MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - September 26-October 2

SEPTEMBER 29

1897 – BIRTH OF GRAHAM TOWERS, GOVERNOR OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF CANADA, 1934-1955
In testimony in 1939 before a Standing Committee on Banking and Commerce of the Canadian Parliament when asked whether banks create money, he stated,
“That is right. That is what they are for... That is the Banking business, just in the same way that a steel plant makes steel…The manufacturing process consists of making a pen-and-ink or typewriter entry on a card in a book. That is all…Each and every time a bank makes a loan (or purchases securities), new bank credit is created — new deposits — brand new money…As loans are debts, then under the present system all money is debt.”

2008 – STOCK MARKET CRASH
The Dow Jones plummeted by 778 points, its largest one-day drop in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. The crash was caused by the elimination on controls of the financial sector and was the logical consequence of allowing the financial industry to control our monetary system.

OCTOBER 1

1936 – DEATH OF LOUIS MCFADDEN (R- PA), CHAIRMAN OF THE US HOUSE BANKING AND CURRENCY COMMITTEE
"We have in this country one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known. I refer to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Banks. Some people think the Federal Reserve Banks are U.S. government institutions. They are private credit monopolies; domestic swindlers, rich and predatory money lenders which prey upon the poeple the United States for the benefit of themselves and their foreign customers…The truth is the Federal Reserve Board has usurped the Government of the United States by the arrogant credit monopoly which operates the Federal Reserve Board."

OCTOBER 2

1869 – BIRTH OF MOHANDAS GANDHI
'Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."
"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”

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Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html

Ohio Get FraACTive

Produced by the Ohio Alliance for People and Environment and NEOGAP (Network for Oil and Gas Accountability and Protection).
http://vimeo.com/27156186

Kucinich proposes landmark jobs plan

How democratizing our monetary policy can create millions of jobs....without raising the debt or inflation.
http://kucinich.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=X7EX6WS6JW7AZSDNJHSVS5UZXM

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Since corporations aren’t creating enough jobs to address our chronic unemployment crisis, the public sector must fill the void. A major impediment to funding any federal jobs program, however, is that the cost would add to the ever-rising federal debt.

A congressional bill, the National Emergency Employment Defense (NEED) Act, was just introduced that would spend US created money into circulation to exclusively fund the repair of our crumbling infrastructure and education systems. Seven million US jobs would be created.

Why borrow money from banks (which create money as debt) that need to be repaid with interest when We the People can create money interest-free, as stipulated in Art 1, Sec 8 of the Constitution?

The NEED Act, introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, wouldn’t be inflationary since the amount of created US money would match the amount of created physical wealth.

The NEED Act would also end the bank practice of creating money as debt via loans (to both individuals and the government) and loaning money many times in excess of their reserves.

Thank Rep. Kucinich for his sponsorship of this urgent bill and encourage every other area US Representative and Ohio Senators Brown and Portman to support it.

David Cobb of Move to Amend to visit Ohio in October

Speaking and willing to Speak

David Cobb, one of the major leaders of the national Move to Amend, will be a keynote speaker at the Midwest Power Shift conference in Cleveland, October 21-23.

Midwest Power Shift will bring together thousands of young people together to promote climate justice.
http://midwest.wearepowershift.org/

Cobb will speak at the conference on Friday night, October 21 and co-lead a workshop on Saturday, October 22 on ending corporate rule and Move to Amend.

He is available to speak afterwards around the area/state (preferably in locations in Northern Ohio) on:
Saturday night, October 22
Sunday morning (a lay church sermon), October 23
Sunday afternoon, October 23
Sunday evening, October 23

Here’s a written and video interview of Cobb
http://www.duhc.org/profiles/blogs/vermont-commons-interviews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SRnHkqT6_I

If interested in bringing David to your area for a program (or sermon in the case of Sunday morning), contact gcoleridge@afsc.org or call 330-928-2301. 

End Corporate Rule: Create Real Democracy

Power Point Presentation by Greg Coleridge

Constitution Day program

Kent State University, Tuscarawas Branch

September 15, 2011

http://www.afsc.net/PDFFiles/EndCorporateRule.pdf

MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - September 19-25

SEPTEMBER 19

1881-- DEATH OF PRESIDENT JAMES GARFIELD (R, OHIO)

"Whosoever controls the volume of money in any country is absolute master of all industry and commerce...and when you realize that the entire system is very easily controlled, one way or another, by a few powerful men at the top, you will not have to be told how periods of inflation and depression originate." A few weeks after making this statement, Garfield was shot. He died two months later.

SEPTEMBER 21 

1950 –FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE LIMIT RAISED

The popular FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) limit is raised by Congress to $10,000. The FDIC insures commercial bank deposits against loss due to bankruptcy or default. It was created following the Great Depression when depositors lost their savings when banks collapsed due to speculative investments and/or depositor fears which led to a run on banks.

 

SEPTEMBER 22

1956 -- DEATH OF FREDERICK SODDY, NOBEL LAUREATE

“It was recognized in Athens and Sparta…centuries before the birth of Christ that one of the most vital prerogatives of the State was the right to issue money.”

On money: "To allow it to become a source of revenue to private issuers is to create first, a secret and illicit arm of the government and last, a rival power strong enough ultimately to overthrow all other forms of government."

 

SEPTEMBER 23

1998 – TALK BY MICHAEL CHOSSUDOVSKY, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS

Monetary policy is in the hands of private creditors who have the ability to freeze state budgets, paralyze the payments process, thwart the regular disbursement of wages to millions of workers and precipitate the collapse of production and social programs.

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Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com  For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html 

 

MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - September 12-18

SEPTEMBER 12

1857 – STEAMSHIP CENTRAL AMERICA SINKS
The steamship had a million dollars in gold and silver onboard. It caused the Ohio Life and Trust Company to fail and sparked the Financial Panic of 1857 since money was backed by gold. Under such a metal-based money system, the less gold and silver, the fewer dollars in circulation. The fewer dollars, the less economic transactions occur, resulting in less production and more unemployment.

SEPTEMBER 13

1785 – PENNSYLVANIA REPEALS THE CHARTER OF THE BANK OF NORTH AMERICA
This was the nation’s first private commercial bank, chartered by Congress under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles gave Congress the power to “emit bills of credit” -- to create money. By a single vote, Congress voted to transfer their authority to issue money to the Bank, thus, become a quasi central bank. The Pennsylvania legislature repealed the Bank’s charter, which was significant since it primarily operated in just three states. Why did Congress willingly give up their money power in the first place? The public argument was that the business of finance could not be ably conduced by a public body (Congress) — only by a small number of private financiers.

1873 – NATION’S BIGGEST BANK, JAY COOKE & COMPANY, BECOMES EFFECTIVELY INSOLVENT
Congress has passed the Coinage Act earlier in the year, which ended the minting of silver dollars. US money system was, thus, backed only by gold. The effect was similar to other instances in US history when money was backed by gold -- a depression ensued, prices feel, unemployment increased and major banks failed as there wasn’t enough gold to back the money needed to fuel the growing economy. Jay Cooke & Company was the largest bank to fail due to this policy of gold-backed money.

SEPTEMBER 16

2003 - STATEMENT MADE ON THIS DAY BY HENRY C.K. LIU, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
The current monetary system is a cruel hoax. There is virtually no "real" money in the system, only debts. Except for coins, which are issued by the government and make up only about one-thousandth of the money supply, the entire U.S. money supply now consists of debt to private banks, for money they created with accounting entries on their books.

2008 – FEDERAL RESERVE BAILS OUT AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP (AIG)
AIG was the largest insurance corporation, which had speculated in risky home mortgages. The Fed issued AIG $85 billion in credit in September 2008 to meet their financial obligations

SEPTEMBER 17

1787 – CONSTITUTION DAY
The Congress shall have power to…coin money [and] regulate the power thereof -- Article 1, Section 8, US Constitution

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Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html

Kucinich Calls for Public Control of US Monetary System

KUCINICH ADDRESSES CONGRESS: A Strong New Path for the United States for International and Domestic Security including policy recommendations such as the 'Need for NEED' - The National Employment & Economic Defense Act
September 7, 2011
http://elizabethkucinich.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/r/19DD5A412324F3E7/2B06F39543AA64609780B6D0B3F3FC10

This is what Obama should have talked about last night as the means to hire millions of Americans — by issuing and circulation US debt-free money. Kucinich plans to reintroduce the National Emergency Employment Defense [NEED] Act next week.

The third video specifically describes the NEED Act.

Elizabeth Kucinich asks that we contact our US Representatives urging them to cosponsor the NEED Act.
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Campaigns awash in corporate cash

Published letter to the editor
Akron Beacon Journal / September 9, 2011
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/vop/letters-to-the-editor-sept-9-1.233926

Thanks to editorial writer Steve Hoffman for reporting on Partners Advancing Akron’s Future (“These partners mean business,” Sept. 1). Such independent organizations are a result of last year’s Citizens United Supreme Court decision permitting corporations to transfer funds directly from their treasuries to support or oppose political candidates.

The group, funded by many of Akron’s largest corporations and prominent wealthy individuals, further diminishes what’s left of our representative democracy. Groups like this raised so much money in the 2010 mid-term elections that their collective political voices via attack ads drowned out the voices of people and communities without money. It’s no wonder that the problems facing the working class and poor continue to be ignored while tax breaks and bailouts to large corporations and the wealthy continue.

Hoffman is quite right to assert that the rise of these groups make existing campaign finance rules at all levels of government less effective, including those promoted by me and many others connected to Dollars and Democracy and passed by Akron voters in 1998.

To call these laws unnecessary, however, is untrue. The rules, upheld in federal court, prevented then and now the mayor from making large contributions to council candidates, resulting in the election of several council members without major financial backing.

A challenger without appeal to major wealthy or corporate interests nearly defeated the mayor in 2007, while another is providing a serious challenge this year. If the rules were such a benefit to incumbents, why did virtually all oppose them?

The 1998 rules were never meant to be a final solution, any more than any reform on any issue is final. That’s why many who worked on Dollars and Democracy subsequently worked to pass full public financing of elections and are now working to amend the U.S. Constitution through the Move to Amend campaign.

Blaming Dollars and Democracy and the vast majority of citizens who voted for campaign finance reform is simply incorrect. The core reasons for the increasing distrust of politicians and for the political influence of the wealthy and corporations in Akron and across the country are the profoundly undemocratic legal doctrines that corporations are persons and money is speech.

If corporations and the wealthy continue to spend more money influencing elections and public policy, what’s left of our democracy will be transformed to mere myth.

Greg Coleridge

Director

Northeast Ohio AmericanFriends Service Committee

Cuyahoga Falls

A Labor Day Quiz

HOW MUCH U.S. HISTORY DO YOU KNOW?
By Peter Kellman
Circulated by: Program On Corporations, Law & Democracy

The Questions:

1. In the U.S. it is easy for citizens to form a corporation but difficult to form a union. Name three countries where workers can form a union as easily as investors can form a corporation in the U.S.

2. In 1770 what percentage of the colonial population lived in slavery?

3. At the time of the War of Independence, what percentage of the people in the colonies of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were or had been indentured servants?

4. Who was the richest man in America in 1776?

5. What percent of "We the People" could vote in 1776?

6. Who said, "The people who own the country ought to govern it."?

7. What great American document was written behind closed doors in a meeting in 1787, the minutes of which were made public 53 years later?

8. What were the demands of the Labor Movement in 1830?

9. The 14th amendment was passed in 1868 to extend due process and equal protection to African Americans. In the first 50 years after its adoption, what percentage of cases brought under it were on behalf of African Americans, and what percentage on behalf of corporations?

10. How can five people amend the constitution?

11. Whose election to the Presidency of the United States was determined by a special commission, controlled by the CEO of the Pennsylvania Railroad, that was made up of Supreme Court justices and members of Congress? When did that President pull the last Federal troops from the south ending Reconstruction and use those troops to put down the first national labor strike in the United States in which over 100 strikers were killed?

12. In 1886 the largest labor organization in the United States was the Knights of Labor. What issues did it advocate?

13. When was the labor movement politically powerful enough to prevent a Governor and the President from sending troops to break up a strike in which workers occupied corporate property?

14. In many countries, benefits like paid maternity leave, maximum hours of work, health care, and vacations are defined by law. What do workers in these countries have that they don't have in the United States?

Answers:

1. Sweden, Germany, Italy, Japan, Ireland and more.
2. 20%
3. 75%
4. George Washington
5. 10%
6. John Jay, first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
7. The Constitution
8. The 10-hour day and public education
9. African Americans: .5%, corporations: 50%.
10. By becoming U.S. Supreme Court Justices
11. Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877
12. Producer, consumer and distributive cooperatives, prohibition of child
labor, equal pay for equal work between the sexes and races, universal
suffrage and the eight-hour day. They believed that when a few people
controlled most of the wealth they would use their economic power to prevent
the creation of a real democracy.
13. 1936-37
14. Strong working-class political parties

Peter Kellman is a labor activist and scholar based in Maine. He compiled
this quiz while researching "Building Unions: Past, Present and Future," a
handbook he wrote for the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy
(POCLAD). For information, email: people@poclad.org, www.poclad.org

MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - September 5-11

SEPTEMBER 6

1943- DEATH OF RICHARD MCKENNA, FORMER PRESIDENT, MIDLANDS BANK OF ENGLAND
"I am afraid that the ordinary citizen will not like to be told that the banks can and do create and destroy money. And they who control the credit of a nation direct the policy of governments, and hold in the hollow of their hands the destiny of the people." (From a 1924 speech)

SEPTEMBER 7

1867 – BIRTH OF J.P.MORGAN JR, BANKER
In response to legislation increasing regulation over monopolies pushed through Congress by President Theodore Roosevelt, Morgan led an effort by major bankers to harm the economy. The combination of his manipulation of the stock market and calling in all loans and not issuing new ones caused the public to hoard their money. An economic panic was on – the “Panic of 1907.” Morgan proposed to Congress that he would save the economy by having his banks issue $200 million (out of thin air with interest) to prime the economic pump. Congress agreed. The public stopped hoarding their money. The panic was over. The entire incident led Congress to investigate creating, once more, a central bank. The eventual creation of the Federal Reserve System can be traced back to the Panic of 1907.

SEPTEMBER 8

1999 – DEATH OF HERBERT STEIN, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISORS
"If something cannot go on forever, it will stop."
[Sounds like our current debt-based money system – an unsustainable system which can only continue if more debt is issued, which happens by banks when they issue loans and purchase treasury bonds, bills and notes]

SEPTEMBER 9

1828 – BIRTH OF LEO TOLSTOY, RUSSIAN WRITER AND SOCIAL REFORMER
"Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal, there is no human relation between master and slave. "

1890 – BIRTH OF MARRINER S. ECCLES, FORMER CHAIRMAN AND GOVERNOR OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
"That is what our money system is. If there were no debts in our money system, there wouldn't be any money. "

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Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html