Unpublished Letter to Editor to Plain Dealer, Cleveland
Anniversary of Eisenhower's Military Industrial Complex Warning
January 17th, 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of Dwight Eisenhower’s farewell presidential address. His warning about the military industrial complex weight on public policy rings true today.
President Eisenhower cautioned against the temptation to respond to crisis with “some spectacular and costly action.” He stressed the need to balance national priorities. He outlined a new threat to maintaining that balance and our liberty – the combination of the immense military establishment of soldiers and infrastructure and the large arms industry.
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence … by the military industrial complex. (Its) economic, political, even spiritual,” influence Eisenhower warned, existed in every city, state house and federal office. How sadly familiar this sounds today.
The military industrial complex today drives the calls for wars and occupations. It distorts our economy away from meeting human and environmental needs. And it dispenses influence and campaign contributions to keep tax dollars flowing to the military.
Today, Martin Luther King Day, is an appropriate time to recommit to changing our priorities. King’s leadership of a grassroots movement for justice and peace is worth emulating now more than ever.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - January 17-23
JANUARY 17
1706 – BIRTH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
"The inability of the colonists to get power to issue their own money permanently out of the hands of George III and the international bankers was the prime reason for the revolutionary war."
“This effect of paper currency is not understood in England. And indeed the whole is a mystery to the politicians how we have been able to continue a war for four years without money and how we could pay with paper that had no previously fixed fund appropriated specifically to redeem it. This currency...is a wonderful machine.”
1863 – BIRTH OF LLOYD GEORGE, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, 1916-1922
“The international bankers swept statesmen, politicians, journalists and jurists all to one side and issued their order with the imperiousness of absolute monarchs.”
JANUARY 18
1910 – BIRTH OF KENNETH BOULDING, ECONOMIST, PROFESSOR, PEACE ACTIVIST, QUAKER
Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.
[editor: the same goes for debt]
JANUARY 20
1859 – BIRTH OF CHARLES LINDBURGH, SR., US REPRESENTATIVE AND FATHER OF THE FAMOUS AVIATOR
The Federal Reserve Act establishes the most gigantic trust on earth. When the President signs this bill, the invisible government by the Monetary Power will be legalized. The people may not know it immediately, but the day of reckoning is only a few years removed.
______________________________________________________
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/unsubscibe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Previous calendar entries are posted at http://www.createrealdemocracy.blogspot.com/
1706 – BIRTH OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
"The inability of the colonists to get power to issue their own money permanently out of the hands of George III and the international bankers was the prime reason for the revolutionary war."
“This effect of paper currency is not understood in England. And indeed the whole is a mystery to the politicians how we have been able to continue a war for four years without money and how we could pay with paper that had no previously fixed fund appropriated specifically to redeem it. This currency...is a wonderful machine.”
1863 – BIRTH OF LLOYD GEORGE, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, 1916-1922
“The international bankers swept statesmen, politicians, journalists and jurists all to one side and issued their order with the imperiousness of absolute monarchs.”
JANUARY 18
1910 – BIRTH OF KENNETH BOULDING, ECONOMIST, PROFESSOR, PEACE ACTIVIST, QUAKER
Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.
[editor: the same goes for debt]
JANUARY 20
1859 – BIRTH OF CHARLES LINDBURGH, SR., US REPRESENTATIVE AND FATHER OF THE FAMOUS AVIATOR
The Federal Reserve Act establishes the most gigantic trust on earth. When the President signs this bill, the invisible government by the Monetary Power will be legalized. The people may not know it immediately, but the day of reckoning is only a few years removed.
______________________________________________________
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/unsubscibe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Previous calendar entries are posted at http://www.createrealdemocracy.blogspot.com/
Is Calling for a New Money System Right Wing Extremism?
From today's New York Times in describing Jared Lee Loughner...
"He became an echo chamber for stray ideas, amplifying, for example, certain grandiose tenants of extremists right-wing groups – including the need for a new money system…"
Looking Behind the Mug-Shot Grin of an Accused Killer
This article was reported by Jo Becker, Serge F. Kovaleski, Michael Luo and Dan Barry and written by Mr. Barry.
New York Times January 16, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/us/16loughner.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
The corporate press painted a perilous picture linking a domestic terrorist with the supposed exclusive right wing extremist idea that a new money system in our nation is needed.
We may never know whether this is deliberate deception or just plain ignorance. Either way, the Times has done a disservice to the public and tarnished its reputation.
Our current money system is undemocratic and unsustainable. How should one describe a system characterized by:
1. the government permitting financial corporations to create or issue money literally out of thin air as debt (i.e. loans),
2. the government borrowing that money from financial corporations,
3. the government having to pay back that money with interest.
This is either the ultimate form of madness -- if you assume those who run economic affairs of the US are financially incompetent -- or it is the ultimate form of legal thievery of wealth by financial corporations from We the People.
Why should the government borrow money when it could create its own? Why do we use Federal Reserve Notes (owned by the private Federal Reserve system) when we could use US dollars? Why do we divert billions of interest payments annually from our federal budget to banking corporations when we could spend those billions on meeting human and environmental needs of society?
A new money system is essential -- one that is democratic and sustainable.
Calling for a new system is hardly right wing extremism. It's basic. Elementary. Rational. Democratic. Liberating. It's shared by those of all political ideologies.
Calling it an exclusive idea of right wingers is an attempt to distort, distract and demean. It's part of a very long history of working to keep the public ignorant of economic issues, especially monetary matters.
It breeds massive debt,
"He became an echo chamber for stray ideas, amplifying, for example, certain grandiose tenants of extremists right-wing groups – including the need for a new money system…"
Looking Behind the Mug-Shot Grin of an Accused Killer
This article was reported by Jo Becker, Serge F. Kovaleski, Michael Luo and Dan Barry and written by Mr. Barry.
New York Times January 16, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/us/16loughner.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
The corporate press painted a perilous picture linking a domestic terrorist with the supposed exclusive right wing extremist idea that a new money system in our nation is needed.
We may never know whether this is deliberate deception or just plain ignorance. Either way, the Times has done a disservice to the public and tarnished its reputation.
Our current money system is undemocratic and unsustainable. How should one describe a system characterized by:
1. the government permitting financial corporations to create or issue money literally out of thin air as debt (i.e. loans),
2. the government borrowing that money from financial corporations,
3. the government having to pay back that money with interest.
This is either the ultimate form of madness -- if you assume those who run economic affairs of the US are financially incompetent -- or it is the ultimate form of legal thievery of wealth by financial corporations from We the People.
Why should the government borrow money when it could create its own? Why do we use Federal Reserve Notes (owned by the private Federal Reserve system) when we could use US dollars? Why do we divert billions of interest payments annually from our federal budget to banking corporations when we could spend those billions on meeting human and environmental needs of society?
A new money system is essential -- one that is democratic and sustainable.
Calling for a new system is hardly right wing extremism. It's basic. Elementary. Rational. Democratic. Liberating. It's shared by those of all political ideologies.
Calling it an exclusive idea of right wingers is an attempt to distort, distract and demean. It's part of a very long history of working to keep the public ignorant of economic issues, especially monetary matters.
It breeds massive debt,
Monday, January 10, 2011
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - January 10-16
JANUARY 10
1843 – BIRTH OF LORD ACTON, ENGLISH HISTORIAN, POLITICIAN, AND WRITER
“The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later, is the people versus the banks.“
JANUARY 11
1893 – DEATH OF BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, US GENERAL, US REPRESENTATIVE (MASSACHUSETTS) AND GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS
“The government shall issue an amount equal to its taxes…which shall be lawful money and legal tender for all debts, public and private, which by law are not made payable in coin.”
JANUARY 13
1808 – BIRTH OF SALMON P. CHASE, US SENATOR (OHIO), GOVERNOR OF OHIO, US TREASURY SECRETARY UNDER ABRAHAM LINCOLN, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE US SUPREME COURT
"My agency in procuring the passage of the National Bank Act was the greatest financial mistake of my life. It has built up a monopoly that affects every interest in the country. It should be repealed. But before this can be accomplished, the people will be arrayed on one side and the banks on the other in a contest such as we have never seen in this country." 1863
2007 – ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY JAMES PETRAS, PROFESSOR (EMERITUS), BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
"Within the financial ruling class,…political leaders come from the public and private equity banks, namely Wall Street - especially Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, the Carlyle Group and others. They organize and fund both major parties and their electoral campaigns. They pressure, negotiate and draw up the most comprehensive and favorable legislation on global strategies and sectoral policies...They pressure the government to "bailout" bankrupt and failed speculative firms and to balance the budget by lowering social expenditures instead of raising taxes on speculative "windfall" profits...These private equity banks are involved in every sector of the economy, in every region of the world economy and increasingly speculate in the conglomerates which are aquired. Much of the investment funds now in the hands of the US investment banks, hedge funds and other sectors of the financial ruling class originated in the profits extracted from workers in the manufacturing and service sector." Global Research - January 13, 2007
______________________________________________________
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 and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscibe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
1843 – BIRTH OF LORD ACTON, ENGLISH HISTORIAN, POLITICIAN, AND WRITER
“The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later, is the people versus the banks.“
JANUARY 11
1893 – DEATH OF BENJAMIN F. BUTLER, US GENERAL, US REPRESENTATIVE (MASSACHUSETTS) AND GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS
“The government shall issue an amount equal to its taxes…which shall be lawful money and legal tender for all debts, public and private, which by law are not made payable in coin.”
JANUARY 13
1808 – BIRTH OF SALMON P. CHASE, US SENATOR (OHIO), GOVERNOR OF OHIO, US TREASURY SECRETARY UNDER ABRAHAM LINCOLN, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE US SUPREME COURT
"My agency in procuring the passage of the National Bank Act was the greatest financial mistake of my life. It has built up a monopoly that affects every interest in the country. It should be repealed. But before this can be accomplished, the people will be arrayed on one side and the banks on the other in a contest such as we have never seen in this country." 1863
2007 – ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY JAMES PETRAS, PROFESSOR (EMERITUS), BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
"Within the financial ruling class,…political leaders come from the public and private equity banks, namely Wall Street - especially Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, the Carlyle Group and others. They organize and fund both major parties and their electoral campaigns. They pressure, negotiate and draw up the most comprehensive and favorable legislation on global strategies and sectoral policies...They pressure the government to "bailout" bankrupt and failed speculative firms and to balance the budget by lowering social expenditures instead of raising taxes on speculative "windfall" profits...These private equity banks are involved in every sector of the economy, in every region of the world economy and increasingly speculate in the conglomerates which are aquired. Much of the investment funds now in the hands of the US investment banks, hedge funds and other sectors of the financial ruling class originated in the profits extracted from workers in the manufacturing and service sector." Global Research - January 13, 2007
______________________________________________________
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 and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscibe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Thursday, January 6, 2011
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - January 1-9
JANUARY 1
1817 - SECOND NATIONAL BANK OF THE US OPENS
This was the third quasi national bank of the US — following the Bank of North America (1781-1785) and Bank of the United States (1791-1811). While called a “national” bank, it was not public but actually a commercial/corporate bank with the power to issue money directly (just like its two predecessors). Early on, it issued a huge amount of money (more than 20 times its reserves) as loans that led to financial speculation and large corporate profits. A year later, it stopped providing loans, resulting in a severe contraction of the money supply — which led to massive bankruptcies and the Panic of 1819. President Andrew Jackson believed the bank was a threat to the nation. He vetoed a bill in 1832 renewing the bank’s charter (license).
1909 - BIRTH OF US SENATOR (REPUBLICAN) BARRY GOLDWATER
“The Trilateralist Commission is international and is intended to be the vehicle for multinational consolidation of commercial and banking interests by seizing control of the political government of the U.S. The Trilateralist Commission represents a skillful, coordinated effort to seize control and consolidate the four centers of power --political, monetary, intellectual and ecclesiastical.”
1911 - US POSTAL SAVINGS SYSTEM OPENS
The Postal Savings System offered savings accounts to depositors, but no loans. When banks failed after the Great Depression, many people shifted their remaining funds. With post officers serving as bank branches, the Postal Savings System held upwards of 20% of the nation’s savings in the mid 1940’s. Commercial/corporate banks lobbied against their expansion and for their elimination — which occurred in 1967.
JANUARY 3
1977 - DEATH OF CARROLL QUIGLEY, PROFESSOR AND HISTORIAN
“The influence of financial capitalism and of the international bankers who created it was exercised both on business and on governments, but could have done neither if it had not been able to persuade both these to accept two 'axioms' of its own ideology...by basing the value of money on gold and by allowing bankers to control the supply of money. To do this it was necessary to conceal, or even mislead, both governments and people about the nature of money and its methods of operation.” [from his book, Tragedy and Hope, 1966]
JANUARY 7
1782 – BANK OF NORTH AMERICA OPENS
This was the nation’s first private commercial bank. At that time, the nation’s constitution was the Articles of Confederation. Article 9 of the Articles gave Congress the power to “emit bills of credit” -- to create money debt free. By a single vote, Congress voted to transfer their authority to issue money to the The Bank of North America when it approved its charter on December 31, 1781. Thus, the Bank served as a quasi central bank (which created money as loans, called “debt money”). Why did Congress willingly give up their money power? The public argument was that the business of finance could not be competently conduced by a public body (Congress) — only by a small number of private financiers. The first head of the Bank was Robert Morris, the richest merchant in America.
_______________________________________________________
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 and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscibe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
1817 - SECOND NATIONAL BANK OF THE US OPENS
This was the third quasi national bank of the US — following the Bank of North America (1781-1785) and Bank of the United States (1791-1811). While called a “national” bank, it was not public but actually a commercial/corporate bank with the power to issue money directly (just like its two predecessors). Early on, it issued a huge amount of money (more than 20 times its reserves) as loans that led to financial speculation and large corporate profits. A year later, it stopped providing loans, resulting in a severe contraction of the money supply — which led to massive bankruptcies and the Panic of 1819. President Andrew Jackson believed the bank was a threat to the nation. He vetoed a bill in 1832 renewing the bank’s charter (license).
1909 - BIRTH OF US SENATOR (REPUBLICAN) BARRY GOLDWATER
“The Trilateralist Commission is international and is intended to be the vehicle for multinational consolidation of commercial and banking interests by seizing control of the political government of the U.S. The Trilateralist Commission represents a skillful, coordinated effort to seize control and consolidate the four centers of power --political, monetary, intellectual and ecclesiastical.”
1911 - US POSTAL SAVINGS SYSTEM OPENS
The Postal Savings System offered savings accounts to depositors, but no loans. When banks failed after the Great Depression, many people shifted their remaining funds. With post officers serving as bank branches, the Postal Savings System held upwards of 20% of the nation’s savings in the mid 1940’s. Commercial/corporate banks lobbied against their expansion and for their elimination — which occurred in 1967.
JANUARY 3
1977 - DEATH OF CARROLL QUIGLEY, PROFESSOR AND HISTORIAN
“The influence of financial capitalism and of the international bankers who created it was exercised both on business and on governments, but could have done neither if it had not been able to persuade both these to accept two 'axioms' of its own ideology...by basing the value of money on gold and by allowing bankers to control the supply of money. To do this it was necessary to conceal, or even mislead, both governments and people about the nature of money and its methods of operation.” [from his book, Tragedy and Hope, 1966]
JANUARY 7
1782 – BANK OF NORTH AMERICA OPENS
This was the nation’s first private commercial bank. At that time, the nation’s constitution was the Articles of Confederation. Article 9 of the Articles gave Congress the power to “emit bills of credit” -- to create money debt free. By a single vote, Congress voted to transfer their authority to issue money to the The Bank of North America when it approved its charter on December 31, 1781. Thus, the Bank served as a quasi central bank (which created money as loans, called “debt money”). Why did Congress willingly give up their money power? The public argument was that the business of finance could not be competently conduced by a public body (Congress) — only by a small number of private financiers. The first head of the Bank was Robert Morris, the richest merchant in America.
_______________________________________________________
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 and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscibe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Kasich to corporatize Ohio's prisons?
Ohio Governor John Kasich may corporatize the state prison system.
Gov.-elect John Kasich picks private corrections consultant and former warden to run Ohio's prisons system
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/01/gov-elect_kasich_picks_private.html
TAKE ACTION...
Defend Ohio’s Schools, Jobs and Public Services
Saturday, January 8, Noon
Rally at the Statehouse
End Corporate Rule
Rally and March on the Anniversary of the
“Citizens United vs FEC" Supreme Court decision
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2011, NOON
First Congregational Church - U444 East Broad Street, Columbus
flyer at http://www.afsc.net/PDFFiles/CUFECflyer.pdf
Gov.-elect John Kasich picks private corrections consultant and former warden to run Ohio's prisons system
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/01/gov-elect_kasich_picks_private.html
TAKE ACTION...
Defend Ohio’s Schools, Jobs and Public Services
Saturday, January 8, Noon
Rally at the Statehouse
End Corporate Rule
Rally and March on the Anniversary of the
“Citizens United vs FEC" Supreme Court decision
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2011, NOON
First Congregational Church - U444 East Broad Street, Columbus
flyer at http://www.afsc.net/PDFFiles/CUFECflyer.pdf
Friday, December 31, 2010
Fracking’ issue tests citizens’ authority
Letter to the Editor
Canton Repository
Posted Dec 30, 2010
http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/letters/x1599383372/-Fracking-issue-tests-citizens authority
Canton Repository
Posted Dec 30, 2010
http://www.cantonrep.com/opinion/letters/x1599383372/-Fracking-issue-tests-citizens authority
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