RupertofOZ wrote:
And even less thanks to the blood sucking vampires of the banks...
Reminds me of a story I read online.....
Quote:
THE MONEY MYTH EXPLODED
The financial enigma resolved
A debt money system
by Louis Even
1. Shipwreck survivors
An explosion had blown their ship apart. Each one grasped the first bit of wreckage that came to hand, And when it was over there were five left, five huddled on a raft which the waves carried along at their will, As for the other victims of the disaster, there was no sign of them.
Hour after long hour their eyes searched the horizon. Would some passing ship sight them? Would their makeshift raft find its way to some friendly shore? Suddenly a cry rang out: "Land! Look! Over there in the direction the waves are carrying us!" And as the vague silhouette proved itself to be, in fact, the outline of a shore, the figures on the raft danced with joy.
They were five, five Canadians. There was Frank, the carpenter, big and energetic, It was he who had first cried, "Land!" Then Paul, a farmer. You can see him on his knees, one hand against the floor, the other gripping the mast of the raft. Next Jim, an animal breeder; he's the one in the striped pants, kneeling and gazing in the direction of land. Then there is Harry, an agriculturist, a little on the stout side, seated on a trunk salvaged from the wreck. And finally Tom, a prospector and a mineralogist; he is the merry fellow standing in the rear with his hand on the carpenter's shoulder.
2. A Providential island
To our five men, setting foot on land was like returning to life from the grave. When they had dried and warmed themselves their first impulse was to explore this little island on to which they had been cast, far from civilization. A quick survey was sufficient to raise their spirit. The island was not a barren rock. True enough, they were the only men on it at the moment. But judging from the herds of semi domesticated animals they encountered, there must have been men here at some time before them.
Jim, the animal breeder, was sure he could completely domesticate them and put them to good service. Paul found the island's soil, for the most part, to be quite suitable for cultivation. Harry discovered some fruit trees which, if properly tended, would give good harvests. Most important were the large stands of timber embracing many types of wood. Frank, without too much difficulty, would be able to build houses for the little community. As Tom, the prospector, well, the rock formations of the island showed signs of rich mineral deposits, Lacking the tools, Tom still felt his ingenuity and initiative could produce metals from the ores.
So each could serve the common good with his special talent. All agreed to call the place Salvation Island. All gave thanks to Providence for the reasonably happy ending to what could have been stark tragedy.
3. True wealth
Here are the men at work. The carpenter builds houses and makes furniture. At first they find their food where they can. But soon the fields are tilled and seeded, and the farmer has his crops. As season followed season this island, this heritage of the five men, Salvation Island, became richer and richer. Its wealth was not that of gold or of paper bank notes, but one of true value; a wealth of food and clothing and shelter, of all the things to meet human needs. Each man worked at his own trade. Whatever surpluses he might have of his own produce, he exchanged for the surplus products of the others. Life wasn't always as smooth and complete as they could have wished it to be. They lacked many of the things to which they had been accustomed in civilization. But their lot could have been a great deal worse. Besides, all had experienced the depression in Canada. They still remembered the empty bellies side by side with stores crammed with food. At least, on Salvation Island, they weren't forced to see the things they needed rot before their eyes. Taxes were unknown here. Nor did they go in constant fear for seizure by the bailiff. They worked hard but at least they could enjoy the fruits of their toil. So they developed the island, thanking God and hoping for the day of reunion with their families still in possession of life and health, those two greatest of blessings.
4. A serious inconvenience
Our men often got together to talk over their affairs. Under the simple economic system which had developed, one thing was beginning to bother them more and more; they had no form of money. Barter, the direct exchange of goods for goods, had its drawbacks. The products to be exchanged were not always at hand when a trade was discussed. For example, wood delivered to the farmer in winter could not be paid for in potatoes until six months later. Sometimes one man might have an article of considerable size which he wished to exchange for a number of smaller articles produced by different men at different times.
All this complicated business and laid a heavy burden on the memory. With a monetary system, however, each one could sell his products to the others for money. With this money he could buy from the others the things he wanted, when he wished and when they were available.
It was agreed that a system of money would indeed be very convenient. But none of them knew how to set up such a system. They knew how to produce true wealth - goods. But how to produce money. the symbol of this wealth, was something quite beyond them. They were ignorant of the origin of money, and needing it they didn't know how to produce it. Certainly, many men of education would have been in the same boat; all our governments were in that predicament during the ten years prior to the war. The only thing the country lacked at that time was money, and the governments apparently didn't know what to do to get it.
5. Arrival of a refugee
One evening when our boys were sitting on the beach going over their problem for the hundredth time, they suddenly saw approaching, a small boat with a solitary man at the oars. They learned that he was the only survivor of a wreck. His name, Olivier.
Delighted to have a new companion they provided him with the best they had and took him on an inspection tour of the colony. "Even though we're lost and cut off from the rest of the world," they told him, "we haven't too much to complain about. The earth and the forest are good to us. We lack only one think - money. That would make it easier for us to exchange our products."
"Well, you can thank Providence," replied Olivier, "because I am a banker and in no time at all I'll set up a system of money guaranteed to satisfy you. Then you'll have everything that people in civilization have." A banker!... A BANKER!... An angel coming down out of the clouds couldn't have inspired more reverence and respect in our men. For, after all, are we not accustomed, we people in civilization, to genuflect before bankers, those men who control the life-blood of finance? ..............................
A Canadian site.... the rest is here......
http://www.prolognet.qc.ca/clyde/money.htm
Backyard Aquaponics
Me either ..... laptop..... but why should I? Sustainability is perfectly possible alongside technology. Abuse of tech is the problem...
Tough these days. But any way is less risky than trusting a banker anyway!!!! 