We all have money, from the day we are born, in the form of savings accounts or trust funds, to the day we die when we leave money behind for others. We anxiously await our paychecks in hopes of saving, spending and splurging.
But where does the money come from?
The United State’s monetary system is as unique and intricate, as it is fallacious. To break it down into simplest terms, money is created out of debt. When the U.S. government wants money, they contact the Federal Reserve and request money. The Federal Reserve then requests the same amount in Government Bonds, or in layman’s terms, debt. The government prints emblems onto paper in exchange for different paper with different emblems. Once the transaction is complete, the U.S. dollars are now legal tender and deposited in a commercial banking system. This money is then lent out to borrowers who deposit the money into their bank account. But, this loan is not possible without interest.
In a sense, every dollar out there has been made with interest. The Federal Reserve charges interest for all money that is created. If all money is created with interest or growing debt, where is the money that will pay that interest off? Nowhere. That money doesn’t exist. The government has to continually withdraw more money with more interest, to pay off the debt that already exists, thus creating a cycle of perpetual debt and inflation.
So where does that leave the citizens? The way the system works is that all this money is controlled by the banks and if citizens fail to succeed, they can and will take property away. The money owed is greater than the actual money supply. This leads to foreclosures and bankruptcy, and essentially builds a caste system in our society.
The Federal Reserve creates money out of thin air; they put the government and, most importantly, the people in debt and cause inflation at dangerous levels. More importantly, the Federal Reserve is in direct violation to the United States Constitution. The Constitution states in Section 8: The Powers of Congress, “To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof.” This does not support the creation of a private institution, which created it’s own rules to abide by, to coin and regulate the money supply.
According to WestEgg.com’s Inflation Calculator, since the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913, the value of a dollar has inflated 96%, leaving the value of a dollar back then equivalent to nearly $21 today. This rate of inflation just creates more loans, more debt and slavery to money, work and more work in order to live comfortably.
To go along with an old adage, “Knowledge is Power”, I would encourage all of you to go and read more. Read more of anything and everything, even if it contradicts everything you stand for; you must challenge yourself to see things in different ways. Maybe a better world, possibly even one without money.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Irony
Irony, a writers a sidekick in this crazy little thing we call life.
It is easy to see ironic circumstances when we read our favorite books or watch a compelling movie, but do we see it everyday, when it effects us.
I was driving down the road in my hometown of Clearwater, Florida, when I was behind a car with a bumper sticker that read “Get off your phone and drive”. Surely enough the man was on his phone.
Irony is way more than an Atlantic Morisette song (more about bad luck than an ironic situation).
Things here around campus that I found interesting is the fact that we are beginning to start a project to be more environmentally sustainable. I applaud these endeavors with full support. The positives of this solar farm are undeniable, it will limit many gases from being emitted into our atmosphere, but why must we tear down sixteen acres of natural land, why not put it on the roof-tops?
Irony finds its way into all sorts of sticky situations.
Recently, two faculty members have been getting into some trouble with the law, sexual harassment charges, and ironically, both are members of the Criminal Justice program. Interesting.
Maybe some find it ironic to think that to make campuses safer from potential shootings, we should welcome the idea of more guns on campus. Imagine how unsettling it would be to teach a class, wondering how many students are holding guns.
These everyday incongruities surround us, sometimes they are more hypocritical than ironic, or perhaps not ironic at all and just simply bad luck.
It may be scary to think about, but perhaps the most intelligent man is just another Wizard of Oz, a cranky old man. And maybe at the end of it all we will realize that we spent so much time searching and searching for intelligence, or a heart or courage, and we had all along. Maybe this life is fueled by irony, and it takes that long journey to figure out we were all just another brick in the wall.
It is easy to see ironic circumstances when we read our favorite books or watch a compelling movie, but do we see it everyday, when it effects us.
I was driving down the road in my hometown of Clearwater, Florida, when I was behind a car with a bumper sticker that read “Get off your phone and drive”. Surely enough the man was on his phone.
Irony is way more than an Atlantic Morisette song (more about bad luck than an ironic situation).
Things here around campus that I found interesting is the fact that we are beginning to start a project to be more environmentally sustainable. I applaud these endeavors with full support. The positives of this solar farm are undeniable, it will limit many gases from being emitted into our atmosphere, but why must we tear down sixteen acres of natural land, why not put it on the roof-tops?
Irony finds its way into all sorts of sticky situations.
Recently, two faculty members have been getting into some trouble with the law, sexual harassment charges, and ironically, both are members of the Criminal Justice program. Interesting.
Maybe some find it ironic to think that to make campuses safer from potential shootings, we should welcome the idea of more guns on campus. Imagine how unsettling it would be to teach a class, wondering how many students are holding guns.
These everyday incongruities surround us, sometimes they are more hypocritical than ironic, or perhaps not ironic at all and just simply bad luck.
It may be scary to think about, but perhaps the most intelligent man is just another Wizard of Oz, a cranky old man. And maybe at the end of it all we will realize that we spent so much time searching and searching for intelligence, or a heart or courage, and we had all along. Maybe this life is fueled by irony, and it takes that long journey to figure out we were all just another brick in the wall.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Drinking Age Conundrum
We have all read articles, talked in classes and debated friends and family on whether the current drinking age should be lowered or if it should remain the same. But let us sit back and imagine our nation with a drinking age at 18.
Moderation. This is something one should learn from parents and peers. Moderation is something that should be taught and not told. There is that time in all our lives when we begin to drink for the first time and we take it too far. If one is an underage high school student, who is there to call? The fear of getting into trouble with authorities has an on-going presence in our social lives. When student A becomes so inebriated that they can not talk, walk or open their eyes, and students B and C leave them without calling for help in fear of punishment, this presents a problem.
Many lives have been taken from abuse of alcohol, and could have been saved with one phone call to 911. The fear is that once one calls and the authorities come into a dorm, apartment, house, etc. that they will write you up and get you into trouble.
All across college campuses students indulge behind closed doors, experimenting and finding quick ways to get drunk. The problem of drinking extends way past the issue of drinking and driving. Students drink clandestinely and when one poor student drinks too much, it is not even a possibility to call help, instead they will wait it out.
The common arguments of lowering the drinking age is the hypocrisy of enlisting and voting but not being able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, or perhaps we should be more like Europe and teach moderation young. Perhaps we should seek to invent some sort of alcohol license and only those who have taken a course and passed a test on awareness of alcohol and alcohol poisoning should be allowed to purchase and consume alcohol. Maybe if it weren’t illegal, college and high school students would not indulge as often, or take extreme measures to produce a buzz.
It is hard to imagine a lowered drinking age and predict what would happen. It would be almost like an experiment. There are those believe that having it lowered would reduce alcohol-related fatalities, and those who believe it would just spark another age group into a drinking pattern.
Drinking problems on school campuses are not hyperbolic, they are very real. But instead of police trying to bust students for drinking a beer or two, should they be out looking for a driver who has had one too many? Maybe a more open policy of dialing up an emergency is more important than writing up a student.
Although a change in legal age may not be in our near future, it is something interesting to ponder and that remains ambiguous and cumbersome. Safety remains the most important issue, and as long as no one is drinking and driving, or leaving someone in a drunken stupor to potentially meet a fatal situation, I don’t see the difference of being over-eighteen or over-twenty one.
Moderation. This is something one should learn from parents and peers. Moderation is something that should be taught and not told. There is that time in all our lives when we begin to drink for the first time and we take it too far. If one is an underage high school student, who is there to call? The fear of getting into trouble with authorities has an on-going presence in our social lives. When student A becomes so inebriated that they can not talk, walk or open their eyes, and students B and C leave them without calling for help in fear of punishment, this presents a problem.
Many lives have been taken from abuse of alcohol, and could have been saved with one phone call to 911. The fear is that once one calls and the authorities come into a dorm, apartment, house, etc. that they will write you up and get you into trouble.
All across college campuses students indulge behind closed doors, experimenting and finding quick ways to get drunk. The problem of drinking extends way past the issue of drinking and driving. Students drink clandestinely and when one poor student drinks too much, it is not even a possibility to call help, instead they will wait it out.
The common arguments of lowering the drinking age is the hypocrisy of enlisting and voting but not being able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, or perhaps we should be more like Europe and teach moderation young. Perhaps we should seek to invent some sort of alcohol license and only those who have taken a course and passed a test on awareness of alcohol and alcohol poisoning should be allowed to purchase and consume alcohol. Maybe if it weren’t illegal, college and high school students would not indulge as often, or take extreme measures to produce a buzz.
It is hard to imagine a lowered drinking age and predict what would happen. It would be almost like an experiment. There are those believe that having it lowered would reduce alcohol-related fatalities, and those who believe it would just spark another age group into a drinking pattern.
Drinking problems on school campuses are not hyperbolic, they are very real. But instead of police trying to bust students for drinking a beer or two, should they be out looking for a driver who has had one too many? Maybe a more open policy of dialing up an emergency is more important than writing up a student.
Although a change in legal age may not be in our near future, it is something interesting to ponder and that remains ambiguous and cumbersome. Safety remains the most important issue, and as long as no one is drinking and driving, or leaving someone in a drunken stupor to potentially meet a fatal situation, I don’t see the difference of being over-eighteen or over-twenty one.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Think
Hello fellow readers.
I was wondering today of why some people are so stupid. Maybe I have too much faith in my own common sense, and maybe I am a bit judgmental. Is it too mundane to have a good time without getting so inebriated that you have to have an ambulance come to pump the fluids from your stomach? Is it not puerile to get so angry about things to hurt someone to get what you want, or to start conflicts to execute mass genocide? When grown people act like children, either you eat so much candy then you get a stomachache, or your playmate has something you want to you hurt them to take it away. When will humankind start acting in a sensible way. I am not talking about immaturity or crassness, I am talking about common sense decisions and human decency.
“At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols.”
-Aldous Huxley
I was wondering today of why some people are so stupid. Maybe I have too much faith in my own common sense, and maybe I am a bit judgmental. Is it too mundane to have a good time without getting so inebriated that you have to have an ambulance come to pump the fluids from your stomach? Is it not puerile to get so angry about things to hurt someone to get what you want, or to start conflicts to execute mass genocide? When grown people act like children, either you eat so much candy then you get a stomachache, or your playmate has something you want to you hurt them to take it away. When will humankind start acting in a sensible way. I am not talking about immaturity or crassness, I am talking about common sense decisions and human decency.
“At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols.”
-Aldous Huxley
Friday, January 16, 2009
Aut Disce Aut Discede- Learn or Leave
I noticed today that I always have some sick fascination about being right, or if a subject is brought up I must always throw in my two cents to show my knowledge on such subjects. I think in some way, shape or form we all have that mentality that we have to show some how that we are intellectual beings. I also believe that a person’s potential to become more intelligent is limitless. I do not care what school you attend, be it Yale or West Florida, University of Florida or Florida Southern, what matters is that you apply yourself and learn.
Here at Florida Gulf Coast, I have run into some people who are very moronic. I have also run into people who could very well be the greatest thinkers of our generation. Also, I feel that my professors (who hold degrees from Cornell, U.C. Irving, New York University, University of Chicago, Notre Dame, Harvard, Texas, Ohio State, Florida, George Washington U., Cambridge University (England) Penn., Columbia etc.)
I feel that I am educated to the same standards as everyone else. Because I apply myself, I know that the recognition of the school is a big factor down the line, but I don’t believe that because I chose to go to a smaller school, that I am dumber than anyone else. I am tired of people looking down on the smaller state schools because we are simply growing, or perhaps we chose a smaller environment. I have met people who turn down big name schools to come here, simply because they feel it was a better choice.
One day I hope to continue my education at well-known school, pursue a higher degree, and hopefully I will always continue to learn. And in no way am I talking down any of the great schools in this country, because many of you work hard to get into those prestigious schools, and I am proud of everyone I know who is even in school, because it is so easy to quit.
So for everyone, work hard, and try and learn a thing or two.
Cheers.
Here at Florida Gulf Coast, I have run into some people who are very moronic. I have also run into people who could very well be the greatest thinkers of our generation. Also, I feel that my professors (who hold degrees from Cornell, U.C. Irving, New York University, University of Chicago, Notre Dame, Harvard, Texas, Ohio State, Florida, George Washington U., Cambridge University (England) Penn., Columbia etc.)
I feel that I am educated to the same standards as everyone else. Because I apply myself, I know that the recognition of the school is a big factor down the line, but I don’t believe that because I chose to go to a smaller school, that I am dumber than anyone else. I am tired of people looking down on the smaller state schools because we are simply growing, or perhaps we chose a smaller environment. I have met people who turn down big name schools to come here, simply because they feel it was a better choice.
One day I hope to continue my education at well-known school, pursue a higher degree, and hopefully I will always continue to learn. And in no way am I talking down any of the great schools in this country, because many of you work hard to get into those prestigious schools, and I am proud of everyone I know who is even in school, because it is so easy to quit.
So for everyone, work hard, and try and learn a thing or two.
Cheers.
Friday, January 9, 2009
No Creativity Left
As I was watching the British version, and the original version of The Office, it hit me, United States (or America as some people like to call it) has not produced an original thought in years. The funniest gags in our Office are copied sometimes almost word for word from the original. This is not only to say I am definitely a bigger fan of the British version of the show, not only because it is much funnier, but much more original.
But what else? When was the last time we had a good movie? All we have these days are remakes and those shitty parody movies. Since the last time a good horror movie came out was over a decade, and all have been busts since then, Hollywood decided to remake all the classics. Or since we can only get an intelligent comedy once every blue moon, they make sorry excuses for movies like Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory, Super Hero Movie, Epic Movie, the list goes on and on.
For the longest time I thought the best show on television was The Office but now I feel cheated, because like usual, the United States entertainment industry cannot produce an original thought. Maybe it does go on to prove that we are truly the melting pot, blending in everyone else's creativity, to disguise it as our own.
Do yourself a favor, watch the British, the original, Office.
But what else? When was the last time we had a good movie? All we have these days are remakes and those shitty parody movies. Since the last time a good horror movie came out was over a decade, and all have been busts since then, Hollywood decided to remake all the classics. Or since we can only get an intelligent comedy once every blue moon, they make sorry excuses for movies like Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory, Super Hero Movie, Epic Movie, the list goes on and on.
For the longest time I thought the best show on television was The Office but now I feel cheated, because like usual, the United States entertainment industry cannot produce an original thought. Maybe it does go on to prove that we are truly the melting pot, blending in everyone else's creativity, to disguise it as our own.
Do yourself a favor, watch the British, the original, Office.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Don't Worry Detroit
The 2008 Detroit Lions have started off with a 0-10 record, and have remained the only "defeated" team in the NFL. The first lead they held in a game came after a 21-0 deficit, and led 25-24, but finally lost the lead after quarterback Jon Kitna threw three consecutive interceptions. It looks like, with their remaining schedule that they could only win one game.
But with their last playoff experience in 1999, and their last championship in 195, when their beloved Bobby Layne led them to four title wins (before the super bowl era).
So why are they so bad? With high draft picks in the past decade, why are they always rebuilding? I don’t think it is a lack of talent, but is it the Curse of Bobby Layne?
After his is fourth title win Layne went down with an injury and the front office decided to trade him and get what they could. After a bitter departing to the Pittsburgh Stealers, Layne cursed the lions saying, "they will lose for fifty years." And so far, he has been right, and the curse lingers in the Detroit area.
So what is the good news?
The fifty years is less then two months away from expiring, and the enigma that has been the Detroit Lions, with two first round, two third and two sixth round picks are only one offseason away from becoming a contender in the NFC North, and possibly the NFC.
But with their last playoff experience in 1999, and their last championship in 195, when their beloved Bobby Layne led them to four title wins (before the super bowl era).
So why are they so bad? With high draft picks in the past decade, why are they always rebuilding? I don’t think it is a lack of talent, but is it the Curse of Bobby Layne?
After his is fourth title win Layne went down with an injury and the front office decided to trade him and get what they could. After a bitter departing to the Pittsburgh Stealers, Layne cursed the lions saying, "they will lose for fifty years." And so far, he has been right, and the curse lingers in the Detroit area.
So what is the good news?
The fifty years is less then two months away from expiring, and the enigma that has been the Detroit Lions, with two first round, two third and two sixth round picks are only one offseason away from becoming a contender in the NFC North, and possibly the NFC.
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