this has real traction with liberals). Hard money

is

  anti
  > > > War. Modern war requires, more than bullets and artillery,
  money.
  > > > Paper money can be printed in nearly unlimited quantities

to

  fund
  > > the
  > > > war machine, while leaving taxes the same or lower. Very

few

  people
  > > > blame the resulting inflation on it's perpetrator.
  > > > >
  > > > > 2. Central banking and fractional reserve banking
  persistently
  > > cause
  > > > economic booms and busts that waste vast amount of

resources

  and
  > > cause
  > > > great human misery. The assumption that these booms and

busts

  are
  > > > inherent in free markets is a cornerstone of socialist

ideology.

  > > > >
  > > > > So long as the public continues to believe that

inflationary

  booms
  > > > and the resulting busts are built into free markets, they

will

  be
  > > > seeking other solutions.
  > > > >
  > > > > I don't see how a Libertarian candidate can effectively
  espouse
  > > free
  > > > markets, while supporting central planning of the medium

that

  is
  > > half
  > > > of every economic transaction?
  > > > >
  > > > > Mr. Phillies also appears to confuse the use of gold , as
  money
  > > with
  > > > the gold standard.The gold standard was a set of rules, set

up

  by
  > > the
  > > > Bank of England, in consultation with Sir Isaac Newton to
  manage the
  > > > central bank monetary system. Central banking, fractional
  reserve
  > > > banking, legal tender laws, and the forced acceptance of

paper

  notes
  > > > were part and parcel of this standard. The standard also
  allowed the
  > > > central bank or other monetary authority to adjust the

ratio

  of
  > > silver
  > > > (and copper) to gold by fiat.
  > > > >
  > > > > Mr. Phillies was correct, there were numerous panicks in

the

  19th
  > > > century. With few exceptions that serve to prove the rule,
  booms
  > > were
  > > > the result of some form of credit expansion that was either
  > > permitted
  > > > through the failure to punish the fraudulently issued paper
  > > > certificates that are not backed by the gold or silver that
  they
  > > claim
  > > > to be backed by, or by forced changes in metal ratios.

Wars,of

  > > course,
  > > > can cause economic hardship independently of monetary

policy,

  as can
  > > > bad economic policy pursued by important trading partners.

The

  > > > exception that proves the rule that free market hard money

is

  > > > stabilizing was the gold rush, that caused a mild

inflation. in

  the
  > > > era following 1849..
  > > > >
  > > > > The assertion that steady inflation is a good thing

strikes

  me as
  > > > odd. It seems to me that if prices are constantly falling

at a

  > > steady
  > > > rate due to the continued progress of man making more and

more

  goods
  > > > available at a faster rate than money can be dragged out of
  the
  > > stingy
  > > > earth, then everyone benefits. Who wants higher prices for

what

  they
  > > > consume. Who wants to put money in the bank to save for a
  rainy
  > > day or
  > > > old age, and find it nearly worthless twenty years later.

No Mr.

  > > > Phillies, and Mr. Friedman, inflation is not a good thing.
  > > > >
  > > > > Unfortunately, in an economy where money is created when
  people
  > > > borrow it, inflation is a necessity in order to allow the

debt

  to be
  > > > serviced. In this sense, Mr. Phillies is correct, constant
  inflation
  > > > is a necessity of a debt base
  > > > > monetary system. The interest on the debt must be

serviced. If

  > > > inflation stops, the debt pyramid collapses.. Inflate or

Die

  > > should be
  > > > written in stone above the portico of the Fed. Those who

have

  > > trouble
  > > > keeping up with the inflation, the old, the sick, and those
  who
  > > pursue
  > > > traditional values such as saving money, and not

participating

  in
  > > > massive ponzi markets, these people will be crushed by
  inflation
  > > and
  > > > the low interest rates created by easy money.
  > > > >
  > > > > Most of the old folks in my family and circle of friends

have

  been
  > > > squeezed to the point of near poverty by the years of low
  > > interest and
  > > > persistent inflation, witch, incidentally, is far worse

than

  > > reported,
  > > > according to www.shadowstats.com
  > > > >
  > > > > The other big complaints that most people believe are
  failures of
  > > > free markets, are in fact the result of fractional reserve
  banking.
  > > > >
  > > > > The concentration of economic power in a few hands is a
  result of
  > > > chronic inflation. As new money is created, those who can
  borrow
  > > that
  > > > money can use this newly created money to buy real assets.

As

  > > > inflation progresses, the resulting debt is easily paid off.
  > > > >
  > > > > Much of the concentration of political power is nurtured

on

  the
  > > > mothers milk of newly created money. take ruddy for

instance. He

  > > > resigns from a modestly paid government career and opens a
  Security
  > > > Consulting firm. So far so good. Given his access to

bankers

  with
  > > high
  > > > level connections, he is lent most of the money to buy an
  investment
  > > > bank. Now he really has connections to the fresh green

inked

  paper.
  > > > Then, a few years later, he sells the Bank he bought for

8.5

  million
  > > > for 85 million. wither this windfall was actually "earned"

or

  just a
  > > > payoff will forever remain a mystery.
  > > > >
  > > > > Feinstein is married to an investment banker. I should
  emphasize
  > > > that is not a hint of illegality or scandal in the affairs

of

  Mr.
  > > > (Feinstein) Blum. Just the normal course of business in the
  world of
  > > > paper money, central banking, fractional reserve banking,

and

  legal
  > > > tender laws.
  > > > >
  > > > > Pelosi is married to a former New York investment banker.
  > > > > clean as whistle, but nevertheless her power rests on his

good

  > > > fortune.
  > > > > Bankers bought George Bush his baseball team with newly
  printed
  > > > paper.
  > > > >
  > > > > George Bush's brother was a key officer in a failed

Savings

  and
  > > Loan
  > > > that cost the taxpayers 150,000,000.00 dollars in the mid
  eighties.
  > > > > John Glenn,Clark Clifford, Lyndon Johnson, and on another
  all
  > > based
  > > > their power on banking careers or participating in access

to

  newly
  > > > minted bank credit.
  > > > >
  > > > > Another symptom of our dysfunctional society that most
  people
  > > blame
  > > > on free markets is concentration of power in the media. If

a

  major
  > > > broadcaster steps out of line, they can be brought to Jesus

by

  > > either
  > > > threatening to short the stock to oblivion, or buy them out
  with the
  > > > endless credit of the Federal Reserves printing presses.

Chuck

  > > Colson,
  > > > Nixon's counsel, threatened to do both of those things to

CBS

  when
  > > > Walter Cronkite did his first major segment on Watergate.

All

  three
  > > > major networks have been bought out by Wall Street in

recent

  years.
  > > > >
  > > > > It is important that the people never catch on to the

perps of

  > > > chronic inflation. One of the biggest indicators of the

rate of

  > > > inflation is the price of gold. Throughout the last twenty
  eight
  > > years
  > > > the price of gold has been manipulated by the dishoarding

of

  gold
  > > > from central bank vaults in the west and persistent naked
  > > shorting of
  > > > gold by key investment banks who work in the Feds interest.
  The
  > > battle
  > > > is being lost. The powers that be do not want this

understood,

  thus
  > > > for the last 28 years they have reminded the public how

much

  the
  > > price
  > > > of gold is below it's minutes long peak in the nineteen
  eighties.
  > > Now
  > > > that this record has been breached on a weekly basis, the

new

  line
  > > > coming from the financial media is that gold is way below

it's

  > > > inflation adjusted peak, something that gold bugs have been
  > > saying for
  > > > years. Again , the controlled media is trying to prevent

the

  public
  > > > from waking up to the continued debasement of the dollar. I

was

  > > > saddened to hear
  > > > > this mantra being parroted in our very own group.on

Saturday.

  The
  > > > media's grip reaches deep, even in libertarian circles.
  > > > >
  > > > > The continuous emission of new money is often

misallocated by

  the
  > > > banks, usually in gigantic and spectacular fashion. In the
  > > twenties it
  > > > was overinvestment in agriculture. The ubiquitous tractor
  plowed up
  > > > the entire Midwest fence post too fencepost. the dust bowl
  resulted,
  > > > coinciding with the great depression, as all the bad
  investments
  > > made
  > > > by the first credit boom of the newly created Fed imploded.
  > > > >
  > > > > Now we come to the real concentration of power. When the
  > > inevitable
  > > > bust comes, the work out firms, still having access to Fed
  credit
  > > > emitted in New York, buy up assets at pennies on the dollar.
  > > > >
  > > > > FDR was hailed as a savior of the common man. One of his
  first
  > > acts
  > > > in office was to close all the banks for a holiday, not

allowing

  > > > Americans access to their money. Then he outlawed the

personal

  > > > possession of gold and forced the American people to take

20

  dollars
  > > > in paper for each ounce.Once all the gold was safely in the
  bankers
  > > > control, he, by fiat, devalued the dollars in the peoples
  pockets
  > > from
  > > > 20 dollars and ounce to 35 dollars an ounce,instantly

making

  the
  > > banks
  > > > sixty percent richer and the American public sixty percent
  poorer
  > > > There was mass hunger, but the big banks were saved. My

cousin

  lived
  > > > out his life with severe retardation because his mother was
  > > > malnourished in his first trimester during the debts of the
  > > > depression.
  > > > >
  > > > > The big workout firms that are now collecting assets as
  agents for
  > > > the Feds role as lender of last resort have deep political
  > > > connections. Cyberus is the Republican favored work out

firm,

  > > with Dan
  > > > quail in a very senior position.Cyberus was the two headed

dog

  that
  > > > guarded the gates of hell.You will recognize many other

names

  if you
  > > > goggle Cyberus.
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > The instability resulting from the creation and

destruction

  of
  > > debt
  > > > based money is very difficult on the poor and middle class.
  Long
  > > term
  > > > chronic inflation makes it particularly difficult to save

for

  old
  > > age.
  > > > Only the lucky crap shooters in the stock market might come

out

  > > > reasonably well off after taxes, fees and inflation. The
  American
  > > > public is quite aware of this insecurity. Unfortunately,

the

  Cato
  > > > institute , not being Austrians, are not. Thus CATO

embarrassed

  the
  > > > libertarian movement with their plan to privatize Social
  Security
  > > > without first making the money secure. I recall a
  Cato "expert"
  > > smugly
  > > > saying that stocks always go up and thus people who just

put

  > > money in
  > > > the stock market can retire securely. Let them eat cake

shares

  and
  > > > icing dividends was his attitude.
  > > > >
  > > > > Of course no system is perfect. Even honest money can be
  > > influenced
  > > > by the use of force to skew the markets by our trading
  partners. Mr.
  > > > Phillies thus sought to justify his dislike of precious

metals

  by
  > > the
  > > > historical example of the two Opium Wars Britain fought

with

  > > China, in
  > > > order to force into circulation the silver the Chinese were
  hording.
  > > > Lack of silver was causing declining prices in Britain, as
  less
  > > silver
  > > > chased the same amount of goods. Debtors hate this and

guess

  who the
  > > > biggest debtor in an Empire is.
  > > > >
  > > > > Mr. Phillies is a deeply decent man, and perhaps the best
  > > candidate
  > > > this year.
  > > > > He is unfortunately deeply miseducated on the strengths

of

  > > Austrian
  > > > theory. This is excusable, being that he works in Academia

in