46 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 23 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H1'ed 9/5/10

War Pigs-A Rock and Roll Epistle

By       (Page 3 of 7 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   11 comments
Message Richard Girard
Become a Fan
  (40 fans)

"War Pigs," Black Sabbath

Paranoid, 1971


I am not entirely convinced that, from a purely materialistic standpoint, the People of Rome didn't have a better deal.


My friends, unless we rebuild our nation's manufacturing base and infrastructure, we will--because of our debt--have no choice in a few years but to reduce our military by half or more.


Cicero stated twenty-one centuries ago that the sinews of war are a limitless supply of money. And real money, true capital, is not the trading of paper instruments at ever inflating values. That is the description of a Ponzi scheme, not any sort of healthy economic system. Real capital is based upon the manufacture, sale and service of material goods and real estate that a man can hold in his hand or stand on.


Currency can be used as the basis of a monetary system, but if, and only if, it is regulated, and allowed to expand when necessary rather than convenient. "Necessary' would include preventing a deflationary spiral of prices during an economic recession.


Even specie--gold and silver--is no guarantee against inflation. Anyone who has read the history of Rome knows that Rome adulterated its coinage at various times because of hoarding, or being forced to use gold and silver to pay for trade items outside of the Empire because Rome had nothing to trade in turn.


This is one of the problems with the gold standard that Congressman Ron Paul is always talking about: unless we are producing more goods than we are acquiring, we will have to pay for them with gold and silver. If we run out of gold and silver, then we have nothing left to trade, and "POOF!", our standard of living is in the crapper, and we have nothing on which to base our monetary "gold standard."


Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Richard Girard Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Richard Girard is a polymath and autodidact whose greatest desire in life is to be his generations' Thomas Paine. He is an FDR Democrat, which probably puts him with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in the current political spectrum. His answer to (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

The Great Enemy of the Truth

Into a Thousand Pieces

The Communist Takeover of America

The Judgment of History; Or Why the Breaking of the Oligarchs Avenges President Kennedy's Assassination--Part One

Social Capitalism

Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend